From the Principal

• Reflection
• A Celebration of HSC Major Works
• Chatswood Fair - 5 September
• Father's Day and Jersey Day - Friday 4 September 
• Staffing Matters
• Farewell to Seniors Twilight Concert
• Cocurricular Colour Awards
• MMG Surveys
• Athletics Season
• 90th Anniversary Volunteer call-out
• Dates for your diary

Reflection 

THE MERTON PRAYER

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, will I trust you always though

I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Faith Amid Uncertainty

As we move through the school year, Thomas Merton's well-known prayer offers a timely reminder of the strength that faith can provide, particularly in times of uncertainty. Beginning with the words, 'My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going…', the prayer speaks honestly to the reality that we do not always have a clear sense of what lies ahead. Yet, even in the absence of certainty, it invites us to place our trust in God's presence and guidance.

Merton's reflection is both comforting and encouraging. It reminds us that faith is not about having all the answers, but about continuing to seek God's will with openness and trust. Even when the path forward seems unclear, our desire to walk with God and to live with purpose, courage and integrity is itself a powerful expression of faith.

For our students, staff and families, particularly our Year 12 students as they approach important milestones, this prayer serves as a gentle invitation to embrace the journey ahead. It encourages us to be patient with uncertainty, confident that God is walking with us each step of the way, and to find peace in the knowledge that we are never alone.

Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for Us

St Pius X - Pray for Us

Live Jesus in our Hearts - Forever!

A celebration of HSC major works:  Splinters, Splashes, Sounds, Snaps, Stage and Stories

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of our students whose outstanding work was showcased across a range of disciplines. From the remarkable creativity displayed in our Visual Arts exhibitions, the craftsmanship evident in the Timber Major Works, and the innovative thinking behind the Design and Technology projects, to the elegance of our musical performances, the scholarly depth of the Extension History Major Works, and the originality and insight demonstrated in the English Extension 2 projects, each student should be immensely proud of their achievements. These works reflect not only talent and dedication, but also many months of perseverance and commitment to excellence. 

We offer our sincere thanks to the teachers whose expertise, encouragement and guidance have supported our students throughout their learning journeys. 

Mr Carroll – Design and Technology

Mr  Gibson and Mr Gates – Technology Timber

Ms Doyle - Visual Art

Mr  Rodgers – Extension History

Mrs Westhoff and Mr Jones – Music

Ms Gissane and Mr Barnes – Ext 2 English

We also thank the many parents, family members, friends and community members who attended these events and exhibitions in support of our students. Your presence helped make these occasions a wonderful celebration of creativity, scholarship and achievement.

The Chatswood Fair on Saturday 5 September 

As a reminder, we invite all members of our school community to visit us at the Chatswood Fair this Saturday. This popular community event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the vibrant spirit of our local area, connect with families, students and staff, and showcase the many opportunities that make our school such a special place. Be sure to stop by our stall, say hello, and enjoy all that the Fair has to offer. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing in a great day of community, fun and connection as we promote all that is good about attending St Pius X College.

Father's Day Friday 4 September

As we gather as a College community on Friday to celebrate Father's Day, we take a moment to give thanks for the fathers, grandfathers and significant male figures who enrich our lives through their love, guidance, support and example. Whether they are with us today or remembered with gratitude and affection, we acknowledge the important role they play in nurturing and encouraging those in their care.  We extend our heartfelt wishes to all fathers, grandfathers and significant male role models in our community, thanking them for all they do and wishing them a happy and blessed Father's Day.

Prayer for Fathers

God Our Father,

In Your wisdom and love You

have created us and called

us Your own.

Bless our fathers, grandfathers, that they

may be strengthened as

Christian fathers.

In moments of joy, rejoice

with them. In times of

struggle, give them Your

courage and perseverance.

Grant that we, their sons and

grandsons, may honour and

appreciate them always with

a spirit of profound respect.

May the example and prayer of

St Joseph inspire them to

live their vocation with courage.

Amen

Awareness of Organ Donation – wear your favourite jersey

As part of our Father’s Day celebrations on Friday 4 September, we invite all members of our community to support Jersey Day, an initiative that raises awareness and funds for organ and tissue donation.

Students are welcome to wear their favourite jersey; however, please remember that full winter school uniform is still required when travelling to and from school.

We look forward to celebrating Father’s Day together while supporting a meaningful cause that brings hope and helps give the gift of life to others.

Staffing matters - Important College Announcement

I am writing to share some important news with our College community regarding the leadership of our Junior School.

Mrs Greenwood has recently been appointed to an exciting professional opportunity with Independent Schools of New South Wales (ISNSW), where she will serve as Child Protection and Safeguarding Consultant for the next 15 months. This prestigious appointment is a testament to Mrs Greenwood’s exceptional expertise, leadership and commitment to the wellbeing of young people. In this role, she will contribute to strengthening child protection and safeguarding practices across independent schools throughout New South Wales.

While we will undoubtedly miss Mrs Greenwood’s daily presence and leadership, particularly within the Junior School, we are immensely proud that her talents and experience have been recognised in this way. Throughout her tenure as Head of Junior School, Mrs Greenwood has been a dedicated and highly respected leader whose commitment to students, staff and families has helped foster a culture of excellence, care and belonging. Her positive impact on the life of the Junior School has been profound and will be felt for many years to come.

I know that this has been a difficult decision for Mrs Greenwood, given her deep affection for the St Pius X community and the strong relationships she has built with students, families and colleagues. On behalf of the entire College community, I extend our sincere gratitude for her outstanding service, professionalism and unwavering commitment to the education and wellbeing of our students. We thank her for the many contributions she has made and continues to make to our College.

Mrs Greenwood will commence her new role at the beginning of Term 4. Further information regarding leadership arrangements for the Junior School during this period will be communicated to families before the end of Term 3.

Please join me in congratulating Mrs Greenwood on this well-deserved appointment. We wish her every success as she undertakes this important role and look forward to supporting her in this exciting next chapter of her professional journey.

Farewell to Seniors Twilight Concert

This Friday, the College will once again celebrate and acknowledge the significant contribution our Year 12 students have made to the Music Program throughout their years at the College. Many have been involved in our musical ensembles since their commencement in Year 5, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to music and the life of the College. It is this dedication, passion and willingness to share their gifts that make this annual event such a special occasion. 

On behalf of the College community, I extend my sincere thanks to our Year 12 students for their outstanding contribution to music and for enriching countless College events and celebrations with their talent, enthusiasm and leadership. Their performances have inspired audiences and helped foster a vibrant culture of music that is enjoyed by the entire community.

Cocurricular Colour Awards at The Concourse

The Cocurricular Colour Awards, to be held on Tuesday 8 September at The Concourse, will provide an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievements, dedication and service of our students across the College’s cocurricular programs. These awards acknowledge the commitment and excellence demonstrated by students in a wide range of pursuits beyond the classroom.

We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Stearn for his leadership and organisation of this special event. Due to venue capacity restrictions at The Concourse, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate additional guests. However, families will have the opportunity to share in the celebration via a live stream, with details and the viewing link to be distributed in the coming days.

MMG Surveys

As part of our continuous improvement process, MMG Education, a specialist education consultancy that works with schools in the areas of school strategic reviews and stakeholder satisfaction will be conducting a survey of St Pius X College parents, students and staff.  Students across year groups will be undertaking this survey over the next couple of weeks. The survey for parents will commence on 4 September and will close on Monday 21 September.   

I would encourage all members of our community to complete this survey so that we can continue to improve the St Pius X College environment.

Athletics Season Underway

The Athletics season, across both the Junior and Senior Schools, has been progressing strongly over recent weeks, with students demonstrating great enthusiasm, commitment and determination in their preparation for both track and field events. Our sincere thanks go to Mrs Lee (Convenor), Mr Steinman and Miss Gilbert, who have been guiding and preparing our Senior athletes, and to Mr Bourke and Mr Montgomerie, whose dedication and expertise have been invaluable in supporting our Junior athletes. We also have ex-students Ethan Lee and Chris Zilifian working with the students. 

This Saturday, the College will proudly host the Senior Invitational Athletics Carnival at ES Marks Athletics Field, providing our students with the opportunity to compete against some of the region's finest athletes. We extend our best wishes to all competitors and coaches and thank them for their hard work and dedication throughout the season. We also thank our Student Leaders in helping with the running of the event.  We look forward to celebrating their achievements and wish them every success in the competition ahead.

90th Anniversary Volunteer Call Out

Please see the link to register your interest to volunteer for our 90th Anniversary:

Dates for your diary

Week 8

Mon  7/9 Year 12 Reports Issued / Staff Meeting (early finish for students) / College Advisory Council Meeting 

Tues 8/9 Chapel Mass (Mercy) / Cocurricular Colour Awards

Wed 9/9 Intermediate Jazz playing at Forestville RSL

Thur 10/9 RUOK? Day 

Sat 12/9 Senior Invitational Athletics Carnival

Sun 13/9 Youth Mass (OLD Church)

Fide et Labore

By Faith and Hard work

Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever

Mr Michael Ronchetti - College Principal