St Pius X College Newsletter

Pastoral Care 

  • Remembrance Day at the Chatswood Garden of Remembrance
  • Movember
  • Black Dog Institute presentation
  • The Power of Kindness

Remembrance Day at the Chatswood Garden of Remembrance

by Christian Wong

On 11 November 2024, the Chatswood RSL Club held a Remembrance Day commemoration service in Chatswood’s Garden of Remembrance. The ceremony was attended by schools from across the Chatswood-Willoughby area such as Chatswood High, Mercy Catholic College and Willoughby Girls High School. Throughout the ceremony we were invited to learn about the rich history behind the day and pay our respects to soldiers fallen.

The day commemorates the armistice between the allied and German forces which became effective on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, all along the western front. This peace treaty marked the end of 4 years of hostility. Throughout WWI over 416,000 Australians served, with over 60,000 killed in action. Of these, 45,000 died on the Western Front thus Remembrance Day is a call to commemoration for the soldiers who gave up their lives to pave a way for a more peaceful future.

The ceremony continue with the laying of the wreath were notable public figures, veterans and families of veterans and lastly schools were invited to lay a wreath upon the memorial to pay respects. Conclusively, the Last Post and Reveille were played to signify the soldiers who have gone to their final rest.

Lest we forget.

Movember

Senior students and staff are working hard to "grow their mo's" and "move for mental health" as November continues.  

If you would like to donate please use the link below which will take you to the St Pius X College Movember donation page.  So far we have raised just over $1,000 for this cause which not only raises funds, but awareness of these most important men's issues.

Donate to Movember

Black Dog Institute presentation

by Ryan Sutherland

On Wednesday 14 November, Ollie from The Black Dog Institute came to St Pius X to talk to the Year 12 cohort about mental health and to promote awareness and understanding of depression and other mental health conditions that many young people face. As a not-for-profit organisation, they focus on creating a safe space as well as to create an inclusive environment where individuals feel comfortable discussing their experiences and seeking help. The Black Dog Institute aims to make sure that people know they are not alone in what they're going through, offering hope and showing that recovery is possible for everyone if they approach the issue the right way.

Their presentation style is both informative and reassuring, empowering people with the knowledge to take control of their mental health. This presentation showed the year group how we can take control of our mental health when facing issues as well as how we can look out for our mates when they are in need of help or reassurance to overcome mental health issues.

The Power of Kindness

taken from www.understandingboys.com.au

 

10 ways you can encourage kindness in your son;

  1. Lead by example. Let your son see you doing small acts of kindness, like holding the door open, helping a neighbour, or offering a kind word. Kids often mimic what they see.
  2. Praise kindness. When you see your son being kind, acknowledge it. Let him know you noticed and appreciate his thoughtful actions.
  3. Read stories about kindness. Choose books or movies with themes of empathy, friendship, and helping others. Discuss the characters’ actions and what your son thinks about them.
  4. Encourage helping at home. Give him small responsibilities, like helping a sibling with homework or setting the dinner table. It can help to build a habit of considering others’ needs.
  5. Set up acts of generosity. Involve him in activities like baking treats for friends or family or donating toys he no longer uses. It can help to teach him the joy of giving.
  6. Volunteer together. Find local community activities, such as beach clean-ups or charity events, to teach the value of helping others.
  7. Encourage sharing. Let him practise sharing belongings with friends and family members.
  8. Create a kindness jar. Whenever someone in the family does something kind, drop a note into the jar. Review them together to celebrate the positive moments.
  9. Talk about feelings. Ask your son how he feels in different situations and how he thinks others might feel. Building empathy encourages kind actions.
  10. Encourage compliments. Teach your son the power of a genuine compliment. It could be as simple as saying something nice about a friend’s drawing or acknowledging when someone does something well. Compliments help build confidence and foster a positive environment.

Full article can be found here.

https://www.understandingboys.com.au/the-power-of-kindness/

 

Mr Martin Gillogly - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care