Junior School 

• From the Head of the Junior School 
• Junior School Sport
• From the Junior Resource Centre
• IPSHA Junior Debating
• Junior Chess

From the Head of the Junior School 

May is the month of Mary.  It is a time when we pray to Mary and it is also the time for Mother’s Day.  I hope all the Mothers enjoy this Sunday.  With this in mind we pray:

Poems about Mother

We pray you’ll know God’s love

More abundant in your life 

And know how much you’re valued

As a Mother and a wife

We want so much for you to know

We’ve appreciated you

And pray you’ll have a wonderful day

In all that you may do

By M.S.Lownd

And Grandmas too...

 While we honour all our mothers with words of love and praise.

While we tell about their goodness and their kind and loving ways.

We should also think of Grandma, she's a mother too, you see....

For she mothered my dear mother 

as my mother mothers me. 

Author Unknown

The Week that was

The Junior School attended the Senior School Sports Assembly on Friday morning so we could see our Under 12 cricketers receive an award.   A special congratulations to 

Graham Halgreen – Best batsman

Hamish Mullen – Best bowler

Sean Cleary – Team Award and a Blue Award – 14 dismissals

Zachary Rapa – Blue Award – 51 runs vs Wakehurst Reds

On Friday afternoon the Term 2 Class Captains were presented with their badges by Mr Casey, our Acting Principal.   We also presented our Merit Awards.

Term 2 Class Captains

Congratulations to the following boys for being voted in as Class Captains: - 

5 Red – Marc Floridia

5 Gold - Thomas Costain

5 Blue - Chase King

6 Blue –  Teddy Hopkins

6 Red – Farid Chammaa

6 Gold - Boston Bannister 

6 Green – Nathaniel Ho

On Monday the boys had a presentation from Mrs Mary Rajca about life in Candela, Peru as this relates to our Mother’s Day Stall and it is good for the boys to realise that there are people less fortunate than themselves.  We are indeed a lucky country.

As I mentioned last week, today is Edmund Rice's Feast Day so we began the day with a whole School Assembly.

Robotics Club

A picture tells a 1000 words.  The Tuesday Robotics Club in action.  The boys are having fun.  Year 5 will receive the opportunity to participate in Term 4.

NAPLAN Online 2021 - Reminder

The timetable for NAPLAN online next week in the Junior School will be

Tuesday 11 May – Writing – 42 minutes

Wednesday 12 May – Reading – 50 minutes

Friday 14 May – Conventions of Language – 45 minutes

Monday 17 May – Numeracy – 50 minutes

The tests will begin in Period 1 and most will be finished early in Period 2.

Catch up for online tests other than Writing are available till 21 May.  The NAPLAN Writing catch up needs to be completed by 12 May.

Remember:- It would be good for the boys to continue to practice their online typing.  Otherwise, it just a snapshot in time of how your son is progressing so there shouldn’t be any pressure.  It is simply about the boys doing their best and let God do the rest!

Mother's Day Reminder

We have two liturgies on Friday 7 May - please see below for details of the morning. There may be some Junior School mothers who can’t make the Junior School Mass who might like to attend the early morning breakfast and liturgy. You are, of course, welcome to attend both.

Breakfast commences at 7.15 am.

Liturgy at 8.00 am for all mums in the school.

Junior School Mothers and Grandmother’s Mass at 10.30 am, followed by morning tea for our mothers.  Boys will sit with their mothers/grandmothers at the Mass but will return to classes after the Mass.

We also have a Mother’s Day Stall on Friday.  (All goods made by the ladies of the shanty town, Candela, Peru). Last Monday, Mrs Mary Rajca spoke to the boys about the village of Candela and the stall, so that they have some background about the topic.  

Your support of the Mother's Day stall is greatly appreciated.  Please be aware that the stall can only accept cash.  There are items from $2, $5 and $10 available along with beautiful hand-made bags for $20. 

Life in developing countries such as Peru is very difficult, especially now and in other times of crisis.

We hope you can make it!

THE UPCOMING WEEK

6 May – Year 5 and 6 da Vinci Decathalon

7 May – Mother’s Day liturgies (see above)

8 May – IPSHA Sport Rd 2

9 May – Happy Mother’s Day

11 May – Yr 5 NAPLAN Writing – 42 minutes

12 May – Reading – 50 minutes

14 May – Conventions of Language – 45 minutes

17 May – Numeracy – 50 minutes

Catch up for online tests are available till 21 May

Parent Seminar - Conversations with our Tweens

The following is on behalf of North Shore Health.  I have heard Justin Coulson but not on this topic.  It is aimed at parents of 8 to 13 year olds.

Conversations with our Tweens: Learning boundaries and developing Safe Relationships 

This parenting seminar, presented by Dr Justin Coulson will help us as we proactively develop tools to  assist your child to navigate peer relationships and boundaries, growing stronger and more resilient relationships. 

Date: Wednesday 12 May 

Time: 7.00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Where: Online - Zoom 

For: Parents and caregivers of children in upper primary school 

Cost: FREE 

Registration: https://www.trybooking.com/BQWGH  

RSVP: Tuesday 11 May, 3.00 pm 

BIRTHDAYS

Congratulations to the following boys who celebrate or celebrated their birthdays in May:

Alexander Burke, Saxon Cook, Benjamin Fogale, Yongjae Kim, Samuel Koudsy, Noah Safarian, Anthony Sawakid, Samson  Symeonidis, Harrison Thomas, Jordan Valenzuela, Logan Van Katwyk, Oliver Wilkowski, Nicholas Yastreboff and Antonio Zofrea

A THOUGHT TO PONDER

Thanking you for your support.

Mr Tim Long - Head of the Junior School 

Junior School Sport

Junior School Sport News:  Please ensure you arrive at your venue 30 min prior to kick off Saturday to ensure that your coach can prepare the team to start on time. 

Thursday Sport: Training for AFL, Football, Rugby and Mixed sport. 

AFL

Rugby

Mr Benn McBrearty - Junior School Sports Master

Junior Football

A tough weekend against some quality opponents. We had a couple of big wins in the 11's and some narrow losses. In the Preps we were on the wrong end of the scoreboard in most of our games however there was an improvement against our archrivals, St Pats, from last year. Some games were closer than the results suggest. Well done to the Prep Cs who had a 3 – 0 win.

All boys can only wear the St Pius X tracksuit or Sports Jacket to and from the games over their playing kit. Please make sure your son has the appropriate College attire for the season.

Request for Assistance

When our C's – F's teams are playing at Oxford Falls, we must pack away the portable goals at the end of the game. Could I therefore please ask the parents to assist moving the goals? We have 8 goals to move and only 2 teachers to help and supervise. The goals are to be moved on to the wooden platforms at the end of the ovals. 

Mr Paul Cummins - Junior Football Convenor

From the Football Supporters' Club

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the SPX Football Supporters Club (FSC) are cancelling the social event scheduled for this coming Saturday 8 May 2021 evening.  

The Lindfield Football Club advised us that their Club facility will not be available to host the event this coming weekend.  

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience to your family social schedules.

The SPX FSC will aim to re-schedule this event for later in the 2021 SPX football season.

Wishing you all the best for the 2021 SPX football season ahead.

Mrs Cathy Thomson - For the SPX Football Supporters Club

From the Junior Resource Centre

This Week's Highlights are:

May the 4th Be With You!

The box office isn’t the only place Star Wars has made its mark. In a galaxy far far away.., the force was very strong in the Junior Resource Centre!

JIGSAW Connection

Help us piece the puzzle together.

Year 5 have been very diligent in completing the puzzle.

The Premier's Reading Challenge

The Premier's Reading Challenge is well under way. Great to see the boys updating their reading logs.

Click on the following link to the PRC Website.

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2021

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail:  

How To Spot A Mum written by Donna Amey Bhatt.

Who is that talented creature juggling several impossible tasks whilst looking (almost) gorgeous, flawless? It’s a mum of course! Can you spot any you know? #mrsmartinsbooktrail2021

Mrs Elena Martin – Teacher Librarian

IPSHA Junior School Debating

Well done to the boys on their enthusiasm as training as begun for the season. These sessions are every Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes in the JSR. Our first debate is on this Friday 7 May we are hosting against Masada College in the Sarto Centre at 1.00 pm, parents are most welcome to attend. Good luck boys.

                                            Mrs Bettina Spanyik - Learning Enrichment Teacher

Learning Enrichment

da Vinci Decathlon 2021

Good luck to our Junior Teams competing in da Vinci Decathlon this coming Thursday. This year the boys have the added challenge of the competition being run via Zoom which will certainly require lots of problem solving strategies and team work.

The competition places a particular emphasis on higher order thinking skills, problem solving and creativity. Students work collaboratively in teams competing in task in the spirit of da Vinci in Mathematics and Engineering, General Knowledge, Code Breaking, Creative Producers, Art and Poetry, Science, English and Cartography. Good luck boys in representing our College - it is sure to be a great day.

Mrs Bettina Spanyik - Learning Enrichment Teacher

JUNIOR SCHOOL CHESS CLUB

“Holy Queen's Gambit"…Junior School Chess Competition began last Friday, 30 April. All teams played very well. We are all at HOME this week, 7 May, 2021. Please check the draw for more details. The Force was strong at training on Tuesday morning

Mrs Elena Martin - Junior School Chess Convenor