Junior School News
From the Head of Junior School
WOODCHAT (For busy families who just want the facts, fast!)
Link for RSVP to Grandparent's Day Liturgy https://www.trybooking.com/DECZG
Link to donate for Walkathon: https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/spxjnrwalkathon
YEAR 6 MIGRATION UNIT
You should have received an email from Mr Nouragas this week asking for volunteers to come along to the Junior School and share your story of migrating to Australia. Did you come for social, economic, political or environmental reasons? Whatever your story, we would love to have you come and share it with us in the Junior School. If you are interested, please email Mr Nouragas cnouragas@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
Last week, Year 5 students brought home their NAPLAN reports. Teachers placed the reports directly into school bags, so if yours hasn’t appeared yet, that’s the first place to check.
NAPLAN results provide a snapshot of how your son performed in aspects of literacy and numeracy on one particular day. While these results offer helpful insights into some elements of a student’s learning, they are just one piece of the puzzle. We know that children develop at different rates and demonstrate their skills in a variety of ways, not all of which are captured by standardised tests.
At our school, NAPLAN data is considered alongside classroom assessments, teacher observations, and student work samples. Together, these sources help us build a fuller picture of each child’s learning journey and areas for growth.
If you have any questions about your son’s NAPLAN results, please don’t hesitate to contact his classroom teacher.
CLASS CAPTAINS FOR SEMESTER 2
Congratulations to our Semester 2 Class Captains: Xander Playle (5 Gold), Jaime Boicheski and Thomas Clark (5 Red), Tom Selby and Conor Munro (5 Blue), Josh Wroblewski and Charlie Gove (5 Green), Robbie Spurway (6 Gold), Phillip Brady (6 Red), Tristan De Souza (6 Blue) and Zachay Quinnell (6 Green).
As well as a range of new responsibilities, our new class leaders will represent the college at the IPSHA Social Action Expo at St Ignatius' College, Riverview on 3 September. The Social Action Expo is a yearly event where around 150 students and teachers from IPSHA NSW schools learn about the philanthropic endeavours of various organisations and schools.
SOCIAL MEDIA & PHONE USE
You may have seen recent news about proposed changes to social media access for children under 13. These reforms aim to introduce stricter age verification and limit younger children's access to social media platforms, many of which already have age restrictions that are often bypassed.
These conversations are timely. Like many schools, we’re seeing growing concern around the role of mobile phones and social media in students’ lives. It’s not uncommon to see students reaching straight into their bags to check their phones the moment the bell rings - a reflection of how deeply connected many young people feel to the digital world. It is always surprising to see how many of our young students are already signed up to WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram even though these sites are currently restricted to users who are over 13 years of age.
As educators, we’re mindful of the impact this can have on attention, relationships, and wellbeing. We support any efforts that help create boundaries around technology use, particularly when it comes to younger children. At school, we continue to promote respectful, safe and balanced digital habits, and we encourage families to do the same at home.
If you're looking for support, the eSafety Commissioner provides practical advice for parents on setting boundaries, starting conversations, and managing screen time.
GRANPARENT’S DAY | Thursday Week 4 | 14 August
In Week 4, we celebrate one of our most cherished events - the Grandparent's Day Liturgy and Walk-a-thon, held at Oxford Falls. It’s a heartwarming day where generations come together in faith and fun. The day begins with morning tea for grandparents and special grandfriends in the Falls Room. Lunch is BYO.
For catering purposes, please rsvp using this link: https://www.trybooking.com/DECZG
Following lunch, students will make their way around Chaplin Oval, raising funds for our nominated charity, St Vincent de Paul for their work to combat homelessness. The Walk-a-thon is our major fundraiser and each student is hoping to raise $70 so that we can achieve our $15,000 goal. All donations are to be made through the link below, so please share it far and wide.
Link for donations: https://www.trybooking.com/au/donate/spxjnrwalkathon
ST GABRIEL’S VISIT | Thursday Week 3 | 7 August
Next week, 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.
BOOK WEEK PARADE | Wednesday Week 5 | 20 August
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 - from 1:30 pm in the College gym.
STUDENTS NEED TO WEAR THEIR SPORT UNIFORM TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE INTO THEIR BOOK WEEK COSTUME.
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.
Thank you for your continued support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Fixtures
Junior School Sport
We’re now into Round 9 of the Winter Sport season, with just Rounds 9 and 10 remaining. It’s been a fantastic season so far, and we thank all students, staff, and families for their continued support and enthusiasm. With two rounds to go, plenty of action to be seen on the field.
Thank you for completing the Summer Sports Survey. Activity Selections in Clipboard will be open next week. Further information will be shared directly with parents once they are open.
Key Events Coming Up
- Athletics Squad Training begins next week at Dunbar Park | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday afternoons
- Summer Sport Grading will take place later this term to shape our Term 4 teams.
Community Events - Walkathon, Week 4 (more information to come)
- Father-Son Day, Week 7
Junior Athletics
1,500m Event Update
Unfortunately, due to wet conditions, we were unable to run the 1,500m race at Oxford Falls today. We will now hold this event next Thursday when we arrive at Oxford Falls.
Students wishing to participate must see me before next Thursday to nominate.
Please note: We are limited to 2 students per age group for IPSHA representation and runners must meet a strong qualifying time.
Junior School Athletics Age Champions will be announced following the completion of this event.
St Gabriel’s Visit – Next Week
We’re excited to welcome St Gabriel’s School to Oxford Falls next Thursday for a fun-filled day of sport and community. We also warmly welcome back Mrs Iwatani (who now works at St Gabriel's), whose efforts have been instrumental in bringing this event together.
Game Day Reminders – Winter Sport
As we approach the final rounds, please remember:
Arrive on time to allow for warm-up and preparation.
Full St Pius X playing uniform is required: correct socks, shorts, and team jersey.
No casual items (hoodies, non-uniform jackets) during games or while representing the College.
Thank you for your continued support and for helping our teams present proudly each weekend!
Term 3 Weekly Sport Calendar
Winter Sport Results
AFL
SPX AFL Report
Our AFL team secured a hard-fought and well-deserved win last week against our arch rivals. Despite being short on numbers, the boys rose to the challenge with determination and teamwork.
It was a fast-paced, open game where we made excellent use of space and capitalised on our opportunities. Every player contributed, with standout performances from Oliver M, Robbie, and Sam.
Mr Stuart Mackinlay SPX AFL Coach
Football
SPX Football Report
What a weekend of SPX Football! Across all age groups, our teams displayed fantastic effort, teamwork, and school spirit. From early morning kick-offs to the final whistle, the boys gave it their all.
We celebrated some great wins, including strong performances from our 11C and 11D teams, as well as Prep A, B, and E, who all came away with victories. Several matches ended in hard-fought draws, including 11A, 11B, 11E, Prep C, and Prep D, a testament to the resilience and determination of our players. Regardless of the result, every team showed commitment and pride in representing the College.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the parents and staff who stepped in to help cover games, your support is always appreciated and vital to the success of our program. A special mention also to the Prep players who stayed back to play against St Andrew’s at Oxford Falls. Your dedication and team-first attitude did not go unnoticed.
Finally, a massive thank you to the SPX Football Club for hosting another fantastic Supporters Fundraiser. Your ongoing efforts continue to strengthen our football community and provide memorable experiences for our players and families.
Rugby
SPX Junior Rugby Report
It was great to see so many positive results over the weekend in all forms of rugby, with the U11 A’s securing a narrow victory, and the Prep 1st XV demonstrating their ‘Spirit of Rugby’ throughout the match through assisting the opposition with matching numbers. Standout performances came from Angus W, Alex P and Dan T for their strong defence and ability with the ball. Our 7's teams also had some great performances and demonstrated their improvements in skills as well as playing as a team, with standout performances from Josh M and Max Y for their strong ball running and turnovers at rucks.
A reminder to please ensure your son has the correct equipment for training and fixtures, particularly mouthguards. Additionally, attendance at Monday afternoon trainings is compulsory unless a reason of absence has been logged into Clipboard. I look forward to another great round of fixtures this coming weekend.
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