MindMatters for Families
- Welcome and Introduction to the Counselling Team
- MindMatters: Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing for Students
- Boxercise
- Mentoring
Welcome
A very warm welcome back to the new school year to all our SPX families. Once again, we look forward to providing confidential, emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family throughout this year.
Let me introduce our College Counselling Team and relevant contact information for your safe-keeping.
Mr Rick Russo
Counsellor (Full Time, Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4359
School Mobile (in case of emergency): 0418 438 325
Mrs Joe McCarthy
Psychologist (2 days a week, Wednesday and Thursday) working with students across all years.
Email: jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4322
Mrs Judy Gill
Psychologist (2 days a week, Monday and Tuesday) working with students across all years.
Email: jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4322
Throughout 2017 the Counselling Team, together with the Learning Support Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE/SELF ESTEEM and RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive, Catholic school community. Please do not hesitate to make contact should the need arise.
MindMatters
POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING FOR STUDENTS
Let me briefly share a few of the possible ways your son can learn to build RESILIENCE at SPX.
Boxercise is held every Thursday and Friday morning at 7.30am in the Junior School playground. This MindMatters initiative provides friendship, fun and fitness to strengthen students’ resilience and general sense of wellbeing. Classes are free to all students.
The photo below is from our Boxercise Program’s peer connection initiative at the end of Term 4 2016. As part of this program, students from Years 5 to 11 (aged between 10 and 17) participate in our early morning before-school class with the young ladies from Mercy Catholic College in Chatswood.
We will aim to repeat this across-school peer connection at least a few times each year with the hope that increased students, both boys and girls, can meet together in a safe and supportive environment, and focus on their health and well-being.
In times where more students are turning to technology to connect with one and other, this program seeks to bring students together to improve their physical and emotional well-being which in turn improves their mental health … it’s a winner and a no-brainer !!
Mentoring – This one-on-one student support program is now in its sixth year at SPX. It is a wonderful buddy program where a senior student (Year 11 or 12) volunteers to provide a younger student (Year 5, 6 or 8) with a listening ear and a close supportive relationship built up over time. Students meet weekly at lunchtime and are given the additional opportunity to participate in the teacher led activities of rock climbing, trampolining, kayaking, beach/bush walks, paddle-boarding at Balmoral. Limited spaces are available and preference is given to students who are new to the College. Please note that the first MENTORING ACTIVITY, Rock Climbing at Artarmon, will be held early in March.
For further details on either Boxercise or Mentoring, please contact Mr Russo by either phone or email as per details above.
Mr R Russo - College Counsellor