Junior School News
- From the Junior School
- Junior School Sport
From the Junior School
REFLECTION
This week, students in the Junior School have given thanks, knowing that their lives have been enriched through the teachings of Mr Timmins, if only for a short while …
Only For a Short While
Oh, only for so short a while you have loaned us to each other, because we take form in your act of drawing us, and we take life in your painting us,
and we breathe in your singing us.
But only for so short a while have you loaned us to each other.
Because even a drawing cut in obsidian fades,
and the green feathers, the crown feathers,
of the birds lose their colour,
and even the sounds of the waterfall
die out in the dry season.
So, we too, because only for a short while
have you loaned us to each other.
PRAYER VIGIL FOR MR TIMMINS
A prayer vigil will be held for Mr Timmins tomorrow (Thursday) at 5.00 pm in the Our Lady of Dolours Church. Everyone is most welcome.
NSW YOUTH SAILING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Congratulations to Year 6 student and skipper, Lucas R and his sailing buddy on their third-place win in the NSW Youth Sailing Championship held at Point Wolstoncroft, Lake Macquarie during the holidays. Lucas and his partner sail in a Manly Junior boat and represent the Manly Skiff Club. Lucas also crews for Flying 11s. Congratulations Lucas!
SATURDAY SPORT
What a joy it was to wake to blue, cloudless skies on Saturday morning. Nowhere does the sun shine more brightly than at Oxford Falls, and our Touch Football teams were in fine form, pulling off a number of wins against Riverview and Grammar. Success also at Softball with Mrs Williams’ team knocking St Pat’s out of the park and there were big wins also at the Basketball. As we start the summer sport season, I thank those teachers and coaches who support our teams every Saturday.
AUTHOR VISIT
Year 6 enjoyed a presentation by Reece Carter - author of “A Girl Called Corpse”, a new spooky fantasy novel for kids aged 8-12, in the Junior Resource Centre on Monday.
DEBATING
We wish our debaters all the very best as they take on a number of other teams at Ravenswood on Friday at the IPSHA Gala Debating Day. Thank you to Mr Cummins for helping the students to prepare and for his support on Friday.
YEAR 5 EXCURSION
On Tuesday 8 November, Year 5 will travel to Concord to visit the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway.
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway is a living memorial and a principal site of commemoration honouring all those who fought for Australia during World War II. The Walkway covers more than 800 metres from Rhodes Station to Concord Hospital in Sydney’s inner-west, and runs along the mangrove-studded shores of Brays Bay on the Parramatta River.
At the centrepiece are magnificent granite walls bearing photographic images of the Kokoda campaign. There are 22 audio-visual stations along the Walkway, each describing a significant place or military engagement. The Walkway has been planted with lush tropical vegetation simulating the conditions of The Kokoda Track.
We thank Mr Brannan who, in preparation for the excursion, spoke to Year 5 about the sacrifices made during key Papua New Guinea battles which took place in 1942-43 along the Kokoda Track, at Milne Bay on the south-eastern tip of Papua, and at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda on the northern coastline.
NSW PRIMARY SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION (PSSA) ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
As I write, Zach F and Cristiano C are beginning two days of competition at the NSW PSSA Athletics Carnival at Sydney Olympic Park. We wish them well and look forward to hearing how they went when they return to school on Friday.
PRAC STUDENT
Next week, we welcome Ms Boyle to the Junior School. Ms Boyle is a student at the University of New England and will be working with Mrs Iwatani for three weeks as she completes her practicum placement.
YEAR 6 ORIENTATION
Next Thursday (27 October), we welcome our 32 new 2023 Year 6 students to the College. The current Year 5s will spend the morning with the new students before heading off to Oxford Falls for Sport. The new Year 6s will spend the day with Mrs Iwatani who will give them a tour of the College and take them through the Student Handbook. We look forward to meeting our new Year 6s and making them welcome.
ABSENCES
Thank you to everyone who is emailing studentmanagment@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au to advise that their son is going to be absent for the day. This has greatly reduced the number of families I need to follow up with each day, so it is appreciated.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
Friday 21 October – Debating Gala Day at Ravenswood
Tuesday 8 November – Kokoda Memorial Walk (Year 5)
Thursday 10 November – Swim/Surf program begins
Tuesday 15 November – Year 7 2023 Transition Day (current and new Year 6s)
Tuesday 22 November – Year 7 2023 Information Evening via TEAMS (for current and new Year 6)
Friday 25 November – Founder's Day at Oxford Falls
Tuesday 29 November – Year 6 Reflection Day at Oxford Falls
Tuesday 6 December – Closing Mass, Junior School Sport and Academic Awards, Semester 2 Reports issued, last day of school year for students.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Junior School Sport
2023 Sport Choice Form: Just a reminder to Year 5 parents that the 2023 Sports Choice form needs to be completed as soon as possible. If you have not received the link, please contact me via email at: gcarroll@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
Saturday Sport:
With the start of our summer sports season, please take the time to read the following documents which relate to participation in the IPSHA Sporting competitions.
Thursday Sport will be at Oxford Falls. Summer training continues for Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch Football. With the chance of rain this week, it would be wise to have a spare shirt/jersey in your bag (SPX branded if possible). Our return departure time from Oxford Falls to Chatswood has been brought forward slightly, so parents wishing to collect their children from Oxford Falls need to arrive by 2.10 pm. Any students still remaining will board the final bus back to Chatswood.
NSW PSSA Athletics: Cristiano C (5 Red) and Zach F (6 Red) are taking part in the NSW PSSA Athletics Carnival today and tomorrow. Earlier this morning, Cristiano placed 7th in the 1500m event and Zach finished 5th in the Shot Put. Both boys are involved in events tomorrow, so we wish them all the best and I look forward to providing a full report on their performances next week.
Term 4 Swim Program: All students will take part in a specialised program, as per the schedule above in lieu of regular Thursday Sport. Year 5 will attend Macquarie Uni Aquatic Centre for a pool-based program and Year 6 will attend Dee Why Beach for a Surf Skills program. Students are required to complete the respective forms that will be issued this week:
- Macquarie Uni Grading Form (Year 5 students) – a hardcopy form to be returned to home class teachers
- SEA Australia Waiver (Year 6 students) – Year 6 parents only, please click on the link… www.seaaustralia.live/school-waiver-form
Results - Saturday 15 October:
Softball:
Touch Football:
Basketball:
Basketball Training: Just a reminder of the training details for the remainder of the season:
- A, B teams: Monday mornings from 7.30 am – 8.30 am (Indoor court)
- C, D, teams: Monday afternoons from 3. – 4.30 pm (Indoor court)
- E, F teams: Tuesday mornings from 7.30 am – 8.30 am (Indoor court)
- G, H teams: Monday mornings from 7.30 am – 8.30 am (Outdoor court)
- I, J, K and L teams: Thursday mornings 7.30 am – 8.30 am (Optional session on the Outdoor court)
In the event of bad weather, we will do our best to run multiple groups on the Indoor court. However, this is not always possible due to the large number of Senior teams also using the space.
Swimming Squad Training – Term 4, 2022: Those who were part of Swimming Squad in Term 1 are invited to resume training this week. Either Ms Proc (Senior Swimming Coordinator) or myself will be in attendance during each session.
Training details:
- 7.10 am at Fitness First, Chatswood (24 Endeavour St, Chatswood)
- Suitable swimwear, goggles and swim cap are all essential (no cap, no swim)
- 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. A snack/breakfast is also recommended at this point.
- Training days/dates:
Mr Glen Carroll - Junior School Sports Coordinator
NSTA Tennis
With the start of the NSTA season this weekend please make sure that you have checked the draw to see where and who you are playing against. You will find all of this information here (Please use the dropdown to check each division):
8.00 am - Xpoint - Northern Suburbs Tennis Assoc. (xpointsports.com)
10.00 am - Xpoint - Northern Suburbs Tennis Assoc. (xpointsports.com)
Please make sure that you arrive at least 15 mins before the start of your match.
The umpires who are needed to help the juniors for this week are: Lucas Halim, Izaac Tan, Ethan Li, Riley Seeto and Jack Fairbanks
Mrs Samantha Iwatani - NSTA Convenor