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

May is the Month of Mary. 

Loving God, you place deep in our hearts the love of Mary, Help of Christians. 

Through her prayers grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. 

Under her protection may Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace. 

We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

RETURN TO SCHOOL

The return to schooling is going well. For some boys it is a matter of getting accustomed to being in a classroom again and learning certain etiquettes, while for others it was like riding a bike, (which many had a lot of practise during isolation). Well at least the dogs of the world will be able to have a rest as they won’t be walked quite as often!

We have revised period timings and the ‘crunch and sip’ is working well.  In fact my Maths class asked me if they could have a crunch and sip as they had specialists in the next lesson. It worked well.

UNIFORM

The College rain jacket looks fabulous but they are not a substitute for a blazer.  Boys still need to bring their blazer to the College every day with the exception of Thursday.  This may be stating the obvious but the rain jacket is only to be worn when it is raining.

THURSDAY

I sent an email last Friday explaining the plan for Thursday. It is similar to last week with two changes.  Year 5 will leave after the first 2 periods and have their recess at Oxford Falls so they will require Morning Tea and Lunch. The pick up will be much improved with parents driving into the car park between 1.30 pm and 1.45 pm and the boys will be waiting outside the Christian Brothers Centre (the new gym).  PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR as per Government directions. You will collect your sons and then drive out the bottom gate.

Summary of sent email:

Remember lunch, recess and a water bottle or two.

8:30 am – 9:15 am - Drop off at Oxford Falls for Year 6.

9:00 am - Yr 6 travel to Oxford Falls for teaching on 3 buses.

10:45 am – Yr 5 travel to Oxford Falls on 2 buses and have recess when they arrive, with Year 6. 

Sport and lunch as usual.

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm pick up outside Christian Brothers Centre.

Approx 2.25 pm remaining boys leave on 5 buses for the College.

In case you didn’t receive the email regarding this week I have included a copy below:

"We are going to trial new recess and lunch times next week in order to alleviate congestion on the playground.  We will assess how this work at the conclusion of next week.  We are going to maximise the morning hours and have our recess after the first 3 periods of the day.  We will implement a 'crunch and sip' time during these 3 periods.  I need you to ensure your son has a small easy to eat/quick snack and his water bottle.  It should be a snack he can eat in class while he is working (ie piece of fruit/muesli bar).  Some boys may choose to eat their lunch at recess and their recess at lunch times if that suits them.

Recess will be at 11.36 am till 11.56 am and lunch will be from 1.42 pm till 2.22 pm.  This allows for our specialist teachers timetables to work.

Next Thursday we will have the same timetable as this week, with the exception of one change. Year 6 will go down to Oxford Falls at 9.00 am.  Year 5 are going down after their first 2 periods but there will be a change as they will go directly to the buses and have their recess at Oxford Falls.  Year 6 boys can be dropped at Oxford Falls between 8.30 am and 9.15 am.  

I'm always telling the boys that we learn from our mistakes and we will learn from last week and fix up the pick-up process in the afternoon at Oxford Falls.  We will have pick up between 1.30 pm and 1.45 pm and you will drive into the car park and out the bottom gate of the car park.  Please stay in your car, as per the government directive.  We need to do this earlier to avoid the case of a boy who thought he was being picked up at Oxford Falls but it was Chatswood, plus this will allow the buses to get into the car park after this time."

RECONCILIATION WEEK BEGINS TODAY

Why today?

The anniversary dates which mark National Reconciliation Week (NRW) are significant milestones for reconciliation: 27 May - the 1967 Referendum, and 3 June - the High Court Mabo decision.

This Year's theme is ‘We are in this together.’

2020 marks twenty years since 250,000 Australians walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the across bridges in all capital cities and many other cities and towns around the country.

“The Reconciliation Bridge Walks marked a shift in our national consciousness and twenty years later more than 90% of Australians now support reconciliation, with 80% believing in the importance of formal truth telling processes,” said Ms Mundine.

Remember we are all in this together!    

A THOUGHT TO PONDER

In 1902, we became the second country to grant women the vote and the first to permit women to stand for parliament. It wasn’t until 1962 that Aboriginal people were granted the right to vote (although it took longer in some states and it wasn’t compulsory). In 1967 the referendum allowed them to be counted on the census like the rest of the population. It was not until 1984 that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people gained full equality with other electors under the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Act 1983. This Act made enrolling to vote at federal elections compulsory for Indigenous Australians.

So we were one of the first to give women the right to vote and one of the last to give our indigenous the right to vote.

Stay Safe.

Thanking you for your support,

Mr Tim Long, Head of Junior School

Junior School Sport

Unfortunately the Junior School Athletics Carnival has been cancelled for 2020.  At this stage the IPSHA Athletics carnival is still a possibility.  When more information becomes available selection of the athletics squad will be done by invitation, meaning anyone who would like to trial can.  More information to come.

Thursday Sport:  Training for Rugby, Football and AFL

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), with appropriate boots, mouthguard, shin pads, head gear etc;
• change back into PE Uniform to travel back to school / home.

Mr Benn McBrearty, Junior School Sports Master

SPX FOOTBALL 2020

Virtual SPX Football Training Sessions on Microsoft Teams

A virtual SPX Football skills and fitness training program is available at the SPX Football Folder on Microsoft Teams to all boys who attended the SPX Senior School Football trials in February 2020.  Huge thanks to Mr Lacey for establishing this SPX Football Development program based on the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) curriculum.  SPX Football boys, please use this program to develop and maintain your football skills.

SPX Football Online Referee Course – Prize Draw & Paid Referee Games at Oxford Falls

SPX boys are also encouraged to register and complete the online and free preliminary referee course offered by FFA.  See web-link (also at the SPX Football Folder on Microsoft Teams):  https://www.playfootball.com.au/referee/laws-of-the-game?_ga=2.255398154.385912815.1586174178-586563975.1586174178

The SPX Football Supporters Club (FSC) is offering a prize draw for SPX boys who complete the referee course and obtain their preliminary referee certificate.  To enter the prize draw, please send your certificate to the SPX FSC at email:  footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au

The prize draw includes football kit items donated by the SPX FSC to be drawn at a SPX Football social event later in 2020.  We are starting to see entries for the prize draw by SPX boys who have completed the referee course.  Please join in.

Your preliminary referee certificate can also be presented to Paul Cummins, SPX Junior School Football Convenor, to join SPX boys referee team for SPX Junior School football games at Oxford Falls on Saturday mornings during future football seasons.

Mrs Cathy Thomson, SPX Football Supporters Club

Junior Resource Centre News

This week's highlights:

Tuesday May 26 was National Sorry Day and today is the start of National Reconciliation Week. “In This Together 2020” 27 May – 3 June. Reconciliation Week is an opportunity to learn about our shared histories and cultures and to establish a relationship with each other based on truth. It is a week about having challenging conversations and taking the time to listen. In support of this important week the JRC is shining a spotlight on some of our favourite Indigenous authors. Welcome to Mrs Martin’s virtual Library! Let’s celebrate Reconciliation Week through stories! Click on a book for a read aloud. A bonus is that the books are on the PRC! Click on the PDF link below to see the books read aloud. #nationalsorryday2020    #reconciliationweek2020     #inthistogether

This week is also Library and Information Week. The theme is CREATE. Stay tuned as we: connect, inspire, up-skill and have fun, through creation.

Doing what we do best we are hoping to help you to #CreateConnections with BOOKS!

While you have been away, I have been very busy updating our collection with the latest and greatest reads. I have also been busy rearranging the library. Pop in, have a look and request the books you would like to check out.

Mrs Martin’s Book Trail: The BALLAD of SONGBIRDS and SNAKES by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games prequel is here. Getting great reviews. Is it going to be as big as its predecessors? Watch this space! I’ll keep you posted. #mrsmartinsbooktrail2020

Mrs Elena Martin, Teacher Librarian, Junior Resource Centre