Parent & Student Matters 

What's happening in the College? 

• Year 9 Visual Arts Excursion
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Science Club - Cancelled this fortnight
• Year 12 Chemistry In-Depth Study
• From the Languages Department
• Maths Drop In
• After School Study Year 5 - 11

Year 9 Visual Arts Excursion

Year 9 Visual Art Students have explored the theme of nature in class this term.  The artmaking practices of Andy Goldsworthy and John Wolseley inspired some of our artmaking on the day.

Last week we left the concrete jungle of Chatswood and spent the day immersed in nature at Herald Reid Reserve. 

The students set up their materials and painted the landscape on canvas from the Lookout. After a bush walk down to the water, we drew the bush from a different perspective in pencil and charcoal, as well as taking lots of photographs on the way. A memorable and enjoyable day was had by all.

Ms Donna Janes -  Visual Arts Teacher

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Bronze Award-Joseph Reyes

Congratulations to Joseph Reyes, Year 11 for being Awarded the Bronze. 

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Year 9 Cohort had a DoE presentation at last Friday’s form meeting. We went through the College process and paperwork required for students to join the program. Many of the activities that student’s complete in their extracurricular commitments can contribute towards obtaining the Award.  If you are interested in encouraging your son to participate, please ask him to collect the paperwork from the desk at the Student Reception Front Office. The paperwork gives an explanation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and has parental consent to charge a fee to your account. After the paperwork has been received, the students can complete the Online application by selecting ONLINE RECORD BOOK on the Dukes Home page: https://dukeofed.com.au/  Once paperwork is received, students will be accepted into the program online and begin the ‘set-up’ phase of the Award. They will also receive an invite on CANVAS to join the SPX Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Page, where they can access information about completing the award.

Upcoming External Adventurous Journey (AJ) Camps

Many of the Duke of Ed students also join the Outdoor Education Program, run by Mr de Silva. This enables students to learn the skills required to participate in an Adventurous Journey section of the Award and have some fun in the process. Mr de Silva runs regular Outdoor Sessions on Monday afternoons, in S1. Students doing the Bronze Award can join in the AJ’s after-discussion with Mr de Silva directly.

In the case that a student can’t make an College organised AJ, then students can attend AJ’s by qualified organisations, such as:

Somerset https://www.campsomerset.com.au/duke-of-edinburgh.html

or Outward Bound. https://www.outwardbound.org.au/duke-of-ed/adventurous-journey/

Please find the following information from Somerset:

• Our April expeditions are nearing capacity … especially Bronze …
• So … if you have any students keen to get an AJ (or 2) completed these holidays please encourage them to sign-up soon!
• https://www.campsomerset.com.au/event
• Our July dates are also now online

Mrs Kara Manga - Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator

Science Club Cancelled this fortnight

Science Club will be cancelled this fortnight due to our WHA audit.  Be sure to come along for our next meeting in a fortnight when we will be making a DIY Chemical Garden.

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator

Year 12 Chemistry Depth Study

Year 12 Chemistry students are currently working on their individual Depth Study. They were asked to investigate a substance that has a variable concentration of acid or base and then use acid/base titrations as a technique to find this concentration. Many students are investigating the acid content of different foods, drinks or household substances. As you can see, they are enjoying this aspect of the HSC Chemistry course.

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator

Languages Department

Can’t travel these upcoming holidays? Want to learn more about France, make new friends, try French cuisine and learn a little more French? Well this is the perfect opportunity for you! NACEL and Alliance Francais have combined to organise the French Village right here in Sydney! The program is suitable for Yr 7-12 students and runs from Tuesday 6 - Friday 9 April 2021 at St Paul's Catholic College, 124 Darly Road, Manly. 

Please see the attached Brochure for a detailed breakdown of the French Village experiences on offer to students.

If you are interested, please see Mrs Manga at the Student reception or email at Kmanga@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au   Anyone considering applying needs to register their interest promptly by 12 March.   

Mrs Kara Manga - Languages Coordinator

Maths Drop-In 

A reminder that all students in Years 7 - 12 are welcome to Maths Drop-in. The sessions are run each Tuesday & Thursday morning 7.40 am - 8.40 am in C1.

With assessments approaching fast, concepts are taught, practice papers are completed and problems are solved all with the company of your mates. 

This is the ideal place where students can come and feel comfortable to ask questions and nut out some challenging problems. Rewards are given, laughs are heard and words of encouragement are shared. Come along and be a part of the team in C1.

After School Study Year 5 - 11

All Year 5 - 11 students are invited to After School Study from 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm in the classroom above Student Reception.

During Term 1 this opportunity is available on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and concludes on Thursday 25 March.

Students must sign in on arrival and have sufficient work or reading material for an hour. Students are not permitted mobile phones or food in the study space.

Individual guidance with tasks is provided by Mrs Gunns.

Mrs Annabel Gunns - Diverse Learning Coordinator