Junior School News & Sport

JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS

• Year 5 Kokoda Track Memorial Excursion
• Swimming & Surf Safety Program
• Founder's Day Festival this Friday
• Year 6 End-of-Year Celebration

JUNIOR SCHOOL SPORT

Junior School News

YEAR 5 KOKODA TRACK MEMORIAL EXCURSION  

Last Friday, Year 5 visited the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway.  We had a talk and saw a short film on the Kokoda Track before we had a laying of the wreath.  Then the eight diggers showed us around the various battles and areas of the Kokoda Track for about 2 hours.  One of the diggers was a Kokoda veteran who was 93 Years old.  Even if the boys only remember a small part of the information they heard, they should all have come away with a sense of pride in being an Australian and a sense of gratitude towards those who have served for this country. 

(Please click on the gallery below to see a selection of photos taken on the day.)

At the conclusion of the day, the veterans commented on how the boys asked wonderful questions and they all agreed that we were the best school they had shown around this year.   The boys can be proud of their behaviour.  Well done.

SWIMMING AND SURF SAFETY PROGRAM

Tomorrow is Week 3 of the  Swimming Program (Year 5 at Macquarie Uni) and a Surf Safety Program (Year 6 at Dee Why).  The boys will need to have a pair of swimmers as well as dry underwear.  We will supply sunscreen but for Year 5 it is wise to also have a Rash vest/sunvest. Year 6 can also bring one but the surf school does get them to wear a rash vest.  Please ensure they have morning tea, lunch and a drink bottle and obviously a towel and a hat.

IF YOU WISH YOUR SON TO BE COLLECTED BY ANOTHER BOY’S PARENT WE MUST HAVE A NOTE SAYING THAT YOU ARE GRANTING PERMISSION FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. The note can be written once for the whole 4 weeks but please assist us by arranging to get a note to the teacher before the event.

FOUNDER’S DAY FESTIVAL

The boys need to wear their colour house uniform on Friday.  They will be supplied with morning tea and lunch, so they don’t need to bring a bag.  Bags become problematic on a day when the whole school goes to Oxford Falls. They do need to wear a hat with their name on the inside.

Boys with special dietary requirements went to a meeting this morning so if your son was away and/or didn’t attend the meeting please get him to see  Mr Long ASAP.  

YEAR 6 END OF YEAR CELEBRATION - Sunday 4th December

It isn’t long until the Big End of Junior School Celebrations with approximately 400 attending!!!  The organisers need to finalise numbers & figures, so if you haven't already RSVP'd and contributed it isn't too late - www.trybooking.com/242267. Payments must be received FRIDAY 18 Nov 2016.

Any questions, please ask your Year 6 Class parent.  Click here to see the party invite and book via the Trybooking link above.

Mr T Long - Head of Junior School

Junior School Sport

Thursday Sport: Swim Program continues (see below). Boys must be collected by 2.15pm outside the Macquarie Uni Pool (Year 5) or at Dee Why Surf Club (Year 6). Otherwise, they will be transported to school as per normal arrangements.

Term 4 Swim Program: This program runs each Thursday in November in lieu of regular Thursday Sport. Year 5 attend Macquarie Uni Aquatic Centre for a pool-based program and Year 6 attend Dee Why Beach for a Surf Skills Program. All details including a detailed information letter can be found under Junior Swimming on the College website: http://bit.ly/1uGgCM0

Basketball: Another successful season has now concluded with all teams finishing the term strongly and most importantly, enjoying their basketball. Thanks to all players for their enthusiasm and efforts over the year and especially to parents for wonderful support and assistance. Awards will be presented at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday 8th December at Oxford Falls. Season reports will be published in The Collegian, to be released in early 2017. Please return all singlets ASAP, even if continuing with Basketball next year. Teams will be re-graded and singlets re-issued in 2017.

Junior School End of Year Awards: The End of Year Graduation / Awards Ceremony takes place at Oxford Falls on Thursday 8th December. Extra-curricular Certificates will be awarded to all students and all sports awards, including the summer season trophies and major awards will be presented. I personally will be away with the Year 11 Snowy Hike but I would like to pass on my congratulations to all awardees and thank all students for their fine contributions over the course of a huge year of sport.

Mr G Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster

Softball 

It was not the best end to our season but the players tried so hard. We have had great wins this round and it has been so good to see each player develop and progress in their fielding positions. Mention must be made about Ethan Rossetto who took a brilliant catch from the batter, it was hard and fast and he received it beautifully. Frank Houlihan, pitched some great balls. Well done Frank. David Casey, Jhon Evans, Rowan Roomie and Jonah Gonzales did a great job defending the outfield, chasing some well-placed balls. They all worked together but the opposition dominated the game. Andrew Bradford managed 1 run home, which was celebrated. Alex Vaccher, Isaac Elms and Peter Yastreboff did their best defending the bases. They had a few close decisions called, unfortunately not their way. Thomas Wilkins our catcher, had a difficult job, however never gave up.

We were outplayed by a strong opposition, which displayed great sportsmanship towards us. Funnily, our first game had the same score except we were the victors. We would not have foreseen that we would end the season this way.

I would like to thank my players and their parents for their support over this season. Thank you to Mrs Vaccher for keeping score over the rounds. Lastly best of luck to all the players on their future sporting endeavours.

Ms J Williams - Softball Convenor