Junior School News 

• From the Head of the Junior School
• Junior School Sport
• From the Junior Resource Centre

From the Head of the Junior School

MMG EDUCATION SURVEY

Thank you to those parents who recently filled out a survey conducted by MMG Education.  The survey provides St Pius X with feedback from staff, students and parents and provides a framework in which we can celebrate what we are doing well, as well as ideas for improvement. 

We have only received a very brief overview of the survey to-date however, one of the recommendations from a small number of respondents was that the Junior School Woodchatta news be reduced so that busy readers could get just the essential information.  To satisfy those readers who just want the essential information, I will be putting the essential information in dot points at the start of my weekly Woodchatta. For those of you with more time, you will be able to read on for more detail.

WOODCHATTA IN BRIEF – for busy readers who just want the essentials!

• Thursday in Weeks 5, 6, 7:          Swim/Surf program continues
• Monday 25 November:                Year 6 Graduation at Oxford Falls from 12:45 pm
• Friday 29 November:                    Year 6 PLD (laptop) return

WOODCHATTA IN FULL – for readers who want all the details and more!

MICROFICTION COMPETITION

Congratulations to Year 6 student and Creative Quill Ashworth Hilton on his success in the annual St Pius X Microfiction Writing Competition that is run by the Senior School English faculty.

MATHS OLYMPIAD

Congratulations to our top performing Maths Megaminds who were presented their Maths Olympiad awards at the whole-school assembly last Wednesday: 

PLD RETURN – FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER

On Friday 29 November, Year 6 students will return their PLD (laptops) to the ICT Department.  Keep an eye out for an email from the ICT Department with details on how you can purchase your son’s laptop, if you wish.

NEW PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for someone to speak on behalf of our current families at last night’s New Parent Information Night.  Special thanks to Mrs Lubba and Mrs Martinez for speaking so beautifully about the positive experience their sons have had at St Pius X.

FATHER AND SON CAMPING WEEKEND PHOTOS

Thank you, Mr Koruga, for the photos from the recent Father and Son Camping trip to Narrabeen.  From all reports, a great time was had by all.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION LITURGY AND AFTERNOON TEA 

Please register your attendance – and upload a Kindy photo – via this form: 

Monday 25 November | 12:45 pm at Oxford Falls

Please register your attendance – and upload a photo of your son when he was in Kindy for the  liturgy presentation – via this form:

Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.

Mrs Jill Greenwood -  Head of the Junior School 

Junior School Sport

Fixtures 

Thursday Sport

This week marked the beginning of our Swim/Surf Program, which will continue for the next three weeks. All students will be participating in this exciting initiative.

If you plan to pick up your son from the respective venues, please ensure you do so by no later than 2:10 pm. It is important to inform your son’s class teacher of this arrangement each week to ensure a smooth transition.

For additional details about the program, please refer to the letter which was distributed earlier this term.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to an enjoyable and enriching experience for all the students!

Results from IPSHA Round 9

Match Reports

SPX Junior Basketball 

This week’s games showcased some fantastic performances from our students in the Junior School Basketball program. The A team delivered an impressive display of teamwork and strategy, working seamlessly together to secure a solid win. Their communication on the court was exceptional, contributing to their effective offense and defence throughout the match.

Similarly, the B and C teams put forth an outstanding effort, demonstrating their commitment and determination. Their ability to support one another, share the ball, and create scoring opportunities was a testament to their growing cohesion as a unit.

A special highlight of the round was the Blue 2 team, who achieved a thrilling win with a narrow margin under the guidance of Mr Makhoul. Their composure in the closing moments of the game was commendable, showcasing their ability to stay focused under pressure.

While not every team achieved the results they hoped for, the spirit and effort displayed by all players was commendable. The D and E teams fought valiantly, showing resilience and teamwork despite facing narrow losses, while the F team managed a draw, which speaks to their determination and fighting spirit.

Mr Bourke - Basketball Convenor

SPX Junior Touch Football

This past Saturday, the SPX Junior Touch Football teams demonstrated impressive teamwork and sportsmanship on the field. The A1 team faced Redlands and showed great collaboration, utilising effective communication and strategy throughout the match.

The A2 team also exhibited strong team dynamics while playing against Redlands, working well together to create scoring opportunities and defend effectively. The B1 team’s match against Riverview highlighted their determination and teamwork, as they adapted to challenges on the field with resilience.

In their game against Waverley, the B2 team displayed commendable teamwork, with players supporting one another and maintaining a positive attitude throughout the match.

As the season progresses, all teams are aiming to enhance their defensive strategies and improve their cohesion in fast-paced situations. The focus for upcoming rounds will be on building stronger connections on the field and refining their skills to elevate their overall performance. Congratulations to all our players for their effort and commitment!

Mr Buda and Mr Montgomerie - Touch Football Coaches

SPX Junior Softball - Blue 

I’m pleased to share that we had a great game, played mostly in the rain! The boys showcased impressive skills and teamwork, securing a fantastic 10-7 victory.

This match demonstrated significant improvement from our first game of the term, particularly in the fielding component, where the students displayed fabulous teamwork. Their collaboration and communication on the field were truly commendable.

Keep up the great work, team! Looking forward to seeing continued growth in our next match!

Miss Lana Shaba - Softball Coach

District Cricket Reports

SPX Junior U12s

Another tough week for SPX Blue.  Under sparkling skies at Oxford Falls, St Pius X won the toss and elected to bowl.  They had a strong start with 4 quick wickets, however the runs got away, and they had a chase of 167 runs.   SPX were all out for 53.  Two wickets for both Daniel Tully and Samuel Seeto and Jacob Jose led the batting with 17.  Good luck this Saturday!

Therese Tully - Cricket Manager 

SPX Junior U13s

St Pius X batted first against Collaroy and made a bright start with 1/40 off the first 10 overs with Dylan Milostic and Nick Belov in fine form.  Unfortunately, we suffered a big collapse, posting 86 all out.

Collaroy chased the total down for the loss of two wickets.  We bowled well keeping a tight line and were unlucky not to have several more wickets. We anticipate the students will bounce back solidly with bat and in the field in our next encounter against St Augustine’s.

Dylan Milostic played a mature, fluent innings and received man of the match.

Andrew Ward - Cricket Coach 

Swimming Squad Training – Term 4, 2024: 

Training continues this week, here are the details:

• 7:10 am at Fitness First, Chatswood (24 Endeavour St, Chatswood) 
• Suitable swimwear, goggles and swim cap are all essential (no cap, no swim)
• Students wear PE/ Pius Sports Uniform to the sessions. At 8.15 am the students are walked back to school by staff. They then change into school uniform. A snack/breakfast is also recommended at this point.
• Training days/dates:

Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator

Summer Tennis

NSTA

Another great weekend of tennis was had by all. Luckily for the NSTA players we were able to play through the small amount of rain that we had to get all the games in at Talus St. 

At 8:00 am, SPX25 and SPX27 were very well matched in their games, with SPX25 just winning by 14 games to 13, their doubles came down to a nail-biting finish. Nathan Hon and Eric Park, SPX24 played some excellent tennis against Redlands 23, the girls from Redlands tried their best but they were outplayed on the day. Ollie Willems and Henry Auer, SPX20 played an excellent doubles match against Reddam 7 winning 6 games to 3. Thank you again to Lachlan and Jake Yu for helping us out on the day. 

The 10:00 am matches began with a little sprinkle of rain but this didn’t dampen the spirits of the players. Alex Dal Molin and Aiden Chan, SPX3 played some awesome tennis, both winning their singles 6-4 and 6-2 respectively. Alfred Hu, Patrick Hu and Noah Safarian, SPX6; Angus Gibson, Nicholas Kwan and Andrew Buskens, SPX7 and James Stapleton and Ben Crichton, SPX10 all showed their strength against their opponents from Redlands all winning all 3 sets. 

GREEN BALL

Unfortunately the rain at Oxford Falls pooled on the courts and the green ball games had to be cancelled. 

Don’t forget if it does rain, please make sure that you check the College app for any updates on the status of play at the various venues. 

Mrs Samantha Iwatani - Summer Tennis  Convenor

From the Junior Resource Centre

LIBRARIES CHANGE LIVES – From lifelong learning and education to health and well being.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the reading habits you have cutivated over the last three months. Whether you have explored new genres, revisited old favourites, or discovered hidden gems, cherish the journey and the memories made between the pages. 

Winners of the NAME THAT VILLAIN Guessing Competition are:

Alex Zhang, Ryan De-Fina, Michael Capra, Nicholas Halim. 

Dragon Ball Z has arrived in the JRC!

Now this is epic! Dragon Ball Z is being enjoyed by our Year 6 readers in the JRC.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Zoo-Wee Mama! Just when you thought there were no more, another new release! The new Diary of a Wimpy Kid doesn’t have to be a HOT MESS! Pick it up in the JRC today! Just be careful not to get the cheese touch!

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: The Encyclopaedia of Extinct Animals by Sami Bayly

Teddy has discovered the incredible features and characteristics of some of the natural world’s most fascinating extinct and critically endangered animals in the latest gorgeously illustrated hardcover encyclopaedia from award winning and illustrator Sami Bayly.

#mrsmartinsbooktrail2024

Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian