Junior School News & Sport

• Junior School News and Information
• Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
• Junior School Sport

PRAYER:   Today is the feast day of Maximillian Kolbe.  When we hear about saints we often hear about ones from many centuries ago but Maximillian’s amazing act happened during World War 2.   He is my favourite saint because it is hard to imagine he was so brave, generous and forgiving.   If you are interested, there are two documents below containing information about Maximillian Kolbe.  In short, he was a Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz.  He had an amazing devotion to Mary, so it is no surprise that his Feast Day is the day before the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.   Tomorrow 5 Red and 5 Gold will be going to Mass at 9am.

And so we pray:

St. Maximilian Kolbe, you gave your life so that a family might not be deprived of a husband and father. By your heroic martyrdom of charity, teach us that the value of family life is worth our sacrifices also. Just as you found in Mary the channel of those graces that strengthened you to be faithful to her Son, help us to rejoice also in her who was given to us as a mother by Jesus from the cross. Be with us, St. Maximilian, as we pray for the special needs of our family (Say petitions here). Amen.

CONGRATULATIONS:  Last Friday, several boys went to a chess tournament and did exceptionally well.  More information in Mrs Martin’s section later on.  Thank you to Mrs Seifert for organisation of the day and looking after the boys.  I did laugh when I heard they did a war cry at the end of the day.  Probably a first for chess.  Well done gentlemen.

Congratulations to all the winter sporting teams who completed their seasons last Saturday.  Well done on your efforts.  I hope the season was enjoyable and that your skills improved.  Best wishes for your summer trials this week.

BOOK WEEK:  Next week is Book Week and we will have a visiting illustrator, Matt Lin, on Tuesday and the Book Week Parade will be held on Wednesday morning at 9.00am for approximately an hour.  Parents and grandparents are most welcome to attend because once they move into high school you won’t get to experience these events again.  It is always a lot of fun.   Who knows what amazing characters you might see.  Thank you to Mrs Martin for organising this event.  Please read more details in the Junior Resource Centre section below.

SPORT:  This week is the first summer trial with Tennis at Roseville.  Sport is at the normal time.  

WALKATHON:  Sport next week, Thursday 22 August, will be the Walkathon.  Your support of this social justice initiative would be appreciated so please encourage the boys to collect sponsors on their sheets.  All money goes to people less fortunate than ourselves as outlined in the letter below.  We are walking for others.   It is a great lesson for the boys to put themselves out for somebody else and as a bonus it is also good fitness.

In later years at the College the boys can physically go and assist at places such as Matthew Talbot Hostel. 

JUNIOR SCHOOL FATHER AND SON SPORTING AFTERNOON:  Grandfathers are fathers and are most welcome to attend, or in some case it may be a significant uncle that can attend.   They can be involved or spectate and enjoy a sausage sizzle at the conclusion.  Thank you to the mothers who have emailed me offering to assist with the barbeque.    If you didn’t receive the push notification from Mr Virgona via the College App, please follow the link in the attached letter.

In case you missed this last week, I do believe that this is a great age where the boys really want a significant figure to be close by, whereas when they get older they want you around but at a distance.   It is a valuable bonding opportunity and a bit of a laugh!

TRIVIA NIGHT

Please also see the P&F page of this newsletter for information.

I believe the Junior School parents will be represented on quite a few tables and  I will hope see you there. 

Donate a prize! We're looking for prizes to include in the silent auction and to contribute towards hampers so any size and value is helpful. Full details are in the letter below but we are requesting:

• 'Kids/Novelty/Fun Theme' from Year 5
• 'Beauty/Pamper for Mum' from Year 6

Please send the items in ASAP with your son, and if the items are too bulky, a gift card will do just as well.  Items can be left at the Student Reception area.  

Bidding Instructions:  f you can’t make the night there is a way of bidding included in the attachments below.  All you need to do is text recycle and your full name to 0447 447 549 and start bidding!

Invitation: 

Please see the P&F page of this newsletter for all P&F information, including all events for Years 5 and 6 parents and students. 

After-School Study Program - Venue E1:  The after-school study program runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in E1 from 3:15 – 4:30pm.  It is available to all students from Years 5-12. 

Dates for Term 3:

Saturday 17 August – P&F Trivia night

Monday 19 August – Junior School Book Week begins

Tuesday 20 August - Matt Lin, Artist - Illustrator - Designer for Book Week

Monday 26 August - Science Week begins

Tuesday 27 August – Rugby Presentation Night: Junior School commences 6pm/Senior School 7pm

Wednesday 28th August – Year 5 Taroonga Zoo excursion

Thursday 29 August - Junior School Father & Son Day at Oxford Falls starts at 11.45am and concludes at  2.

Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre

Reading is my Secret Power: 

CBCA PICTURE BOOK – Cicada by Shaun Tan

This week we will be reading and discussing the Picture Book Cicada by Shaun Tan. PRC 569144

A magical and stunning book. Powerful storytelling!

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2019:  A reminder that the PRC finishes Friday 30 August 2019 at midnight. To complete the Challenge, you need to read 15 books from the PRC Reading List and FIVE books of your own choice.

Celebrate Book Week with Artist/Illustrator/Designer, MATTHEW LIN

We are very fortunate to have Matthew Lin, Artist/Illustrator/Designer, coming to help us celebrate Book Week.   He will be here in Week 5, on Tuesday 20 August, running workshops with the boys for the whole day.  Watch this space! Looking forward to some amazing work from our students.

The Order Form for his books can be found below.

Check out his website and face book page.

www.matthewlin.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Matthew-Lin-Art/334789709876071

BOOK WEEK is one week away (17 – 23 August):   The Book Week Costume Parade will be held on Wednesday 21 August at 9:00am in the Junior School Playground. Mark this date in your diary, and pop in if you are free. We would love to see you.  Book Week Prizes are ready to go!

Unity in Community. Get Amongst It!

Guessing Competition for Book Week 2019 - Clue Number 3:

“Their name can speak to banks and planes fluently.”

Book Prize for the student who can guess who I am!

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail:   How To Save The Whole Stinkin’ Planet by Lee Constable & James Hart (Illustrator). This book will take you on a garbological adventure like no other. From diving into the rubbish and delving around in the landfills, to rummaging through the recycling and digging about in compost. As a waste warrior in training, you will earn points and badges as you work your way through each chapter. Great for STEM. Lots of humour and energy! #MrsMartinsbooktrail2019

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian

Junior School Chess Club

On Friday 9 August the following boys - Aidan Seifert, Josh Du Moulin, Lucas Durey, Dylan Turnell, Jimmy Furini and Euan Sproule - competed in the Interschool Chess Challenge 2019 (Local Heat) Primary School Division, held at St Bernard’s Primary School in Berowra Heights.

The boys represented their school beautifully and engaged in some very healthy competition amongst themselves and other tournament participants.

The boys came First School overall with some outstanding results by:

• Aidan Seifert - Overall 2nd
• Josh Du Moulin - Overall 3rd
• Lucas Durey - Overall 5th

They will be invited to the semi-finals which will be held later in the term.  Watch this space - there is no stopping them now.

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Coordinator

Junior Sport

Thursday Sport: at Oxford Falls. Summer trials commence for Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch Football. Tennis trials will take place at Roseville and players will be bused each way directly from Chatswood campus.

Athletics: The first two Carnivals take place this week: The Brothers’ Carnival at St Ignatius on Friday and the Shore Carnival at Narrabeen on Saturday. Athletes have been issued a letter with all relevant information. This information has also been posted on the App.

Cricket: All players wishing to play for the College this summer must register online by clicking here.  Trials begin at Sport on Thursday 15 August and resume on 5 September. Players can bring their own gear and at the least, should have a protector. The school does provide most items for training if required.

Rugby Presentation Evening: takes place for all players in the Sarto Centre on Tuesday 27 August from 5.30pm – 6.45pm (allowing parents to attend the Senior Presentation in the Gym from 7.00pm).

Boys will be required to wear school uniform. All players will be acknowledged on stage for their season’s efforts and major award winners will be presented.

Rugby:

Mr Greg Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster

Football:   Our final game of season was played on a cold and windy morning with six of our teams down at Oxford Falls. We finished round 10 with 5 wins, 3 draws and a loss. It has been a very successful and enjoyable year and I hope the boys have enjoyed their experience representing the College. For the Year 6 boys, you can look forward to playing for points and finals next year, while the Year 5 boys have the opportunity to further develop their skills and friendships in the Preps.

Many thanks to the coaches and managers who have helped with the teams throughout the year. Also to the parents who helped out with transporting boys to and from the games, half-time oranges, finding grounds, warm-ups, taking photos and refereeing. Finally thank you to all parents and supporters from all teams for your support throughout the season.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Presentation night on Wednesday 4 September in the Sarto Centre, starting at 5:30pm.

Mr Paul Cummins - Junior Football Convenor

NSTA Tennis:  The time has come to enrol for the NSTA Term 4, 2019 – Term, 1, 2020 season. At the moment the games for Term 4 are set to start on Saturday 19 October 19 and finish Saturday 23 November.

Please note that this is a two term commitment from the boys. All students were addressed at Assembly both last Friday and this Monday and Enrolment Forms were handed out to both previous and new players. Enrolment Forms were due in Tuesday 14 August and I will now arrange Trials, if necessary and arrange teams accordingly.

Mrs Sam Iwatani - Convenor