Junior School News & Sport

Year 5 Camp at Milson Island

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

PRAYER: Youth Prayer for Lent (A prayer suitable for teenagers and young people to say)

Lord,

Teach me a new freedom.

Freedom to reject comparison and to embrace uniqueness.

Freedom to cut ties with greed and feast on love.

Freedom to abstain from over indulgence and feast on self-control.

Freedom to leave behind selfish thoughts and to focus on the needs of others.

Freedom to fend off insecurity and to embrace grace.

Lord, at this time of Lent, thank you for the freedom you bring.

Amen.

When you read about well-being, a lot of the sentiments in this prayer are factors in positive well-being.

LENT: Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time where we prepare for Easter. The teachers and I have discussed with the boys some possible ways to prepare for Easter. It could be by giving up something they enjoy (not homework or school - do you know how many times I’ve heard that line?) or it could be doing some extra chores around the house or both. Either way it builds self-discipline and character. As a school we collect money for Caritas/Project Compassion which goes to help those less fortunate than ourselves. So if your son is giving up soft drink then that money could go to Caritas. As a priest, Father Tom, once said, Lent is 40 days and a time of preparation but the Easter season is 50 days (to Pentecost) and is a time of celebration. So as Catholics we celebrate for longer than we prepare!

YEAR 5 CAMP: The boys had a wonderful three days and we were blessed with beautiful weather. They participated in the giant swing and low ropes, archery and raft building, fencing and damper cook and canoeing and fishing. It was an action packed agenda but we had our free time as well. The boys were well behaved and were gentlemen as we shared the dinner time facilities with Year 3 from Abbotsleigh. The night time activities of games and improvisation were a lot of fun. If you son hasn’t told you anything about camp, hopefully this synopsis will provide a conversation starter. The pictures can tell the remainder of the story.

All About Camp By Max Khatchadourian - Year 5

Last Wednesday we went on a Year 5 Camp located at Milson Island. We stayed in cabins and enjoyed many activities, especially eating. That was the best part of the day because we got to make new friends.

On the second day we went swimming in the gigantic pool. The pool was really fun because we played a game where we had to catch a tennis ball that the camp helper hit to us. We also did a swimming test to test how good we were at swimming.

My favourite day was the last day because we went canoeing. The canoeing was so much fun. We got to see the massive, metal, rusty ship wreck. It was really fun because we got to listen to some really cool stories from Mr Patterson. The only thing that was annoying was that I forgot my water bottle but luckily Mr Long got me one to keep for camp. It was a fun camp for all.

YEAR 6 CAMP: By Luke Mortimer and Jack Fairbanks

Last Wednesday Year 6 went to Camp Wombaroo for two nights. It was a two hour bus trip to the camp and when we got there, we got straight into the activities. There were many activities such as High Ropes, Initiatives, Canoeing, Orienteering, Bush Walks, Vertical Challenge and Catapult Building, each posing a new challenge requiring teamwork, quick thinking and problem solving. Everyday required us to have a positive mindset. The food at this camp was to die for, with exotic meals and delicious desserts that brought each day together. Not only were the meals and activities amazing but the camp instructors who led our groups brought everyone together, creating new bonds and friendships. During the night we sang songs and roasted gooey marshmallows amongst the crackling campfire with laughter and shared stories.

Overall this camp was an amazing experience and on behalf of Year 6 we would all like to thank the teachers who gave up their time to make this all possible.

IPSHA SWIMMING CARNIVAL: The swimming team went to the Olympic Pool at Homebush for the IPSHA selection swimming carnival on Tuesday. It is a long day and all the boys were patient, well organised and competed well. Congratulations to Jonathan Yang of Year 6 who goes through to the CIS Carnival.

DANCE - HIP/HOP: Our new Dance teacher, Tanya Carne, had 22 boys from Years 5 and 6 doing Hip Hop in the Gym at lunchtime today. Lots of fun music, active participation and smiles!

UPCOMING EVENTS

WEDNESDAY 6 March: Ash Wednesday

THURSDAY 7 March: Sport after recess

SATURDAY 9 March: IPSHA Sport Rd 5

FRIDAY 15 March: National day of action against Violence and Bullying. Assembly to be held in Per 1. Juniors will be involved in an Anti Bullying Poster Competition in the week before this assembly.

SATURDAY 16 March: Open Day. We would love boys to volunteer to be guides. I will show them where to walk beforehand and it is actually a good way to boost confidence with speaking to others. It is also a good way to ‘give back.’ Boys can be buddied up with a more talkative or older student. Many boys come after sport or they act as guides at Oxford Falls. Timing: 10am – 2pm at Chatswood and 8am – 12noon at Oxford Falls.

Please complete the permission slip on the letter below if your son is able to assist.

2019 Open Day Permission Letter.pdf

P & F NEWS: Any volunteers for a class parent for 6 Green? If you would like to volunteer please email cassiebuono@gmail.com .

Please see the P&F page of this newsletter for all P&F information,

including events for Years 5 and 6 parents and students.

Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre

POETRY = Power Of Words

POETRY provides a huge range of structured WAYS WITH WORDS. Celebrate WORLD POETRY DAY on March 21and discover the magic of Bush ballads, Acrostic Poems, Haiku, Limericks, Rap, Sonnets, Verse Novels, Song Lyrics and more.

Year 6 are currently enjoying the Novel The Boy and The Spy by Felice Arena. Suspense, courage and adventure in WW2 beautifully woven together with themes of belonging and family.

Premier’s Reading Challenge opened on Monday 4 March.

Your son’s username and password was emailed to them last week.

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: Mr Chicken Arriva a ROMA by Leigh Hobbs.

‘Buongiorno Signor Pollo, Benvenutti a Roma.’ Climb aboard the Vespa and hold on to your hat! Signor Pollo’s childhood dream is about to begin ... Arrivederci Roma! #MrsMartinsBooktrail2019

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian

Junior Sport

Thursday Sport: at Oxford Falls. Year 5 will complete their Cross-Country before their normal sport training for Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch. Year 6 will complete normal summer sport training. There will also be a short trial for prospective Armidale Rugby players (see below).

Basketball: * Please note the time changes for the K/L games at Scots this Saturday.

Rugby: The 3rd and final trial for the Armidale Tour takes place at lunch this Thursday. Full training kit including boots and mouthguard required.

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 roughly 8am (‘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 two exciting games - a testament to the boys for backing up after camp. Many tries were scored in a display of end to end football. Waverley once again brought two tough sides out to Oxford Falls which made for some competitive touch football. Great defence in the B side from Jack McGirr and Harry D’Emilio. Outstanding running and stepping in the A side by Bradley Ning and great defence by Toby Moran. We now look to next week with two big games against Riverview.

Mr Greg 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.

Mr Paul Cummins - Junior Football Convenor

Softball: Round 4 Report

On a perfect Saturday morning, my ten very tired players arrived at Grammar to play softball. Though the players and coach were getting over camp they eagerly warmed up ready for another exciting contest.

After losing the toss, we were sent in to field. After what seemed like just minutes the opposition was out, without scoring. Joshua Floridia, pitcher, Luca Cheal, catcher and Ben Shoudra on first base were working together superbly.

When it was our turn to bat Matthew Yee put our first points on the board, followed by Martin Chan, Ben Haskew, Matthew Sissons and Jack Morabito. SPX were ahead by 3 runs.

The third innings unfortunately allowed Grammar to get ahead. Christian Fiore and Nicholas Kwan did their best to stop any fly balls, hence stopping extra runs being scored. We played a great game and displayed good sportsmanship.