Junior School News
WOODCHAT (For busy families who just want the facts, fast!)
HAIR POLICY
We understand that many students wish to express their individuality through their appearance, and we appreciate that personal style is an important part of growing up. There will be many opportunities throughout life to make personal choices about hairstyles and fashion. However, while students are enrolled at St Pius X College, they are expected to comply with the College's uniform and grooming expectations.
These expectations exist to promote fairness, consistency and a sense of belonging within our school community. It is not fair for the majority of students who follow the College's expectations if others choose not to do so.
At the beginning of the term, a number of students returned with haircuts that did not comply with the College's Hair Policy. We are giving those students an opportunity to address any non-compliant hairstyles. This may mean allowing their hair to grow so that it can be styled in accordance with the College's expectations, or having it cut so that it complies.
We ask parents to support the College by ensuring any necessary adjustments are made promptly. We appreciate your partnership in helping maintain the high standards that are a hallmark of our school community.
If you have any questions about what characterises a compliant haircut, please speak with your son’s classroom teacher.
GOING AWAY? FEELING SICK?
If your son is absent from school during term time, the college has a legal obligation to document why he isn’t at school. Please see the examples below which will help you to understand the process. We appreciate it is somewhat complex, however there are different rules for different types of leave and for different durations of leave.
The leave form can be found here: www.spx.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/SPX-Application-for-Leave.pdf
FATHER AND SON SPORTS DAY – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Junior School Father and Son Sports day is coming up on Thursday 3 September.
We are looking for 8-10 volunteers to arrive from 10:00 am to help with the morning tea and BBQ lunch for the fathers and students.
If you can give one or two hours of your time, please contact Bridget Hawthorne in the Junior School at bhawthorne@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
It is a fantastic day for our dads and their sons, so come along and be one of the few mums with a bird's eye view of all the action!
AUSTRALIAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION
Congratulations to all 97 students who took part in the Australian Mathematics Competition this week. The students performed admirably, testing their problem-solving skills against the nation's best young mathematicians. Their hard work practising ahead of time meant that participants could calmly and strategically approach the session. Thank you to Mrs Williams, Mrs Schiller and Mr Makhoul for their assistance with supervision and special thanks to Ms Shaba for her organisation of the event.
Raw scores will be available to teachers in coming weeks, with official results likely to be released early next month. Papers will be sent home after 12 October, following the conclusion of the Australian Mathematics Trust embargo.
GROWING TOWARDS WHOLENESS PROGRAM
On Monday 17 August, Year 6 students will participate in a two-hour Growing Towards Wholeness Program which will be delivered by presenters from Catholic Care Australia. The 2-hour program forms part of the Term 3 Personal Development and Health (PDH) unit that examines the changes that occur during puberty.
The Growing Towards Wholeness Program provides students with Catholic, values-based, and life-affirming personal development in a safe, open, and professional manner. The program is delivered in the classroom setting by professionally trained and experienced facilitators. Students receive workbooks to use during the sessions, along with activities to complete afterwards.
There will be a parent information session on Wednesday 12 August from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. This optional, but highly recommended, session allows parents to better understand the program and what their son is learning. This allows parents to be better equipped to deal with changes that come with adolescence.
Meeting ID: 883 0609 9267
Passcode: 094584
Students will have an opportunity to:
Build a strong sense of identity
Feel connected with and contribute to their world
Become confident and involved learners
Understand what effective communication is
Think critically about choices which affect their development
This program is a compulsory part of the Stage 3 curriculum. The content is a mandatory component of the PDHPE syllabus; the only difference this year is that, rather than having classroom teachers deliver the material, we have engaged expert facilitators to work with the students. This will incur a small fee of $15.00 per student which will be charged to fees.
What parents and carers say about the program:
'It was helpful to know what material would be discussed with the students
and to prepare for any questions they might have.'
'I appreciated the advice to respond to their important questions when they ask
and not let the opportunity to talk to them pass because we are too busy.'
For more information on this program: https://www.catholiccare.org/school-services/growing-towards-wholeness
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Fixtures
Junior School Sport News
Term 4 Summer Sport Intentions Survey
Thank you to all families who completed the Summer Sport Survey. Team nominations have now been submitted to IPSHA, and grading will commence from Week 8 of this term.
Summer Sport registrations via Clipboard is OPEN.
Please refer to the information below regarding registration requirements for each sport.
IPSHA Basketball, Softball and Touch Football: If your son participated in any of these sports in Term 1, his registration will automatically carry over to Term 4 and no further action is required. If your son is joining one of these sports for the first time in Term 4, you will need to register via Clipboard. If your son is transferring between Basketball, Softball and Touch Football, we will process this change in Clipboard using the information provided in the Summer Sport Survey. No further action is required.
NSTA Tennis and MWJCA Cricket: These sports are commencing a new season in Term 4, 2026, which will continue through to Term 1, 2027. As a result, all students wishing to participate must complete a new registration via Clipboard.
Mixed Sport: There is no registration required for students not participating in summer sport. Students will take part in mixed sport activities during our Oxford Falls Thursday sessions.
Please refer to Clipboard for more sport specific information.
Term 3 Events
Junior School Dance Program Gets Underway
Today marked an exciting milestone as we commenced our Junior Dance Program and officially concluded our Winter Sport program for the term.
The Dance Program will continue each Thursday during Weeks 3-6, with students working alongside the REDed instructors to develop routines and prepare for a special performance later this term.
Program Schedule
Week 3: Students participated in a combination of Winter Sport training and Dance. All students are required to bring their winter sport training gear as normal.
Weeks 4 & 5: Dedicated Dance sessions as students continue to learn and refine their routines.
Week 6: Junior Dance Showcase performance. Further details will be shared closer to the event, which will form part of our Grandparents' Day celebrations.
We are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity and look forward to seeing our students embrace the challenge, build their confidence and showcase their talents over the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, our Father & Son Day will take place in Week 7. An invitation and additional details will be distributed shortly.
We look forward to seeing our students embrace this exciting opportunity and showcase their enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork.
Athletics Update
Athletics Squad training got underway this week, with a fantastic turnout and strong enthusiasm from students across the age groups. It was great to see so many students in attendance for our first week of training.
Selected students will soon receive nominations for the Barker Invitational Carnival taking place on Saturday 15 August.
We will also be conducting the 1500m event at Athletics training next Monday afternoon. This session is open to all athletes who wish to:
Earn the remaining Age Champion points available; and/or
Attempt to achieve the qualifying standard for IPSHA selection.
If your son would like to compete in the 1500m, please email me directly so that I can add him to the attendance list for next week's session.
Please note that participation in the Athletics Squad does not guarantee selection in the IPSHA team. Final team selection will be based on a combination of carnival performances, training attendance, results from invitational meets, and the achievement of IPSHA qualifying standards.
The final IPSHA team will be announced closer to the IPSHA Championships on Wednesday 27 August.
Term 3 Athletics Training Information
Training will take place at: Dunbar Park, Sobraon Rd, Marsfield
Time: 3:50 pm – 4:50 pm
Departure: 3:15 pm from Anderson Street
Training Schedule (only days with dates)
Students will receive invitation to attend the sessions, any and all junior school students are encouraged to attend if they wish to improve fitness and athletics skills levels.
Term 3 Winter ISPHA Season Dates
- Round 10: 8 August
Winter Sport
Football Club Fundraiser
The Football Club is holding their final fundraiser this weekend. Please see the details below and, if possible, take the opportunity to support the event. Donations of cakes, slices, or other treats for the cake stall would be greatly appreciated and will go a long way towards supporting our students, and ensuring the ongoing sustainability of the program. Thank you to all the families for their support and donations so far this season.
Uniform Reminder
All players are expected to wear their SPX-branded uniform to and from matches each Saturday as a proud representation of their school and team.
Team Tunnels
It was fantastic to see the increased uptake of our tunnel initiative last weekend, with many teams staying behind to cheer on the next SPX side taking the field.
As we head into the final round of the season, it would be wonderful to see every team tunnelled onto the field for their match.
Team Photo
We would also love each team to take a team photo following their match and share it with the College. If parents could assist coaches with this, it would be appreciated. These photos will be used as part of our Cocurricular Awards and end-of-season celebrations later this year.
Thank you to all players, coaches and families for embracing this initiative and helping make our final round a special one. Go SPX!
Last weekend was one of the most successful Saturdays in the history of SPX Football. With all ten teams playing at home, Oxford Falls was buzzing with energy, support and school spirit. The tunnel initiative continued to grow, with players staying behind to cheer on fellow SPX teams as they took the field, helping create a fantastic match-day atmosphere.
The results reflected the hard work of our players and coaches, with nine wins and one draw across the day. More importantly, the teamwork, sportsmanship and pride shown in the SPX jersey were evident in every match.
As we head into the final round this weekend, it is worth recognising the tremendous growth of the football program in 2026. Participation numbers, coaching support and team performances have all continued to improve, helping establish SPX Football as one of the leading programs within the IPSHA community. The success achieved this season provides a strong foundation for the future and is a credit to our players, coaches and families who have embraced the vision for football at the College.
Oxford Falls BBQ, Bake Sale and coffee cart
The Football Supporters Club BBQ & Bake Sales have been so well supported this season - thank you to all volunteers and customers alike. Come and grab something to eat and a coffee to go with it. If you'd like to contribute any baked goods one last time this season, please contact Priscilla at pleasepris@hotmail.com and bring them along on the day.
End of Season Football Event
PLEASE NOTE - we would ask that you don't leave your ticket purchases to the last minute. If we don't have a quorum of willing football socialisers by mid-August, we will need to cancel - out of deference to the venue (given they are our wonderful sponsors).
Tickets include hot snack food and you can buy your own drinks at the bar - come for a little while or stay for a lot!
Saturday 29 August, 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Chatswood RSL - Yogi's Sports Bar
Full details and tickets can be found here - https://events.humanitix.com/2026-st-pius-x-football-end-of-season-event
Dress Code: Casual
Note: This is an adults-only event for parents, carers and SPX staff.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Matt Zanello - President SPX Football Supporter's Club
Junior SPX Rugby
Mr Callum Montgomerie - Junior School Rugby Convenor
Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator
Cricket Registrations - 2026/27 Season
Registrations for the 2026/27 cricket season are now open. Both registrations must be completed by Friday 7 August for both Junior and Senior School students.
Registration requirements
Each player is required to complete two separate registrations:
School sign-up via Clipboard, indicating your son's intention to play cricket for the College. Please select the dedicated cricket registration form, which is available through the College's Clipboard App and can be accessed via the College website.
MWJCA registration via PlayHQ, which registers your son with the association for team placement.
A player is not considered registered until both registrations have been completed.
PlayHQ registration links
Stage 2 (Year 5 and 6): https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/0fbd05
Stage 3 (Year 7 and above): https://www.playhq.com/cricket-australia/register/a5d9ca
Players intending to participate in ISA
Please note: Any student intending to try out for the ISA competition this season needs to register for MWJCA first — upon conclusion of trials and gaining selection, players will be provided with a separate ISA link at a later date to complete a transfer.
Players intending to play ISA should register under Stage 3.
Enquiries
Any questions regarding cricket registration should be directed to Mr Balboa at RBalboa@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
Mr Ryan Balboa - MWJCA Cricket Convenor