St Pius X College Newsletter

Pastoral Care and Old Boys' News

  • RUOK? Day
  • ISA Athletics Champions!
  • Year 9 Respectful Relationships Day
  • Year 9 Camps
  • Year 12 Graduation Ceremonies and Life Membership to Old Boys' Association
  • Year 5 Kokoda Walkway Excursions
  • Year 12 2023 Student Leaders Speechcraft Presentation Course
  • Old Boys' News
    • Old Boys Mass and Dinner
    • Funeral Service for Mrs Margaret Tossato

RUOK? Day

Last week on Friday 9 September we celebrated RUOK? Day at the school. To us, the heart and soul of RUOK? Day is empathy and connection. When we take the time to connect with others, show empathy and be kind - we all benefit. In fact, as the day reminds us, a conversation can change a life.

On entering the school grounds to the sound of “True Colours” – Cindy Lauper - the boys were encouraged to write a message of positivity and gratefulness and post this up on our community board. Our Year 12 and 11 Wellbeing Student Prefects led our morning assembly with positive and practical advice on how to “connect with” and “look out” for each other. Music played in place of the bells and the students were encouraged to wear their favourite Jersey to help spread the spirit of the day. On a deeper level the boys were encouraged to connect with each other in conversation and to “look out” for each other being mindful of the many challenges people can face in their daily lives. We hope to continually work on building an inclusive community with acceptance and empathy.

We have an excellent support network here at the College, including our wonderful teachers and counselling staff. However its always good to be aware of the online professional bodies that are in place to support students. Below are some these supports – among many others;

RUOK? Day is every day so may it inspire and empower everyone to meaningfully connect with the people around them and start a conversation with those in their world who may be struggling with life. You don't need to be an expert to reach out - just a good friend and a great listener. 

Use these four steps and have a conversation that could change a life:

  1. Ask R U OK?
  2. Listen
  3. Encourage action
  4. Check in

Stop Press :   ISA Athletics Champions

Congratulations to our Athletics Team led by Simon Magner, Chris Zilifian,  Ben O’Reilly and Ollie Aylmer,  Mr Virgona, Ms Lee, Mr Stearn and Mr Dobb.

The team claimed the Intermediate, Senior and overall Championship Shields for Division A of The ISA Competition at Homebush yesterday in our first championship win since 2012. Another great day for the College.  

Year 9 Respectful Relationships Workshop

On Wednesday 7 September, all of Year 9 students from Mercy College and St Pius X College came together at Oxford Falls to learn about the importance of respectful relationships and the consequences of disrespect within these relationships. The students also learnt valuable lessons about the danger of mental illness and how to recognise if someone is struggling with such an illness. They partook in icebreaker activities that encouraged the development of communication skills and formed valuable connections with students from Mercy. These connections were facilitated by conversation prompted by a question that was provided to them. Examples of these questions included “What does respect mean to you?” and “What accomplishments are you proud of?”. The students participated in sports together between sessions and learnt about each other from a personal perspective. 

The students learnt a variety of important values such as consent, awareness of mental illness, celebration of diversity and much more. The day was a great learning experience for all of the students and was overall a very enjoyable day.

Lachlan Staber- Year 9

 

The Charter that the group developed is below:

  • Be respectful to all
  • Think before you act
  • It ain’t weak to speak
  • Consent is vital
  • Everyone is born with two ears and one mouth
  • Check in on your loved-ones to see if they’re ok
  • Surround yourself with people you can trust

Year 9 Camps

In concert with our Year 9 Pastoral Care Theme: “Respectful Men of Honour” and Gospel Spirituality Theme: The Good Samaritan – “Go and do likewise ……”  Luke 10:25-37. This manifesto for respectful relationships will be shared with our Mercy counterparts and developed further on our Term 4 Year 9 Rites of Passage Camps. In each activity on the camp students are challenged to listen to story and understand the perspective of the “other”.

 

The 5 homeroom camps in Weeks 1, 2 and 3 respectively integrate:

  • A still water paddle boarding / kayak lesson and Challenge by choice swim
  • Character Enneagram analysis
  • First Nations themed bushwalk and cultural awareness session
  • Surf Lesson and interview to empathetically understand a life journey
  • Environmental awareness session and Walk on values.
  • Evaluation, letter writing to a future self, and Take 3 for the sea in practice.

Held in smaller homeroom class groups, the Year 9 camps offer the opportunity to develop the expression of story and values sharing that will sustain and forge connections to carry the cohort to through to Year 10, 11 and 12 as a cohesive and mutually supportive team.  

Year 12 Graduation Ceremonies and Life Membership of the SPX Old Boys' Association

It is important that our Year 12 students value the opportunity to conclude their time at the college with integrity and good character, and maintain positive links with both their peers, their curriculum of shared story with the College and staff.

To this end the students are sponsored to receive a lifetime membership of the St Pius X College Old Boys' Association, currently led by President Jeff Clarke, (Class of 1986). Life Membership is represented in the gift of an Old Boys' tie and tie pin, which many students choose to wear to HSC Exams, and certainly to future Association Annual Dinners, the first of which is sponsored for graduates of the most recent year.

As an Incorporated Association the SPXOBA is required to keep a database of its members contacts (post school email address and mobile phone number). Therefore students will be asked via a Microsoft form this week to give consent to join the Old Boys' Association by providing their future (non-school) email address and mobile number. There is also the opportunity to consent to providing contact the Old Boys' “Brothers Rugby Club” which offers generous scholarships and benefits to the Class of 2022 including free registration, free kit and University / Further study fee support!

Year 12 are advised to please see Mr Brannan if they have further questions but please ensure the form is completed this week so that you can receive your tie, tie pin and sponsorship to the 2023 Annual Dinner on Graduation next week. 

Year 5 Kokoda Walkway Excursion

The College is proud to be able to renew our close link with Chatswood RSL Sub Branch through President Braney Flanagan OAM and Garry Brigden when we conduct a Year 5 excursion to the Kokoda Track Walkway, Bray’s Bay Reserve, Concord, on Tuesday 8 November. As a prelude to Remembrance Day the excursion develops students' learning, understanding and empathy for the events of the past, including the great mateship, courage, endurance and sacrifice of our forebears.

In too many cases…. “They gave their today for our tomorrow” ……. Lest we forget.

Students will be researching the history of these events and people and in a few year’s time, it is our hope that some of the students might bring their mums, dads, aunts, uncles or significant others and hike the track with the St Pius X College Kokoda Track Expedition Group in the footsteps of the 39th, 3rd, 2/14th, 2/33 and 2/25th Battalions, among so many others and along with our SPX Expedition Teams of 2014, 2016 and 2018!

Stay tuned for more information.

Year 12 2023 Student Leaders Speechcraft Presentation Course

Thank you to our Old Boys' Association who continue to sponsor our 2023 Student Leaders Speechcraft Presentation Course which last Friday coincided with our Old Boys' Memorial Service at the Lone Pine Memorial and Christian Brothers Chapel Mass.

The Year 11 and 12 Student Leaders then led tours of the College for the Old Boys present before the Old Boys' Annual Dinner was held later in the evening.

The Speechcraft course continues over the coming months dovetailing with our Edmund Rice Beyond Borders link with St Dominic's Christian Brothers College, Welkom in the Orange Free State of South Africa as well as our Year 12 2023 Student Leadership Investiture for which we are preparing as follows:

Friday 16th September 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm Year 9 RE students link with EREBB Global Classroom with St Dominic's CBC South Africa

Wednesday 5th October 1.30 pm - 5.30 pm Extended Speechcraft Course in preparation for Investiture followed by Zoom session with student leadership team of St Dominic's South Africa

Friday 14th October 3.30 pm – 5.30 pm Speechcraft Session in preparation for Year 12 2023 Student Leadership Investiture 

Monday 24th October Periods 5 – 6 and after school: Year 12 2023 Student Leaders Investiture and Afternoon Tea.

Monday 7th November 6.00 pm - 8.30 pm Student Leadership Team Speechcraft Graduation Dinner, Chatswood RSL Club.

Old Boys' News

Old Boys' Annual Commemorative Service, Christian Brothers' Chapel Mass and Dinner

On Friday 9 September the St Pius X Old Boys' Association commemorated 85 years of the College with:

A Memorial Ceremony at the College’s Lone Pine and Coopers Flat Cemetery Memorials was held at 4.15 pm for community members who have passed. The Ode, Last Post and Reveille sounded on the College Bugle by Year 12 Music Student Anthony Elliott to remember: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Pte Jacob de Sisto, KIA December 1944, Flt Sgt Anthony Gillespie, KIA March 1945, along with those mentioned on our Honour Board.   

Photos were laid to honour: Mrs Margaret Tosatto sister of Jacob de Sisto, Tom Van Dijk, (Class of 2021), Liam Vinci, (Class of 2020), Lachlan Ridley, (Class of 2017), Bryan Hoy – Class of ’85, Naden Lovei – Headman of Abuari Village and our SPX Kokoda Track Expedition Guide, Craig Ruddy – Class of ’86: Archibald Prizewinning Artist and champion of Reconciliation, Margaret Tosatto sister of Jacob de Sisto, Greg Growden - acclaimed author and journalist (who attended the 2016 SPX Kokoda Track Expedition with his son Angus ,Class of ’20), and Br John May SJ Old Boy who served as the Jesuits Chief Winemaker at Sevenhill Estate South Australia.

At 4.30 pm an inspirational and meaningful Christian Brothers' Chapel Mass was celebrated by Fr Paul Roberts (College Captain ‘79) and attended by Old Boys' Patron Br Carl Sherrin (Class of ’53) and Bishop Peter Ingham (Class of ’57) along with College Captains including Magistrate John Andrews (Class of ’68), Liam Chang (Class of ’21), Will Staber (Class of ’22), and Eamon Boyle (Class of ‘23). Junior students Oliver Ryder (Year 5), Daniel Gorken-Spyrou and Shahe Tachian (Year 7) joined the congregation of Old Boys, Parents and Staff. 

Fr Roberts recalled the influence of long-serving staff member Mr Mark Pawlak on his journey of life, as we celebrated the leadership of the Christian Brothers over the 85 years of the College. And that of retiring Principal Mr John Couani over his great and eventful 12 year tenure of leadership, and the 5 year contribution of retiring Business Manager Mr Nick Carson (Class of ’82).

The SPX Old Boys’ Annual Dinner featured over 100 participants with large contingents of the 2020, 2021, 1982 and 1986 cohorts in particular, leading the celebration of Mr Couani’s leadership along with Mr Terry Patterson, Mr Ross Masters, Mr Tony Cunneen and Mr Mark Pawlak's teaching careers, and the contributions of SPX Old Boys' President Mr Jeff Clarke (Class of ’86) and his predecessor Mr David Bullard (Class of ’82).

The natural crescendo of the Dinner was the College War Cry led by College Captains ’20 Lachie Mathie, Liam Chang ’21 and Mr John Couani along with the 2020 and 2021 cohorts!

A great time was had by all with respectful thoughts and prayers of empathy for those who could not be there.

Funeral Service of Mrs Margaret Tosatto nee de Sisto

The College was represented by eight Year 10 students who joined Mr Coauni in attending the Funeral of Mrs Tosatto the sister of Jacob de Sisto who was an Old Boy of the College Killed in Action on 18 December 1944, in an attack on a Japanese machine gun on the island of Bougainville. Jacob is buried in Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea where his grave has been visited by our Kokoda Track Expeditions. 

Lest we Forget.

Jacob is survived by his youngest sister Maria Barrett nee De Sisto who along with her sisters, son and nieces have been regular attendees at our Remembrance Day Commemorations to mark the tragic loss of their only brother and an important chapter in the shared story and diverse experience of our College.  

 

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity