Junior School News & Sport

• Junior School News and Information
• Learning Enrichment Notices
• Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
• Junior School Sport

PRAYER:  The way you perceive something is the way you will receive it. You make a choice to look at a situation as a glass half full or half empty.  I watched the plastic surgeon, Fiona Wood - who helps burn victims - on the Anh Do 'Brush with Fame' TV show and she stated that we chose the lens through which we view life.

On camp when we pray and reflect we will focus on the good things that have happened that day and on the people who love us and are waiting for us at home.  It is important for a person’s well being to be thankful and to see the people around them who love and have helped them and those that they have also helped because it is in giving that we receive.  I have included a few quotes and a beautiful poem entitled Footprints in the Sand because faith also assists people to see the glass half full especially in tough times. It is good if we teach children to stop and look around them for the small ways that they have been blessed - at how their glass is half full!

"Optimism refuses to believe that the road ends without options.’"

   (Robert H Schuller)

 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”    

   (Phil 4:13)

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

* * * * * * * *

ASH WEDNESDAY:  Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and if you were raised Christian you will probably be aware of what Ash Wednesday is about.  However, if you weren’t then this may be confusing.  Ash Wednesday will be celebrated by the Junior School after lunch in OLD Church.  It is a day that marks the beginning of Lent. The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday which is also referred to a Pancake Tuesday. (You may wish to have pancakes next Tuesday.) It was traditional in many societies to eat pancakes or other foods made with the butter, eggs and fat that would be given up during the Lenten season.   The term Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, and repentance. It is the first day of lent which goes for 40 days.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel". The ashes may be prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations.  I once taught a boy who got confused and thought that Catholics were a bit strange and that we were going to burn the palms of his hands.  After lighting a candle, I had to assure him that the ashes are cold and from burnt palm leaves.  When I was a boy they said the dictum, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” I prefer words such as ‘Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.’  Every boy, no matter what religion, is welcome to receive the ashes as this is a good motto for life.

During Lent we try to become the best people we can be in preparation for Easter, the resurrection of Christ.  This may mean giving something up, and then donating the money to those less fortunate than ourselves via Project Compassion which is run at the College during Lent.  Instead of giving something up, or as well as giving something up, a person may decide to do extra jobs for somebody, i.e. Mum and Dad!  It is a good character builder.  The money raised from Proje

Learning Enrichment Notices

COMPETITION REMINDERS

• Say No to Bullying Poster Competition:  Draw a picture of how you could help someone who is being bullied. Entries close 11 March.  https://www.interrelate.org.au/get-involved/2019-poster-competition
• Da Vinci Decathlon Competition:  Enrich, Excite, Challenge:  held at Knox Grammar School on Thursday 30 May.  (NB compulsory training sessions in Compass Club.)   This competition is aimed at students celebrating their academic gifts.  Registrations of interest - Week 4 & 6.

Entry into this competition is based on demonstrated academic ability and an ability test. The competition will be run in Term 2 with compulsory training beginning Week 1 Term 2 on Wednesday lunchtimes during Compass Club.  Further details will be given at the next Junior School Assembly and link: http://www.davincidecathlon.com/davinci/index

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 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 9 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 WHICH IS BETTER TELEVISION OR BOOKS?  Further details will be given to the boys at the Junior School assembly. 

Mrs Bettina Spanyik - Learning Enrichment Teacher

Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre

Creating Creative Writers

‘WRITING IS ABOUT CAUSING TROUBLE – Your character wants something, and it’s your job to make it hard for them to get it.’  (Deborah Abela)

WOW!  What a day at the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) Conference in Sydney!  It was great to spend time with and learn from the best.  Highlights from #scbwisyd – Listening to Corinne Fenton promote her latest Picture Book The Dog on the Tuckerbox and watching Illustrator James Foley work his magic.  Inspiring!

Premier’s Reading Challenge:  Opens Monday 4 March. Your son’s username and password will be e-mailed to him shortly.

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail:  The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer.  How could you not love a book about a scary librarian?  A Very fun tale of two brothers who get sent to the library for an educational summer activity. Spud Murphy is a no nonsense librarian rumoured to have a spud gun (hence the name) A fun read with year 5. #MrsMartinsBooktrail2019

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian

Junior Sport

Thursday Sport: No Sport due to Camps

Basketball: Congratulations to our two ‘A’ players, Jonathon Nercessian and Finn Potts, who were selected as IPSHA representatives at attend the CIS trial – both trialled strongly last Friday but at the end of a tough trial Jono was named in the team and Finn as a shadow player (reserve) for the upcoming State Championships in May. Good luck!

Rugby: Trial games for all Junior School Rugby players are scheduled for Saturday 30 March at Oxford Falls against St Aloysius and Cranbrook.  More details to follow, although matches will be at approximately 8.00am (‘B’ trial) and 8.50am (‘A’ trial).  We will be finished by 10am.

Touch Football: The St Pius A and B Touch Football sides had a great hit out against our Edmund Rice rivals, Waverley College. The B side ran away with massive win and the A side prevailed in a closely fought match. Excellent display of skills in the B side from Aiden Lindsay with rush defence. Fantastic drawing and passing from Archie Harris to allow many gaps to open up down the wing in the A side. After two wins we look to keep the momentum moving as we take on Waverley White this weekend.

Mr Greg Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster

Football:  Please see the Football Club News on the Senior Sports page, including a Term 1 Holiday Football Camp at Oxford Falls for Years 5 to 10.  

Football (soccer) Referees:  The Junior school requires qualified referees for our home games on Saturday mornings at Oxford Falls  commencing in Term 2. The first game starts at 8.00am and the final game begins at 10:15am. Games are 40 minutes with a 5-minute half time. Referees are paid after each home round. Please contact Mr Paul Cummins via pcummins@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au for more information.

Mr Paul Cummins - Junior Football Convenor

Softball - Round 3 Report:   This week our game was played in similar fashion to ‘The Big Bash’.  We played a round robin against Trinity Junior Summer Hill and Trinity Prep Strathfield. We were on a time limit so the players had to play a quick and strategic game each innings. We had a full team this week and so a perfect outcome was anticipated by the coach.

St Pius batted first and Trinity Prep fielded. The players were all in the zone and were batting well. Ben Shoudra, Matthew Yee and Joshua Floridia put the first points on the board.  Then St Pius fielded against Trinity Juniors and again the players were concentrating and kept the opponent's run rate low. Christian as catcher and Matthew Sissons as pitcher were concentrating on throwing accurately while the outfielders, Nicholas Kwan, Kayden Foo and Jack Morabito, stopped the balls as they came their way. The St Pius Team knew where to throw each ball to the disappointment of the opposing teams. Martin Chan, Ben Haskew and Luca Cheal did a fantastic job defending the bases, as there were some very tense moments where a cool head was required.  

Well done St Pius - you played with passion and sportsmanship!

Thank you to Mr Haskew for keeping score and Mr Yee for taking photos.

Parents remember to bring a chair as many venues do not have seating.

Mrs Jennifer Williams - Softball Convenor

NSTA Tennis:  Information can be found on the Senior Sport page.

Mrs Sam Iwatani - NSTA Convenor