Junior School News & Sport

Year 5 Excursion to The Rocks and Observatory - Wednesday 22nd February 2017

Junior School News
Junior School Debating - Selection Trials
Junior School Sport

Junior School News

THE WELLBEING SHOW

The boys had an entertaining show with magic, student participation and a lot of laughs. The show had a lot of good messages, many of which are reiterated at school. One message is "mistakes mean you are trying". Some of the messages are demonstrated in the photos below. There were also some great air guitarists at work during the show! There will be more about this in the Junior School Newsletter.

YEAR 5 EXCURSION TO THE ROCKS AND OBSERVATORY HILL

Last Wednesday Year 5 had two excellent experiences at the Rocks. They broke into two groups and one went to the ‘Big Dig’ and the other to the Observatory. Later in the day they swapped. At the ‘Big Dig’ we learnt about the history of the rocks and participated in an archaeological dig. We investigated real artefacts from the Rocks and learnt about Primary and Secondary sources. At the Observatory we learnt about the stars, planets and looked through a couple of telescopes at the sun (special filter attached- don’t do this at home.) We also went to a 3D theatre and a planetarium. The day was a fantastic learning experience and it didn’t end there. Many boys also learnt a life skill of how to tap on and off with an Opal card on the train. Thanks to Mrs Williams for organising this excursion. A recount from a student and more photos will be in the Junior School Newsletter at the end of this week.

SPORT – CROSS COUNTRY

Last Thursday we had the Year 5 Cross Country trials and this Thursday will be the Year 6 Cross Country trials. If your son is selected in the school team, he will go to the selection trial on Saturday 1st April at the Kings School. Unfortunately this event is straight after the Years 5 and 6 camps so it will be early to bed on the Friday night.

ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGY AND LENT

Today the boys had a paraliturgy to celebrate Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. In Lent there are two days of Abstinence where Catholics who are 14 years and older abstain from eating meat. Due to difficulties in working out ages, there was no meat served at the tuck shop today. Therefore the boys were told this beforehand, and reminded again today.

Please encourage your son to think about how he can become the best person he can possibly be during Lent as we prepare for the holiest time of the Church’s Year, Easter. Your son may wish to give up something like soft drink or slurpees and donate that money to our Lenten Appeal which goes to Caritas. He may wish to earn money by doing a regular job around the house that he doesn’t normally do such as emptying and stacking the dishwasher and the money he gets paid for it goes to Caritas for those less fortunate than ourselves. We are truly blessed to be born or to live in Australia.

The $505 Homeroom Challenge: Boys enjoy a bit of competition so there is a home room challenge. The idea is that if a class raises the money below they will get acknowledgement on a board in the College foyer for donating an item. For example $75 = one piglet and training for a family in the Philippines. The Edmund Rice Society will acknowledge those classes that reach the final target which is actually less than $2 per child per week. An explanation of the target is below.

$150 = farm crops for one Fijian family affected by cyclones

$ 75 = one piglet and training for a family in the Philippines

$ 50 = first aid training for natural disasters for one in the Philippines

$ 35 = counselling session for parent with disabled child in Vietnam

$ 10 = one day’s food for a victim of domestic violence in a shelter in Timor-Leste

$505 Homeroom Challenge Total

OPEN DAY VOLUNTEER GUIDES

Permission notes have been given out today to all the boys interested in being a guide on Open Day, Saturday 18th March. Before the event the boys will be shown what to do. It is a great opportunity to develop self-confidence and to do a service for the school. Lunch and a snack will be provided.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday 2/3 Four Year 6 Class Captains meet Bishop Comensoli
Friday 3/3 Year 5 incursion/ writing workshop – John Larkin
Tuesday 7/3 IPSHA swimming carnival- All the best to the swim team.
Wednesday 8/3 Year 6 Da Vinci Decathalon Trial at lunchtime.

Mr T Long - Head of Junior School

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 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) 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 from late 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:

Year 5: Week 7 - Lunchtimes (Room opposite 6R)

Wednesday 15th March & Friday 17th March

Year 6: Week 8 - Lunchtimes (Room opposite 6R)

Wednesday 22nd March & Friday 24th March

The topic for the speech is WHICH IS BETTER,TELEVISION OR BOOKS? Further details will be given to the boys at the Junior School assembly.

Ms B Spanyik - Learning Enrichment Teacher

Junior School Sport

Thursday Sport: normal departure time for Sport at Oxford Falls. Yr 6 will complete their Cross-Country race prior to sport. Training then continues for Basketball, Cricket, Softball and Tennis. Trials for the Armidale Rugby Tour and Tamworth Football Tour take place at lunch (see below). Pick-up is at 2.20pm in the carpark.

AFL, Football (Soccer) and Rugby - Winter Season: Just to clarify…. In the Junior School, we are able to cater for all boys who wish to play AFL, Rugby and Football for the College. As long as boys have elected to play for the school (via their sport choice form) and turn up to trial, they will be guaranteed a place in a team. Trials will begin in Week 7 of this term, during Thursday Sport at Oxford Falls. We use external professional coaches to assist in grading our Rugby and Football players.

Basketball: Another frustrating week of wash-outs for some teams. Those teams that lost fixtures will at least return to the luxury of indoor play at Oxford falls this Saturday. Good luck to all.

Mr G Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster

Softball Report Round 3: It was a wet Saturday morning and unfortunately the game was cancelled. We look forward to next week’s game against Trinity Junior, Summer Hill.

Ms J Williams - Softball Convenor