From the Acting Deputy Principal

• College Photographs in full Winter uniform
• Annual “Away” Rugby Matches
• State Champs and Nationals

Iftar Dinner

Opportunity for Years 9, 10 & 11 Students​:  Willoughby/Bingara Student Exchange 2018

World Cup and Wallaby Matches

The Salvo’s Red Shield Appeal​

College Photographs in full Winter uniform

This Friday Melba Photographic Studios have been commissioned to take our College Group, Year Cohort, and Individual student photos over the course of the day. This presents as an opportunity for all boys to ensure their haircut, general grooming, and full winter uniform, including Blazer are in top order. Students have been given plenty of notice and rationale for presenting with an appropriate positive corporate look including polished black shoes, grey / plain dark socks, clean buttoned Blazers, shirts, ties and uniform grey trousers. Haircuts need to be neat, natural, even and without undercuts or stripes, as per the College Diary Page A16.

If in any doubt please check with Pastoral Care Staff, Year Coordinators, Mr Yue or myself before Friday. Our community members are of the understanding that we wear a uniform look to present as a cohesive entity, and enhance the wider reputation of our school and students to the benefit of all in the wider community, be it in travel, employment or further studies. Accordingly students are expected to rise to this standard, and Friday will be no different. Please ensure your / your son’s Winter Uniform and grooming are in good order to this effect to avoid any disappointment.

Annual “Away” Rugby Matches

Coincidentally with our College photos on Friday, we are well aware that many students will be departing early from the College to safely travel with their families over the mountains for the away Rugby matches against Kinross-Wolaroi School in Orange. Please ensure departures are delayed until later on Friday to avoid Year Group Photos, and be aware that smaller group photos maybe missed as a result. We wish all our students and families safe trips, including those travelling to and from Orange for Rugby on Friday and Saturday, our Football players who take on St Spyridon’s, and our Tennis players at their various venues around Sydney. Our Junior AFL team can be added to that list, and those teams playing at our Oxford Falls home fields should be aware that while Wakehurst Parkway road closures are not planned, there are still significant delays along Warringah Rd. Please travel safely. 

State Champs and Nationals

Congratulations to the many students who took the opportunity over the long weekend break  from ISA Representative sport to represent their districts in many and varied competitions. We had students travel to Melbourne for the traditional long weekend basketball Classic and challenge tournaments representative North Sydney and Hornsby districts with distinction.

Many of our Rugby players represented in the long weekend State Championships with our 15As team playing in Gordon (Zac Davison, Lachie Onslow and Ben Kafer), State Champions Norths (Seb Majarian), Warringah (Austin Cleary) and Sydney University (Ollie Clarke) representative teams at Concord Oval alone. Seven St Pius X players captained by Kyle Bowen (Year 10, names listed in Senior Sport) represented Gordon at Drummoyne Oval to win the 16s State title. We were also well represented at the 14s State titles at Orange (Harry Melloy and Oscar MacDonald, Gordon and Jack Thornton, Eastwood) and the Sydney 18s Team by Lachlan Lowick (Yr 12) and Nathaniel Panozzo, Class of 2017.

Iftar Dinner

Similarly 15 Students of Year 11 and Year 8 represented us, along with our Mercy College counterparts, at an Iftar Interfaith Dinner celebrating the end of Ramadan last Wednesday, at Amity College in Prestons. This event celebrated our connection with members of Sydney’s ecumenical and Muslim communities, through Amity College. Our Year 7 Religious Education students have previously reinforced this connection through email communication. Articulating their values and characteristics as students in a Catholic school in the traditions of Edmund Rice Education. Our student representatives last week gave a great account of themselves in response to the generous hospitality of our hosts. Oliver Tysoe (Year 11) gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the twelve Colleges present, including EREA Edmund Rice College Wollongong who were also represented at the event.

Iftar Dinner Representatives:  Robbie Kraszewski, Hayden Smith, Oliver Tysoe, James Bleasedale, Sam Schyvens, Dominic Fromager, Zac Lomas, Lucas Whale, Will Birchall, Declan Howle, Corben Jubian, Liam Kerlin, (Year 11) Ben Cullen, Elliott Cook (Year 8).

Following closely on the College’s recent success through our representative jazz bands, public speakers, and Da Vinci Decathletes, and as a prelude to the College's hosting of the Sydney Regional RoboCup Robotics Workshops on 28th July, the diversity of ability and talent of our students across the spectrum of human endeavour never ceases to impress. 

Opportunity for Years 9, 10 & 11 Students

Willoughby/Bingara Student Exchange 2018:  Please find below an invitation and application form for students in Years 9, 10 and 11 to consider joining Willoughby Youth Advisory Group and in doing so travel with 5 -6 like-minded students and Council Staff to Bingara in Gwydir Council in the state’s north west from 5th – 8th July 2018 . The trip would be subsidised wholly by Willoughby Council.

Please read the attached documents and see Mr Brannan if you would like to apply or have further questions.  Applications are due Monday 25th June.

World Cup and Wallaby Matches

In the spirit of inclusive boy’s education, we look forward to the Football World Cup starting later this week and Australia playing France in football, and Ireland in Rugby on Saturday. Our own ex-student Michael Hooper (class of 2007) leading the Wallabies to victory in a high standard match last Saturday! It is worth noting that a fellow EREA Sydney school, Waverley College, was the alma mater of a contemporary Socceroo in Massimo Luongo. Following the prematch clip of Michael in both his U/10 Manly Marlins team and St Pius X teams, from Year 5 to Year 12, Michael sent a generous text through wishing all at Pius well. 

Go the Socceroos in Russia, and the Wallabies in Melbourne, against our traditional compatriots and allies in France and Ireland this weekend!

The Salvo’s Red Shield Appeal

Along with the significantly improved environmental state of the yard and school, for which our students can be commended, but need to keep up their concerted effort towards maintaining, I would highlight the recent communication from The Salvation army below:

"We wanted to say thanks so much for your support and help from the boys at St Pius with our annual Red Shield Door-knock Appeal. 

It is always great to meet these young men and they are a credit to the time and investment being poured into them through their time at St Pius. 

We hope they enjoy the experience and might be keen to do it again next year.

Best wishes And Kind regards,

Kristina Tombolato - Northside Salvos Chatswood"

It is pleasing when such positive efforts are recognised and rewarded in good faith, but no more important than the many unseen positive acts completed by so many of our students. Simple acts such as giving up their seats on public transport, being polite in public, or helping others in need. Things which we simply expect, and become accustomed to our young men to rising to the challenge of positive action. But actions which go to demonstrate the quality and integrity of each individual member of our community.

Fide et Labore

Mr S Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal