Junior School News & Sport

Junior School News

Saturday Sport:  Last Saturday it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm with which the boys represented their college.  The softball team had a wonderful ‘come from behind win' thanks to a loaded-base home run hit by Jose Monk.  There were many close games in basketball which made it very exciting.  I noted good sportsmanship all round which was very pleasing.

Ash Wednesday:  Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a time when we prepare for Easter which is the holiest time of the church year and we try to become the best person we can be.  This may involve giving up something that we enjoy (not homework - I have heard that joke a 1000 times!) or we may choose to do something extra to help others.  The boys might give up a sweet they eat for Lent and this money could be donated to Project Compassion which goes to Caritas Australia, an aid agency which helps those less fortunate than ourselves.

Thursday Sport:  Tomorrow we have a full day at Oxford Falls.  The boys will require their morning tea and lunch.  They will participate in an incursion on Bullying and after recess they will be involved in the sporting program.  During lunch some Year 6 boys will be trialling for the Football and Rugby tours which are held at the end of this term.  Those boys will require their equipment so they can trial for their sport. 

Family Commencement Mass:  Mass begins at 5.30pm this Saturday 17th February at Our Lady of Dolours Church (just behind the College on Archer Street) and parking is available in the College grounds. 

Please come along and celebrate the new school year with your fellow parents at the Family Commencement Mass which will be followed by drinks and nibbles with your family in the College grounds.  This event is funded and organised by your P&F.  We always enjoy fantastic attendance and parents never fail to make new connections and friends.  See you there!

Some Dates to keep in your diary:

• Saturday 17th February – P&F Commencement Mass and Social - 5.30 pm
• Monday 19th February – Junior School P/T interviews (short interviews where you tell us about your son)
• 28 Feb to 2nd March – Year 6 Camp
• 7th March to 9th March – Year 5 Camp
• Saturday 17th March – Open Day
• Friday 6th April – P&F Cocktail Party

Have a happy St Valentine’s Day!

Mr T Long - Head of Junior School

Junior School Sport

Thursday Sport: Regular sport at Oxford Falls, though all boys will again travel to the venue at 9.00am as there is an anti-bullying incursion in the morning. They will therefore require a full packed recess/lunch.  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.

Winter Sport Changes: A reminder that TODAY is the deadline for changing winter sport preferences. I must enter teams into competitions and complete fixture draws shortly.

AFL, Football (Soccer) and Rugby - Winter Season:  Just to clarify that 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 9 of this term, during Thursday Sport at Oxford Falls. We use external professional coaches to assist in grading our Rugby and Football players.

Junior Swim Carnival:  We were greeted with a perfect day for the Annual House Carnival, the first opportunity for our boys to represent their College in the sporting arena. The boys competed with vigour and determination in the water, many at the edge of their comfort zone in pursuit of a ribbon and valuable points. It was so pleasing to see the number of boys entering the 50m races in each stroke, certainly more displaying confidence in their ability and a hunger to compete in the top events. The competition in the water was healthy and the support for those swimmers from the pool deck was magnificent. I was also extremely pleased with the courage displayed by some of our weaker swimmers who took to the water despite being extremely nervous about doing so, thus gaining confidence and overcoming fears - valuable learning experiences for anyone.

I particularly acknowledge the newly appointed House Captains who, in their first assignment for 2018, did a sterling job leading their troops, ensuring high participation levels, organising relays and showing the way in the pool. Our boys are our best advertisement for the College and I was extremely impressed with the way this new group has settled into the sporting fabric of the school – they listen, follow directions and effortlessly give of their best.

In the end Barron’s strong individual performances in the top events proved the difference, nudging ahead of Rice in the final relays for the overall win. Rice were strong all day and deserve honourable mention for a very close 2nd place. Treacy House rounded out the podium and Purton competed valiantly all day.

Congratulations to Alec Sweeney (Capt) and Oscar Ashford (VC) for leading Barron to victory. The highlight of the day was Jonathan Yang’s record breaking swim in the U11 50m Breaststroke. He surged home in 43.85 sec breaking the oldest standing record of 44.38, set in 1991.  Congratulations! 

A big thank-you to the staff, senior students and parent volunteers who ran the carnival so smoothly. Thanks also to the many parents and relatives who supported their boys on the day. The following Age Champions and runners-up deserve mention for their superb individual performances in their respective fields. Most have been selected in the swimming squad and are joined by Jonathon Board, Aidan McNeilly and Lachlan Melloy (U11), Luke Haldane and Andrew Hill (U12). Our swim squad has already begun preparations for their upcoming selection carnival.  We wish them the best of luck.

Rugby Tour: We will again be taking a Prep 1st XV Rugby Squad to Armidale for The Armidale School Rugby Carnival. This tour departs on 13th April and returns on 15th April. Selection trials for all Year 6 players who wish to attend will take place at Oxford Falls Sport this Thursday 15th February and again on a date TBC.  Boys require boots, mouthguard and any protective gear.

Football (Soccer) Tour: Trials for the upcoming Tamworth Football Tour will take place on Thursay 15th February as part of sport. Yr 6 students playing Football for the College and aspiring to play ‘A’ grade are invited to trial. The tour takes place from 13th to 15th April in Tamworth, NSW. All tour management, including transport, accommodation and meals are organised by the College. Parents and friends can attend in support if they wish to make their own arrangements.

Basketball: Well done to all players on a solid start to the season. With 60% of boys new to St Pius X College, it is tough to jump straight into games with no training. We should now see more cohesion as players are prepared for games at their two training sessions each week.

Mr G Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster

NSTA Tennis

Please refer to the Senior School Sports Section.

Mrs S Iwatani - NSTA Tennis Convenor

Softball

Round 1:  It was a terrific game to kick off the softball season. Our opponent was Trinity Prep and both teams were nervous not knowing what was going to happen.  Our Captain, Eliot Sanders,  chose to field first. 

In the first innings, Trinity had two runners home and we had Jose Monk, Xavier Dywer, Jack Harrison, Dominic Mitchell, Eliot Sanders and Benjamin Bromby make home plate. The SPX Team was feeling confident and so was the coach. The 2nd innings fared better for Trinity with nine players touching home plate compared to our one.  At this stage we were five runs behind.

We then saw some outstanding play by Max Lenton, Matthew Yee, Oliver Johnston and Benjamin Shoudra when these players were stopping every ball that came their way. Confident pitching by Jordan Moore also assisted in getting Trinity’s first three batters out with no runs scored. SPX were back in the game. In the 3rd innings eight players secured a home run and St Pius X College won 15 – 11.

It was a great game to watch with many tense moments to keep the spectators involved with the play. Well done boys on your sportsmanship and keeping your cool under pressure.

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

Mrs J Williams - Softball Convenor