Department News

• Performing Arts
• Public Speaking & Debating

Performing Arts

DRAMA NEWS

This term has begun with much activity in Drama as we prepare for another exciting year ahead. Years 11 and 12 Drama students attended “Onstage” at the Seymour Centre on Saturday 4th February to view a showcase of exemplary performance and project works from the 2016 Drama HSC Examinations. The students came away from the evening inspired and motivated to build Individual Projects and Group Performances around issues they are passionate about.

On Thursday 9th February, Year 12 Drama students then participated in the “Fearless Theatre Symposium” at the Seymour Centre. Run by the Milk Crate Theatre company, the workshop explored the key dramatic devices used in the HSC Drama Core text “Fearless” by Mirra Todd. The intensive afternoon greatly assisted the students’ understanding of the text and its themes around social justice.

Rehearsals are also well underway for our production of “Boy Overboard” which will be staged in the Sarto Centre in Week 9 of this term. Ticket information will be available shortly.

Finally, Drama Ensemble commenced last Thursday morning at 7.30am in the Drama Room. This activity is available for interested students Years 5 – 12. 

Ms S Fernando - Drama Teacher

COMMENCEMENT MASS

Thank you to the Senior Choir, Lachlan Ceravolo (Year 12) and Ms Gan for leading the music and singing at this important Mass to start our College year.

ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS

With the exception of the Junior Digital Music Ensemble, rehearsals for ALL other groups have now commenced. Final rolls will be drawn up at the end of this week. Students who are unsure if they are in the correct ensemble, or who auditioned and have not been placed, should see Ms Bates in the Performing Arts Staff Room BEFORE Friday.

JUNIOR DIGITAL MUSIC ENSEMBLE

The overwhelming interest in this group has meant that rehearsals have been postponed, until Mr Cummins and myself can ascertain how best to select students. Please read next week’s Woodchatta and the Junior School Newsletter, for further information.

INSTRUMENTAL TUITION

All students who applied for instrumental tuition will have had their first lesson by the end of this week. During this lesson they will have received a Music Pass. In order to leave class to attend a music lesson, students MUST show their Music Pass to the teacher. Teachers WILL NOT let students leave class unless they have a Music Pass.

PERFORMANCE AND EXCURSION CALENDAR TERM 1

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Public Speaking & Debating

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS’ CUP DEBATING COMPETITIONS

St Pius X College students will participate in the Macquarie Schools’ Cup competitions which are run on school days at Macquarie University.  Students attend the day with a debating coach and information about the day is provided to the students closer to the date.  There are three competitions:

• Senior (Year 10):   16th February, 2017 (Mrs McCormack is organising this at the moment)
• Intermediate (Year 9):  usually early Term 3
• Junior (Years 7 and 8):  usually late Term 3

CSDA COMPETITION PUBLIC SPEAKING

The CSDA Public Speaking competition runs on the following three Friday.  Information on venues and times will follow as soon as the College is informed.  Students have been advised each day in our school ‘Daily Notices’, at Friday assembly and through Woodchatta to come to the JCR on Tuesdays at lunch time to register their interest in participating in the CSDA competition.  We have NO Year 7 students responding as yet and I would hate students to miss out as entries for the competition close this Friday, 17th February. Please contact Mrs Waterson if you miss this Tuesday’s meeting and want to be involved in Public Speaking.

Public Speaking Competition dates:

Term 1                   

Round 1:       March 3   

Zone Final:   March 10

Final:               March 17  

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS’ DEBATING COMPETITION (CSDA)

Registration forms are at the front office now.  Students need to complete the form and return it to the box marked “Public Speaking and Debating” on the student verandah.  The 2015 CSDA competition dates are below.  St Pius X College will host as many of these rounds as possible as home events are easier for our parents. 

Term 2

Round 1:    April 28

Round 2:    May 5

Round 3:    May 12

Round 4:    May 19

Round 5:    May 26

Round 6:    June 2

Elimination Round 1:    June 16

Elimination Round 2:    June 23

Term 3

Quarterfinal:   July 21

Semi-final:       July 28

Grand Final:     August 3

If you want to be a part of the terrific St Pius X College debating community it is essential that you attend ALL of the first six rounds.  If your team makes it through to the Elimination round (and beyond) you also need to keep the above dates free.

Our senior students act as coaches/supporters for our junior teams.  We are also lucky enough to have ex-students to work with the junior teams as the younger students really enjoy contact with our ex-debating “champions”.

SCHOOL’S DEBATING NETWORK

St Pius X College participates in the School’s Debating Network (SDN) Competition. Schools include Abbotsleigh, Redlands, Riverview, Roseville College, Stella Maris, Monte and Wenona. This seven-round competition runs in Term 3 every Friday night from 21st July to 8th September.  There will then be a Tiebreaker and Final round.

Round 1 21st July, Roseville College hosting St Pius X

Round 2 28th July, Stella Maris hosting St Pius X

Round 3 4th August, Riverview hosting St Pius X

Round 4 11th August, St Pius X hosting Wenona

Round 5 18th August, St Pius X hosting Monte

Round 6 25th August, Abbotsleigh hosting St Pius X

Round 7 2nd September, Redlands hosting St Pius X

Tiebreaker 8th September, hosted by St Pius X

Final 15th September, hosted by Monte

The fee for the CSDA extra-curricular activity is $105.00 which will be included in your Term Two school fees.  This fee goes towards paying for Friday evening bus hire in order to get to our Away venues.  We keep our fees as low as possible and have funding from the St Pius X College P & F to subsidise the cost of hiring coaches on Friday evenings.

Two hours of training per week is mandatory. Our training commences 2-3 weeks before Round 1 with St Pius X College hosting pre-season ‘friendly’ debates with 2-3 local high schools. Friday afternoon training from 3.30–5pm is compulsory for all debaters, and coaches determine the other hour or so of training each week at times that suit their team.  CSDA debates commence at 6pm and students and coaches either travel to venues at 5pm or, when hosting, students have a one hour dinner break before our guests arrive at the College for a 6pm competition commencement.  SDN debates have a different, later running order.

Thank you on behalf of the brilliant St Pius X College debating coaches and senior student mentors.

St Pius X also competes in the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Competition and the Plain English Speaking Competition and details will follow.

Mrs M Waterson - Debating and Public Speaking Convener