From the Head of the Junior School
Junior School Sport

From the Head of the Junior School

DOROTHEA MACKELLAR POETRY AWARDS

Congratulations to Year 6 student Michael Capra who received a 'Commended' award in this year's Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards. Michael's poem was one of 7,200 entries received from over 530 schools. Michael is part of the Junior School's Creative Quills program where students work on developing their writing skills with Mrs Greenwood every Tuesday at lunchtime.

MATHS OLYMPIAD

Well done to all the students who engaged with the Maths Olympiad competition this year. They have challenged themselves by completing some very difficult and conceptual Mathematics problems. These problems differ from the content typically taught in Stage 3 and require students to apply their learning to conceptual situations.

The final contest paper was particularly challenging. Well done to Ash Hilton and Michael Capra who scored 4/5.

Over the next few weeks, APSMO will compile all the results from different schools and prepare awards. In the meantime, Mr Makhoul will continue to update his CANVAS page with regular Mathematics challenges and problems.

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching our Junior School students challenging themselves and developing their mathematical skills this year and thank Mr Makhoul for his dedication to providing opportunities for our students to extend their learning whilst also having fun.

CHESS

Last Thursday, we presented certificates to all competitors in the NSW Junior Chess League Primary School Teams competition. The students played a combination of home and away games over the 10-week season. Congratulations to the four St Pius X Junior School teams and a huge thank you to Mrs Martin and Ms Boyle for their organisation of the season. Thank you also to those parents who were able to drive the students to our away games.

GEOGRAPHY EXCURSION

This week, Year 5 students had an exciting outing to Beauchamp Park, where they delved into the wonders of our local environment. They explored how the park is used, observed the interactions between plants and animals, and discussed practical steps we can take to protect and preserve this natural space. This hands-on experience not only brought geography to life but also allowed students to enjoy the beautiful spring weather while learning.

YEAR 6 EXCURSION TO CHINATOWN

On Tuesday, Year 6 travelled to Chinatown for a self-guided tour to further extend their knowledge gained during Mandarin and Geography lessons. Students had the opportunity to experience and explore authentic Chinese culture by visiting historical locations such as the Golden Water Mouth, the Chinese Pavilion, and the Australian Chinese Ex-Services Monument. Thank you to the staff and parent helpers who helped to make this excursion a meaningful and engaging learning experience.

DEBATING by Ms Shaba

It has been a very busy month for the IPSHA debating team. On 9 August, we had the pleasure of hosting Newington Lindfield in the JRC for two close debates on the proposition ‘that we should ban takeaway food’. Year 5 unfortunately lost this debate arguing the affirmative case, whereas Year 6 were victorious in refuting the need for this suggested change. The adjudicator praised both teams for the depth of their research and commitment to rebutting arguments made by the opposition. Further refinement and integration of the proposed models were the main suggestions provided.

The following fortnight, the team travelled to John Colet School for Round 6 of the competition. This time, the debaters were tasked with convincing the adjudicator whether iPads are better than books. Year 5 valiantly argued their case and came very close to beating John Colet’s affirmative team. Year 6 repeated their success from the previous round, utilising their firsthand experience with iPads to argue that they are in fact superior to books. The adjudicator was impressed with the quality of the arguments put forward by both teams and the logical, systematic thinking on display. Encouragement was given to the speakers to continue making a concentrated effort to explain both the short and long term implications of proposed points as well as comparatively weighing the strength of these arguments with those put forward by the opposing team.

On 6 September, the debaters were very excited to take part in the culminating event of the IPSHA season at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview. Participating in the Gala Day was an intellectually demanding exercise, with four debates taking place one after the other. Used to having only one debate to prepare for, the students tested their mettle across two very different topics. Each team competed twice, getting a chance to argue affirmative and negative cases against some incredibly tough competition. The propositions of the day were ‘that YouTube is better than TV’, and ‘that we should ban all pet shops in Australia’. Many of the students our teams competed against already had two years of debating experience prior to the start of this IPSHA season. It was to the Pius students’ credit that they battled their way to four incredibly narrow losses, up against these significantly more experienced teams. In consecutive order, they debated students from Mount Sinai College, Kincoppal Rose Bay, St Aloysius’ and Kambala. Some of the adjudicators present on the day had judged debates involving our teams in earlier rounds and universally praised them for the tremendous growth they had made in such a relatively short period of time. I echo these sentiments and congratulate the students for their dedication and resilience throughout the season. Thank you to the parents who have assisted them with their preparation and also generously gave up their time to support the students in person. I was recently informed that Mosman Prep had an unexpected scheduling conflict and will need to forfeit the final two debates. Congratulations to our debaters on a tremendous season!

YEAR 5 PLANETARY PARADE

Join us on Friday 27 September from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm in the College gym for an out-of-this-world experience at the Year 5 Planetary Parade! This exciting event will introduce visitors to the incredible tours they can take of the planets in our solar system. From the scorching surface of Mercury to the icy rings of Saturn, our Year 5 students have been hard at work creating fun, interactive exhibits that will transport you across the cosmos. Discover what it would be like to skydive through the clouds of Jupiter, hike on Mars, or explore the mysterious depths of Neptune. Don’t miss this stellar adventure—your interplanetary passport awaits!

DATES FOR THE DIARY

Friday 27 September | Year 5 Planetary Parade 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Term 3 concludes

Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.

Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School

Junior School Sport

Thursday Sport:

Our Basketball, Touch Football, Cricket, Softball and Tennis grading has continued this week. Please remember to bring any additional gear you may require.

Return of SPX Uniforms:

Thank you to everyone who has already returned their SPX uniforms. If your son no longer requires a uniform for the sport they participated in, please ensure it's returned by Friday, 13 September. This includes uniforms from Term 1 sports like basketball singlets and touch football tops, as well as those from the recent Term 2/3 winter season.

These uniforms are needed for students joining new sports in Term 4. Please also remember to return any athletics or AFL gear. Any outstanding uniforms will be charged on the final school fees later in the year.

Your cooperation helps us prepare for the upcoming season.

Term 4 IPSHA Summer Season

The Term 4 Summer season commences in Week 1 of Term 4. Please see below a list of fixture dates. Times and venues will be shared in Clipboard once confirmed with opposition schools.

Round 7: Saturday 19 October
Round 8: Saturday 26 October
Round 9: Saturday 2 November
Round 10: Saturday 9 November
Round 11: Saturday 16 November
Round 12 Saturday 23 November

District Cricket

Cricket Season is Here! First Games This Weekend!

Get ready, the 2024 cricket season is kicking off this weekend, and we couldn’t be more excited! Following a few weeks of trials our U12 (Year 5) and U13 (Year 6) teams are set to hit the field for their first matches this Saturday, launching what promises to be an action-packed season that runs through to March 2025, with breaks for the school holidays.

Game Times:

U12 games are on Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Make sure to arrive by 12:30 pm, so the team is ready to go!
U13 games are on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Be there by 7:30 am for a strong start to the day!

By now, all registered families should have received their team allocations and venue details from the SPX Cricket Club. If you have any questions or need further information, don’t hesitate to contact your team manager or the cricket club registrar at registrar@stpiuscricket.com.au

Join the Team! We’re still on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to step up as game day coach or team manager for the Year 5 team. It’s a fantastic way to get involved and support our young cricketers, so if you can help out, please get in contact.

Good luck to all our players, especially those making their Pius cricket debuts! Let's Go Pius!

SPX Cricket Committee

CIS Athletics Carnival

Lucas Gazey and Ethan Leong recently showcased their athletic talents at the CIS Carnival held at SOPAC. Lucas competed in the Long Jump, while Ethan participated in Shot Put. Both athletes performed exceptionally well, narrowly missing the qualifying distances needed to progress to the NSWPSSA Championships. Their dedication and strong performances are a testament to their hard work, and we are proud of their accomplishments they have achieved during the Athletics Season.

St Pius X Shines at 2024 NSW All Schools Taekwondo Championship

On Saturday 7 September several of our St Pius X junior boys proudly represented the school at the 2024 Taekwondo Junior/Senior NSW All Schools Championship, held at Monte St Angelo College’s Hall.

We are thrilled to announce that Fletcher Stark earned a gold medal, while Connor Hyung secured a silver in their respective divisions. Additionally, Nicholas Lindsell from Year 6 Green also participated, taking home the gold in his division and demonstrating great skill and determination.

These outstanding achievements highlight the dedication and talent of our students.

Congratulations to all who participated and represented St Pius X with such excellence!

NSWPSSA Football

Ethan Suleman and Ryan Volpato recently represented the CIS team at the NSWPSSA Championships in Tamworth. The team performed exceptionally well, remaining undefeated throughout the pool games. Unfortunately, they narrowly missed qualifying for the final by just one point. As a college, we are extremely proud of their accomplishment and the dedication they’ve shown throughout the Football Season in 2024.

NSWPSSA Golf

We want to extend our best wishes to Cuba Nicholas as he heads to the Hunter Valley next week to represent CIS at the prestigious NSWPSSA Championships. This is a remarkable achievement, and it reflects Cuba's dedication, hard work, and passion for his sport. Competing at this level is no small feat, and we are incredibly proud of him. The entire St Pius X community is behind you, Cuba—give it your all, and enjoy every moment of this incredible experience. Good luck!

Upcoming Events

Basketball AGM

Basketball Committee will hold a virtual AGM on Tuesday 17 September at 8:00 pm. Please attend if interested.

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/85413524648?pwd=uiZmtx9BlSpj8TCA7IFFwYag0TagWB.1

Meeting ID: 854 1352 4648 Passcode: 7g5bVT

SPX Basketball Committee

SPX Football Social – 14 September 2024

Join us for the SPX Football Social on 14 September as we celebrate a fantastic 2024 season! We’d love to see as many Junior Football families as possible come together for a night of fun and support for our Football program.

What’s on:

Guest Speakers:
- Robbie Slater: English Premier League legend and Socceroo with 44 caps.
- Dave Mitchell: Pioneering Australian footballer with a career across the UK, Europe, and Australia.

Why Attend?

Support the growth of football at St Pius X.
Reflect on the season with fellow parents and coaches.
Enjoy great food and a night of football talk.

Get Your Tickets! Don’t miss out—gather your team’s parents and make a night of it. Secure your tickets now and join us for an unforgettable evening!

https://events.humanitix.com/st-pius-x-football-club-social-event

We look forward to celebrating with you!

SPX Football Supporters Committee

Rugby

Holiday Rugby Camp

Hey everyone!

With the holidays just around the corner, we’re excited to offer some fantastic rugby camps that will keep your kids active, engaged, and having a blast! The camps are being held in Mosman and Belrose. More information can be found in the link below.

Why Join Our Rugby Camps?

Fun and Engaging: We know it’s the end of the rugby season, so we’ll make sure our camps are all about fun and skill-building.
Active Play: Let’s get kids off the couch and onto the field, honing their rugby skills and staying active.
Future Stars: More kids playing rugby means more talent for clubs and maybe even future Wallabies!

Check Out Our Camps:

Club Camps: Great for all skill levels!
School Camps: Convenient and exciting!
Social Camps: Fun for friends and teammates!

Spread the Word! Help us reach more families by sharing our new video that showcases the excitement and enjoyment of our camps: Watch Our Video

For more details and to register, visit our website: Try Time Rugby Camps

Let’s make this holiday season one to remember for our young rugby stars!

Trytime Rugby

Mr James Bourke - Junior School Sport Coordinator

Cricket School Holiday Camp

Mr Ryan Balboa - MWJCA Cricket Convenor

Rugby

SAVE THE DATE

ANNUAL GOLF DAY 2024

Friday, 18 October

Northbridge Golf Club

296c Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge

1:00 pm Start (Lunch) followed by 2:00 pm Tee Off

Following the success of last year's event, we are returning to Northbridge Golf Club in October for our annual Ambrose golf outing.

The committee’s focus this year is to maximise the appeal and to encourage as many parents as possible to join us for a great opportunity to mix with other parents and friends of the school. And, of course, to have fun. We are particularly keen to see more mums participate this year. Pull together a 4-Ball or just join as a single … either way a great day is guaranteed.

For more information please see the attached flyer below.

For all bookings, please use the following link:

P&F News

Interested in participating in an SPX club or your P&F Executive?