Junior School

• From the Head of the Junior School 
• Junior School Sport
• From the Junior Resource Centre
• Junior Debating
• Junior Chess

From the Head of the Junior School 

Next Wednesday is Blessed Edmund Rice’s Feast Day.  Edmund Rice opened his heart to Christ.  With this in mind we pray:- 

God of love,

You lead us on life’s journey.

As we gather here in Your name,

Open our minds to know Your voice.

Open our hands to do Your work.

And open our hearts to hold Your Spirit. 

Amen

The Week that was

The IPSHA Cross Country boys ran well and put in a great effort. Congratulations to the boys who made it through to the IPSHA team for the CIS Trials.

The Year 5 boys had a wonderfully successful camp and the teachers were full of praise for the behaviour of the boys. I will let the boys tell you about the camp later on.

On Monday we had an excellent ANZAC service.

Please remember

Round 2 of IPSHA Sport is this Saturday so check the Junior School Sports Section (below) for details and arrive well before the game.

LEST WE FORGET!

On Monday we had a very fitting ANZAC memorial ceremony. Some of our seniors presented wreaths or played the trumpet at gatherings around Sydney.  I know Ronan Crispe presented a wreath at the same ceremony as Ms Berejiklian.  Well done to the following boys:  Zac Rapa in Year 6 who was dressed in school uniform and attended the dawn service at Hornsby and 

Noah Watson in Year 6 who took part in the very special ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Roseville RSL with his Roseville Scout troop.  Noah was very fortunate to be selected to lay the wreath with Jennifer Anderson, Mayor of the Ku-Ring-Gai Council. 

NAPLAN Online 2021

The tests will begin in Period 1 and most will be finished early in Period 2.

The timetable for NAPLAN online in the Junior School will be

Tuesday 11 May – Writing – 42 minutes

Wednesday 12 May – Reading – 50 minutes

Friday 14 May – Conventions of Language – 45 minutes

Monday 17 May – Numeracy – 50 minutes

Catch up for online tests are available till 21 May.

Remember:- It would be good for the boys to continue to practice their online typing.  Otherwise, it just a snapshot in time of how your son is progressing so there shouldn’t be any pressure.  It is simply about the boys doing their best and let God do the rest!

Year 5 Camp

I thought I would let two Year 5 students tell you all about their camp.

"Last week as you may know Year 5 went on camp to Broken Bay. Firstly, the activities that we did were, surf skis which are a different version of kayaks. There was also raft building, archery and initiatives, bush walking and making damper that we cooked over a fire.  

The night activities were one of our favourite activities. One night we did challenges and gathered points at each station. The team with the most points would win and they gave out bonus dance points for the best dancer between each round. On the last day we did a Broken Bay Survivor game where we put all of our skills (from fire making to archery) together to get points and the team with the most points won.  

Each team was given a mascot which was a water balloon. If it didn’t pop, they would give you 500 points if you held it for the whole game (which was 90 minutes). If you did succeed,  you were allowed to throw a water balloon at Mr. Carroll. There were also 3 teddy bears hidden around the place that you had to find. I am not sure that anyone got much sleep at night. During camp the best meal was breakfast. We had pancakes, toast and cereal."

By Ryan East and Archie Wragge 

Please see the attached photos which show what a great time they all had.

MUSIC  Year 6

This term Year 6 students are doing Band Instruments as a practical class. Instruments have been organised for every student   These classes will be held in the BAND ROOM, upstairs. This is an exciting opportunity but a very expensive one.

I want to make you aware that the boys (and therefore yourselves) will be responsible for the replacement/repair of any instruments that are damaged deliberately or through reckless behaviour. 

MOTHER’S DAY EVENTS AT THE COLLEGE

We have two liturgies on Friday 7 May. There may be some Junior School mothers who can’t make the Junior School Mass who might like to attend the early morning breakfast and liturgy. You are, of course, welcome to attend both.

Breakfast commences at 7.30 am.

Liturgy at 8.00 am for all mums in the school.

Junior School Mothers and Grandmother’s Mass at 10.30 am, followed by morning tea for our mothers.  Boys will sit with their mothers/grandmothers at the Mass but will return to classes after the Mass.

We also have a Mother’s Day Stall (All goods made by the ladies of the shanty town, Candela, Peru)  We hope you can make it!

A request has been put out for dads who could volunteer to assist with the morning tea from approx. 10.45 am to set up and then serve from about 11.20 am.  Dads, later in the year the mothers reciprocate the favour!  See the P&F Section for a Googledoc to volunteer.

A reminder from last week regarding the Mother’s Day stall that gives twice:

SISTERS OF MERCY MISSION in CANDELA PERU

Mother's Day Stall

Almost twenty years ago Sister Jacquie Ford ( ex-principal of Mercy College), Sister Patricia McDermott and Sister Joan Doyle founded a mission in the shanty town of Candela on the outskirts of Lima 

During that time so much has been done to help the women as they struggle to provide for their families.

A pre-school and medical centre were built and also the Catherine McAuley Women's House provided a safe place where new skills such as sewing, crocheting, dressmaking, cooking and hairdressing were taught.

The women were also encouraged to attend classes in health, nutrition and family safety.

The women have made beautiful handicrafts that will be sold at school leading up to Mother's Day.

The students will have the opportunity to buy a unique gift for their mothers, grandmothers and other significant women in their lives and at the same time providing the women in Candela with a source of income. There will items from $2, $5, $10 and beautiful handmade bags for $20.

COVID has struck with devastating effect in Candela over the past year. Everyone has lost loved ones as the health system crumbles and the cost of oxygen that the families have had to pay for has risen to unaffordable levels. Life in developing countries such as Peru is very difficult in times of crises.

Your support of the Mother's Day stall is greatly appreciated.

All money raised goes straight to the women. They are most gratefully for any assistance that can be provided.

A section of Candela Peru

THE UPCOMING WEEK 

1 May – IPSHA Sport Round 2

5 May - Edmund Rice Feast Day Assembly

6 May – Year 5 and 6 - da Vinci Decathalon

7 May – Mother’s Day events at the College (see above for further information)

7 May - IPSHA Debating commences at 1.30 pm - home debate vs Masada.

A THOUGHT TO PONDER

Thanking you for your support.

Mr Tim Long - Head of the Junior School 

Junior School Sport

Great to get the winter season started last weekend and some great results across the board. Please ensure you arrive at your venue 30 minutes prior to kick off each week to ensure that your coach can prepare the team to start on time. 

Thursday Sport: Training for AFL, Football, Rugby and Mixed sport. 

AFL

It is great to have AFL back once again for the St Pius X Junior School. Season 2021 kicked off bright and early at 8:00 am Saturday morning against a rather tall looking Waverley College team. Given this was the first game for several SPX players and the Year 5 boys were recovering from the demands of Camp, it was a very spirited showing against Waverley. We really took the game up to Waverley in the first half with a core group of our small fast runners helping drive the ball forward to enable scoring opportunities. In the end a slightly stronger Waverley team ran out winners in the second half of the game.

A great team effort all round and something to build on as the season progresses. 

Rugby

Mr Benn McBrearty - Junior School Sports Master

Junior Football

Rd1 Results and Rd 2 Fixtures

It was great to get our season underway last Saturday at Oxford Falls and Kings. We had a mixed bag of results and look forward to some more great competition on the weekend. Thanks to Nick and Eric who sent in the photos from the games. 

11Es

Prep Bs

If your son is unavailable for the game could you, please let myself and Mr McBrearty know. 

I look forward to a great season of SPX Football. 

Mr Paul Cummins - Junior Football Convenor

From the Football Supporters Club

SPX Football Supporters Club - Save the Date – Saturday 8 May 2021, 7.00 pm to Late

SPX Football Parents, please save the date and join in for the SPX Football Supporters Club social at Lindfield Football Club at 76A Highfield Road, Lindfield from 7.00 pm to late.  

Club meals or pizza dinner with drinks over the bar on offer.  Catch up with other SPX Football Parents from your son’s team and across the SPX Football community.  

The A-League game will be shown on the big screen.  Trybooking details to follow shortly.

Mrs Cathy Thomson - SPX Football Club

From the Junior Resource Centre

This Week's Highlights are:

Literature Promotion in the JRC

OH, WHAT A FEELING!!! Which book will I borrow this week in the JRC?

Will it be a fantasy, an adventure, a mystery, a short story, or a Bush Ballad from one of our amazing Australian poets? Pop into the JRC and choose from our wonderful collection. You will not be disappointed!

Storm Boy by Colin Thiele

It’s been a while, Mr Percival! The spotlight was back on YOU at the Year 5 Camp.  Few will forget the appearance of a very special pelican in Colin Thiele’s legendary 1966 novel “Storm Boy”. Set along the wild, untamed coastline of the Coorong National Park, this epic tale of friendship, trust and growing up has been touching hearts for over half a century. Interested in reading this book? Pop into the JRC and pick up your copy.

The proud pelicans in the photo were impressive to see at Broken Bay Year 5 Camp 2021.

ANZAC DAY – Picture Books.

“Do you think they will remember us?” According to legend, these were the words of a wounded Australian soldier being carried off the battlefield at Gallipoli. What would he think if he saw how the legacy left by him and his fellow soldiers went on to make up such a significant part of Australian character and national identity? You only have to look at the many books inspired by the ANZAC tradition to see those qualities of tenacity, mateship and courage show the best of what we hope to see in ourselves. 

Be inspired and discover some of these stories found across Picture books, biographies, fiction and non-fiction. This week we read and discussed The Poppy by Andrew Plant. Explains the special connection between Australia and the French town of Villers-Bretonneux, as a result of the recapture of the town from the Germans by Australian soldiers during World War One. 

PRC =2495

The Premier's Reading Challenge is well under way. Great to see the boys updating their reading logs over the School holiday break.

Click on the following link to the PRC Website.

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2021

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail:  

Tell Me Why by Archie Roach.

"This memoir, ‘Tell Me Why’ is one of the best I’ve ever read. It’s the story of a broken country and a life renewed. Finding your way, no matter what forces rise against you. It’s a triumph…. This book is not just a memoir, it’s a part of our national story.” Daniel Browning, ABC AWAYE!

I am so loving the Younger Reader's edition. So beautifully written. The prologue is just profound.

“We live in the most blessed country on this earth. We are the most blessed people on this earth, because of that. We all come from a sacred place, the beginning, and we can all journey back as one people and be the authors of a new story for this country.” Extract from 2020 Victorian @australianoftheyear acceptance speech. The same day as Archie’s memoir “Tell Me Why” hit the shelves. What a day.

Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian

JUNIOR SCHOOL CHESS CLUB

“Let’s play”…. Junior School Chess Competition begins on Friday 30th April, 2021. All teams are at HOME. The draw was sent home to parents and a hard copy was given to students during Chess training on Tuesday.

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convenor