Junior School News
- From the Junior School
- Junior School Sport
- From the Junior Resource Centre
From the Junior School
REFLECTION | TERM 3
As Term 3 draws to a close, we give thanks for all the wonderful experiences we’ve enjoyed in the Junior School over the last 10 weeks.
We’ve debated new friends at other schools, enjoyed Robotics Club, Getaway Club, and the Brick Club. We’ve played rugby, soccer, and AFL in the frost, and watched on in delighted hysteria as Cristiano sprinted his way into a national championship. We’ve listened to authors tell us why they love what they do and dreamt with our eyes wide open during Book Week.
We hung out with our heroes and queued for a snag at the Father and Son Sports Day. We’ve sung, drummed, and strummed at the Twilight Concert, and enjoyed a few treats on Market Day. We’ve been spellbound by Chinatown, inspired by Shakespeare, and monkeyed around at the Zoo.
We walked our way to over $11 000 for those less fortunate than ourselves and enjoyed a day off to commemorate St Pius X. We watched Mum and Dad head off dressed as themselves to the Rugby Dinner, and like Mr Couani to the P&F Trivia Night.
We’ve learnt about the ways animals adapt to their environments, natural disasters, factors that shape places in our world, why vaping and smoking is an unhealthy lifestyle choice, about personal development and relationships, the Eucharist, leadership, the reign of God and how to write an Explanation. And we’ve learnt more mathematics than we can count.
It has been a full and positive ten weeks. Thank you to the Junior School staff who create the opportunities for the boys, and to you, the parents, for your continued support of your son’s journey with us at St Pius X.
Wishing all our families a happy and restful holiday.
School resumes for students on Monday 10 October.
HIGH ACHIEVERS IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Congratulations to 6 Red student Harry T who participated in a community program at Kids Giving Back earlier this year. Harry was one of over 500 students who produced over 13 500 meals and decorated tote bags, with empathetic, positive messages, which were distributed to 13 charities around Sydney. The student volunteers were also folded and packed new clothes for over 12 000 vulnerable people, many of whom were affected by this year’s floods.
We are proud of your initiative in making a difference in the community Harry, and for demonstrating to your peers that empathy shared is empathy built. I’m sure your example will encourage others to reach out and help others in need.
YEAR 5 ZOO EXCURSION
What a day! The weather! The excitement! The chimps! The seals!
Last Friday, Year 5, their teachers, and a group of enthusiastic parent volunteers enjoyed a wonderful day, bathed in springtime sunshine at Taronga Park Zoo. We broke into groups and headed down to the bottom of the Zoo in anticipation of making our way back up in time for a 12.30 pm presentation. Alas, we got side-tracked by the giraffes, and then the chimps, and then the elephants, and then the capybaras, and eventually the Seal Show, so, to this day, I’m not even sure that we got anywhere near the harbour!
At 12.30 pm, we made our way to the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning for a presentation on animal habitats and adaptations. This supported the learning students have been doing in their science unit this term.
Thank you to Mr Patterson and Mrs Barrett for their organisation of the day, and a special thank you to the parents who came along and shared a terrific day with us. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed having you with us (thanks for keeping us caffeinated!).
YEAR 6 SCIENCE
This term, Year 6 have been developing their understanding of the Earth's dynamic structure, and its place in space. The Earth Explorers unit focuses on some processes that change Earth's surface slowly, over a long period of time, or abruptly. For students to develop an understanding that the surface is constantly changing, they have taken part in a variety of guided inquiries.
In the first part of the unit, students explored the structure of the Earth and processes that cause changes to it. These lessons included earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, physical and chemical weathering, erosion and deposition.
In the second half of the unit, students looked at Extreme Weather: What is it, its effects, and creating a survival plan that included the design of a warning system.
This week, students have been busy constructing models of natural disasters (eg volcanos, tornados, tsunamis), or bringing to life their designs for a natural disaster warning system. I have been so impressed at the quality of the design and construction process, and hope you enjoy these photos from the classroom:
CIS ATHLETICS
Congratulations to all the boys who represented St Pius so proudly as part of the IPSHA team at the CIS Athletics at Homebush yesterday.
Zach F proved that he can throw heavy things a very long way by winning the shot put, while Cristiano C cleaned up the field in the 1500m.
More details in Mr Carroll’s Sport Report below.
WALK-A-THON
Our Junior School Walk-a-thon raised a staggering $11,602.50 which will be used to support our two partner schools, St Joseph’s Walgett, and St Mary’s Bowraville, as well as supporting our World Vision child, Groria (with a ‘r’) from Zambia. Thank you to all the students and families for your generosity in supporting these very worthy causes.
Special thanks to Mr Cummins (Edmund Rice Society), to Mr Carroll, and to all the Junior School staff for their work in organising and supervising this year’s Walk-a-thon.
PRINCIPAL’S AWARD
Congratulations to Hunter Austin who received a Principal’s Award on assembly on Monday. A Principal’s Award is awarded when a student receives 3 Blue Awards. To receive a Blue Award, students need to receive 5 Merit Awards. So, a Principal’s Award is recognition of a student’s consistent effort and excellence of achievement.
SPX CANTEEN
Canteen volunteers needed!
If you can spare any time at all, volunteers are very-much needed to help Monday – Friday in the SPX Canteen. Come for an hour or come for the day – any help is greatly appreciated.
Contact Anna or Janelle on: canteen.team@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Dates for the diary:
Thursday 22 September – Public Holiday
Friday 23 September – Pupil-free day
Monday 10 October – School resumes for Term 4
Friday 21 October – Gala Debating Day (Ravenswood)
Thursday 27 October – New Year 6 Orientation Day
Saturday 29 October – New Year 6 and New Year 5s Orientation morning
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of Junior School
Junior School Sport
Thursday Sport: No Thursday this week due to the Public Holiday.
Summer Sports: Draws and team lists for Term 4 Sport will be uploaded to the SPX App on Friday this week.
CIS Athletics: Congratulations to the following boys who represented IPSHA at the CIS Athletics carnival this week. Special mention goes to Zac Fourie and Cristiano Calcarao who were selected in the CIS Athletics team for each of their events.
- Parker Ball (5 Gold) – Long Jump. Parker has come a long way this season and has a big future in long jump, as well as a number of other events.
- Cristiano Calcarao (5 Red) – 1500m 1st place 4m57s and 800m 3rd place 2m26s. Well done again to Cristiano for continuing his strong performances in 2022, again overcoming adversity with 200m to go to eventually take out the Gold in the 1500m a few seconds ahead of the silver medallist.
- Zach Fourie (6 Red) – Shot Put 1st place 10.32m and Discus 3rd place 31.63m. Zach once again showed that he is a force to be reckoned with in both throwing events, finishing the clear winner in the Shot put by a whopping 50cm.
- Lachlan Thompson (5 Red) – Shot put 7th place, 8.45m. Lachy has proven to be our most improved athlete over the season, going from being a good thrower to a very promising thrower on the cusp of greatness. Despite registering a personal best at CIS, he narrowly missed the final round of throws by a mere 3cm.
- Matthew Castorina (6 Green), Max Barnett (6 Green), Patrick Butler (5 Gold) and Ryan East (6 Blue) – Senior Relay 6th place. A huge performance by our elite sprinters, narrowly missing selection in the CIS team by 0.28 seconds. They certainly left nothing in the tank, beating their previous best time by 1.5 seconds. The extra time and effort they put into training in the weeks leading up to CIS was clearly evident.
Mr Glen Carroll - Junior School Sports Coordinator
Junior School Walkathon
A huge congratulations and thank you to all of the boys who took part in and raised money for our Junior School Walkathon. We have raised $11,602.50, which we will use to support our two partner schools, St Joseph's Walgett and St Mary's Bowraville, and also our new World Vision child, Groria from Zambia. Thank you again for your generosity in supporting these very worthy causes.
Mr Paul Cummins - Edmund Rice Society
Rugby Supporters' Club Golf Day - Tickets on Sale Now!
Date: Friday, 11 November 2022
Course: Northbridge Golf Club
Sailors Bay Road, Northbridge
Time: 1.00 pm
Cost: $200pp including lunch, 18 holes golf with cart, dinner and
drinks all day.
Tickets on sale now!
See Attached Flyer with TryBooking Link
Any questions, please contact: Mr Paul O’Neill, President, SPX Rugby Supporters' Club
M: 0418 634 750 E: paoneill21@gmail.com
Mr Paul O'Neill - SPX Rugby Supporters' Club President
From the Junior Resource Centre
This week’s Highlights are:
Spring is here! What better way to celebrate than with a beautiful bunch of Wattle babies by May Gibbs.
May Gibbs (1877-1969), author, illustrator, has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of Australians with her lovable bush characters and fairytale landscapes.
(image: ‘Illustrations for Wattle Babies’ by May Gibbs, c 1918.)
Our library holds a copy of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, so pop in and celebrate Spring!
The State Library of New South Wales holds a remarkable collection of Gibbs’ original illustrations, cartoons and literary papers, most of which was deposited into the Mitchell Library in 1970.
Holiday Loans
Most classes already know, holiday borrowing has officially started. If you haven't already organised your holiday #bookstack pop in soon!#holidayreads.
Name the Teacher Competition – Unfortunately No Winners!
Long Service Leave
I will be on Long Service Leave during Term 4, seizing the day with adventures to the beach, city, lake and wilderness! I also look forward to doing some writing, reading, painting and reflecting.
A big thank you to all my Library Monitors for their hard work during the year, and I am sure they will continue this into Term 4.
Mrs Martin's Book Trail: The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon
I highly recommend you get your paws on this incredible verse novel by Zana Fraillon. The story and concept (POV is from a dog) is original and clever; heart warming and heart wrenching; engaging and intriguing. The language is truly incredible – all at once inventive, lyrical, raw, tender, sparce, deep, provoking, reflective, jarring, rhythmic…. I could go on and on. The layout and design of the words on the page is breathtaking and inspired. Then the sublime monochromatic artwork by Sean Buckingham takes the story and the words to whole new dimensions.
#mrsmartinsbooktrail2022
Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian