Junior School News & Sport

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

PRAYER:   Lent is a time for preparation for Easter where we try to become the best version of ourselves.

Lenten Prayer for Sundays during Lent

Heavenly Father,

As I enter another week of my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you. Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins.

As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person, let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart. Give me rest in you.

Help me to accept others, showing them your great love instead of casting judgment.

Stay with me through the busy days this week and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance, I can always turn to you.

Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving, and come closer to you through prayer this Lent.

In your name I pray,

Amen.

THE WEEK THAT WAS:  Last Saturday we commenced our Winter season with our trial matches at Oxford Falls. It is an amazing venue as even though it was pouring with rain, the fields were perfect.  This Saturday our cross country team is going to The Kings School for the IPSHA cross country event.  Best wishes to all the boys who are running.

Last week 5 Blue experienced a writing workshop for a day with the author, John Larkin. Yesterday all the Junior School had an author visit from Felice Arena and from all reports he was excellent.  On Monday Year 6 were the audience for Great Expectations, which was a fantastic opportunity to view the possibilities available to them and to see the ‘big boys' and their peers perform. I saw the play last night and it was a monumental task to produce such a production.  The actors were great and I was amazed at how they remembered their lines. The production was entertaining and fantastic. Congratulations to the cast and Mrs Lindley.

THE UPCOMING WEEK 

• This Friday is the P&F Cocktail Party at the Chatswood Campus gym.  It is a very enjoyable night and it is at a transport hub!  I hope to see you there. 
• Next Tuesday leaders in the Junior and Senior Schools will represent the College at the ANZAC Day 'Schools Remember' service. 
• Interim reports will be mailed out on Tuesday.  These are short reports on how the boys are going.  More extensive reports will be published at the end of Term 2 and we will have parent / teacher / student meetings at the conclusion of Term 2.

CONGRATULATIONS:  Matthew and Angus Hunt are running at the Nationals this week.  Congratulations to Matt (Year 7) and Angus  Hunt (Year 6) who ran in the final of the U14 90m Hurdles. Matt received  a Silver medal and has been selected for the NSW team to compete in Hobart at the end of the month in the Little Athletics U13 Nationals.  Angus, who is a year younger than the other finalists, placed 5th.  Well done boys!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday 4 April:  Sport – Winter trials/training- boys must have a complete change of clothes for

training.

Friday 5 April:  P&F Cocktail Party- see you there!

Tuesday 9 April:   College Chapel Mass 8.00am – all welcome.

Anzac Day 'Schools Remember' service - Junior leaders will be representing the College with several senior leaders.

Junior School Interim Reports mailed.

Wednesday 10 April:  5 Red and 5 Gold cyber safety presentation.

Thursday 11 April:  Period 3- Easter liturgy for Junior School at O.L.D church and then sport at Oxford Falls leaving at 11.50 am.  Normal conclusion at Oxford Falls.  Last day of Term for the boys.

Friday 12 April:  Staff development Day / Jnr Rugby Tours Armidale

Please remember to celebrate Easter with your son by attending church.

Friday 19 April :  Good Friday

Sunday 21 April:  Easter Sunday

Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 April:  Holiday Football Camp

Tuesday 23 and Thursday 24 April :  Holiday Rugby Camp

P & F NEWS:   Please see the P&F page of this newsletter for all P&F information, including events for Years 5 and 6 parents and students. 

The annual P&F COCKTAIL PARTY is on this Friday 5 April! Tickets are still available and you can get them here. Come and join us for a drink, bite to eat, catch up and a dance!

The cocktail party is being held at the Chatswood Gym and the 2019 theme is Sequins and Bling!! Tickets are $40 each which which includes cocktail food, beer, wine, sparkling and soft drink. 

An all-important and no less fun part of making the cocktail party a success is the volunteers to meet and greet, serve at the bar and distribute the food. And what better way to get to know new people? There are plenty of jobs and time slots to choose from, so get in early to secure the best jobs! You can volunteer by putting your name down on the Google sheet here against the job and time slot of your choice.

Thanks for being a part of the SPX community and we look forward to seeing you there.

Below is a google sheet for Year 5 parents to encourage each other to attend.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i9u0DOi-TV0ROo0P376Iqu3lJ8Oubj09jAAja38zZkA/edit?usp=sharing

Cathy Thomson - on behalf of SPX Year 5 Parent Representatives:

Class 5 Blue:  Kate Baker, Hesn Higgins, Cathy Thomson

Class 5 Gold;  Louise McCallum, Sarah Robson

Class 5 Red:   Lisa Aggett, Julia Conn, Audrey McC

Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre

Unlocking Creativity:  Friday 29 March was Year 5 Blue’s turn to have their first full day Writer’s Workshop with Author John Larkin. The students were writing in their very first session and the boys discovered that everyone has a unique voice and a worthwhile story to tell.

Felice Arena visits St Pius X Junior School

On Tuesday the boys had a visit from leading Australian Author Felice Arena. His entertaining presentation was filled with high-energy that incorporated interactive theatre improvisations. Drawing on his acting and teaching experience Felice employed performance-based activities with the aim of bringing his stories to life and jump-starting a lifelong love of reading.

Felice has written an article where he shares his tips on how to encourage your child to pick up a book in the holidays – and enjoy it!  A great read: https://www.vision6.com.au/em/message/email/view.php?id=1069697&a=75218&k=Qh24oJMnpQP7QrbQFE4S6b4fWt1nXK-4o4GNujFHLg4

Article courtesy of Felice Arena and The Connect Newsletter, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail:  Yahoo Creek: An Australian Mystery by Tohby Riddle. Luminous images, accompanied by newspaper extracts dating back to the early 1800s and words by Peter Williams, a Ngiyampaa Elder, explore the ongoing mystery of Yahoo encounters.  Yahoo Creek breathes life into this little known piece of Australian history – which, by many accounts, is a history still in the making. #MrsMartinsBooktrail2019

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian

Junior Sport

Thursday Sport: at Oxford Falls. Winter trials/training continues for Football and Rugby. Players require full training gear (does not have to be St Pius gear), including socks, boots and protective gear (mouthguards, shin-pads etc). Players wear their PE uniform to school as per normal and change on arrival at Oxford Falls.

Cross-Country:  Good luck to competitors in action at the IPSHA Cross-Country at Kings this Saturday.

Rugby:  Well done to all players, especially those new to The College for their first Winter sport appearance last Saturday. Despite the weather we were able to play all games due to our superb facilities at Oxford Falls. It would be very rare that we ever cancel a home fixture but obviously Away games are at the discretion of opposition schools (and councils).  No update on Twitter means games are ON!

We now continue training/trials for the next two weeks in preparation for Rd 1 on Saturday 4 May (first Saturday back next term). There will be a two day clinic at Oxford Falls in the holidays for all interested players - perhaps a good way to up-skill for the approaching season. It is on 23/24 April, caters for all abilities and costs $90.  Follow this link to register: https://www.trybooking.com/480857

Mr G Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster

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.

Paul Cummins - Junior School Football Coordinator

FOOTBALL CLUB NEWS

We need you! 

The Committee is run by parent volunteers.  Most of the existing members of the SPX Football Committee have boys in Year 12 and after six years or more will be retiring at the end of 2019, leaving one existing Committee member for 2020.  We need your support to transition to a new group of SPX Football parents to maintain continuity and bring new ideas and initiatives into the College. 

If we cannot form a Committee then all the good work we have done over the years such as specialist coaching and holiday camps will be at risk, and in some cases may cease to be provided. The effort required is a few hours a month. The roles required for the Committee in 2019 are Communication Manager, Events Manager, Shadow Treasurer and Shadow BBQ Manager. 

Please consider joining in. This year is 2019 Unity in Community.  Meet the challenge and Get Amongst It.  Details on 2019 SPX Football Club activities are attached below.

Please email footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au if you are interested or want some more information, or just come along to the next meeting in April.

Term 1 Holiday Football Camp at Oxford Falls:  The SPX Football Club will again be organising a two-day football camp during the Term 1 holidays.  The camp will be run from 9.00am - 2.00pm on 17 and 18 April at Oxford Falls.  Transport to and from the College will be available.

The camp will be run by professional coaches under the direction of Chris Semaan and suits all age groups from Years 5-10.  We particularly encourage some of the older boys to come along and get ready for the ISA season starting in Term 2.

Trybooking details are https://www.trybooking.com/UPLP     

Ms Christeen Berte - Football Club President