Senior School Cocurricular Program 

• From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Cross Country
• Debating
• Football
• Rugby
• ISA Tennis
• NSTA Tennis
• Squash
• Swimming

From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

We have now transitioned from the summer to the winter season.  I wish to thank and acknowledge the coaches and convenors who have put in a tremendous effort over the summer season.  I also thank the coaches and convenors who are now stepping into their roles for our winter activities.  

I'm pleased to announce the following comprehensive listing of team coaches and convenors for both our sporting and performing arts/cocurricular teams, bands and ensembles.

Please note that the college has an early finish scheduled for Monday 7 April.  As such, buses will depart Chatswood Campus at 2:30 pm for senior school football training, with training concluding at 4:10 pm.  All students must attend.

Coaches and Convenors for winter season

Mr Matthew Stearn - Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

Basketball

2024/25 Basketball Season Wrap-Up

As the 2024/25 Basketball season comes to a close, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the players, parents, coaches, and the SPX Basketball Club for their incredible support throughout my first year as Basketball Convenor. It has been a fantastic season filled with growth, determination, and teamwork, and I’m proud of the effort and commitment shown by all involved.

A special well done to our Year 7 basketballers who wrapped up their season with the Year 7 Challenge Series last weekend. Their enthusiasm and improvement over the season are great signs for the future of SPX Basketball. 

Looking ahead, please keep an eye out for holiday and off-season camps and training programs, which will be communicated in the coming weeks. Thank you all for a fantastic season. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve next season!

Mr James Bourke - Basketball Convenor

Cricket

MWJCA

As the 2024/25 MWJCA Cricket Season draws to a close, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your time, effort, and unwavering commitment to our college’s cricket program.

Your passion for the game and your dedication to the development of our players - both on and off the field - have been evident throughout the season. From early morning training sessions and weekend matches to organising logistics and offering support on the sidelines, your efforts have made a lasting impact on our teams and our community.

Coaches & Managers

• U12 Blue – Coach: Michael Quinnell | Manager: Therese Watson
• U13 Black – Coach: Andrew Ward | Manager: Andrew Spillane
• U14/1 Green – Coach: James Keeler | Manager: Frances-Anne Keeler
• U14/15 Red – Coach: Ryan Balboa | Manager: Andrew Cheah
• U14/15 Orange – Coach: Ben Serone | Manager: Kasey Hincksman
• U17 Purple – Coach: Anesh Naidoo | Manager: Bill Hartnett

We are especially grateful to Mr Tony Carroll and the entire Cricket Club Committee for their leadership, coordination, and behind-the-scenes work that ensures every season runs smoothly and successfully.

It is volunteers like you who enrich the sporting experience at St Pius X College. Thank you once again for all you do in service of our students, their teams, and our cricketing community.

Mr Ryan Balboa - MWJCA Cricket Convenor

Cross Country

Cross Country training continues every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Join us for fun, varied and challenging sessions. 

Where: Beauchamp Park, Chatswood 

Time: 7:15 am – 8:15 am 

Who: All Senior and Junior School students welcome

Meet at the Beauchamp Oval Grandstand in comfortable running gear and with a water bottle. Bring your school uniform to change into afterwards back at The College.  All students are encouraged to join training, whether it is to prepare for the IPSHA Cross Country Competition, the ISA Cross Country competition in Term 2 or to simply improve your general well-being. 

Simply turn up to join.

All communication regarding cross country will take place via Clipboard.  Parents and students should ensure they have notifications turned on for Clipboard and their device.

2025 Run2Cure and Sydney10 Fun Run

St Pius X will take part in both the Run2Cure and Sydney10 5km Fun Run this year. These runs provide students with an excellent fitness challenge, as well as a great opportunity to prepare for those who will participate in the ISA Cross Country Competition, which will be held in late May. 

Students will need to organise with parents to make their own way there and back.

See below for details.

Run2Cure Fun Run

This run supports Neuroblastoma cancer research. We will run the 5km Wave A together.

Who: Year 7-12

When: Sunday, 6 April, 2025. Race starts 9:30 am.

Where: The Domain, in the centre of Sydney. Event village is the grassy area in between Hospital Road and Art Gallery Road. Mr Steinman and Ms Lee will meet everyone at 9:00 am. 

What to wear: Blue and yellow cross-country singlet, available for purchase at the uniform shop, can be used for training and ISA. Option to borrow a singlet is available with limited sizes, let Ms Lee know if you require to borrow a singlet. 

Cost: $43, price increases after 5 April. Use code: SPX10 for an extra 10% off the registration fee. See website for more information: 

https://www.run2cure.org.au/event/domain25/event-info#pricing

If you are interested in this run, please register directly through the website, select "SPX Runners 2025", when prompted to join a team, and select our school when prompted to participate in a school challenge. Select “pick up” for bib collection and I will have them collected prior to the event. Please let Ms Lee know once you have completed registration at llee@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au. 

Sydney10 Fun Run

Who: Year 7-12

When: Sunday 18 May, 2025. Race starts 9:20 am.

Where: The Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park. Mr Steinman and Ms Lee will meet everyone at 9:00 am.

What to wear: Blue and yellow cross-country singlet, available for purchase at the uniform shop, can be used for training and ISA. Option to borrow a singlet is available with limited sizes, let Ms Lee know if you require to borrow a singlet. 

Early Bird Cost: $30, price increases after 13 April.

https://raceroster.com/events/2025/99499/2025-sydney-10#pricing  

If you are interested in this run, please register via this link

https://raceroster.com/registration/c54e32d0-6ede-4bae-b59b-49f19ff27a90/entry?team=776013, 

Join Code: SPX1. Ms Lee will collect the bibs on Saturday, a day prior to the event. Please let Ms Lee know once you have completed registration at llee@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au. 

Ms Leanne Lee – Cross Country and Athletics Convenor 

Debating

We are very pleased to announce that Luka Zaknic is the 2025 Debating Captain. 

Luka is a valuable member of SPX Senior Debating.  He has been debating for the college since Year 9 and is a specialist First Speaker.  He excels at breaking down and framing debating topics.

Luka was presented to the college at the cocurricular assembly last Friday. Congratulations Luka!  

Dr Lesley Gissane - Debating Convenor

Football

Training has successfully commenced this week, and will continue till the end of term. Please note that DRAFT times for 5 April are provided below for advance notice.  These times will be confirmed closer to the game so please check clipboard carefully ones teams are allocated.

Important notice: all players in Year 7-10 MUST have purchased their playing strip (shirt, shorts and socks) from the College Uniform Shop prior to the St Aloysius' fixture. Opens players (Year 11 & 12) will have a kit distributed to them with charges being placed on the College Fees.

SPX FOOTBALL SOCIAL AND 1ST XI FOOTBALL JERSEY PRESENTATION IS NEARLY HERE!

Get your tickets while you can.  We already have a great number of parents and students attending, which is fantastic.  Grab your tickets here:

or using the QR code below.

Come and join your team and other football families to watch the 1st XI jersey presentation, hear about all the improvements to the Junior and Senior Football programs and kick off the season in a relaxed setting.  Don't forget to bring your appetite and a football for a kickaround.

ST PIUS X APRIL HOLIDAY CAMPS

Mon 14 - Thurs 17 April

9:00 am - 12:00 pm each day.

2, 3 and 4 day options

New 5v5 Tournament running each day!

The Perfect Pre Season Preparation! 

Age : Year 5 to Year 10

A bus is available for the first 60 players to register leaving the Chatswood Campus at 8:30 am each day and returning at 12:40 pm

Coerver Coaching holiday camps offer a fun-filled soccer experience for children aged 4-16 years. Each day will include Coerver® SKILLS competitions and challenges, Ball Mastery, Coaching sessions focusing on developing effective use of skill, small sided Coerver® Games, and mini Coerver Cup Tournament to keep players active.

TECHNIQUE 

The cornerstone of our curriculum is technical development. We utilize the Coerver® Method of ball mastery and graduated pressure to build technical competence and play carefully selected games to build functional success. 

PLAYER CONFIDENCE 

We foster creativity by providing the players technical building blocks & encouraging creative actions in developmentally appropriate games. Our games are designed to be fun, challenging and to reward success and risk-taking. 

TEAMWORK 

Small group tactics and principles of play are taught in attack and defence by utilizing the structure of the many small sided games, which have made the Coerver® Curriculum so unique and recognised as the world’s leading technical football program. SPORTSMANSHIP 

We value winning, but not more than character and effort. We encourage paying respect to players, parents, coaches and referees. Sportsmanship is emphasised to develop the whole person and not just the player.

With 2, 3 and 4 day options available, this is the perfect pre and early season preparation for St Pius X students looking towards a successful season. It is also a huge amount of footballing fun!

For more information and to register please click here: Coerver course | Coerver Coaching

Mr Simon Yue - Football Convenor

Rugby

Rugby Registration will continue to be OPEN. 

All Year 5-12 students wishing to play rugby are required to be registered via Clipboard. This allows the school rugby administrators and coaches to best prepare for the coming season, plus allows your SPX Rugby Club to best support and communicate with you! There are no trials or grading days, all students are encouraged to get involved. 

The following link will direct you to clipboard: https://portal.clipboard.app/stpiusx. Please note that payment for the season will be made upon registration.

If you have any issues pleases contact Mr Justin Gates, Senior Rugby Convenor jgates@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Holiday Rugby Clinic

The annual Easter Holiday rugby clinic will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, 16 - 17 April.  This is a great opportunity for the students to make sure they are well and truly prepared for the season and will help them put their best foot forward for the ISA season. Coaching staff will be Trytime coaches and special guest coaches.  Position-specific coaching will be given, as well as team play.  It is a great chance for students to work on their skills and confidence before the season commences.

Please register via Clipboard - https://portal.clipboard.app/stpiusx.

Term 1 Rugby Dates for the Diary:

• Friday 28  – 29 March - Opens Rugby Camp (Central Coast)

• Saturday 5 April - SPX vs ST ALOY

• SIUS  (Home)

• 16 and 17 April – Rugby Holiday Clinic 

Mr Justin Gates - Rugby Convenor

ISA Tennis

SPX Tennis Championships – 5 April 

Next Saturday, we are holding our internal Tennis Championships at our training grounds. 

Location: Queenwood Tennis Courts - 1110 Oxford Falls Rd, Oxford Falls 

Session 1: 7:30 am to approx. 11:30 am Grading Group A

Session 2: 11:00 am to approx. 3:00 pm for Grading Group B

Groups will be finalised after next week’s grading sessions (Week 10)

This is a compulsory event for all intending to play in the 2025 ISA Tennis as the results from this competition will contribute to finalising the ranking process for the upcoming season.

Please bring some food to share with the other students. 

Please let Ms Bamber know via the Clipboard app and email if there are any issues around attendance.

Mrs Veronica Bamber - ISA Tennis Convenor

NSTA Tennis

There was a buzz in the air last Saturday as all players were facing off in either the finals or the play-offs. It has been an absolute pleasure convening the NSTA tennis once again, the young men of St Pius X have consistently shown great sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the game. It was great to see 7 of our teams make the finals and 4 of those winning their divisions. Congratulations goes to all players though for another great season. 

Thank you to the parents, relatives and friends who came and supported the boys in their matches. Also, a big thank you to Mrs Keighery, Mrs Fileman, Mr Chen and Mrs Waterson who have helped lead the teams this season, without their help this would have been a difficult competition to run by myself! 

Finally, I would like to wish our Year 12 students all the best for their future endeavours. It is always sad to say good-bye to these students, some of whom have been playing in the NSTA competition with me since Year 5.  

Best of luck to Aiden Chan, Lucas Halim, Yuri Kim, Max Lei, Brendan Marr and Will Scaiff. 

NSTA FINALS AND PLAY OFFS RESULTS

FINALS

PLAY OFFS

NSTA TRAINING TEAMS

We are very lucky to have had a second venue to run our NSTA Training Competition once again. This has seen St Pius X summer tennis grow to over 110 players altogether. The players in this competition were lucky to have the coaches at the matches each week to help them develop their skills on the court and with their scoring.    

Congratulations to all students, but especially to the finalists and runners-up in each division. In Division 1 it was a very close competition, with Team 3 taking out the win with 0.5 of a point! Each week I have seen the players improve their serves, returns and there have been some excellent rallies. There was always a lot of friendly chatter around the place, as well as laughs and smiles, the games were always fun. 

Thank you to the parents who were always at the venue in great numbers to support their sons and cheer them on. Thanks also to Mrs Hodges for running the competition on Saturdays. 

Mrs Samantha Iwatani - NSTA Covenor

Squash

The final week of squash in the Sydney Junior Pennant was full of excitement as SPX Team 1 and SPX Team 2 came away with wins to clinch 3rd place overall in Division 3 and 4 respectively. Squash Captain, Matthew Yee, played his final game for the College and had the game of his life against St Andrew's. Even the players from Barker College were throwing their support behind Matthew. 

I'd like to thank all the players and parents for their continued support over the years, and especially Ms Samantha Hood for leading the students throughout the season. Looking forward to the winter season of squash. A reminder that if your son is interested in playing, there will be a Squash gala day at Thornleigh Squash Centre on Saturday 3 May. I encourage players, both old  and new to attend.

Mr Joe Madani - Squash Convenor

Senior Swimming

Last Tuesday the Senior Swimming Squad competed at the Annual ISA Swimming Carnival at SOPAC. There were some outstanding results throughout the day with St Pius X coming 3rd in the Junior Division, 8th in the Intermediate Division, 6th in the Senior Division which places us 8th overall. Once the ISA team is posted, students who are representing the ISA will be notified as to what races they are participating in.

This marks the end of the swimming season for Term 1. Training will resume in Term 4 with the St Patrick's Invitational early in the term.

Ms Leisa Proc – Swimming Convenor