Junior School News & Sport
5 Red led the Prayer at Monday's Assembly
- Junior School News and Information
- Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
- Junior School Sport
Congratulations to the Year 5 Red boys who led the Monday Morning assembly prayer.
Lights Camera Pius: Congratulations to the following boys who submitted films in the Lights, Camera, Pius film festival:
- Isaac Donlevy and Jordan Moore who did a stop gap lego animation, and
- Jayden Aropac, Matthew Yee and Ben Bromby who submitted a murder mystery.
Well done on putting in the effort and having your film shown to a large audience. Remember me when you are at the Oscars!
RUOK Poster Competition
Congratulations to the boys who were award winners in the RUOK poster competition.
Chinese immersion singers: At last Friday’s assembly the Senior School students who are going on a Chinese immersion in the next holidays performed two songs for the Junior School. I recognised Waltzing Matilda but not the first one. They will need to reciprocate in China so more practice is required.
SPX Year 5 Boys' Term 3 Holiday Event: Archery and Laser Tag At SOP Archery Centre
1 October 2019 from 10am. BOOK YOUR SPOT!
SPX Year 5 Boys' Term 3 holidays event is on Tuesday 1 October 2019 for Archery and Laser Tag at the Homebush Archery Centre. See https://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Things-to-Do/Archery-School-Holiday-Programs and below details:
When: Tuesday 1 October 2019 from 10.00am
Please arrive by 9.45am to make yours son’s individual direct payment to the venue
Where: Archery Centre, Bennelong Parkway, Sydney Olympic Park
Cost: $31 for both archery (10am start) and laser tag (to be confirmed as 11am or 12pm start)
or $19 for one session
Siblings who are 7 years of age or over and Adults are welcome to join in. Please complete the attached Google sheet if you are attending so that we can confirm numbers with the venue.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eBoM3Op0TwGsnS3J3p0hdqqClmfLm94sLl2o2YON5E4/edit?usp=sharing
Editor: Special thanks to Hesn Higgins and Cathy Thomson for the Year 5 Parent Reps Group
- Class 5 Blue: Kate Baker, Hesn Higgins, Cathy Thomson
- Class 5 Gold; Louise McCallum, Sarah Robson
- Class 5 Red: Lisa Aggett, Julia Conn, Audrey McCarry
eSafety Commissioner - Helping your child deal with unwanted contact online
Digital responsibility and an online presence is a parenting challenge in today’s world. The link below contains information about helping your child deal with unwanted contact online.
Leave Reminder: Mrs Williams will be going on leave from today Wednesday 18 September until the end of the term. We have an experienced replacement in Mr Raphael Simoni and Mrs McKay will be continuing her teaching practicum at this time.
Sport: This Thursday is Summer sport training at Oxford Falls – Normal timings.
Reminder: SCIENCE PRESENTATION AFTERNOON: On the last day of this term, Friday 27 September, we will be having an afternoon where the boys can present their assignments. If they have an audience, it enhances their learning and makes it real. Also, if you can explain why something happens then you have a high level of understanding so on this afternoon the boys will have to explain why or how their assignment was designed the way it was or how it works.
Year 5 are studying adaptations and designing animal enclosures so they will need to explain how and why they designed the enclosure in the fashion they did. Year 6 are investigating natural phenomenon and they will need to explain how the phenomenon is caused and what happens. If you wish to come and learn please come along from 1.45 to 2.45 pm on Friday 27 September. Please extend this invitation to grandparents or a significant auntie or uncle.
MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY JUNIOR SCIENCE PROGRAMS: Macquarie University runs science programs for primary school children which aim to encourage children to be confident in science. Information can be found in the flyer below.
After-School Study Program - Venue E1: The after-school study program runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in E1 from 3:15 – 4:30pm. It is available to all students from Years 5-12.
TERM 3 DATES
Friday 27 September – Term 3 Concludes/Science Presentation Afternoon for Years 5 & 6 parents.
TERM 4 DATES
Monday 14 October – Staff and Students Resume
Saturday 19 October – IPSHA Sport Rd 7- Summer Season resumes.
Monday 28 October – IPSHA Gala Debating Day at Abbotsleigh
Wednesday 30 October – Whole School Staff Meeting – No After School Study(Homework help)
Thursday 31 October – Transition Day for new Year 6 students to the College
Highlights from the Junior Resource Centre
Friday 13 September marked the 14th annual Roald Dahl Day. It's been almost 60 years since his first children's book was published, and yet the stories continue to delight. In the JRC we remembered the British Author who enchanted children from around the world, by listening to readings from his enchanted tales, and viewing trailers of his books made into movies!
"There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be free." - Roald Dahl
Environmental Literature Awards 2019
The Environment Award for Children's Literature is presented annually to fiction and nonfiction books that 'foster a love of wild places and wildlife in young Australians' and 'encourage a sense of responsibility for our natural world'. On 15 September the winners of the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature were announced at the Hobart Writers Festival. A big congratulations to:
- Trent Maxwell, David Lawrence and Peter Baldwin for winning the Fiction category for Maxi the Lifeguard: The Stormy Protest;
- Rohan Cleave and Coral Tulloch for winning the Non Fiction category for Bouncing Back: An Eastern Barred Bandicoot Story; and
- Michael Speechley for winning the Picture Fiction category with The All New Must Have Orange 430.
Looking forward to reading and exploring these books in our last week of term.
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: Final Storm by Deborah Abela
Deborah Abela started her ‘climate change’ series with her first book Grimsdon, followed by New City. She was prompted to do so by the refusal of world governments to take action against the obvious and dangerous climatic changes threatening the world as we know it.
A decade after the publication of Grimsdon she has written Final Storm. Once again Deborah has given middle school readers a thrilling adventure/fantasy that will have readers on the edge of their seats but also will give them much on which to reflect. Kudos to Deborah for another inspired instalment in what has become one of the most popular series for this age group! Highly recommended for readers from around ten years upwards. #MrsMaritnsbooktrail2019
Book Review – Grimsdon Series by Deb Abela
“These books are amazing for young teenagers who like Sci-fi and Dystopian Genre. With a twist at every turn, it soon feels like you’re right there!”
- Justin Kup- Ferroth, Year 6 Gold
The Australian Reading Hour - this Thursday 19 September 2019
Reading for an hour can reduce stress in adults, and children who read regularly see a significant increase in literacy skills and confidence levels. Pick up a book this Reading Hour and get involved!
Happy Reading!
Mrs Elena Martin - Junior Librarian
Junior Sport
Thursday Sport: at Oxford Falls. Summer training/trials continues for Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch Football.
Year 5 Parents: At this stage I need to plan for Saturday Sport in 2020. I require all Year 5 boys to complete their Online Sport Preference Form for 2020. Relevant information is on the St Pius X College School App.
The online form can also be accessed directly by clicking this link:
Athletics: A massive congratulations to our six students who so admirably represented IPSHA at the CIS Carnival last week.
- Luke Austin was strong in both his events finishing 9th in the U11 Discus (21.92m) and 6th in the U11 Shot Put (9.87m)
- Angus Hunt had a great day of competition, excelling in all events. He made the finals of the Discus finishing 4th (PB of 26.04m) and eq. 4th in High Jump (1.40m). He will therefore be reserve for the Discus in the CIS team.
- James Patchett ran superbly to make the final of the 100m and 200m respectively. He finished 4th in each, making him the reserve for the CIS team to go to the State Carnival. James jumped a massive 4.51m in the Long Jump to take the silver medal and lock in a position at State.
- Lachie Staber just keeps improving and threw big to finish 7th in the Senior Shot Put (9.21m)
- Our Senior Relay team had a late change with Dom D’Souza unfortunately falling ill on the eve of competition. Jack Wolfe joined the team of Cooper Battiston, Angus Hunt and James Patchett at the 11th hour, doing a superb job. The team qualified for the final and finished a commendable 6th place (54.84).
Well done to all competitors for their application and effort at training and carnivals, helping them reach the pointy end of competition in such a strong arena.
AFL Spring Challenge: From Mr Ure….. The Junior School AFL team travelled down the Pacific Highway for another stint of Friday night footy. This week’s game saw us up against Mosman Prep School and they were a very hard, upfront team. They competed and tackled aggressively right from the start, keeping us to a very low score early on. Last week’s Twilight absentees joined us, making a big difference. Fred Shelton kicked 6 goals and was all over the park, earning the 3 points. Liam Gallagher took an absolute pearler of a mark right in the goal square, earning him the 2 points. Finally, a gallant effort from Hugo Godfrey saw him awarded the 1 point. We were victorious 88-32 and look forward to our final fixture this Friday:
*SPX v Sydney Grammar St Ives – 4.10pm bounce – Grammar St Ives Top Field (Ayres Rd, St Ives)
Basketball: Holiday clinics will run at the Chatswood Campus during the holidays. Further information and registration here.
Team lists and a draw for the Term 4 Season are now live on the App. The first game of season is on Saturday 19 October. Training continues this Thursday at Sport.
Cricket: Teams have been announced and training now resumes for the fast-approaching season. Thanks in advance to the parent volunteers for giving up your time to guide the players through the season, and also to the Cricket Club who do an enormous amount in organising, staffing and funding Cricket at SPX. A reminder that boys can bring their own kit bag to Oxford Falls Thursday Sport sessions (or use the school issue gear provided). The boys must at very least have a protector and personal helmet.
NSTA Tennis: Grading for the new Term 4 Season will be completed shortly. The season begins on 19 October and relevant information including team lists and a draw will be disseminated to players after the grading meeting.
Softball: A season draw and team list is now available via the App. The first game of the Term 4 season is on Saturday 19 October.
Touch Football: Team lists and a draw for the Term 4 Season are now live on the App. The first game of season is on Saturday 19 October. Training continues this Thursday at Sport.
Rugby School Holiday Camps at Chatswood for U6-U14 Years - Monday 30/9 and Tuesday 1/10
Please see the flyer below for details.
Winter Sport/Co-curricular Photos: Our Winter Sport/Co-curricular photos have now been taken. Hard-copy order forms were given to students and are due back by to the Student Office or Silver Box (outside the Finance Office) by the end of this term. A PDF form is also attached below should you require it.
Mr Greg Virgona - Junior School Sportsmaster