Senior School Cocurricular Program 

• From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular
• Fixtures 10 February
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Cross Country
• Senior Chess
• Senior Football
• ISA Tennis
• NSTA Tennis

From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

Many thanks to all of you for the fantastic resumption to the summer season last Saturday. As we approach the pointy end of the season could I ask parents to ensure that their boys continue to honour their commitments to their teams, with regard to training, games and appearance.  

We now have confirmation that NSTA Tennis and NSW Pennant Squash will be begin again on Saturday 17 February.  

This Sunday, 9 February, a reminder that the Football grading day is being held at our Oxford Falls campus.  Further details are found below.  All boys should register for Football through Clipboard.  Registering and paying for the season automatically includes registration for Sunday's grading.

On the subject of registrations, all students should now be registered for their winter programs.  Again, this is done through Clipboard.  If you are still having problems logging into your Clipboard account, please contact Mrs Merryn Dodd via mdodd@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au. 

Our Senior Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 15 February at Macquarie University Aquatic Centre.  This is a compulsory whole-school event.  Full details will follow via email.

Mr Matt Stearn - Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

Fixtures 10 February

Basketball

It was a very tough day on the courts last Saturday, with only 7 of our ISA teams victorious. Congratulations to the 15B, 17B, 13C, 14D, 14E, 15E and 17F teams. Special mention to the 14Es who are now the only team to be undefeated this season.

For our other games there were some very close losses… like the 13Bs who missed their buzzer beater against St Andrew's to lose 23-24 and the previously undefeated 15Cs who narrowly lost to Redlands 43-45.

Our firsts struggled against a strong St Augustine’s squad. The boys were unable to claw back from an early deficit, hindered by foul trouble and a disciplined St Augustine’s defense. 

A reminder to B's players to complete the form on Canvas regarding the bus to Bathurst.

Canteen Volunteers needed at Oxford Falls

Teams at Oxford Falls this week are D's, F's, 4ths, Blue & Gold

• Please arrive on time for your shift, or a few minutes early if you can - the people waiting to end their shift will greatly appreciate it!
• Please sign up here: (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ijw8qqsuz6-brjIXq3NiHMDxB5O62e6XWdWjEIcH62w/edit?usp=sharing)

Note: U13 = Yr 8; U14 = Yr 9; U15 = Yr 10; U17 = Yr 11, Opens = Yr 12

Mr Danny Garrett - Basketball Convenor &

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Assistant Basketball Convenor

Cricket

Training

Monday – ISA (1st and 2nd XI) Squad.Tuesday – U13 (Senior School) and U14.

Wednesday – ISA (1st and 2nd XI) Squad. Thursday – Junior School during sport. U15 and U17.

Bus departs OLD Church at 3:20 pm and returns to Anderson Street at approximately 5:30 pm. Players are to be attired in correct sport/cricket uniform. Training is compulsory and part of a cocurricular commitment. 

All training is facilitated by Cricket Appeal.   

ISA Round 7 – 1st XI v St Patrick’s College at Strathfield

1st XI 8 for 182 (Ollie Freeman 47, Rohan Chang 42, Pat Frost 26, Toby Moran 20) lost to St Patrick’s 3 for 185 (Luke Austin 2 for 30).

The ISA competition resumed on Saturday for the 1st XI at Breen Oval, St Patrick’s Strathfield. Captain Darcy Aylmer won the toss and decided to bat first. Openers Luke Mooney and Toby Moran began solidly with a 32-run stand. After the loss of three wickets, Ollie Freeman and Rohan Chang took the game to the opposition and batted with intent in their enterprising 90 run partnership. Pat Frost hit out effectively towards the end of the innings as a pleasing final total was posted. After a steady start with the ball, the home team batsmen took advantage of the short boundaries and some loose bowling which was only kept in check by Luke Austin’s deserved two wickets and Pat Frost’s three catches. The team is determined to bounce back against Oakhill in Round 8 in another away fixture this week.

ISA Round 7 – 2nd XI v Oxley College at Oxford Falls

2nd XI 8-196 (Darcy Horstead 52, Tom Lough 45, Alessio Spillane 40, Alex Burke 32) defeated Oxley College 10/145 (Charlie Chippendale 3-4, Darcy Mills 2-9, Max Lynn 2-24)

The 2nd XI lost the toss and were sent in to bat in the first game of the year against Oxley College at Oxford Falls. The innings started off very strongly, with Alessio Spillane (40 off 66) and Tom Lough (45 off 90) putting on a 71-run opening stand before Alessio Spillane was forced to retire hurt on 35 after being struck on the jaw by a bouncer. After a flurry of wickets, Darcy Horstead put on a very well made 52 runs off only 58 balls in a brilliant 66-run partnership with Alex Burke (32 off 36) before Alessio Spillane came back in to add 5 to his score, bringing the total to 8-196.

Max Lynn (2-24) and Jack English (1-21) both started off strong, taking a wicket each in the opening spell. Charlie Chippendale then bowled a brilliant 6 over spell, which included 4 maidens and 3 wickets for only 4 runs to have the score at 5-72. An out of the blue wicket from Tom Roche as well as 2 wickets to Darcy Mills had the game in Pius’ hand. Despite some brief resistance, Max Lynn and Alex Burke cleaned up the tail to have Oxley bowled out for 145, 9 of the wickets being bowled with the 2nd XI winning by 51 runs.

Alessio Spillane

Mr David Reay - Cricket Convenor

Cross Country

Cross Country training begins Week 3. Join us for fun, varied and challenging sessions.

When: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings

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 in April, the ISA Cross Country competition in Term 2 or to simply improve your general well-being. Please email Mr Scott Steinman ssteinman@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or Ms Leanne Lee llee@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au to sign up or simply turn up in the morning.

Ms Leanne Lee - Cross Country and Athletics Convenor

Senior Chess

Chess training will begin next Monday, Week 3, in D Block at 3:30 pm.

All students in Year 7 - 12 are welcome.

Term 1 – Training Monday afternoons with chess coaches

Term 2 – Training Monday afternoons and interschool competition Friday afternoons.

Here are some other benefits of learning chess:

• Improves cognitive skills (including concentration, pattern recognition, decision making, algebraic and geometric thinking, problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and critical thinking)
• Improves self-confidence and self-worth
• Increases attention span
• Increases memory capacity
• Offers a logical pattern and critical-thinking system
• Provides competition, fostering interest and promoting mental alertness
• Teaches good sportsmanship

Ms Janelle Dempsey & Ms Denise Ramsey - Senior Chess Convenors

Senior Football

Year 7 - 12 Football Registration 2024

Football (soccer) grading trials for all Year 7 to 12 students will be held this week Sunday 11 February 2024 at Oxford Falls Campus. Students must attend grading day at their allocated time (see below).  If you have any issues with this please contact Mr Simon Yue, Senior Football Convenor syue@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au. 

The 2024 SPX Football Program includes the Winter ISA Football competition and the SPX Internal Football Colour competition. All students wishing to play SPX Football for the 2024 season will be graded in a SPX football team. 

There are limited ISA teams, typically 2 or 3 per age group.  All students who do not make an ISA side are able to partake in our internal competition run by COERVER Football.

There is an expectation that students who participate in Football at SPX attend trainings on both Monday and Wednesday afternoons, as well as a Saturday game.

All students wishing to participate in the 2024 Football season, must be electronically registered via Clipboard link by Friday 9 February 2024. The Clipboard registration assists the grading process run by the COERVER professional football coaches. The following link can will direct you to Clipboard: https://portal.clipboard.app/stpiusx. 

Any issues with accessing clipboard can be directed to Mrs Jen Walsh jwalsh@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au. 

Please note that payment for the season will be made upon registration.

Grading times for Sunday 11 February 2024 at Oxford Falls Campus, Dreadnought Road, Oxford Falls: 

Year | Registration Desk Check in Time | Grading Time Oxford Falls Sporting Grounds (Walsh and Watkins Ovals):

U13 (Y7) Arrival: 7:45 am, on field 8:00 am - 9:15 am 

U14 (Y8) Arrival: 9:15 am, on field 9:30 am - 10:45 am 

U15 (Y9) Arrival: 10:45 am, on field 11:00 am - 12:15 pm 

U16 (Y10) Arrival: 12:15 pm, on field 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm 

Opens (Y11 + Y12) Arrival: 1:45 pm, on field 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm 

(Students must be collected promptly by 3:00 pm)

What to Wear and Bring to be able to play football at the SPX grading day: it is compulsory to wear sports clothes, football shin pads and football boots. Please also bring a water bottle. Any wet weather notifications are notified on the SPX College App. Please download the SPX College App and you can check any wet weather notifications by tapping on the sports icon. 

We are looking forward seeing everyone at SPX Football Grading Day 2024.

On Sunday the Football Supporters club will be running a BBQ and a coffee cart will be available.  All profits raised go directly into the Football Coaching of your sons.  It would be great if you could volunteer some of your time to help on the day, you can sign up on the following link https://signup.zone/cWhiNtiggXADcEbki.

Mr Simon Yue - Senior Football Convenor

ISA Tennis

Applications for ISA Winter Tennis are now open!

ISA Tennis is a senior school sport for boys in Years 7 to 12. St Pius X teams compete against other ISA schools on Saturday mornings. If students are selected and commit themselves to a team, they must be available for all weeks of the competition and to travel regularly for games. 

This competition runs through Terms 2 & 3 with four grading sessions late in Term 1.

All students intending to play in the 2023 season must attend all allocated grading/training afternoons, running in Term 1, Weeks 7, 8, 9, 10 and MUST attend the SPX Tennis Championships held on 6 April, held at Queenwood Tennis and Sporting Centre (Oxford Falls).

Students will be advised whether they are required to attend the Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon sessions once registrations are closed.

Time: 3:30 pm to 5:20 pm

The College will provide students with a bus to go to and from Queenwood Tennis Courts (Oxford Falls).

Please click here for more information regarding ISA Tennis: ISA Tennis Enrolment information

Applications close Monday 4 March, 3:30 pm. Should you have any queries, please contact Ms Bamber - vbamber@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Veronica Bamber - ISA Tennis Convenor

NSTA Tennis

Please note that the start date for NSTA is Saturday  17 February. The draw will be out next week. I will also email the teams, divisions and an information letter early next week. Please keep an eye out for it. 

Mrs Samantha Iwatani - NSTA Convenor