Junior School News

• From the Head of the Junior School
• Junior School Sport
• Junior Resource Centre News

From the Head of the Junior School

PRAYER

In these troubled times, I include the Peace Prayer of St Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek 

to be consoled as to console, 

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

THIS WEEK

We are continuing with our altered recess and lunch times.  Please remember that the boys require an extra snack for the ‘crunch and sip’ sessions in the longer morning block.  Boys must bring a water bottle to school.  Teachers are busily finalising marks and writing reports.  We will be having our interviews over two days.  The last day of this term and the first day of next term.  The interviews will be in an on-line format and run from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.  Information on how to log in will be sent out at a later date.

Reconciliation

It is interesting when you have to verbalise something to a toddler, how it makes you think about a topic.  Last Friday I was driving my daughter to preschool and she asked what was written on the flags down the centre of the road.  I said it was Reconciliation Week, to which she asked, ‘What does Reconciliation mean?’  

I found myself thinking hard about how to explain the concept in simple terms.  In the end we had a conversation about treating everybody equally and fairly no matter what the colour of their skin is or their hair colour, if they are a boy or a girl, if they like different things, etc. We spoke about how we should play fair and be a good friend.  If you don’t play well then you must try and make up and be friends again.  

What does Reconciliation mean to you?

Chicken Pox

Please note that we have a case of Chicken Pox in the Junior School.  For your information, the initial symptoms of Chicken Pox include fatigue, a mild fever, lack of appetite, and a feeling of being generally unwell including headaches and body aches. This is quickly followed (usually within 24 hours) by the development of a red rash, which usually appears on the chest and/or back first, later spreading to the face, scalp, arms, and legs.

Thursday

Year 6 students can be dropped off at Oxford Falls from 8.30 am onwards. Otherwise Year 6 leave at 9.00 am from Chatswood to do a maths lesson at Oxford Falls. Year 5 have one lesson at school and then leave at 10.00 am.  Sport consists of either Winter training or multi sport.  All students also participate in the Dance session. Therefore, boys do need to bring their Winter sports training equipment. Please ensure your son has a full change of clothes including shorts and underwear in case he gets wet during training.  This allows him to change back into warm, dry clothes at the end of training.  Please remember a water bottle and morning tea and lunch.  If you wish to pick up your son, it will be from 1.45 pm - 2.00 pm outside the Christian Brothers’ Centre. (New, blue gym)

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Stay Safe.

Thanking you for your support,

Mr Tim Long - Head of Junior School

Junior School Sport

News: With the announcement last week from the NSW Government in relation to Sport, we are close to having details of our Winter Sport Competition finalised for Term 3. At this stage it is looking likely that the first 3 weeks of Term 3 will be as planned with Home and Away fixtures. Then during Weeks 4 & 5 it is likely there will be 2 additional rounds, the details of which are still unclear. 

Thursday Sport: All boys will be participating in both Dance and Winter Sport Training this week. Please ensure all gear and equipment needed is on hand. 

For Thursday Sport to run smoothly can all boys please:

• Travel to Oxford Falls in Pius PE Uniform
• Get Changed into appropriate gear for training at Oxford Falls (doesn’t need to be Pius gear- Boots, mouthguard, shin pads, head gear etc.
• Change into PE Uniform to travel back to school/ home

Mr Benn McBrearty - Junior School Sports Master

Junior Resource Centre News

This week's Highlights:  Books build empathy and libraries create community.  Come down and visit the library and ask Mrs Martin for some great book recommendations.

Patrick Kisseo of Year 5 relaxing in the library with one of the many colouring books we have to offer.

Mrs Martin's Virtual Harry Potter Classroom

Mrs Martin's Book Trail:  Finding Our Heart by Thomas Mayor.  This beautiful thoughtful book Finding our Heart by @thomasmayor and illustrated by @blackdouglas is a must read.  The words and images are powerful and hold so much meaning.  We really are lucky to have such amazing First Nation authors and illustrators who are creating meaningful works so our indigenous students feel connected and have a voice, and so non-indigenous students understand and gain knowledge.  #mrsmartinsbooktrail2020

Mrs Elena Martin - Teacher Librarian, Junior Resource Centre