Junior School News
- From the Junior School
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From the Junior School
This Monday August 15 we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption is when we honour Mary's journey into heaven. Assumption means that God takes the individual body and soul into heaven without him or her suffering death.
Images of Mary's assumption depict the Holy Mother in the sky, with saints and believers praying underneath her. These images show how God separated Mary from the rest of the world and brought her to heaven.
The Feast of the Assumption is the main celebration of Mary's life and ministry. God assumed Mary into heaven, Catholics believe, because of Mary's special relationship with God. All of Mary's roles - Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, Lady of Sorrows - are tied in with her position in heaven, guiding, watching, and caring for God's children.
As the Holy Mother, Mary's assumption reflects God's promise to all his children. All who obey God and believe, as Mary did, will join God in heaven. All devout Christians live in the hope of new life after death, just as Jesus was raised from the dead on the first Easter.
Catholics hold Mary's assumption as a reminder that God loves them and yearns for them to join Jesus, Mary, and all the saints in heaven.
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PRINCIPAL’S AWARD
Congratulations to Joshua and Hamish who both received their Principal’s Awards on Monday at our whole school Assembly. To be awarded a Principal’s Award means that these boys have received 15 yellow merit cards so far this year. Well done to both of these boys.
MERIT AWARDS AND BLUE AWARDS
Congratulations to last week’s Merit and Blue Award winners.
TEACHING & LEARNING
As the leaders of the Junior School, during Religion lessons, the boys of 6 Gold have been exploring major people in the Bible who displayed outstanding leadership skills. These include Noah, Joseph, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. We also explored significant figures around the world who exhibited ways in which we can all get the best out of each other. These people included: Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln and Maximilian Kolbe.
The aim is to, as a Year 6 cohort, build on our current leadership skills and transfer the insightful knowledge that we have gained by immersing it into our day to day lives and to also ensure we treat others with kindness and empathy.
This is a photo of an outstanding leader and 6 Gold Class Captain, James, in front our leadership wall.
Live Jesus in our hearts – Forever!
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN LEARNING?
Your child's been at school all day and you've walked to meet them out of school with a big smile on your face, looking forward to seeing them and hearing about their day. However, it's a common theme to ask them what they did at school today, and all they say is "Nothing!"
We support students by explicitly teaching learning dispositions. You might like to ask questions along the lines of;
- What did you find challenging today?
- What did you do to overcome this challenge?
- What is something you are proud of today?
- Tell me about a time you worked with your friends today?
Try to ask 'open' rather than 'closed' questions. A closed question only requires a 'yes' or 'no' or another single word answer; for example, 'Did you have a good day at school?' An open question needs a fuller answer: 'What was the best thing that happened at school today?
WALK-A-THON FOR CHARITY
Thank you to Mr Cummins and Mr Ure for their organisation of the walkathon that proved to be a very fun day for all involved. Thank you to Mr Cummins for his report of the day below.
On Thursday 11 August, the boys completed a 90-minute walk at Oxford Falls to raise money on behalf of the College’s Edmund Rice Society. The money raised will go towards supporting two of our sister schools; St Mary’s Bowraville, and St Joseph's Walgett, as well as a ten year old Zambian girl through the World Vision Program.
An overcast day turned out to be the perfect weather for the walk, some boys even ran the 900 m circuit. The boys entered the day with a great attitude and spirit as they learnt that 90 minutes of walking may equate to a car trip to school or the nearest hospital, or even a round trip for fresh water for a village.
Some boys have been very proactive in raising a considerable donation already, and we encourage all boys to continue to raise as much money as they can. Donations can be returned to school through Week 5 and 6.
BOOK WEEK PARADE
Next Friday sees the return of the Book Week Parade. A reminder that the boys will come to school in their school uniform and will get changed when they arrive. Get your costumes ready for a fun event!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Thank you to those mums who have already signed up but as they say ‘many hands make light work’. If you’d still like to join the group to help cook 600 sausages for the Father and Son Day barbeque, please put your name down – you will be most welcome! Jobs include cooking, serving, and cleaning up on the day. It’s a great way to meet other parents whilst watching your son/s enjoying Oxford Falls with their dads or the other special men in their lives.
Help is needed from around 9.30 am until 2.20 pm, but if you are only able to help for part of the day, you are still most welcome to come along. Please use this Google Doc to add your name to the list and you will be contacted closer to the date to confirm details:
Sign up to help at the Father/Son Day BBQ
WELL DONE ALEX
Alex from 6 Gold performed his Taekwondo demonstration for The Chung Do Taekwondo Centre in Chatswood two weeks ago. Alex performed extremely well and received all positive feedback from his Master. Well done Alex.
DATES FOR THE DIARY:
- Friday 19 August | Debating at SPX vs Ravenswood
- Friday 26 August | BOOK WEEK PARADE
- Monday 29 August | St Pius X Feast Day Holiday
- Monday 29 August | IPSHA Athletics Carnival
- Thursday 1 September | Father and Son Day at Oxford Falls
- Friday 2 September | Debating vs PLC
- Saturday 10 September | St Pius X Trivia Night
Thank you for your support of the Junior School
Mrs Samantha Iwatani - Junior School Curriculum Coordinator
Junior School Sport
Thursday Sport: Training for Basketball, Touch Football, Cricket, Softball and Tennis all commence this week. Please remember to bring any additional gear you may require.
Athletics – Shore Twilight Carnival @ Narrabeen, Friday 19 August: The SPX track competitors will be off to compete at Narrabeen this Friday afternoon. Any parents in attendance can collect their son from Narrabeen at the conclusion of the evening.
We anticipate leaving Narrabeen by 6.00 pm at the latest, and any student not collected at the carnival will return to school on the bus. If your son travels back to Chatswood on the bus, he can be collected at approx 6.20 pm in Kirk Street.
Athletics – Brothers Carnival @ St Ignatius College, Friday 26 August: This is an all day carnival and is open only to Athletics Squad members who have been attending the training sessions at Rotary Field. A return bus has been arranged for any students who require transport both ways. A reminder for parents of squad members to complete the online form below ASAP.
Athletics – Training: Training continues this week for all athletes, taking place on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at Rotary Athletics Field, Mowbray Rd West, Lane Cove. After school dismissal, the College will transport the students to the venue by private bus, and the sessions will run until 4.55 pm where a bus will return the students to Chatswood. If you wish to collect your son from the venue, please be there no later than 4.50 pm.
Return of SPX uniforms: Just another reminder to return any SPX loan uniforms that your son no longer requires. Any outstanding uniforms will be charged on the final school fees later in the year. Thank you to those who have already returned their gear.
Father and Son Sports Day: Please click on the link below and complete the online form. Thank you to those who have already completed the form, as the information it provides is essential in planning the event.
Mr Glen Carroll - Junior School Sports Coordinator
Junior Cricket 2022/23 Season
Please see the attached document for instruction for registration.
From the SPX Football Supporter's Club
Save the date for Trivia Night: 10 September 2022
If you are available on 10 September, to assist with the SPX Football Supporter’s Club contribution to Trivia Night, please let the Club know on footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au
There will be a Mega Raffle that will raise significant money for SPX Clubs. If you have any items or experiences that can be donated to this raffle, please notify us at SPX Football on footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au .
Call for SPX Football Supporters Club Members for 2023/24 Season
We’ve got a great bunch of Club Committee Members. Some are doing their last year next year, others are staying on. Everyone is welcome. If you’d like to join in, please let Club know footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Lorna Hammond - SPX Football Supporters Club President
Coerver Academy Trials
From the Junior Resource Centre
This week’s Highlights are:
DREAMING WITH EYES OPEN – CBCA Picture Book Just One Bee by Margrete Lamond and Anthony Bertini – Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen.
This buzzing beauty is one of the CBCA picture books discussed this week. It is a story about never giving up. Not only are the illustrations beautiful but this story offers young children an opportunity to make real world connections to their role in the world and how working together in small ways can make a big difference.
FIND YOUR BOOK WEEK PARADE COSTUME – Friday 26 August at 9.00 am in the Junior School Playground
DREAM CATCHERS – Continuing in the JRC
Book Week 2022 – Author Talk – Friday 19 August
NAT AMOORE
We begin our Book Week celebrations with the return of the amazing and talented Nat Amoore.
Click on the link below to purchase one of her amazing books. Free delivery to the school.
Guessing Competition for Book Week 2022
Book Week is coming! I’ve planned the ‘Most Awesome-est Book Week Costume Ever’. Can you guess who I am?
Clue Number 2: 12
Book Prize for the student who can guess who I am!
Book In a Jar Competition 2022
Part of Book Week celebrations will include a guessing competition – BOOK IN A JAR! Inside this jar there is an actual book (damaged one) that has been torn up and squashed inside this jar. There are many clues within the text that can be seen for a keen book sleuth to discover the title. Pop into the JRC, take a guess and the winner will get an awesome prize during our Book Week activities. Don’t spoil the fun if you can guess.
NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
Have you checked out the new books added to the NSW PRC booklist? Don’t forget to finish your student reading record before 19 August.
Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: Noodle The Cavoodle by Louis Shea.
What are the chances of finding a book about your Cavoodle? Teddy is reading his new favourite book! Its about a dog like me!
Noodle the Cavoodle is the smartest pup in town. But can she figure out how to get all her friends playing together happily?
'Hoomum' couldn’t resist this book today. #MrsMartinsbooktrail2022
Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian