Junior School News
- From the Head of the Junior School
- Junior School Sport
- From the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior Chess
From the Head of the Junior School
REFLECTION
In our age of fast food and eating on the go, families often find that they are not eating meals together at a dinner table. As a family, you might like to look back over the past week and recall how many meals were eaten together and how many meals were eaten alone or on the run.
In the Bible, meals are seen as much more than a means to satisfy a physical need. The Hebrew people viewed eating a meal as a way of expressing and strengthening their relationship to one another under God's covenant. It is no coincidence that meals are often the setting of Jesus' teaching and miracles in the Gospels. In this Sunday's Gospel, we hear the story of Jesus feeding the crowd of 5,000 people.
Ref: Sunday Connection
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos will be taken this Friday. Please make sure that your son is wearing his full winter uniform and that his shoes are clean and shiny – you never know when you’re going to be in the front row!
WILLOUGHBY COUNCIL SHORT STORY COMPETITION
On Tuesday, Year 5 welcomed Emma Hayes from Willoughby Council who spoke to students about the Willoughby Short Story Competition. Emma discussed the importance of diversity in our waterways, and the importance of keeping habitats clean for the insects and animals that live there. Emma explained to the boys what a Waterboatman is, and the job it does within the local river systems.
Year 5 now have a challenge – to write a creative story incorporating a Waterboatman, and to design and illustrate an accompanying picture. Any submission that is chosen by Emma and her team, will become part of a book featuring local creatures which goes on sale at the Willoughby Council.
MERIT AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to our Merit Award winners last week.
DANCE CONCERT - THURSDAY 23 JUNE 12:45 PM – 1.20 PM
REDed (Raw Energy Dance Education) have your boys up and dancing every Thursday at Oxford Falls as they prepare a performance using the elements of dance: formation, directions, sound effects, feature moments and choreography. Dance lessons started last week and will culminate in a final performance on Thursday 23 June from 12.45 pm – 1.20 pm. Everyone is welcome to come and see the boys perform and then stay for …
MID-YEAR 'FIDE' AWARDS - THURSDAY 23 JUNE 1.30 PM – 2.00 PM
After the Dance Concert, we will present Blue 'Fide' Awards to those boys who have shown “Consistent effort leading to improvement” in Semester One. Following the awards, the boys will be free to go home with parents or come back to the College at 2.20 pm for a normal dismissal.
YEAR 5 CAMP | MON 20 – WED 22 JUNE
Year 5 families should now have all the information they need to get organised for Point Wolstoncroft. We are looking forward to three days of adventure and making new friendships across the grade. If you have any questions, please be in contact with your classroom teacher. Thank you to those parents who have filled in the Medication questionnaire. If you haven’t, please do so today as I am putting together the Medication Register tomorrow.
PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be online and details on how to book will be sent out tomorrow.
FINAL THOUGHTS …
There are some passionate NRL fans at SPX, but there is no-one more passionate than Queenslander fans, and we all walked a little taller on Thursday. Congratulations to the Mighty Maroons, and commiserations to the Blues. Better luck next time.
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS …
Monday 20 – Wednesday 22 June – Year 5 Camp to Point Wolstoncroft
Wednesday 22 June – Semester One Reports issued
Thursday 23 June – Dance Concert at Oxford Falls at 12.45 pm
Thursday 23 June – Blue Fide Awards at Oxford Falls at 1.20 pm
Friday 24 June – Parent/Teacher/Student interviews
Friday 24 June – First day of three-week holiday
Tuesday 19 July – First day of Term 3
Thank you for your ongoing support of the Junior School.
Mrs Jill Greenwood - Head of the Junior School
Junior School Sport
Winter Sport Round 7 Fixtures:
U11 Rugby v Tudor House: Please note that the U11 away game this week against Tudor House is a considerably longer trip than usual, up to 2 hours depending on where you are leaving from. If you have any issues regarding this fixture, please make contact with Coach Mr Ure (cure@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au) ASAP.
Thursday Sport: This week, boys will need to bring their Rugby/Football/AFL training gear as well as their recess and lunch for the day as they will not be able to access the canteen.
Athletics Carnival: Congratulations to all involved in the Athletics Carnival last week. A huge thank-you to the teachers, parents and Year 10 helpers who all made the day possible. In a day full of memorable moments for the students, two moments that caught my attention were Max Barnett’s impressive performance at the U12 High Jump, and Christian Sorrentino’s exemplary display of sportsmanship to a fellow competitor in his U10 100m heat. The theatre of sport never fails to entertain or inspire.
Age Champions:
Athletics Squad: Given a number of athletes were unable to attend our carnival, an ‘initial’ squad will be notified next week. They will be invited to take part in the first week of Athletics training in Term 3, where the squad will be finalised for the remainder of the season.
CIS Cross Country: Last week, while the rest of the Junior School were competing at our house carnival at Homebush, Year 5 student Cristiano Calcarao was competing in the CIS Cross Country at Eastern Creek. I am proud to say that Cristiano won first place in the U11 age group, finishing an astonishing 20 seconds ahead of his fellow competitors. Cristiano now moves on to the NSW PSSA/All Schools Cross Country Championships to be held on Friday 22 July at Sydney Motorsport Park. All the best Cristiano!
Come and support our SPX First XI: Our mighty First XI Football team are due to take on St Patrick’s College this Saturday, 18 June at 9.00 am on Walsh Oval, Oxford Falls. Any Junior School students who attend the game to support our First XI dressed in their Blue and Gold SPX winter sport gear can find Mr Carroll near the grandstand during the halftime break to go in the draw to win a prize.
Cricket Holiday Clinic: Mr Ash Doolan, who trains our SPX Junior Cricket boys in the Summer season, is offering a Cricket clinic on the upcoming holidays. Please click on the link below for more information.
Mr Glen Carroll - Junior School Sports Coordinator
SPX Rugby Suppoter's Club
Save the Dates! - Rugby Club Dinner & Rugby Club Golf Day
- Rugby Club Dinner - Saturday, 30 July - Roseville Golf Club - from 7.00 pm – (bookings via TryBooking will be provided next week – more detailed information to be provided next week).
- Rugby Club Golf Day - Wednesday, 23 November - Roseville Golf Club - from 1.00 pm.
Mr Paul O’Neill - President
SPX Rugby Supporters’ Club
Tel: 0418-634750
Email: paoneill21@gmail.com
Junior Football
All teams enjoyed a bye however they have still been training hard at Oxford Falls. The competition resumes this weekend before pausing for the holidays. Here is a link to videos of last week’s skill.
Mr Paul Cummins - Junior Football Convenor
From the Football Supporters Club
Saturday 18th June 2022
Football Supporters Club will be running the Old Boy’s BBQ
We are putting a call out for 4 volunteers from every football team, to volunteer to assist with the BBQ and selling merchandise. Please email the Football Supporters Club today and advise when you will be able to assist. footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au
All funds raised will go towards benefiting our boys in the St Pius Football Program.
Come along and meet new people, catch up with old friends and enjoy being part of our wonderful St Pius Football Supporters Community.
Supporter Gear
The Football Supporters Club will be selling Supporter Gear, on Saturday 18 June at Oxford Falls.
The profit from any Supporter Gear bought from the Football Merchandise Table, will go towards benefiting our boys in the St Pius Football Program.
The Football Merchandise Table will be located at the Watkins and Walsh Football Fields.
Book now for the SPX Football Holiday Camp at Oxford Falls Campus
Monday 27 June 2022 to Wednesday 29 June 2022
Improve your football skills at the SPC Football Holiday Camp with Coerver Coaching.
Coerver Coaching holiday camps offer a fun-filled football experience. Each day will include Coerver Super Skills competitions and challenges, Ball Mastery, Coaching sessions focusing on developing effective use of skill, small sided Coerver Games, and a mini Coerver Cup Tournament.
Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/UPLP
When: Monday 27 June 2022 to Wednesday 29 June 2022, 9.00 am to 12.00 pm
Where: SPX Oxford Falls Campus
Cost: $60 per day, single or multi-day tickets available
Transport Options:
- Parents to drop off and pick up boys from Oxford Falls OR
- Bus transport available from SPX Chatswood Campus (for up to 53 students per day only - please book early)
- 8.15 am drop off at Anderson St, front of school. Bus to depart 8.30 am sharp.
- 12.10 pm depart from Oxford Falls. Arrive at Anderson St SPX Chatswood Campus at 12.40 pm subject to traffic conditions
Bring:
- Football boots, shin pads, football training clothes (SPX sports uniform not required)
- Water bottle with name clearly marked
- Sunscreen, cap and rain gear and sneakers (for indoor football play for wet weather)
- Food for snacks and lunch
- A football for skills practice
- Coerver footballs are available for optional purchase for $20 on the Trybooking link
You can also bring a football from or use one of the SPX training footballs
- Years 5 to 7 to bring a Size 4 Football
- Years 8 and above to bring a Size 5 Football
Mrs Lorna Hammond - SPX Football Supporters Club President
footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au
From the Junior Resource Centre
This week's highlights:
Harry Potter Celebrations in the JRC
Galloping gargoyles! 2022 is the silver anniversary of J.K. Rowling’s magical classic Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!
Since he first emerged from the cupboard under the stairs 25 years ago, Harry Potter has been a massive cultural phenomenon, captivating readers and viewers worldwide.
Who was the first character you loved in the Harry Potter books and why?
Did you know?
Building
Teddy has also joined in the Harry Potter Anniversary and Events at Chatswood Library
Celebrate 25 years since the magical world of Harry Potter was unleashed with workshops and events that will have you spell-bound!
8 July: A Day At Hogwarts, (8 - 11yrs)
12 July: A Magic Crafternoon (6 - 9 yrs)
12 July: Knotting Magic (10+ yrs)
14 July: Coding Magic (8 - 11 yrs)
Book Week 2022 – Term 3
Theme: Dreaming with Eyes Open. #CBCA2022
FIND YOUR BOOK WEEK PARADE COSTUME
Get ready, Term Three is almost upon us and Book Week is coming!!!! (20 - 26 August, 2022). You have two choices when it comes to your Book Week parade costume – wing it at the last moment and hope for the best, or plan weeks (or months) in advance and win ‘Most Awesome-est Book Week Costume Ever’ award. My suggestion is… go for the latter.
Some ideas to help you are:
- Read as many books as you can get your hands on.
- Make a list of your favourite characters.
- Gather your supplies and do a costume run-through to make sure it all works.
- If you’re struggling for ideas, the CBCA has partnered exclusively with Spotlight for costume parade inspiration, so you could check out their site and DIY suggestions.
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J.K. Rowling.
Re reading this amazing book did not disappoint. I loved it! This is a book about adventure and friendship, discovery and truth telling, good and evil. A highlight was the scene where Harry stumbles across the Mirror of Erised. Intriguingly, the person who peers into it sees what they desire most rather than who they might actually be. It also has some extra bits in it like some early drawings from JK Rowling.A magical fantasy.
Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian
Junior School Chess Club
Teams A, B will be playing AWAY this week 17th June 2022. Team C have a BYE. Thank you in advance to the parents who will be transporting the students to Neutral Bay Primary School.
Below are some photos of our keen chess players at training this week.
‘Good players know how to help their pieces.’@chessclazz
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convenor