Junior School News
From the Head of Junior School
WOODCHAT– For busy families who want the facts – fast!
WOODCHATTA
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 next Friday. This special occasion marks an important milestone in the Junior School calendar, celebrating our students’ final year of primary education and their transition into secondary school at the College.
UNIFORM AND HAIR
Thank you for your continued support of the College’s uniform and grooming expectations. We understand it can be challenging to steer students away from the latest haircut trends, but consistency is important. Our aim is to ensure that all students are held to the same standard, so that expectations remain fair and clear for everyone.
It can be difficult for students to understand why some of their peers have a certain haircut, but they’re not allowed, and equally challenging to address situations after an unsuitable style has already been cut. Some students have mentioned that 'the barber just did it,' so we ask parents to please provide clear guidance to barbers or hairdressers to help avoid this situation.
If you need clarification regarding the rules around haircuts, please refer to the college policy: https://www.spx.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hair-Policy-April-202.pdf
Thank you for your partnership in maintaining the high standards that reflect our college community.
Over the past 10 weeks, Junior School students were given a virtual $50,000 and have learnt valuable lessons about investing and how the stock market operates.
Mining and AI stocks dominated the stock market during this period and students were continuously reminded that investing is a long-term strategy. A common question that appeared throughout the challenge was “How do we find a good business to invest in?” Some students saw impressive gains, whilst others learnt valuable lessons about how volatile the market can be.
Well done to the following students who placed in the top 6 in the Junior School. They were presented with their Ord Minnett gift bags on our whole school assembly yesterday:
Nico Satterthwaite (profit of $12,670)
Callum Wong (profit of $11,181)
Kai Stephen (profit of $10,347)
Luka Arapovic (profit of $9,729)
Hugo Farmer (profit of $8,526)
Ravi Wong (profit of $7,773)
Thank you to Mr Makhoul for coordinating this event and for always looking for exciting ways to engage our students in real-world Mathematics experiences.
This year marked the first time in recent memory that our Junior School participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), one of the nation’s most respected Mathematics challenges. Open to all students in Years 5 and 6, the competition attracted an impressive 85 Junior School participants who were eager to extend their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills beyond the classroom.
The Junior (Upper Primary) division of the AMC presents students with a range of thought-provoking questions that assess logical reasoning, spatial awareness, and creative application of mathematical concepts. It encourages students to think critically and approach unfamiliar problems with perseverance and insight. We commend all students who took part for their enthusiasm and commitment to mathematical excellence.
It was particularly pleasing to see that 96% of students competing achieved a rank of Proficiency or above. 31% of competitors received a Credit overall. This places them within the top 55% of students in their year within NSW. A special congratulations to Joshua Odendaal (Year 6), Owen Kwok (Year 5), Jake Perich (Year 5) and Lucas Lu (Year 5) who achieved Distinction results. This recognition is reserved for those who place in the top 20% of each year. As our highest scorer, Joshua has been acknowledged by the Australian Mathematics Trust with a Best in School Award.
All AMC competitors will now have received their official results, as well as their original papers. Parents are invited to attempt these tricky questions. I look forward to running this competition again next year for any students who are interested in giving it a go.
Ms Lana Shaba - Year 6 Teacher
EMERGING WRITERS’ COMPETITION
Dario Leotta – winner of the Willoughby City Council Emerging Writers' Competition
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Fixtures
Junior School Sport
Last weekend was a challenging one on the scoreboard, but every tough day brings valuable lessons. Our teams showed resilience and commitment, and that’s what truly matters. Sport teaches us to keep striving, even when results don’t go our way.
With only two rounds left in the IPSHA season, let’s focus on finishing strong! We’d love to see as many students as possible out on the courts and fields, supporting their teams and giving their best effort. Every game is an opportunity to learn, grow, and celebrate the spirit of sport at SPX. Let’s bring energy, positivity, and teamwork into this week and make it count!
Sports Awards
We’re excited to announce that the Junior School Sports Awards will take place on Tuesday, 2 December. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements, effort, and spirit shown by our junior students throughout the year. Next week, I will share more details about this special event happening in Week 8, so stay tuned!
Armidale Rugby Tour 2026 – Expressions of Interest Now Open!
We’re thrilled to announce that planning is underway for the Armidale Rugby Tour in 2026! This is an incredible opportunity for our students to experience competitive rugby, build friendships, and create lasting memories.
The initial expression of interest is open to all Year 6 students in 2026. If we don’t secure the necessary numbers, we’ll look to extend the invitation to our Year 5 families, so everyone has a chance to be part of this exciting event.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic experience! Click the link below to register your interest:
The Armidale School Rugby Carnival 2026 - Expressions of Interest – Fill out form
Summer Sport Results
Basketball
Touch Football
Softball
Despite the final score, the team stayed competitive throughout. A few fly balls were just missed by our fielders, which could have changed the outcome. Our batting was steady, with several good hits and strong base running. The defence worked hard to stay organised, and communication improved as the game went on. Overall, the players gave solid effort, supported each other, and kept their heads up until the final play.
Mrs Jennifer Williams - Softball Coach
Term 4 Dates: Sport Calendar
Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator