Junior School News & Sport
Roald Dahl Day 2019 is on 13 September!
- Junior School News and Information
- Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior School Sport
A PARENT'S PRAYER
Loving God, You are the giver of all we possess,
the source of all of our blessings. We thank and praise you.
Thank you for the gift of our children. Help us to set boundaries for them,
and yet encourage them to explore. Give us the strength and courage to treat each day as a fresh start.
May our children come to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love,
so they may know peace, truth, and goodness.
May their ears hear your voice.
May their eyes see your presence in all things.
May their lips proclaim your word.
May their hearts be your dwelling place.
May their hands do works of charity.
May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
Amen.
Staff Leave: Mrs Williams will be going on leave from Wednesday 25 September (Week 9) until the end of the term. We have an experienced replacement in Mr Raphael Simoni and Mrs McKay will be continuing her teaching practicum at this time.
Congratulations to Luka Senicic on receiving a Principal’s Award at our Monday morning assembly. The wording on the Award is 'For consistent effort and excellence of achievement'. A good example of ‘Fide et labore.’
Twilight Concert: Last Friday's Twilight Concert was a wonderful event with many Junior School boys performing. I was very impressed by the Primary Concert Band performing ‘The Avengers’ soundtrack and the Junior Percussion Ensemble performing ‘Brazil’. The Junior Jazz Band performed Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition' and the combined choirs were also fantastic. Special mention must go to Isaac Donlevy for performing a solo tap dance.
The whole night was compered by Year 12 boys who did a wonderful job. The photos can be accessed via: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tNivKEgd8EVQwb66sIE2PLOOiT5xlDpL?usp=sharing
The Term 4 Twilight Concert will focus on Christmas Carols.
Sport: This Thursday is Summer Sport training at Oxford Falls – normal timings.
SCIENCE PRESENTATION AFTERNOON: On the last day of this term, Friday 27 September, we will be having an afternoon where the boys can present their assignments. If they have an audience, it enhances their learning and makes it real. Also, if you can explain why something happens then you have a high level of understanding so on this afternoon the boys will have to explain why or how their assignment was designed the way it was or how it works.
Year 5 are studying adaptations and designing animal enclosures so they will need to explain how and why they designed the enclosure in the fashion they did. Year 6 are investigating natural phenomenon and they will need to explain how the phenomenon is caused and what happens. If you wish to come and learn please come along from 1.45 to 2.45 pm on Friday 27 September. Please extend this invitation to grandparents or a significant auntie or uncle.
MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY JUNIOR SCIENCE PROGRAMS: Macquarie University runs science programs for primary school children which aim to encourage children to be confident in science. Information can be found in the flyer below.
After-School Study Program - Venue E1: The after-school study program runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in E1 from 3:15 – 4:30pm. It is available to all students from Years 5-12.
TERM 3 DATES
- Friday 13 September - RUOK Day
- Wednesday 25 September - Year 6 Chinatown Excursion
- Friday 27 September – Term 3 Concludes/Science Presentation Afternoon for Years 5 & 6 parents.
TERM 4 DATES
Monday 14 October – Staff and Students Resume
Saturday 19 October – IPSHA Sport Rd 7- Summer Season resumes.
Monday 28 October – IPSHA Gala Debating Day at Abbotsleigh
Wednesday 30 October – Whole School Staff Meeting – No After School Study(Homework help)
Thursday 31 October – Transition Day for new Year 6 students to the College
Saturday 2 November – Years 5 and 6, 2020 – Orientation Morning
Monday 11 November – Remembrance Day Assembly
Thursday 21 November – Whole School Staff Meeting – No After School Study(Homework help)
Friday 22 November – Founder’s Day Festival
Saturday 23 November - IPSHA Sport Rd 12- Summer Season concludes.
Friday 29 November – Year 6 Reflection Day at Oxford Falls – Parents welcome for conclusion at 1.45 pm
Friday 29 November – Christmas Twilight Concert – 5 pm at Chatswood
Thursday 5 December – Term 4 concludes – Years 5 to 10 Closing Mass/Junior School Prizegiving Day.
A Thought to Ponder
Thanking you for your support,
Mr Tim Long - Head of Junior School
Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
DON’T BE A TWIT!
Roald Dahl Day 2019 is on 13 September! This week is a perfect time to celebrate the famous children’s author and his classic books. So what’s planned for the big day and how can you get involved? There are a number of ways to mark the occasion, including dressing up as one of his famous characters or getting stuck into one of the author's famous books.
Year 5 and 6 this week will be getting stuck into one of their favourite Roald Dahl books and winning a golden ticket by completing the quiz in class. Despite most of his work being designed for children, the insightful quality of Roald Dahl's writing means both children and grown-ups can relate to the themes.
"A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men." -
- Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.
Whatever you do on 13 September,
have a flushbunkingly gloriumptious time!
#roalddahlday2019 – fun activities &
#scrumdiddlyumptious lollies #schoollibrariesmatter
Premier’s Reading Challenge 2019 – Popcorn and a Movie! Why not!
Congratulations to 5 Red and 6 Blue
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail
Miss Franklin: How Miles Franklin’s brilliant career began - by Libby Hathorn
A must for readers of Upper Primary School. Valued for its literary and artistic qualities and also for its contribution to the study of significant Australians and its inspirational message of self-belief, perseverance and women’s rights. #MrsMartinsbooktrail2019
Happy Reading!
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian
Junior Sport
Thursday Sport: at Oxford Falls. Summer training/trials continues for Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch Football.
Year 5 Parents: At this stage I need to plan for Saturday Sport in 2020. I require all Year 5 boys to complete their Online Sport Preference Form for 2020. Relevant information is on the St Pius X College School App.
The online form can also be accessed directly by clicking this link:
AFL Spring Challenge: From Mr Ure … We ventured up the Pacific Highway for a bit of Friday night footy. The boys of the Junior School AFL team were excited and raring to go for a game against Barker College. It was a great display of kicks and disposals along with some very hard running and tackling. The highlight was definitely Angus Hunt’s 45 metre kick to slot a goal on the run, earning him three points this week. A great display of midfield magic by Beau Gaughan earnt him the two points and one point went to Ben Flynn for his absolute outstanding mark on the boundary line. It was a very courageous loss, going down 27-23 in the last 30 seconds.
We look forward to this week’s fixture: SPX v Mosman Prep – 4.50 pm bounce - Barker #1
Basketball: Grading continues this Thursday. Team lists for the Term 4 Season will go onto the App in the next week or so with the season draw and information letter also available. The first game of season is on Saturday 19 October.
Cricket: Teams have been announced and training now resumes for the fast-approaching season. Thanks in advance to the parent volunteers for giving up your time to guide the players through the season, and also to the Cricket Club who do an enormous amount in organising, staffing and funding Cricket at SPX. A reminder boys can bring their own kit bag to Oxford Falls Thursday Sport sessions (or use the school issue gear provided). At the least boys must have a protector and personal gloves.
NSTA Tennis: Grading for the new Term 4 Season will be completed shortly. The season begins on 19 October and relevant information including team lists and a draw will be disseminated to players after the grading meeting.
Softball: A season draw and team list will be available via the App in the next week. The first game of the Term 4 season is on Saturday 19 October.
Winter Sport/Co-curricular Photos: Our Winter Sport/Co-curricular photos have now been taken. Hard-copy order forms were given to students and are due back by to the Student Office by the end of this term. A PDF form is also attached below should you require it.
Mr Greg Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster