Parent and Student Matters
St Pius X College Chatswood
- UNSW Programming Competition
- Languages
- Lights, Camera, Pius! Film Festival
- ICAS Competitions
- Maths Drop-In
UNSW Programming Competition
On Friday 12 June 2026, 9 teams, comprising 26 students from the Junior and Senior Schools represented St Pius X in the UNSW Programming Competition (ProgComp), which is an annual 'live' national programming competition hosted by UNSW. The students should be congratulated for their efforts in analysing the challenging problems, proposing and developing solutions and collaborative team work.
The students involved were
Year 7
Tristan De Souza, Mark D'Mello, Alexander Kaliyati
Year 8
Micah Chan, Thomas Dowley
Year 9
Massimo Musumeci, Daniel Lepedjian, Benjamin Daza Kashimura, Alfred Avila
Year 11
Cameron Giang, Enzo Roque, Marco Berarducci, Leo Ward-Harvey, James Bone, Louis Southan, Marcus Ng, Liam Spatola, Charles Li, Oliver Price, Lachlan O'Neill, Jayden Beltran
Year 12
Alexander Nancarrow, Jacques Strydom, Luca Harding, Michael Cheah, Oliver Butler, Christian Shahinian
Mr Joe Lai - Computing Teacher
Languages
Week 9 French Club - (Hot chocolate and croissants)
This week at French Club, students from Years 9-11 enjoyed a taste of a traditional French breakfast. We gathered to try freshly baked croissants accompanied by warm hot chocolate while learning about French breakfast food culture.
This activity gave students the opportunity to experience some of the foods commonly associated with breakfast in France and to learn more about French traditions in a fun and interactive way.
A special thank you to Ms Matthews for organising this wonderful activity and making it possible for students to experience a taste of France.
Week 10 French Club
This week at French Club, students from Years 9-11 took part in a creative engineering challenge inspired by one of France’s most famous landmarks, the Louvre Museum. Using only spaghetti and marshmallows, members worked to design and build their own versions of the Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid.
The activity encouraged students to think creatively, solve problems, and work together while learning about an important French cultural landmark. Students carefully planned their structures before putting their designs to the test, with many impressive and unique pyramids being constructed.
Thank you to Ms Matthews for organising this wonderful activity and making it possible for students to experience a taste of France. French Club meets every Monday at lunchtime, and all students are welcome to join us! (non-French studying students are welcome as well!)
Alfred Hu - Year 10 student
Lights, Camera, Pius! Film Festival
Calling all young filmmakers!
As we head into a well‑earned holiday break, it’s the perfect time to unleash your creativity and make a short film for our annual film showcase. Whether you’re a seasoned storyteller or just curious to give filmmaking a try, the break is an ideal moment to experiment, play, and create something uniquely yours.
Remember, your film must be no longer than 3 minutes and should be suitable for a PG audience. Short and sharp is the goal—think of it as a creative challenge to tell a great story in a small amount of time.
If you’re stuck for ideas, here are a few fun suggestions to get you started:
Holiday Adventure – A mini‑quest around your backyard, neighbourhood, or even your living room.
Stop‑Motion Magic – Use toys, clay, or everyday objects to bring a tiny world to life.
Mockumentary – Interview your pet, your sibling, or even your houseplants as if they’re celebrities.
Comedy Sketch – A quick, funny moment or misunderstanding that plays out in under three minutes.
'A Day in the Life' – Capture a slice of your world with creative angles and music.
Sporting hero! – film yourself and your mates at the skate park, bike jumps or on the trampoline in the backyard, add some fast forward and slo-mo to make it exciting.
No fancy equipment needed - your phone camera and a good idea are more than enough. Most importantly, have fun with it. The best films come from imagination, not expensive gear. So grab your camera, gather your ideas, and start filming. We can’t wait to see what you create over the holidays. Lights, Camera, Pius! - your story starts now!
Parents – this is a great activity to keep your young ones busy and using the screens for creative purposes.
Ms Frances Doyle - Leader of Learning, Visual Arts
ICAS Competitions
ICAS is a globally recognised academic competition that gives students the opportunity to discover what they are capable of.
It offers a distinctive academic experience that goes beyond everyday classroom learning, with questions designed to stretch students and engage them in new ways.
St Pius X College is offering students in Years 5 an opportunity to compete in the 2026 ICAS Competitions in Writing, English, Maths and Science.
Please see the attached letter for more information on the competitions.
Mr Paul Cummins, HPGE Coordinator
Maths Drop-In
Maths Drop-In has been a great success throughout the first semester, providing students from Year 5 to Year 12 with valuable opportunities to extend their learning and achieve their personal best.
It has been wonderful to see many students regularly attend to seek clarification, strengthen their understanding of key concepts, complete coursework, and prepare for assessments.
The positive learning environment has encouraged collaboration, persistence, and confidence in problem-solving, with students demonstrating a genuine commitment to improving their mathematical skills.
I am very proud of all who attend, increasing their understanding, gaining stronger results, and a greater willingness to engage with challenging mathematical tasks.
Work towards your goals and see you at Maths Drop-In in Term 3.
We will return for Maths Drop-In on Thursday 23 July (Week 1).
Where: C1
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays
Time: 7:40 am - 8:30 am
Mrs Amanda Fileman - Mathematics Teacher