Junior School News
From the Head of Junior School
As Term 2 draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the many memorable moments that have shaped the past nine weeks in the Junior School. It has been a term full of learning, creativity, and connection, with our students engaging in a wide range of academic, co-curricular, and community experiences that continue to foster their growth and enthusiasm for school life.
We were excited to launch our Garden Club and Worm Farm initiative, promoting sustainability and hands-on Science in a way that captured the imagination of so many of our students. Many thanks to Mrs Doheny, Mr Makhoul and Mrs Gill for their efforts.
On the academic front, students challenged themselves in Maths Megaminds, the Maths Olympiad, the UNSW Programming Competition, and the Da Vinci Decathlon, where our team proudly placed third in Ideation. Our budding debaters represented the school in IPSHA Debating and one of our Creative Quills, Dario Leotta (Year 6) achieved outstanding success in Writing, winning both the Stanton Library and SPX Micro Fiction Writing competitions.
On the sporting field, our winter players - and their fearless, frostbitten parents - braved some icy early mornings to represent the school in our IPSHA competitions. Whether clutching takeaway coffee like a lifeline or cheering from the sidelines in layers of puffer jackets, our families showed true grit! Our students also rose to the occasion with fantastic performances across AFL, rugby, and football. A big thank you to Mr Bourke for coordinating our teams, and to the Junior School staff who gave up their Saturday sleep-ins to coach and cheer on their teams.
Balancing out the chill was a spectacularly sunny day at Sydney Olympic Park, where our students showcased their speed, stamina and sportsmanship at the Junior School Athletics Carnival. With everything from high jumps to House chants, it was a brilliant day of energy and enthusiasm.
Term 2 was filled with rich, hands-on learning and memorable experiences that brought learning to life beyond the classroom. Students delved into the fascinating world of electrical circuits during the Fizzics Education incursion, found their groove during dance lessons at Oxford Falls, and showcased their musical talents in the Junior Chorale’s performance at Pius Unplugged.
Junior School students also took part in the Peer Mentoring Program and gave their voices to the My Mind Check and Wellbeing surveys - important opportunities for reflection and connection that support their social and emotional development.
This term also brought us together as a community in so many meaningful ways. From the joy of the Mother’s Day Mass and the spirit of Founder’s Day, to the comedy and fierce bidding of the Rugby Club Dinner, the drama and delight of Oliver Twist, and the unforgettable James Morrison workshops and performance, we’ve had much to celebrate - and even more to be proud of.
May the next three weeks offer you rest, renewal, and the simple joy of being with those you love. We look forward to welcoming students back to the College on Tuesday 22 July, refreshed and ready for another exciting term of learning.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
JUNIOR SCHOOL DANCE PERFORMANCE
After four weeks of dedicated rehearsals, this morning our students took to the stage for a high-energy dance performance that had the audience smiling from start to finish.
The performance was the culmination of weeks of practice during dance lessons, where students not only learned choreography but also built confidence, coordination, and collaboration skills. For many, this was their first time performing in front of a live audience and they rose to the occasion with impressive flair and courage.
Thank you to our wonderful REDED dance instructors for their encouragement and expertise, and to our families for cheering the students on. It was a fantastic way to celebrate creativity, expression, and the end of term in the Junior School!
MATHS OLYMPIAD
Congratulations to those students who competed in the recent Maths Olympiad. Seventy students across Years 5 and 6 competed with excellent results across the board. Special mention to Chatzden Ng in 6 Gold for his 100% result across the five questions.
JUNIOR SCHOOL DEBATING (from Ms Shaba – Junior School Debating Convenor)
It has been a very busy term for our debaters. With few exceptions, almost all the students are taking part in this activity for the first time. The team have worked hard to build their skills, working on argumentation, rebuttals and thematic analysis.
Our first debates took place at Oxford Falls Grammar. The topic up for discussion was whether school assemblies should be banned. It was fantastic to have St Pius X families there to support the students. On that occasion, our debaters arguing the affirmative case were victorious. The negative case proponents unfortunately suffered a narrow loss.
Our second round of fixtures were also away debates; this time hosted by Mosman Prep Blue. A series of rather interesting arguments were presented in relation to the topic that “It is better to have one best friend rather than a group of friends.” The adjudicator praised Pius students for their strong ideas and confident delivery, encouraging the debaters to keep refining their rebuttal technique. Mosman Prep were successful in winning both the affirmative and negative case for this round.
We were very happy to host our third series of debates against Sydney Grammar, St Ives. “That all junk food should be sold in plain packaging” proved to be quite a challenging premise to argue for both schools. The adjudicator was impressed with the depth of research presented by all students as well as their consideration of a broad range of societal factors. The results were extremely close, with Grammar claiming victory across the debates.
Since these initial rounds, the debaters have been hard at work analysing their previous fixtures and levelling up their rebuttal strategies. Lunch time training has also focused on developing more complex arguments that consider caveats, contingencies and counter-factuals.
We look forward to resuming the debating season in the first week of Term 3. Our opponents for round four will be Mosman Prep Red. This will be a home debate in the Junior Resource Centre (Junior Library).
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Junior School Sport
Junior School Sport – Term 2 Wrap-Up
As Term 2 draws to a close, we reflect on what has been a vibrant and action-packed term of Junior School Sport. From the energy of weekly winter sport training sessions to the commitment shown across seven rounds of Saturday sport, our students have embraced every opportunity to grow, compete, and represent the College with pride.
This term also featured some major highlights, including the IPSHA Cross Country Carnival, the Junior School Athletics Carnival, and a number of IPSHA trials and CIS championship selections, a testament to the talent and dedication of our young athletes.
We also celebrated community and camaraderie through events like the SPX Rugby Dinner and our Supporters Days, which brought families, staff, and students together in the true spirit of sport.
None of these experiences would be possible without the tireless efforts of our amazing teachers and coaches, whose passion and commitment make every session and event run smoothly. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our wonderful families for their ongoing support on the sidelines and behind the scenes.
We look forward to carrying this momentum into Term 3!
Junior School House Dance Showcase
Today’s House Dance Showcase was a fantastic celebration of creativity, teamwork, and house spirit. Over the past four weeks, the students have worked incredibly hard, and their efforts were on full display with some truly impressive performances.
There was plenty of talent, energy, and enthusiasm on stage, and it was wonderful to see each house bring their own unique flair to the showcase.
A huge thank you to all the parents and families who attended and supported the students, it made the day even more special.
Congratulations to PURTON for taking out the top spot!
Junior School Athletics Squad Update
All results from the Athletics Carnival have now been tallied, and the Junior School Athletics Squad will be selected based on these performances. Please note that IPSHA has high qualifying standards, and our selections will be cross-checked against these benchmarks. Some squad members may be close or just behind these standards and with regular training may work up to the required mark to qualify for the IPSHA Carnival.
Squad nominations will be based on times, distances, and heights achieved at the carnival. Training details will be shared directly with selected students and their families.
Age Champions will also be announced early in Term 3.
For students wishing to nominate for the 1500m event, races for all age groups will be held during Thursday Sport at Oxford Falls in Week 1 of Term 3.
Term 3 Weekly Sport Calendar
Winter Sport Results
Football
Rugby
AFL
Student Success..
Cross Country: Emilio C represented IPSHA at the CIS Cross Country Championships on a beautiful day for racing. He completed the course in a time of 12:59, placing 54th overall. While he wasn’t entirely satisfied with his result, he showed great determination and resilience to get it done. Well done, Emilio!
Football: Christian Castorina proudly represented IPSHA at the CIS Football Championships, helping his team top their pool and reach the final, where they were narrowly defeated. Josh Hallet played with the Barbarians and showcased some incredible goalkeeping skills that caught the attention of selectors. His standout performance earned him a spot in the CIS team that will compete at the NSWPSSA Championships next term. Congratulations to both boys on their achievements!
Junior School Sport – Supporter's Day Recap
Last weekend’s Supporter's Day was a fantastic celebration of school spirit and community. With all Junior school teams playing at home each team took to the field with great energy and enthusiasm in their matches against The Scots College and St Aloysius’ College. It was wonderful to see the students representing the College with pride and determination across all teams. There were some positive results on the day, with the 11C, 11D and Prep A taking home wins!
A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and families who came along to support the players, there was plenty of positive energy and it made the morning even more special. We’re looking forward to hosting more Supporter's Days in Term 3, stay turned for further announcements.
St Pius X July Holiday Camp Program 30 June - 3 July
A fantastic way to start the July holiday break with 2, 3 and 4 day options.
A free bus to and from the Chatswood Campus for the first 60 registrations.
ABOUT THE COERVER COACHING HOLIDAY CAMP
Coerver Coaching holiday camps offer a fun-filled soccer experience. Each day will include, Ball Mastery, 1v1 Game Moves and Small sided Games.
There will also be a 5v5 tournament played throughout the camp!
These camps are the perfect way for the boys to maintain their fitness levels and stay in touch with the game during their holiday break and come back in great shape for the second half of the football season.
We are also running a competition for one lucky player to win a brand new top of the line pair of Adidas boots! Any player who registers for a 4-day camp at any of our holiday clinics goes into the draw to win! The draw will take place on 18 July with the winner notified by email.
Simply scan the QR Code on the flyer to register for the camp or go to https://coerver.com.au/school-programs
For more information email: sydneyns@coerver.com.au
Mr James Bourke - Junior School Football Convenor
SPX Junior AFL Update
Great win for the students today with a strong 78–35 victory! The team showed terrific attack on the ball and moved it quickly into our forward line, keeping the pressure on throughout the game. Standout performances came from Sam N, Allen, and Jackson. Well done, team!
Stuart Mackinlay - AFL Coach
SPX Junior Rugby Report
Round 7 of the IPSHA competition saw multiple excellent results and matches across all formats of rugby. SPX students played as a team, with pride and determination, and didn't stop playing until the final whistle. It was pleasing to see the 7's players enjoying themselves so much in their fixtures, securing two terrific victories against Cranbrook and King's. The U11A's secured a resounding victory over Shore, while the Prep's fell agonisingly short against St Aloysius. Having seen all rugby players growing in confidence and ability, I feel that the following quote summarises the amazing progress made so far. Enjoy your holidays, and I look forward to our final three rounds next term.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard” - Jean de Villiers (former Springboks captain, 109 test caps)
Student Success:
CIS Rugby Trials:
We wish Billy C, Nate F, Noah F and Angus W the best of luck as they trial for the CIS rugby team over Wednesday and Thursday.
State Champs:
Congratulations to the following students on their selections for their respective rep rugby teams. These students will be participating in the State Champs, held in Mudgee and Taree during the holidays:
Gordon Rugby:
U11: Jack C, Lachie D, Ollie H, Tommy K, Lachie S
U12: Angus W, Hudson B
Norths:
U11: Oscar H
Manly Marlins:
U11: Haarlem F
Randwick:
U11: Nate F, Noah F
Warringah Rats:
U11: Ollie T
U12: Billy C
Rugby Gala Dinner
Still thinking about how awesome our Rugby Gala Dinner was? 🥂 Let’s bring it all back to life!
We’re excited to share the photos and videos that made the night so special — replay the magic, relive the memories, and share the good vibes!
🎥 Videos:🏉 Owen Finegan – 1999 World Cup:https://youtu.be/iCqmF_g4pAc
🔥 SPX Gala Fireside Chat – Owen Finegan & Chloe Dalton:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMDWiuMThtE
🎞️ SPX 2025 Rugby Gala Highlights Reel:https://youtu.be/IucmGTSlJbg?si=Zx4UGfaBhcF-RDmQ
📸 Photos – Request access with your GMAIL account:🧢 Junior Photos:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10eDys5n3ay3LNelC8pMNdG9C8hzgd1fY?usp=drive_link
💛 Consider a donation to The Kids’ Cancer Project — where our keynote speaker Owen Finegan is now in his 10th year as CEO. It’s a cause close to his heart and one we’re proud to support:🎗️ https://tkcp-x-lions-tour-2025.raiselysite.com/donate
Thanks again for making it such a memorable night! 🏉
Mr Callum Montgomerie- Junior School Rugby Convenor
Information via Clipboard
To stay up-to-date with training schedules and game fixtures, please ensure you regularly check the Clipboard app. Training and fixtures are accessible directly within the app, and any changes will be updated there as well.
Important Reminder
To receive timely updates and notifications regarding changes to fixtures or training sessions, please ensure:
Notifications are enabled both within the Clipboard app settings and on your mobile device. The have the option to receive push notifications and/or email prompts.
Please regularly review the app for any schedule updates.
Fixtures will be initially entered as UNCONFIRMED, by Thursday each week they will be CONFIRMED by opposition schools and a notification will be sent to families.
Please check clipboard regularly for any changes to the schedule.
Some fixtures are subject to weather, on occasion this can lead to cancellations. This will occur via the Clipboard app, you should receive a notification if a fixture is cancelled, but please check the app on the morning before leave to ensure you are up to date with any changes.
Logging an Absence
If your son is unable to attend a Saturday fixture due to sickness or injury, you can log his absence directly through Clipboard by following these steps:
Log in to Clipboard using your parent account.
Navigate to the Calendar page.
Click on 'Log an Absence' and follow the prompts to submit.
As a courtesy, please email Mr Bourke at Jbourke@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au prior to the fixture, if possible, by Thursday. For all other absences a request needs to be sent to Mr Bourke for approval.
For normal school day absences, please continue to follow the standard school process.
Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator
Junior School Chess
Last Friday saw another exciting round of chess matches as all three Junior School teams took to the boards in a spirited display of strategy and skill. Team B played their final game of the season - finishing out their campaign against Redlands with focus, discipline, and determination while Teams A (vs Artarmon) and Team C (vs Beauty Point) also kept the atmosphere buzzing with their tactical brilliance.
Looking ahead, Team A and Team C each have one remaining match, scheduled for next term.
Congratulations to Team B on a well-fought season, and best of luck to Teams A and C in their final matches!
Miss Raelene Boyle - Chess Coach