Junior School News
From the Head of Junior School
WOODCHAT (For busy families who just want the facts, fast!)
COMING UP THIS TERM IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Welcome back to Term 3!
We hope you and your families enjoyed a restful and refreshing mid-year break. As we return, the Junior School is energised and ready for a term filled with learning, connection, and celebration.
In Week 3, we’re excited to host students from St Gabriel’s for a special day of sport and friendship. This new initiative is a wonderful opportunity to build community and share in the spirit of inclusion.
Week 4 is full of highlights. We’ll dive into Science Week, sparking curiosity and creativity through hands-on investigations and engaging experiences. We’ll also celebrate one of our most cherished events - the Grandparent's Day Liturgy and Walkathon, held at Oxford Falls. It’s a heartwarming day where generations come together in faith and fun.
In Week 5, we turn the page to Book Week, with visiting authors, storytelling activities, and the always-popular Book Parade, where students bring their favourite literary characters to life.
Later in the term, we’ll celebrate our fathers and father figures with our Father’s Day Liturgy and Sports Day, and in Week 9, families are invited to two memorable showcases. Year 5 will present their Night of the Notables, stepping into the shoes of historical icons, while Year 6 will host their Natural Disasters Showcase, presenting their research and creative displays.
Finally, in Week 10, our debating team will head to Pymble Ladies’ College for the Gala Debating event, proudly representing the College and putting their persuasive talents to the test.
With so much ahead, Term 3 promises to be a vibrant and rewarding journey for all in the Junior School. We look forward to sharing each moment with our students and families.
Mason’s Outstanding Chess Achievements
Over the recent school holidays, Mason T (Year 6) represented himself with great success across several high-level chess tournaments.
Travelling to Queensland for the 2025 Gold Coast Open, Mason competed in the Major Division, placing an impressive 15th out of 101 players with a score of 4.5/7. This was an adult tournament, and with many strong players from across the state, Mason’s result is a testament to his focus and skill.
Mason returned to Sydney to participate in the Under 12 NSW Junior Championship, where he performed exceptionally well, securing 2nd place with a score of 7.5/9.
Not stopping there, Mason backed up his performance in the NSW Junior Lightning Championship (Under 12) later that same day. With 5 wins, 2 draws, and no losses, he once again finished in 2nd place with a score of 6/7. Mason was also the 2024 NSW Lightning Champion in this category.
To top off an exciting few weeks, Mason was featured in the latest edition of Junior Chess magazine (Issue 167), with mentions on pages 14, 15, 35, and 36.
Congratulations to Mason on his incredible achievements - we’re very proud of him!
UNSW PROGCOMP 2025
Congratulations to Alexander R, Chang L and James Y (Year 6) on their participation in the UNSW ProgComp 2025 that ran on 13 June. The school is proud of the efforts you have made in this challenging programming competition.
AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE (ASX) SCHOOLS SHAREMARKET GAME
Introducing the ASX Schools Sharemarket Game
In Term 3, students in the Junior School will be invited to explore the exciting world of the sharemarket via the ASX Schools Sharemarket Game.
In this online game, students have the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the sharemarket, research companies, and discover the importance of wise investment decisions.
They'll gain valuable insight into economic and world events, igniting their curiosity and setting them on a path towards understanding the world of investing.
Each student starts with a virtual cash amount of $50,000 and has access to 300 ASX-listed companies, 60 ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), and 5 LICs (Listed Investment Companies). Over the course of 10 weeks, they'll make strategic trading decisions based on real-time market conditions, complete with live prices and brokerage fees. They can place orders to buy or sell shares any time the market is open.
Students can pick stocks and compete against their classmates and other schools, with the chance to win real cash prizes for their syndicates at state and national levels.
Overall, by participating in the ASX Schools Sharemarket Game, students will develop valuable life, finance, maths, business & economics skills. They can participate individually or form a group with their classmates, fostering collaboration and friendly competition.
Keep an eye out for more details, or contact Mr Makhoul for more information mmakhoul@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Fixtures
Junior School Sport
Welcome to Term 3 Sport!
Term 3 is shaping up to be a huge one for Junior School Sport, with plenty of exciting opportunities for students to get involved and stay active.
We kick things off this Saturday with Round 8 of Winter Sport, leading into the final three rounds of the season. Team photos will also be taken this weekend for selected Prep teams. See below for details.
Looking ahead, we have a number of key events on the calendar:
Athletics Squad training begins next week at Dunbar Park (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday afternoons) as we prepare for the IPSHA Carnival.
Summer Sport grading will take place later this term to help shape our Term 4 teams.
The Walkathon, Father-Son Day, and our special St Gabriel’s visit are all wonderful community events that promise to be highlights of the term.
Football BBQ and Bake Sale: Saturday 26 July, see below further details from the SPX Football Committee.
It’s a big term of sport, and we encourage all students to get involved, give their best, and enjoy everything on offer.
Reminder: Summer Sport Survey Due Sunday 27 July
A friendly reminder to all families that the Summer Sport Survey is due by Sunday 27 July. Please ensure it is completed by the deadline to assist with team planning and grading for Term 4.
Football Team Photos – Saturday 26 July
Sport photos for the following Prep football teams will be taken at Oxford Falls on Saturday 26 July, in conjunction with the Senior School schedule. Please ensure your son arrives dressed in full playing uniform and is ready at the designated photo time. Students also need to bring their school ID card on. Photos will be taken on Chaplin Oval next to the Scoreboard.
Any team that has not had a winter sport photo will be taken at school later this term. Please stay tuned for further details.
Game Day Reminders – Winter Sport
As we head into the final rounds of Winter Sport, we kindly remind all families of the following:
Please arrive on time for games to allow teams to warm up and be ready for kick-off.
Students must wear full St Pius X playing uniform, this includes correct socks, shorts, and team jersey. Casual items such as hoodies or non-uniform jackets should not be worn during games or while representing the College.
Thank you for your continued support and for helping our teams present proudly each weekend!
Athletics Squad Training Begins Next Week!
We’re excited to kick off Athletics Squad training next week in preparation for the IPSHA Athletics Carnival. Students selected for the squad will begin focused sessions on track and field events including sprints, long jump, high jump, shot put, and more.
Training will take place at Dunbar Park on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons.
If you son has been invited to attend, please ensure he brings appropriate gear (running shoes, water bottle, and PE uniform) and arrives ready to train.
We’re looking forward to a great season of athletics and seeing our students strive for personal bests!
Term 3 Weekly Sport Calendar
Student Success…
Congratulations to Cuba Nicholas on his outstanding achievement in being selected to represent the NSWCIS Golf team at the NSWPSSA Championships for the second year in a row! This is an incredible accomplishment, especially given the highly competitive field of players. Cuba’s dedication and composure over 18 challenging holes truly paid off, and his selection for back-to-back years is a testament to his talent and hard work. We are so proud of his continued success and look forward to seeing him represent the College with pride once again. Well done, Cuba!
SPX Junior Football News
Christian Castorina has officially hit the pitch in sky blue, playing his first friendly matches with the Sydney FC squad. Balancing commitments with both Sydney FC and Apia, Christian has embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and energy. It’s fantastic to see him thriving in this new environment, and he certainly looks the part in his new colours. We’re excited to follow his journey and celebrate this exciting milestone!
From the Football Supporter's Club
Hello Football families - welcome back to term 3 and the home straight of the football season!!
BBQ, Bake Sale and a big day of Football at Oxford Falls
With a number of games at Oxford Falls this Saturday, the Football Supporters Club will again be hosting the BBQ, Bake Sale and coffee cart. With only a few rounds to go, come on down and say hi and get something to eat and drink while watching the boys go round..
If you would like to contribute any sweet-treats that would be fantastic - please contact Priscilla at pleasepris@hotmail.com to let her know what you are planning on bringing.
Also, if you would like to assist on the BBQ or Bake Sale, your help is needed and very welcome. Please find the link to the volunteer sign-up sheet below:
Looking forward to seeing you all pitchside this weekend,
Matt Zanello - SPX Football Supporters Club President
SPX Junior Rugby Report
This weekend sees the return of fixtures, with three games left in the season. A gentle reminder of the change of arrival time for fixtures; all students are expected to arrive at their fixtures 30 minutes before kick-off to ensure all players are on time, can talk to their coach and the ref, as well as complete adequate and safe warm-ups.
CIS Rugby Team:
Over the final two days of Term 2, Angus W, Billy C, Noah F and Nate F participated in the CIS Rugby trials. Congratulations to Nate F, who was selected in the final CIS team, the only Year 5 student selected in the team of 22 players. The CIS team will be participating in the NSWPSSA Boys Rugby Union Championship in Newcastle.
State Champs:
Congratulations to the following students who represented their respective rep rugby teams. These students participated in the State Champs, held in Mudgee and Forster during the holidays. There were some exceptional results during the competition, including Norths Rugby U11 being awarded the ‘Spirit of Rugby’ trophy and Randwick U11's going undefeated.
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
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