Junior School News
From the Head of Junior School
SOCIAL MEDIA AGE-RESTRICTION LAWS
Australia’s new social media age-restriction laws come into effect on 10 December 2025.
Under these laws, major platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube will no longer be permitted to allow children under 16 to create or keep an account.
This national shift recognises what we are seeing in the Junior School: primary-aged children who are not developmentally ready for the pressures, permanence, and pace of online social spaces.
While these laws won’t apply to all messaging or gaming platforms, they signal a clear expectation that children in Years 5 and 6 should not be navigating environments designed for older teenagers.
When they do, we see:
Friendship breakdowns that could have been easily repaired face-to-face
Anxiety and distress from reading comments over and over again
Exclusion and group dynamics that become amplified online
Loss of sleep from constant notifications
Confusion about how to fix an issue that feels 'permanent' because it’s written down
As a school, we will continue to educate students about respectful online behaviour. But this is something we cannot tackle alone. Your partnership is essential.
Parents are encouraged to consider:
Limiting or delaying access to mobile phones
Restricting or supervising group chats (an existing Year 5 chat sees students bombarded with up to 100 notifications a day)
Setting firm boundaries around device use after school and at night (students tell me that they get notifications from as early as 5:00am and as late as midnight).
Having regular conversations with your child about what they are seeing and doing online
Our students deserve the chance to grow, make mistakes, regroup, and repair friendships without the added pressure of an online audience. Thank you for your support as we work together to protect their wellbeing and nurture the healthy relationships they will carry into high school.
For more on the college's commitment, please refer to the following document.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
YEAR 6 SURF SAFETY PROGRAM
Our first two weeks at Dee Why Beach were fantastic, with perfect weather setting the scene for an exciting start. Led by former Ironman champion Craig Riddington, the Sea Education program provides students with a structured and engaging introduction to ocean safety and essential surf skills.
YEAR 6 GRADUATION | Friday 21 November 2025 | Christian Brothers Centre, Oxford Falls
We look forward to welcoming families and friends to the Year 6 Graduation Liturgy and Afternoon Tea at Oxford Falls tomorrow. Our liturgy will begin at 12:15 pm. All students will need to bring recess and lunch tomorrow (ie canteen will not be available). Year 6 students are asked to wear full summer uniform (no blazer).
YEAR 6 SCIENCE
Year 6 have been deeply engaged in practical science investigations this term. Their recent work on fair testing has encouraged them to explore observable phenomena in their immediate environment. Working across classes, students have designed and carried out their own experiments, asking meaningful questions, collating data and comparing results.
Students have refined their ability to think like scientists, identifying suitable variables to change, measure and control. Throughout the term they have investigated a range of physical and chemical changes, discovering how everyday reactions can be better understood when viewed scientifically.
A highlight of the unit has been watching students confidently discuss their ideas, justify their choices, and reflect upon the validity, accuracy and reliability of their results. Their willingness to question their preconceptions is testament to their open-mindedness and learning maturity.
DEBATING by Ms Shaba
Congratulations to all debaters who took part in the IPSHA competition this year. To celebrate the remarkable achievements of these speakers, Ms Shaba organised one final reflection session. The debaters shared highlights from the year and tips they would give to those considering taking part in 2026. Many of the students were grateful for the opportunity to travel to different schools and interact with people their own age across greater Sydney. They enjoyed team strategising sessions and grappling with contemporary issues.
While most participants stated that debating can be quite challenging, the many rewarding aspects of this competitive activity were highlighted. One debater even remarked that this experience has now given him the confidence to speak up more often in other spheres of his life.
It has been inspiring to watch the students refine their skills each week, gradually increasing the sophistication of their arguments, examples and rebuttals. Their willingness to support one another, embrace feedback and step up to new roles has been a standout feature of the season.
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Fixtures
Junior School Sport
As we approach the end of the summer season for 2026, we want to extend a massive thank you to all our Cricketers, Basketballers, Tennis players, Softballers, and Touch Football players for your commitment and active participation throughout the season. Your effort, teamwork, and enthusiasm have been outstanding and truly reflect the spirit of SPX.
A special thank you also goes to our parents and families for your ongoing support, whether it’s cheering from the sidelines, helping with scoring and coaching, or simply encouraging our players to give their best.
Best of luck to all teams competing this weekend! Play hard, play fair, and enjoy every moment.
If parents are able to capture some team photos at the end of matches and send them through, we would greatly appreciate it. These will help us celebrate the season at our Sports Awards event in Week 8, and showcase the incredible efforts of our players.
Thank you again for making this season such a success.
Sports & Academic Awards – Tuesday 2 December
We are delighted to invite all parents and families to join us for the Sports and Academic Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, 2 December.
Time: 11:30 am in the School Gym at Chatswood.
This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements and successes of our students, both in the classroom and on the sporting field. Your presence will make this occasion even more special as we acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and talent of our young men.
We look forward to seeing you there as we come together to recognise and applaud their efforts!
Armidale Rugby Tour 2026 – Expressions of Interest Closing Soon!
Thank you to all the families who have already completed the expression of interest form, we appreciate your support and enthusiasm!
Expressions for Year 6 students will close on Monday, 24 November. If we don’t reach the required numbers, we’ll open the opportunity to our Year 5 families for 2026, so they can also join this exciting tour.
This promises to be an incredible experience for our students to play competitive rugby, build friendships, and create lasting memories.
Event: The Armidale School Rugby Carnival
Dates: 12–14 April 2026
Don’t miss out! Click the link below to register your interest:
The Armidale School Rugby Carnival 2026 - Expressions of Interest – Fill out form
Stay tuned for more updates as planning continues.
Exciting News for SPX Junior School Football!
We’re excited to announce that plans are in motion for a 2026 Football Tour to Queensland, where a team may have the opportunity to compete in the EREA Football Tournament!
While final details are still being confirmed, this promises to be an incredible experience for our players, both on and off the field.
Event Dates: 12–14 April 2026
Stay tuned for more information in next week’s edition of Woodchatta. This is shaping up to be a fantastic opportunity for our Junior School Football community!
Junior School Basketball Holiday Camps – Save the Date!
We’re excited to announce upcoming Basketball Holiday Camps for our Junior School players. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity to develop skills under the guidance of our 1st V coach, Jack Garrett.
Camp Dates:
Tuesday, 10 December – 8:00 am to 10:00 am
Tuesday, 17 December – 8:00 am to 10:00 am
Tuesday, 21 January – 8:00 am to 10:00 am
Why join?
Our Holiday Camp is the perfect chance to:
Sharpen skills and improve technique
Build confidence and teamwork
Gain valuable match experience
Make new friends and enjoy the holiday spirit
Whether you’re preparing for the season in Term 1 or simply love basketball, these camps are designed to help every player grow both on and off the court.
Stay tuned for registration details that will open soon in Clipboard.
Summer Sport Results
Basketball
Touch Football
Softball
Our team delivered a strong performance, consistently making solid contact at the plate and driving in runs to build early momentum. Effective base running and sharp awareness on each play helped us continue to build our lead throughout the game. Defensively, the fielders stayed composed, executing clean plays and limiting the opposition’s scoring opportunities. With steady pitching and confident batting, we secured a well-earned 16–7 victory.
Mrs Jennifer Williams - Softball Coach
Tennis
Season Recap
As we wrap up the season, I want to extend my sincere thanks to all students for their participation in the NSTA competition. Your commitment and enthusiasm have been outstanding, and I’m especially impressed with the punctuality of St Pius X students in arriving on time for both home and away games.
A special congratulations to Teams 9, 19 and 22, who achieved an incredible five-week winning streak! Let’s hope this weekend makes it six in a row!
This weekend
All game details have been updated on Clipboard. Please review them before your match so you are fully prepared. While the weather may pose a challenge, this weekend marks our final game of 2025: the Grand Final/Playoffs round.
Best of luck to all our teams!
Mr Christopher Nouragas - NSTA Tennis Convenor
Term 4 Dates: Sport Calendar
Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator