Senior School Cocurricular Program 

• From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular
• Fixtures
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Summer Squash
• Summer Tennis
• Swimming
• Rugby

From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

Welcome back to Term 4 and the start of the summer season proper.

This weekend we have a round of friendly pre-season fixtures in basketball and ISA Cricket. Basketballers will be playing an internal round, with cricket hosting St Stanislaus' Bathurst. 

Our District Cricket competition resumes this weekend for all teams.  The remainder of our  competitions commence on Saturday 26 October.   These are  

• The Junior Pennant Squash Competition commences 26 October.
• The ISA Summer Season for Basketball teams and 1st and 2nd XI Cricket.  
• The Summer (NSTA) Tennis competition

Please ensure that your sons are correctly equipped for their respective sports and commit fully to their training and matches.

Uniform requirements are summarised below:

Basketball 

Year 7, 8 and 9 ISA competition teams require SPX basketball singlet and shorts. These must be purchased from the Uniform Shop.

Year 7, 8 and 9 Development Squads require SPX basketball shorts ONLY.  These must be purchased from the Uniform Shop.  Singlets will be loaned for the season.

Year 10 - 12 ISA competition teams require SPX basketball singlet and shorts. These must be purchased from the Uniform Shop.

Cricket

MWJCA District Cricket 

All players require SPX royal blue shirt purchased from the Uniform Shop.  Cricket whites are also to be worn.  These can be purchased independently.

ISA Cricket

All players selected at ISA 1st and 2nd XI will require an SPX white cricket shirt, purchased from the Uniform Shop.   Cricket whites are also to be worn.  These can be purchased independently.

All squad members have been issued with a playing cap which must be worn at each game.

Summer Tennis (NSTA) and Pennant Squash

All players require SPX royal blue shirt to be worn in conjunction with their PE shorts.

Clipboard

All ISA and IPSHA fixtures and schedules will be available through the Clipboard app.  Please ensure that your log-ins work and that you refer to this app regularly during the week for updates that may occur. The information contained on the Clipboard platform should be considered as the most accurate.

Mr Matt Stearn - Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

Fixtures

Basketball

Welcome to another exciting season of SPX Basketball! We are thrilled to kick off Term 4 with over 380 players taking part in the program—a fantastic testament to the passion and commitment of our school community.

Training and Commitment

Thank you to all the players who have shown dedication by attending training sessions this week, and to the families who have reached out to offer assistance. Your support and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated as we get the season underway. A quick reminder to please log an absence on Clipboard if a player is unable to attend a training session or game, as this helps us manage the program more effectively.

Team Selections and Moving Forward

We acknowledge that not all players were selected in the teams they were striving for. With such a large number of players, our selection process was as extensive, equitable, and transparent as possible. For those who may have faced setbacks, I encourage you to use this as motivation to improve your performances at training and in games. There are always opportunities for growth and movement within the program.

Fixtures and Communication

The fixtures for this Saturday are attached above for your reference. It’s important to note that moving forward the draft fixtures uploaded to Clipboard will initially be unconfirmed and may not include details such as time, venue, or opposition. The final fixtures will be confirmed during the week, with details shared via a notification. Please be aware that we work closely with several schools, and changes can occur as late as Friday before the match. If you need assistance with accessing Clipboard, please reach out to Jen Walsh Jwalsh@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au  or Merryn Dodd mdodd@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.

Thank you to all parents and families for your patience as we finalise preparations for the season and navigate the high volume of communications and questions. We’re committed to providing a positive experience for all players, and your understanding is greatly appreciated.

Code of Conduct 

Please be reminded that all players and their families are expected to uphold the ISA Code of Conduct throughout the season. This includes demonstrating respect towards teammates, coaches, officials, and opponents, as well as maintaining good sportsmanship at all times. The Code of Conduct emphasises the importance of fair play, positive behaviour, and supporting the spirit of the game. We kindly ask families to familiarise themselves with these guidelines to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The full ISA Code of Conduct is attached to this report for your reference.

Game Day Protocols

A reminder, players should arrive at their venue at least 15 minutes before their game to ensure adequate preparation time. Additionally, please note that no guards, sleeves, or undershirts are permitted to be worn during the ISA season unless a doctor’s certificate is provided on the day. Any medical documentation should be submitted to Mr Bourke and Mrs Schuster prior to the game. These guidelines align with the ISA Code of Conduct to ensure consistency and fair play.

SPX Basketball Committee

The SPX Basketball Committee will be running a BBQ on Saturday 19 October to raise funds for the program. I encourage all families to stop by, show support, and enjoy some great food. This is also a fantastic opportunity to connect with other families and learn about further opportunitiesto assist throughout the season. Your support makes a big difference to the success of the largest Sporting program in the school. 

We look forward to an exciting season of basketball and wish everyone the best of luck this weekend!

'With faith in ourselves and hard work in our efforts, we can rise above any challenge and achieve greatness together.'   

Fide et Labore - Faith and Hard Work

Mr James Bourke - Basketball Convenor

Cricket

MWJCA Cricket

During the first week of school holidays, junior cricketers gathered at Oxford Falls for the Junior Cricket Skills Day, hosted by Cricket Appeal. The day emphasised building core cricketing skills and finished with an exciting centre wicket practice match.

The morning sessions focused on skill development across batting, bowling, and fielding. Players rotated through various drills designed to refine their techniques, with coaches offering personalised feedback. Fielding received special attention, with players practising reaction times, positioning, and communication to enhance their overall game awareness.

The afternoon featured the highly anticipated centre wicket practice match. This gave participants the opportunity to put their new skills to the test in a real-game setting. Coaches provided guidance on field placements, bowling strategies, and decision-making throughout the match, offering valuable insights into match dynamics.

By the end of the day, participants left with improved skills and a deeper appreciation for the game. The Junior Cricket Skills Day proved to be an enjoyable and enriching experience, setting up these young cricketers for future success on the field. Thank you also to Rohan Chang, Oliver Costain and Lucas Gleeson (Year 10) for giving up their time to help out with the BBQ and serving the younger students.  

SPX U14 Green

SPX Green 6/232 (X Doherty 51, J Sykes 33, O Clubb 27*, A Kennedy 26*, Z Nadeem 21) def. CPCC Energy 3/113

Batting first on an overcast morning, our openers made a good start before both getting out in the 4th & 5th overs. This brought Xavier Doherty and Oscar Clubbe together, who rotated the strike well while putting the bad balls away built a 78-run partnership. At drinks we were 2/108 and targeted over 200. Soon after drinks Xavier brought up our team’s first 50 for the season, to the sound of loud cheers from the sidelines. We built on our foundation, with everyone making contributions. James Sykes made a stylish 33, and Anthony Kennedy brought us home strongly with 26* off 18 balls. We finished with 6/232.

 CPCC’s openers applied themselves well, and they got through the first 15 overs without losing a wicket. However their run rate was a long way behind ours and they were never really in the game. They made us work for it but ended up at 3/113, giving SPX the win by 119 runs.                               James Keeler

Mr Ryan Balboa - MWJCA Convenor

Summer Squash

Welcome to Summer Squash 2024-25. Training will commence Wednesday 23 October from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Willoughby Squash Centre. Meet at the school minivan. The Junior pennant will begin Saturday 26 October with fixtures TBA.

Mr Joseph Madani - Squash Convenor

Summer Tennis

Junior School tennis training will commence this Thursday at Queenwood during Sport time under the supervision of Mrs Hodges.

Senior School training starts next Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the group your son has been placed into. The students will need to meet the teachers at the podium as soon as school ends to have their names marked off before catching the bus to the Queenwood Tennis Centre. Training will conclude at 5:00 pm and the students will then return to school by bus. If you wish to collect your son from the Tennis Centre, please be there on time as we can’t hold up the return of the buses.

Please make sure that your son has a College tennis shirt and cap for the commencement of the competition on Saturday, 26 October. These are available to be purchased from the uniform shop. The draw should be available early next week.

Mrs Samantha Iwatani - Summer Tennis  Convenor

Swimming

School Swimming Squad Training – Term 4, 2024

Students who were part of the Swimming Squads and participated in carnivals earlier this year are invited to commence training in Week 2, Term 4. I also encourage any students looking to improve their fitness or aiming to represent at the ISA level in 2025 to join the squad. To build a strong squad culture, participants are expected to attend the majority of the 10 training sessions. Either Ms Proc (Senior Swimming Coordinator) or Mr Bourke will be present at each session.

Training Details:

• Time and Location: 7:10 am at Fitness First, Chatswood (24 Endeavour St, Chatswood)
• Requirements: Suitable swimwear, goggles, and a swim cap are essential (no cap, no swim)
• Attire: Students should wear the PE/Pius Sports Uniform to the sessions. At 8:15 am, staff will walk the boys back to school, where they can change into their school uniform. A snack or breakfast is also recommended after the session.
• Training Days/Dates:

Registration for the Term 4 Swim Squad program can be found below, please complete asap. Swimming Squad Term 4 Registration 

Please note the St Patrick’s Invitational Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday 8 November at Ryde Aquatic Centre.  All swimmers are expected to attend.  Details will be available in the coming week.

Ms Leisa Proc - Senior Swimming Convenor

Rugby

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the NSW 7s Rugby Union State Championship during the holidays. In particular, well done to the Year 7 students Lachlan Guest, Will Hanks and Archie Kay pictured below, all competing in the U13 NSW 7s Rugby Union State Championships in Forster. Lachlan and Archie represented Gordon and Will represented Eastwood. 

Rugby 7s Champions  2024 

Congratulations to the following St Pius X students who represented Gordon and won the championship. 

Captains Brad Newman and Xavier Davidson U15 boys winning the  Championship against Eastwood. 

AND

U17 boys Kobi Mendel and Nikolai Dimantha winning against Manly.

Annual General Meeting- Rugby Club

The Rugby Club AGM will be conducted on 25 November from 6:00 pm. All are welcome to attend the meeting as we plan for the future of SPX rugby.

Please do not hesitate to reach out via email (jgates@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au) if you have any questions. 

ANNUAL GOLF DAY 2024

Friday 18 October – Rugby Annual Golf Day 

Term 3 Rugby Dates for the Diary:

• Friday 18 October – Rugby Annual Golf Day 
• Monday 25 November - RUGBY CLUB AGM - 6:00 pm – Sarto Centre

Mr Justin Gates - Rugby Convenor