Junior School News

- From the Head of the Junior School
- Junior School Sport
- From the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior Chess
- IPSHA Junior School Debating
From the Head of the Junior School
PRAYER
I would like to share with you, a prayer written by Year 6 Red students, Harry Toms and Lucas Willems. This prayer was written by the boys for last week’s Junior School assembly. I hope it resonates with you as much as it did with me:
CLASS CAPTAINS
Congratulations to the following boys who were elected Class Captain by their peers and presented with their Class Captain badges on Monday afternoon. These boys will enjoy the benefits, and responsibilities of captaincy for the duration of Term 1. Well done boys for making a significant impression on your classmates in such a short period of time.
MERIT AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to this week’s Merit Award winners:
WORK FOR BOYS WHO ARE ISOLATING DUE TO COVID-19 OR CLOSE CONTACT
Students can find work for their lessons on the Portal. Each teacher has advised their class where to find their respective class work. If you have any questions regarding the Portal, please contact your class teacher. Please note, Year 5 are transitioning their lessons to the Portal, so you may receive work via email during the transition period.
EMAIL COMMUNICATION
Teachers take great pride in the preparation and delivery of teaching and learning in the Junior School and take their supervision and child safety responsibilities seriously. Therefore, teachers are not always able to read, or respond to, emails during the school day. Mornings before school are particularly busy times for teachers as they are preparing lessons, gathering materials, have playground duty, and attend meetings. Generally, teachers will respond to emails after the students have left for the day. If your matter requires urgent attention, please make contact through the school office. Thank you for your understanding.
YEAR 5 CAMP TO MILSON ISLAND
Preparations continue in the lead up to our much-anticipated Year 5 Camp to Milson Island. Once everyone has registered, I will be able to start room allocations and organise the boys into activity teams. If you have any special requests around rooming, please let me know as soon as possible (before Friday 25 February), keeping in mind that Camp is a unique opportunity to form bonds across new friendship groups.
If you are yet to register (we have 94 out of 96 students registered), I would be most grateful if you could do so as soon as possible via this link:
https://officeofsport.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/register.aspx?eid=SVV0RExXRldaZVpCNDdZWWd1a1Avdz090
THURSDAY SPORT
Siri was kept busy being asked, “How hot is it, Siri?” last Thursday at Oxford Falls! No one could believe that it was only 30 degrees, nevertheless, it was a glorious, sunny day, and the teachers and I continue to be impressed by the boys’ enthusiasm, manners, and kindness to each other, regardless of the weather! Our time on Thursdays is a unique opportunity to meet new friends, and to reap the benefits that only come during relaxed play, and team sport.
UNIFORM
The boys are doing a fantastic job of arriving at school with their shirts tucked in, ties on, and socks pulled up. It is clear to see that they are taking great pride in the St Pius X uniform.
Thank you to those parents who have purchased white socks that cover the ankle for sport days. Please ensure your son is not wearing the low-cut socks that barely peak out of the top of his sports shoes.
We sincerely appreciate your support of the College’s uniform regulations.
SATURDAY SPORT
A magnificent effort by our Oxford Falls caretaker, Trent, and groundsman, Ronnie, saw both ovals available for Softball, Touch Footy and Cricket despite the heavy rain the day before. Mrs Williams won over all the opposition parents with her brilliant coaching of both the Pius and opposition teams in Softball, Mr Ure and Mr Carroll’s boys spent a lot of time crossing the line in Touch Footy, while Mr Morris and Mrs Fileman were kept on the edge of their seats (not that they ever sat down!) with the fast-paced action of the Basketball. Mrs Iwatani was kept busy racing between Tennis venues where our boys represented Pius with outstanding skill and sportsmanship.
Here are a selection of photos from the day. Congratulations to all boys for their efforts.
Don’t miss Mr Carroll’s full wrap-up on the day’s sport below.
PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT
For those who missed the Parent Information Night, the gurus in the ICT Department have downloaded a recording to YouTube:
Junior School Intro: https://youtu.be/v5vsqZv_mMw
Year 5 Information: https://youtu.be/3K9jcg4cAV8
Year 6 Information: https://youtu.be/yRzqGLRB83Q
“TELL US ABOUT YOUR SON” MEETINGS
Teachers in the Junior School have enjoyed getting to know your sons over the last few weeks. On Monday or Tuesday of next week, you are invited to meet with your son’s teacher (online) to pass on any information you feel is important to know to assist us to best support your son and his learning. These meetings will go for 10 minutes and are different to the Parent/Teacher meetings towards the end of Semester 1 where you will get feedback related to your son’s academic progress.
Details of how to make an appointment will be emailed later this week.
Monday 21 February appointments: 8.00 am – 8.30 am and 3.10 pm – 6.30 pm
Tuesday 22 February appointments: 8.00 am – 8.30 am and 3.10 pm – 4:30 pm
FROM THE WILLOUGHBY CITY COUNCIL
WE ARE RESILIENT CHILDREN’S AWARDS
"As you would be aware, COVID-19 has changed how we have lived our lives over the last 18 months. These changes have impacted children and families in our community. More than ever, children have demonstrated their resilience and their relationships have been tested, through the use of new online learning environments, interacting with friends online, showing kindness to various sections of the community, adopting a pet or helping their neighbours and elderly relatives.
We are looking to recognise the achievements and contributions of Primary School aged children in our community, who have done something exceptional to undertake an act of kindness, changed a life, helped their community, promoted a good cause or run a campaign to get something done throughout 2021.
Has your son gone the extra mile, within their school community or their neighbourhood?"
For more information on the awards program, how to enter and closing date, please visit We Are Resilient Children’s Awards Willoughby City Council (nsw.gov.au).
DATES FOR THE DIARY:
Week 4
Monday 21 February: "Tell Us About Your Son" Meetings (online)
Tuesday 22 February: "Tell Us About Your Son" Meetings (online)
Tuesday 22 February: Commencement Mass at Oxford Falls
Tuesday 22 February: Cyberbullying Presentation at Chatswood Campus
Friday 25 February: Swimming Carnival (Macquarie University Aquatic Centre)
Saturday 26 February: P&F Commencement Mass & Social 5.30 pm at O.L.D. Church
CLASS PARENTS
Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to be a Class Parent. If you are still interested, please email the Class Parent Coordinator, Rachel Mensforth at rlmensforth@gmail.com.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School
Maths Drop-In Years 5-6
Junior Maths Drop-In will launch this Friday, 18 February. This session will run from 8.00 am - 8.40 am in The Learning Enrichment Room.
This will be an ideal place for extra revision or taking the time to get support if need. Come along and be part of the team.
Mrs Amanda Fileman - Junior School Teacher
Boxercise is Back!
Join the growing numbers of boys who are flourishing at school after attending an early morning (7.30 am) fitness session, which focuses on boxing techniques, fitness and fun (of course!).
There are two sessions a week, every Thursday and Friday, which are led by our senior Year 11 and 12 Boxercise legends who guide the boys through a variety of boxing activities which enhance strength, fitness and resilience.
There is no cost for this activity, other than a time commitment of 45 minutes on Thursday and Friday mornings. Boys simply need to wear their sports uniform (remember to bring full uniform, if required, to change into) and turn up in the Junior School Playground for a 7.30 am start.
Join up and reap the benefits of improved mental health and wellbeing.
See you on Thursday.
Mr Rick Russo - School Counsellor
Junior School Sport
SPX App
If you haven't already, please download and familiarise yourself with the SPX App. All wet weather announcements, updated fixtures and squad lists are conveniently found on this app.
Swimming Carnival
Our House Carnival will take place on Friday 25 February at Macquarie University Aquatic Centre. Parental support and assistance would be greatly appreciated. A separate note and program for this event will be uploaded to the School App in the coming days.
IPSHA Trial and Representative Sport
I am very pleased to announce that Adrian Yip attended the IPSHA Tennis Trial last Friday and was selected to advance to the CIS trial coming up later this month. Well done Adrian and best of luck at CIS. Special mentions also go to Cristiano Calcarao, who will soon compete in the NSW State Little Athletics Championships, and to Hamish Cameron who competed in the Sailing State Championships over the weekend.
The Armidale School Rugby Carnival (TASRC) 2022
We are currently in the process of finalising a squad of Year 6 Rugby players to compete in the TASRC 2022, to be held from 9 April – 10 April. Further information will be distributed this week.
Swimming Squad Training 2022
Meet at 7.10 am at Fitness First, Chatswood (24 Endeavour St, Chatswood).
Requirements:
- Suitable swimwear, goggles and swim cap
- Students wear PE/ Pius Sports Uniform to the sessions. At 8.15 am the boys are walked back to school by staff. They then change into school uniform.
Cross Country Training
Join our newly appointed coaches, Matthew North and Dom Panozzo, for fun, varied and challenging sessions.
When: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings
Where: Beauchamp Park, Chatswood
Time: 7.15 am – 8.15 am
Who: All Senior and Junior School students are welcome
Meet at the Beauchamp Oval Grandstand in comfortable running gear and with a water bottle. Bring your school uniform to change into afterwards back at The College.
With our Junior School Cross Country coming up on 24 February at Oxford Falls these sessions serve as a good opportunity to build up endurance. You don’t have to aspire to run in the IPSHA Carnival - all students and abilities are welcome.
Basketball
Touch Football
** Please note the updated timings for Touch Football this week**
Softball
Thursday Sport
Mr Glen Carroll - Junior School Sports Coordinator
From the Junior Resource Centre
Make a Date with your Library – Library Lovers Day 14 February, 2021
Happy Library Lovers’ Day 2022. We celebrated #LibraryLoversDay in the library during classes with, a reading from Mrs Martin’s Favourite Love poem. Students were encouraged to go on a “blind date” with a book. This year’s theme is Show the love and I think we nailed the brief. Pop in and tell Mrs Martin which books you love! #libraryloversday
Guessing Competition. Hearts In A Jar!
Inside this Jar there are many hearts. Pop into the library, take a guess and the winner will get an awesome prize during our Library Lovers Day activities. Don’t spoil the fun if you can guess. Winner will be drawn on Friday 18th February, 2022.
Our Hearts In a Jar competition was so popular at lunchtime that the queue was very long!
We love our library for loads of different reasons, make a date to visit this week. A great way to incorporate this year’s theme. #Opportunityandgrowth#AspireToInspire #librarylove
Love Sonnet XVII
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.”
Pablo Neruda.
Blind Date with a Book
Blind Date with a Book was a huge hit this year with over 60 books wrapped and matched with their readers. We definitely did show the love this week!
Premier's REading Challenge Gold Winners
Congratulations to our 2021 PRC Gold Winners, Nate Riley, Jake Yu and Austin Judd
Library Monitor for 2022
Introducing Oli S to the Library Monitors team for 2022
MRS MARTIN'S BOOK TRAIL: Garden Like a Nonno by Jaclyn Crupi
There is nothing better than having a Nonno, I am very lucky, my boys have one. My dad (Nonno Antonio) is no–nonsense, hardworking and cheeky. So if you want to learn how to grow your own food and cultivate your green thumb, then you need only look to the Nonnos and their gardening knowledge contained in this book. Practical and hardworking natures will jump off the page and come to full scale Nonno life in your garden. Happy Birthday Nonno Antonio, it’s time now to Garden like a Nonno #MrsMartinsBooktrail2022 #juniorresourcecentre
Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian
Junior School Chess Club
The NSW Junior Chess Competition is pleased to invite the SPX Junior School to take part in the 2022 Primary Schools Chess Teams Competition.
WHY CHESS? There are tremendous benefits for children involved in the competition – new outlook, new friends, intellectual stimulation, improved concentration, a new reason to develop self-esteem. Registration closes Monday 21 February 2022. Attached is a Chess Newsletter with all the relevant information if your son is interested, please complete the form, detach and hand it to Mrs Martin by Week 4, Monday 21 February, 2022. Training begins Week 8, Tuesday 22 March 2022 at 7.30 am in the Junior Resource Centre.
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convenor
IPSHA Junior School Debating - Selection Trials
Boys in the Junior School have the opportunity to become involved in Debating. The College enters two teams in the IPSHA Junior Debating Competition. Twelve boys from the Junior School form the two teams and these are selected to compete. The teams debate fortnightly on a Friday afternoon (during school hours Periods 4-6) during Terms 2, 3 and 4 on a rotational basis. The emphasis is on learning the skills of debating and workshops will be held during lunchtimes leading up to the competitions. Training begins every Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes beginning Week 8 Term 1.
Boys are invited to present a short two minute speech to assist in selection of these teams. These speeches are to be presented during the set trial sessions on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes:
The topic for the speech is THAT PETS ARE A PEST. Further details will be given to the boys at the Junior School Assembly.
Mrs Bettina Spanyik - Learning Enrichment Teacher