St Pius X College Newsletter

Pastoral Care

RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Commemoration

From the Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

  • RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Commemoration
  • ANZAC Commemorative Services over the April School Holidays
  • Sydney North Wellbeing Forum
  • Youth Services and Involvement in Easter Liturgies
  • Peer Mentoring Bushwalk and Swim 
  • Pastoral Care and Social Justice July Expedition
  • Old Boys News

RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Commemoration

Hyde Park ANZAC Memorial Tuesday 9 April

We were well represented at the newly extended Hyde Park ANZAC Memorial on Tuesday where our House Vice Captains joined the Year 9 Brigidine College Student leaders and attended the RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Commemoration around the Pool of Remembrance. After Occasional Addresses from a Year 11 Student leader from Bede Polding Catholic College at Windsor, and Governor General David Hurley AO DSC, Scots College Piper played the lament and the St Aloysius Cadet Unit trumpeter played The Last Post and Reveille.

Our wreath to the fallen was laid by Primary Class Captain James Terzian, Year 9 Cadet Charlie Dwyer (fresh from his outstanding performance as Orlec in Great Expectations drama performance last week) and Year 11 House Vice Captain Michael Fakhoury.

Our group then reflected on the great cost of war, and the huge contribution of Australians, in the newly renovated subterranean ANZAC Memorial which we can highly recommend as a fitting opportunity for reflection and learning.

My great commendation to the 25 House Vice Captains and Student Leaders who represented our College so well as we lead into the reflective seasons of Easter and ANZAC Day.

Greater love haveth no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

This was a pertinent lesson this week on the 90th Anniversary of the Coffee Royal incident in which Keith Anderson and Bobby Hitchcock lost their lives attempting to rescue Australian aviation hero and WWI pilot Charles Kingsford-Smith.

***Photos from Tony Cunneen and in share drive

ANZAC Commemorative Services over the April School Holidays

Students and members of the St Pius X College community are reminded of the local ANZAC Day Commemorative Services to which they are invited to represent the College on Thursday 25 April.

  • Chatswood Garden of Remembrance Dawn Service:  Albert St Chatswood at 5.30am
  • Club Willoughby Obelisk Service:  Crabbes Street, Willoughby at 7.00am

Please wear polished winter uniform and see Mr Brannan if you can assist on the day,  such as laying the wreath.  We will be remembering our two ex-students Killed in Action in WWII - Pte Jacob DeSisto (KIA Dec 1944 Bougainville while attacking a Japanese Machine Gun Post) and Flt Sgt Anthony Gillespie (KIA Germany 1945, while on operations in a Mosquito Fighter Bomber) as well as all people affected by war and conflict.

Lest we forget

Sydney North Wellbeing Forum

Ten members of our Year 10 Student Empowerment Wellbeing Team joined College Counsellor Ms McCarthy on Tuesday in attending the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Mental Health Youth Forum at Macquarie University.

Thank you to Mr Russo for transporting the students to this important event which continues a long tradition of St Pius X College students as action-driven advocates for mental health and wellbeing.  Stay tuned for further reports and initiatives of this impressive group of young men.

Youth Services and Involvement in Easter Liturgies

Students and members of the community are encouraged to attend the sombre service and support our students involved the Youth Stations of the Cross Service at 10.00am on Good Friday 19 April in Our Lady of Dolours Church.

Peer Mentoring Bushwalk and Swim at Glenbrook Blue Mountains National Park

Last Sunday's perfect weather was the backdrop for our Term 1 “MindMatters - Be You” initiative - our Peer Mentoring bushwalk and swim in the Blue Mountains National Park.  Twenty-eight students, five staff and three parents walked from Euroka Clearing to the Nepean River for a swim, before splitting into two groups for a walk to Red Hand Aboriginal Artwork cave and Jelly Bean Pools for a swim in the Glenbrook Creek.

The rich connections enhanced between members of our peer Mentors/Mentees program as an outcome of the activity was worth the investment the staff and school make in this invaluable program to support the inclusivity and resilience of students in our school community.

Thanks to Mr Russo, Ms Fileman, Mr Stollery and Mr Ticli as well as parents Mrs Squires, Mrs Silk and Mr Allert who supported the event.

Stay tuned for our Buddies Bushwalk, Beachwalk, Paddle Boarding and Canoeing activities later in the year.

Pastoral Care and Social Justice July Expedition

St Pius X College Coonabarabran, Walgett and Bourke Pastoral Care and Social Justice July Expedition

Preparations continue for the July Pastoral Care Expedition when a team of our students will consolidate our links and connections with the schools and partnerships we have developed in rural, remote and indigenous Australia.

The expedition will take place on the first week of our (Saturday Sport Playing Schools) July holidays when the Schools we will visit are still in term time. We aim to depart Chatswood very early (5.30am) on Sunday 30 June and return mid afternoon on Saturday 6 July .

Given the rich learning, social justice, and cultural activities planned on this expedition, Community Involvement (CIP) Hours required by Year 10 and 11 students who participate will be completed on the expedition. 

The evolving itinerary includes:

  • A tour of Siding Springs Observatory Australian Astronomical Telescope Coonabarabran;
  • A guided tour of the Piliga Scrubs Sandstone Caves, Dandry George Archaeological sites, Sculptures in the Scrub Reconciliation artwork, and Baradine Local Area Land Council Centre and NPWS Discovery Centre;
  • A visit to Coonabarabran High and St Lawrence’s Catholic Primary School to take reading, literacy and numeracy group lessons;
  • Walking the Warrumbungles iconic Grand High Tops hike, taking in the Breadknife Igneous Rock Structure and Warrumbungles NPWS Visitors Centre;
  • A visit to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Walgett to take reading, literacy and numeracy group lessons and sports afternoon;
  • A guided tour of Brewarina Fish Traps which is reportedly one of the oldest in situ archeologic structures in the world;
  •  A visit to St Ignatius’ Catholic Primary School Bourke to take reading, literacy and numeracy group lessons and sports day;
  • Outdoor Mass in the desert;
  • A visit and bike ride around Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.

High school students, especially those in Years 10 and 11, are welcome to register an Expression of Interest this term with Mr Brannan, Mr Mulheron, Mr Balboa, Mr Quinn or Ms Spanyik.   Permissions and confirmations will be required in mid Term 2.

Old Boys' News

The Old Boys' Dinner will be held on Friday 13 September.  The AGM is upcoming soon with details to be confirmed.

Please feel free to assist on the Old Boys' BBQ any given Saturday, and stay tuned for our Orchard Tavern get together in Term 4.

 

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care