Pastoral Care

• St Pius X College and EREA Reconciliation Action Plans
• Red Dirt Expedition
• Push Up Challenge
• Year 12 Road Safety Incursion
• Vaping
• Year 7 (and Year 8 and 9 catch up) Study Skills Evening 
• Screen and Gaming Overuse Presentation
• Year 11 RYDA Excursion
• Year 12 Social with Brigidine
• Year 9 PDHPE/PASS Day

St Pius X College and EREA Reconciliation Action Plans

With the anniversary of the High Court Mabo decision bringing Reconciliation Week to conclusion on Friday we reflect on the brave change taking place currently to make our society and community a more inclusive and respectful one within which every person can be proud of their identity, history, culture, and heritage.

Both Edmund Rice Education Australia and St Pius X College have dynamic Reconciliation Action Plans which are very much inclusive of student voice and leadership. To that end I include the following account from Year 11 RAP leader Eamon Boyle who attended Gamaraigal Festival event Singing Up Country during Reconciliation Week with Tom Cleary, Dominic Mitchell and Patrick Frost:

“Starting off Reconciliation Week 2022, Singing Up Country, held at Terry Hills Parish, was truly a joyous event. We started off with insightful words crafted by Professor Dennis Foley, about the lives of past First Nations People who resided in the Terry Hills area, and a tour around the Parish’s surrounding area, explaining the environmental conservation occurring throughout. This all lead beautifully to a smoking ceremony, where all were encouraged to join, and then the concert. Through music sung by the Aboriginal artists, we connected with significant messages and took yet another small step in the light of reconciliation. The contemporary Indigenous music that was played, truly reflected, and expressed the meaning of reconciliation, and deepened our appreciation and understanding of Australia’s rich indigenous cultures”.

Eamon Boyle

Red Dirt Expedition

Eamon, Dominic and Pat will head a student team which will develop our RAP through their learning in the coming weeks as they visit the cultural sites, schools and communities in and around Baradine, Coonabarabran, the Warrumbungles, Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke and Dubbo on the Red Dirt Expedition.

We are grateful for those who are supporting the Red Dirt Expedition including parents of SPX former students: Mrs Jan Hunter and Mrs Di Munich who on behalf of her company Office Max have sponsored a donation of stationery for us to share with some of the remote primary schools and communities we visit. Over recent years Mrs Munich and Mrs Hunter have supplied stationery for us  to share with schools and villages in Papua New Guinea at Callan Services schools for the disadvantaged and along the Kokoda Track.

Preparations continue as we look forward to our mid-winter sojourn to connect with and learn from the rural, remote and indigenous communities of Western NSW in the first week of the July holidays. Last Thursday the lunchtime briefing concentrated on packing and preparation of warm practical kit. This week on Thursday Ms Bamber and Mr Stollery’s briefing concentrates on Food, Camp Cooking and hygiene, and next week Mr Di Sano will teach us about what to expect, deep listening, reflection and learning!

If any members of our community have teaching / learning stationery, sports equipment, clothing or other items that could be donated to support our EREBB connections please contact Mr Brannan sbrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Push Up Challenge

Congratulations to all those students and staff conducting the Push Up Challenge to raise awareness for mental health. With the challenge to complete 3149 push ups to complete in the first 24 days of June there are significant health gains and conversations to be had. With our team leader Mr Gillogly  recovering from a knee operation, it is great to see the manner in which our students have stepped up to lead the initiative.

190 push ups to do tomorrow so we better get pushing!

Year 12 Road Safety Incursion

On Thursday our Year 12 students will receive a compelling presentation from Melissa McGuinness from YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety, and be invited to join Australia’s youth-led mission to change driving culture.

A letter will go home on Thursday to Year 12 parents with a link to the YOU CHOOSE Information video. I encourage you to watch it with your sons.  We, with Melissa encourage families to consider showing support by donating to this charity and following their Instagram and Facebook page.

Please contact Mr Brannan or Ms Janes if you would like further information.

Vaping 

At the recent Police and Principal's Forum we were pleased to hear from Melissa Palermo from NSW Health on the contemporary issue of vaping. This week recent Old Boy Francis Phillips returned to the College to research concerns around vaping with several focus group volunteers from Year 10. 

North Sydney PCYC (Falcon St North Sydney) offer a range of programs for young people to exercise, connect and socialise.

Please contact your son’s Pastoral Care Teachers, Year Coordinator, our Counselling Team, or myself if you have any concerns or feedback (positive or negative) for your son and his wellbeing, as part of our school community.  

Year 7 (and Year 8 and 9 catch-up) Study Skills Evening  - Monday 20 June

A reminder that in Week 9 we have our annual Prue Salter Enhanced Learning Study Skills evening in the gym 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm. Students and their parents should attend together and interact to understand the steps to developing their learning and study skills effectively over the coming years. Dr Salter is an expert at articulating the simple strategies and habits for maximising study time. Book via the Try booking link below. There will be limited parking in the school yard, but ample in the surrounding streets and car parks.

The evening is aimed at Year 7 students, however if any Year 8 or 9 students were not able to attend last year, they are able to book and attend the evening.

Screen and Gaming Overuse Presentations

On 10 August our Year 7 and 8 students will hear a presentation from Child Psychologist, Brad Marshall on screen and gaming overuse.  This is a timely subject as we return from the reliance on screen and online activity during the recent COVID lockdowns.  

That same evening Brad will also present to parents in the College gym, commencing at 6.00 pm.  All College parents are welcome to attend.  A Trybooking link will be released in the coming weeks.

Year 11 RYDA Excursion

Year 11 students will the Rotary Youth Driver Awareness Program at the HART school in St Ives on Thursday 16 June.

The students will learn significant practical lessons from braking and stopping distances under variable speeds, the ins and outs of insurances and registration costs, to hearing compelling testimony from road accident and trauma affected young people and our Police and Emergency services who, as first responders, too often witness the effect of road trauma.

Year 12 Social Event with Brigidine

This Friday afternoon our Year 12 students have the opportunity to host their Brigidine College counterparts at our Oxford Falls Treacy Centre. Students can drive (consistent with College Safe Driving policy and practices) or be transported to Oxford Falls at 3.30 pm for a 4.00 pm start. The evening will consist of social sports games, light supper and social activities. Activities will conclude with students picked up / departing at 6.15 pm with return to College transport available.

Year 9 PDHPE - PASS Day and BBQ to HMAS Penguin and Oxford Falls 

Next Wednesday, 15 June (normal extended PDHPE day), Year 9 are reminded to wear their PE Uniform when they will attend valuable Excursion / Incursions.

Physical Activity and Sport Science (PASS) students will need to be at school by 7.30 am to attend HMAS Penguin Clearance Diver Training school at Balmoral Beach to learn about the sport science and medical aspects of training, exercise, performance and underwater diving activities. 

All other Year 9 students will attend Oxford Falls for the day to engage in community and teambuilding activities instigated by Year 9 Coordinator Mr Martin Gillogly.  

All students are to attend as there will be a BBQ lunch led by the students and sponsored by the Old Boys Association and P & F and a great opportunity to socialise and spend a day away from the Chatswood Campus as we wind up to the conclusion of Semester 1.

Contact Mr Brannan or Mr Kovacic if you have any questions.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing