Junior School News
- From the Head of the Junior School
- Junior School Sport
- From the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior School Chess
From the Head of the Junior School
Remaining Term 2 dates for your diary:
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Students in Year 5 have been busy designing and building a bionic arm as part of their exploration of space this term. With an Australia-wide ban on plastic straws, our engineers had to think critically about how to create bionic fingers that could clasp an object. Well done 5 Red!
Science Incursion Recount by Nicholas Belov
Last week, our class ventured into the library to go to a Science Incursion (run by Fizzics Education). This incursion would teach us more about circuits and help us delve deeper into the world of electricity. We also had the chance to play and experiment with circuits. It was a fun incursion and a good chance to enjoy ourselves around learning.
When we arrived at the Junior Library, we met the instructor (we later learnt her name was Amelia). She was a cheerful lady with a huge amount of knowledge of Science. She is a scientist but also works with children at schools. She asked us the question, 'What is Electricity?' For a few seconds, nobody answered. Then, one by one, students in my class started raising their hands. They were all close, but not exactly right. I put my hand up and said, 'Electricity is the flow of Electrons.' I was correct.
Following this, Amelia gave us a rundown of the basic circuit information, most of which we already know. Then we went to the tables and got started with the circuits. We began with the basic circuits. They were easy and were done in under 10 minutes. Amelia sat us down again and we talked about different components on the circuits. LEDS, Batteries, flow, electricity only taking the quickest route. It was all quite interesting, and after this we went back to the tables.
We didn’t really sit down again after that as we were so into the circuits. We began with some other simpler circuits and we eventually skipped onto some complicated circuits. The first one that we really enjoyed was the motor (fan). It was really cool. If we flicked it while running, it would zoom off quickly. It hit people a few times. Another extremely satisfying and cool circuit was the buzzer. We were the first to create a buzzer. It was cool. If we placed different wires in various places, it would make different noises.
The incursion was a wonderful thing to do, and we all enjoyed it. Everyone was sad at the end because they wanted to continue.
SYDNEY EISTEDDFOD
Congratulations to those students who sang with the Junior Chorale at the Sydney Eisteddfod yesterday and then hot-footed it to Homebush to compete in the Athletics Carnival. More details can be found in the Performing Arts section of Woodchatta.
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
I thank all the teachers and parent helpers who worked so hard to make yesterday a success. A special thanks to Mr Bourke for his hard work preparing for what is a logistically complex day and congratulations to those students who got out of their comfort zones, gave everything a go, and helped heap on the points for their House.
CREATIVE QUILLS WRITING SKILLS
Our creative writers are currently working on submissions to the Write On! Competition and the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition. I continue to be impressed by the extraordinary talent in our writing group and now that we are together at lunchtime on Tuesdays, it’s lovely to see the interaction between the authors in Years 5 and 6. Please enjoy an excerpt from Isaac Roth’s submission based on the stimulus picture “The railway station, Redfern”:
Arthur Streeton (England/Australia 1867–1943),
The railway station, Redfern 1893, oil on canvas, 40.8 x 61 cm
Art Gallery of New South Wales, gift of Lady Denison 1942,
Image © Art Gallery of New South Wales 7209
Citrine Carriage (an extract)
by Isaac Roth
Sodden roads stretched along the expanse of the train station, tangled like snakes in a knot. Thekla Nezk shot an accusing glance as a spray of foaming water left irregular polygons of spray seeping through the cracks in her leatherwork. She stood here each day, her scarlet umbrella like a perfect dollop of paint on a rustic canvas. This was the place where her story began…
Thekla Nezk was found on the railway station at Redfern, a bright bulk of joy on the cobblestone path. ’They were all staring at me’ she remembered, the young glee and laughter as people touched her perfect, plump cheeks. A man named Hanz Toon was arguing as he scoffed a sponge cake, jam dripping from his mouth. ‘We cannot keep this young girl here!' I remember him saying as his brushed the gloopy scarlet mush from his chin, ceasing the onflow of the jam stream to an abrupt halt.
The man seemed distressed about me; I saw it in his eyes. He looked at me, and I almost thought there was a tear dripping down his cheek, but it could’ve been rain for all I know. Yet in that moment, we knew we needed each other, and we would need each other for the rest of our lives.
DEBATING WITH MS SHABA
After two away debates, the students were very excited to host St Ignatius' College, Riverview in the JRC on Friday 31 May as part of the ongoing IPSHA competition. The topic for Round 3 was 'Whether we should ban contact sports’.
Our Year 5 team were affirmative, and our Year 6 team were negative. I was particularly pleased to see the improvement that the debaters showcased in their rebutting skills, which are becoming quite substantial. Debates are often won or lost based on the strength of these counterarguments.
The debates were competitive and both schools were well-prepared. In terms of the results, the Year 5 team unfortunately lost their undefeated status, as opposed to Year 6, who emerged victorious. Early losses do not concern me as these can be a very formative experience!
Time spent reviewing the adjudicator’s feedback in detail will help support the students in their growth as speakers.
My sincere thanks to the parents who came to watch their sons perform. The students and I really do appreciate you making the time to support them.
The next debate will be on the 26 July (Term 3, Week 1) in the JRC (Junior Library).
Ms Lana Shaba
AFTERNOON OF THE ACHIEVERS | WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE
The Afternoon of the Achievers project sees our Year 6 students engaged in a term-long cycle of inquiry in which they have chosen a person who has immigrated, or is of immigrant descent, and gone on to make a significant contribution to Australia. Year 6 students have chosen someone who is of interest to them and have begun to research their life before they immigrated, their immigration journey, the problems and setbacks they faced, and the significant impact they made on this country.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 26 June, students will present what they have learnt about their notable person in the College gymnasium from 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm. Everyone is warmly invited to see the culmination of Year 6's work throughout Term 2.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact your son’s classroom teacher for more details.
DANCE CONCERT | THURSDAY 27 JUNE 12:45 PM – 1:20 PM
REDed (Raw Energy Dance Education) have your sons hipping and hopping as they prepare for a performance on Thursday 27 June from 12:45 pm – 1:20 pm. Everyone is welcome to come and watch the students perform and then stay at Oxford Falls for the Mid-Year Academic Awards.
MID-YEAR ACADEMIC AWARDS | THURSDAY 27 JUNE 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
After the Dance Concert, we will present Blue Academic Awards to those students (three from each class) who have shown “Consistent Effort Leading to Improvement” in Semester One. Following the awards, the students will be free to go home with parents or come back to the College for a normal dismissal.
Thursday 27 June will be the last day of Term 2 for students.
PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEWS | FRIDAY 28 JUNE
Parent/Teachers/Student meetings for Years 5 - 6 will be conducted ONLINE using Microsoft Teams on Friday 28 June 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
How to Book
Bookings are made using the Parent Sentral Portal under the Interviews tab and saved within the Sentral account.
All parents have been provided with login details for the Sentral Portal via email.
Bookings are now open and close Friday evening 21 June at 4:00 pm. If you need assistance with bookings, please contact Mrs Lisa Sutton:
Meetings are scheduled for 5 minutes. If more time is required, then we encourage both parent and teacher to work together and find a suitable time for further discussion.
These meetings are an important part of your child’s learning journey. In addition to receiving feedback from teachers, they are also an opportunity for students to reflect and recognise achievements and identify areas for continual growth.
ST PIUS X WINTER APPEAL
This term we are once again supporting St Vincent de Paul and the Jesuit Refugee Service through the St Pius X Winter Appeal. Collections will run across Weeks 6 – 8.
St Vincents are reporting that the inflation of basic food prices, as well as the recent resurgence of Covid-19 are having serious knock-on effects to communities that they serve.
If you are able to donate any of the following, it would be most appreciated:
FOOD: basmati rice, cooking oil, long life milk, tinned tuna, red kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, fruit, muesli bars, biscuits, oats and cereal.
TOILETRIES: nappies (large), toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo, sanitary pads, razors, shaving foam, deodorant (male and female) and soap.
CLOTHING: any good quality clothing or blankets in new or near new condition.
FATHER AND SON CAMPING WEEKEND
The Year 6 parent group are organising a father or special person/son camping overnighter at the NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park, North Narrabeen on Saturday 7 September.
For more details, please contact Michael Koruga: spxclassof2030@gamil.com
YEAR 6 PARENT NIGHT OUT
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School
Junior School Sport
Thursday Sport: Our Dance Program got off to a great start last week and will continue this week and Weeks 8 and 9. Boys need to ensure that they pack their own food in Week 8 as we will again be leaving prior to Recess.
Further details will be shared shortly regarding the Performance Showcase in Week 9.
CIS Cross Country:
In recent news, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Matthew Krizan for his outstanding representation of both ISPHA and St Pius X at the recent CIS Cross Country Championship. Matthew's impressive performance, finishing with a gun time of 00:12:29, secured him a commendable 28th place out of 96 competitors. His dedication and commitment exemplify the spirit of our school community, and we are incredibly proud of his achievements. Matthew's accomplishment, ranking 10th out of 14 participants from ISPHA, serves as an inspiration to us all and highlights the calibre of talent at this level.
House Athletics Carnival
Our annual Junior School House Athletics Carnival took place this week, and I'm delighted to announce that despite windy conditions, all boys enthusiastically participated, contributing points to their respective Houses. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all parents and carers for their unwavering support of our boys throughout the event. A special acknowledgment goes to those parents and carers who generously volunteered to assist staff with various events and activities; your contribution is greatly appreciated. For further details regarding the overall results, the winning house and age champions, please stay tuned for next week's edition of Woodchatta.
Student Success….
Baseball
Dominik Playle competed in the National Little League Baseball Championships last week after his team won the State Competition last term.
His team was undefeated throughout the tournament, scored an impressive 67 runs with only 6 against, which made them National Champions!
Dominik reported following;
Our team Manly Maroon were undefeated throughout 5 pool games and the Grand Final.
We played at the International Blacktown Sports Complex.
In the Grandfinal we won 3-0 against the Melbourne Twins.
Other teams we played against came from Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria.
I had a fantastic week and I feel honoured to play in the first Manly Baseball team to win the National Championships.
Cricket
We are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of two Year 6 SPX students at the Manly Warringah Junior Cricket Club award ceremony for the 23/24 season. Felix Keeler was honoured with the Best Bowling Figures award for his remarkable performance of 5 for 12 in the U13 Division 2. Additionally, Connor Koruga received the Highest Score award for his impressive achievement of 68 runs in the U12 Division 2. Congratulations to Felix and Connor for their exceptional success, showcasing their talent and dedication on the cricket field. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and look forward to witnessing their continued success in the future.
SPX Football
The SPX Football Supporter's Club (FSC) are excited to announce that they will be hosting a BBQ, bake sale, and coffee cart on Saturday, 15 June. Join us for a delicious selection of food and beverages while supporting our College community. We invite parents, students, and friends to volunteer for this event by signing up using the following link:
https://signup.com/go/BakeSale15June.
Your participation and support are greatly appreciated. Let's make this event a success together!
Coerver Holiday Camp
The July school holidays are fast approaching. Please see the following link to the St Pius X holiday programs Coerver course | Coerver Coaching showing 2, 3 & 4 day options. Coerver are offering an early bird discount for the 4-day camp of 10% off. This is for the first 50 players. ($260 down to $234 per player).
Players can also use Active Kids vouchers for a further $50 off.
Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sports Coordinator
Junior Rugby:
We hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend and took the opportunity to rest and recharge! This week, our Prep Firsts will enjoy a BYE during Round 6 of the IPSHA tournament. Meanwhile, our Under 11s team is gearing up for an exciting away match against The King's School in North Parramatta. Best of luck to the boys as they take the field.
I encourage you to attend the Rugby Gala Dinner, an evening dedicated to fun, laughter, and building community spirit! This event is a fantastic opportunity to meet other parents and strengthen our St Pius X College community. Your participation will also help raise essential funds, which will go directly into supporting our rugby program. Let’s come together for a night to remember. Please see below for more details.
Come and support our SPX First XV:
SPX Rugby Club
Rugby Gala Dinner
Saturday, 27 July at the Kirribilli Club from 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm. A great opportunity to meet new friends whilst having a fun night out celebrating our wonderful school community.
Ticket Sales will be opening in the next couple of weeks so watch out for further information. This date should be in your diary so now is the time to start organising who will be at your table of 10.
EMAIL US! – 1-2 photos of your son on game day (2024 season). This may include a favourite individual, team or group shot. Photos received will be added to our collection and shown throughout the evening of the Gala Dinner. Email to spxrugby@gmail.com.
Mr Antonio Morris - Junior School Rugby Convenor
From the Junior Resource Centre
AISNSW Teacher Librarian Conference 2024
Optimising Learning Harnessing Technology in the School Library
Last Thursday I was fortunate enough to attend the AISNSW Teacher Librarian Conference at the NSW State Library.
Dr Kay Oddone shared how Teacher Librarians are uniquely positioned to spearhead policies and teaching and learning approaches that enable all members of the school community to harness Generative AI responsibly and effectively. I am looking forward to extending my knowledge to the students.
MOPOKE by Philip Bunting
This week Year 5 read and giggled, read, giggled ... many many times! We loveeeee this is a wombat... what’s he doing in the book? A gorgeous and hilarious book! The boys then began designing their own magical owls. Watch this space.
FIND YOUR BOOK WEEK PARADE COSTUME
Get ready, Term 3 is almost upon us: Book Week is coming!!!! (17 – 23 August). You have two choices when it comes to your Book Week parade costume – wing it at the last moment and hope for the best, or plan weeks (or months) in advance and win ‘Most Awesome-est Book Week Costume Ever’ award. My suggestion is go for the latter.
Some ideas to help you are:
- Read as many books as you can get your hands on.
- Make a list of your favourite characters.
- Gather your supplies and do a costume run-through to make sure it all works.
- If you’re struggling for ideas, the CBCA has partnered exclusively with Spotlight for costume parade inspiration, so you could check out their site and DIY suggestions.
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail : The Kindness Project by Deborah Abela
Four kids are given a class assignment to make the world a better place. Trouble is, they don't like each other…until they discover they have lots in common, including some big worries. They band together when one of them needs their help and create the most magnificent kindness project of all.
I loved that this novel is written in verse. Deborah uses different fonts and the way they look on the page, so that the way a word looks also tells us what is happening in the story.#Mrs Martinsbooktrail2024
Mrs Elena Martin - Teacher Librarian
Junior School Chess Club
Thank you to all the students who attended Chess training on Tuesday 11 June. A reminder that the NSW Junior Chess Competition continues this week. Team A HOME V’s Neutral Bay B, Team B HOME V’s Beauty Point, Team C HOME V’s Neutral Bay D and Team D HOME V’s St Ignatius’ Riverview B.
The draw can be found here: https://www.nswjcl.org.au/
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Chess Convenor