St Pius X College Newsletter

Pastoral Care 

  • Student Leadership Team 2024
  • 1st XV Rugby Tour and prayers for Uncle Mark Smith
  • Year 8 Ski Trip
  • Year 9 Camp Preparation
  • Year 9 Respectful Relationships workshop
  • Student golfing exploits

Student Leadership Team 2024

As our Year 12 students focus on their HSC Trial examinations, upcoming Retreats, HSC and graduation, we will commission our Year 11 students with their tenure of leadership of the college over the coming weeks.

Discernment and appointment of our College Captain, Vice Captains, Learning, Cultural, Mission and Wellbeing Prefect portfolios, and our House Captains will involve input from students and staff in a considered process. In this context however all students are reminded of their responsibilities to act as leaders and men of action, integrity, and honour. Leadership is not about a badge or title, and not restricted to those who hold office. We are all called to be leaders and act in the best interests of all in our community and in the best traditions of Edmund Rice education, living out the best values of our families, cultures, and college.

1st XV Rugby Tour Ambassadors and call for prayers for Uncle Mark Smith from St Marys Bowraville

At our Sports Assembly last Friday we celebrated the contribution of our 1st XV Rugby touring squad who, in the July holidays, travelled to Queensland to play St Joseph's Gregory Terrace and Nudgee GPS schools and proudly wore our Reconciliation jerseys.

We were privileged again to be joined on tour by Gumbayngirr Aboriginal Education Officer from St Mary's Primary School, Uncle Mark Smith, who shared his knowledge, culture and language with us. Mark is a great advocate for reconciliation having worked with Br Steve Morelli to revive the Gumbayngirr language on the mid North Coast and hosts our students on immersion there. He is a wonderful man who has inspired our students in story, dot painting and prints, which were presented to Mr Ronchetti and the College at Friday’s Sports Assembly as components of our RAP.

Unfortunately, we learned on Sunday of a sudden medical emergency affecting Uncle Mark, who is currently in ICU at Coffs Harbour Hospital. Please join us in prayers of intercession and support to Mark, his wife, Janice, daughters, and family, as well as the community of St Mary’s Primary School Bowraville led by Principal Mrs Nadine Slingsby. We look forward to joining Mark again worming, fishing and playing on the beaches, lands and Nambucca River of the spiritual Gumbaynggirr country!

Year 8 Ski Trip

Congratulations to the Year 8 cohort who under the leadership of Mr Phil Stollery and the Year 8 Pastoral Care Team safely and successfully completed their expedition and lessons on the ski slopes of Mt Blue Cow in the Perisher Valley last week.

With ideal conditions and good snow cover for both skis and snowboards, and bright blue skies overhead the 160 students enjoyed some great life experiences and learnt skills on the ski slopes.  

Every student exercised the opportunity to progress their skiing performances in a positive manner. Some great physical and developing social skills extended the students in some important growth areas including being organised, respectful of one another, working in groups and exercising responsibility in this time-honoured rite of passage in the college’s pastoral care program.

Year 9 Camp Preparation

Mr Steinman’s Year 9 Pastoral Care Team are preparing for the Year 9 'Respectful Men of Honour - rites of passage' camps at our Workul Koo education centre at Terrigal.

These camps will take place in Weeks 1 – 3 of Term 4 and focus on exploring our sense of identity, growth and shared values as we interact in the context of surfing, paddle board, Aboriginal culture and spirituality, and beach activity lessons, while caring for each other, the environment our resources, and considering our positive contribution and place in the world.  

Communication regarding these camps will be forthcoming from Mr Steinman and the Pastoral Care team over the coming weeks.

Year 9 St Pius X and Mercy College Respectful Relationships Workshop

We look forward to our Year 9 students engaging with their counterparts from Mercy College in a workshop which will develop a manifesto for Respectful Relationships between our two colleges.  The workshop will take place on Wednesday 6 September as part of our PDHPE program at Oxford Falls.

St Pius X College student golfing exploits

Congratulations to Year 7 student Archer Langbridge who, in the holidays, played with great distinction at the Moore Park Junior Golf Tournament, finishing in the top 5 of a highly acclaimed leader board. Archer follows in the footsteps of many exceptional St Pius X College student golfers including Ciaan Hughes (Class of 2021) who is pursuing his dreams though a golf scholarship in the US NCAA College system.

Youth Advocacy Training Evening

Willoughby Council are inviting representatives from Years 10 and 11 to attend their Youth Advocacy Training Evening on Wednesday 9 August from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm at Chatswood Youth Centre.

The themes for the evening will cover leadership, inspiration, opportunity, networking and engagement.

There is a small cost for the evening of $10 to cover catering.

Please contact Mr Brannan if you would like to participate in this event.

 

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care