Pastoral Care 

• International Women's Day Assembly
• Year 7 Camp Notes
• Surf Lifesaving
• Olympics Unleashed
• Year 9 and 10 Alcohol Awareness Education
• Year 10 Living Works Training
• Year 11 United Nations Representatives

International Women's Day Assembly

On Monday our Student Wellbeing Leaders invited members of Our Lady of Dolours Parish sister school, Mercy College, Student Leadership Team, to address our full College Assembly on the importance of International Women’s Day and its 2023 Theme of #Embrace Equity’. 

Our guests spoke eloquently on the 100+ year legacy of IWD and the ways in which we can all act to be more informed, inclusive, and better at celebrating and encouraging equality and equity to make a better world. We are grateful to Mrs Melissa Murray who facilitated the visit by the Mercy leaders, and for their obvious preparation, thought- provoking planning and presentation to which our students listened with great interest and respect.

For their part our students upheld and noted on the entrance veranda whiteboard the names of women who have had great and positive influence on society including Scientists: Marie Curie and Michelle Simmons, Educators: Malala Yousafzai and Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann and Aviators: Nancy Bird Walton and Emilia Earhart.

Finally, our Student Wellbeing Prefects, Liam Thomson, Tomo Wilkins, Billy Sykes. Josh Bewley, Mitch McGrath and Eamon Boyle, presented, through our guests, to the Year 12 students and staff of Mercy College a crate of Pink Lady Apples, iceblocks (given the very hot day), and a student-signed card of appreciation and thanks in the spirit of commitment to

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.

Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity.

IWD belongs to everyone, everywhere. Inclusion means all IWD action is valid.

Attached below is a transcript of the inspiring Mercy Student Leaders' Presentation

Year 7 Camp (Notes)

With the approach of our Year 7 Pastoral Care Great Aussie Bush Camps (Wed 22 – Fri 24 March) parents are asked to monitor communications for a consent, dietary and medical form this week. Students need also to communicate to Mrs Loughman their preferred tent buddies within Base classes. (Maximum of 6 so we can create some cross Base Class groups of organised students).

The camp aims to instil a sense of journey, inclusion and community within the year and students will engage in growth mindset activities such as Kayaking, Raft Building, Ropes Courses and Flying Fox and Rock & Water Resilience Training. We look forward to the teachers vs students commando spotlight challenge.

Please communicate any questions or concerns to Mrs Loughman or myself as we prepare final details and arrangements. Boys will assemble at school from 8:30 am on the 22nd and return at approximately 3:15 pm on the 24th with final ETA communicated enroute after 1:00 pm via the College App.

Surf Life Saving 

At the Year 7 Form Meeting on Friday we celebrated the NSW SLSC Nippers State Carnival success of Albie Peasland, who placed 4th in the Flags Event at Manly (Saturday 26 February). Albie represents the Mona Vale Club, and joins many of our students and staff competing and serving the community as volunteer surf lifesavers, including our Maintenance Team’s Mr Munday (Long Reef SLSC) and teacher Mr Di Sano (Freshwater SLSC) who we wish well in the upcoming Nationals at Cottesloe Beach in Perth.

Olympics Unleashed

At their form meeting this week Year 8 students enjoyed the opportunity to hear from Adelaide born and bred Olympic Rower and London 2012 Medallist Chris Morgan who now lives on the Northern Breaches.  

Chris Morgan connected with our Year 8 students as part of the Olympics Unleashed program.

Olympics Unleashed connects athletes with schools across the country to inspire students to find and follow their passion and provide lessons in goal setting, overcoming challenges and developing resilience.

Chris Morgan drew on his Olympic journey and overcoming challenges to compete in his chosen sport at the highest level to help inspire the students at St Pius X College to be the best they can be – whether that’s in school, at home, on the sporting field or with friends.

For more information on Olympics Unleashed visit www.olympicsunleashed.com.au

In the context of their current growth mindset and journey as young students and members of our community, our Year 8 students certainly appreciated the lessons and learnings and will be inspired to incorporate this listening and learning into their upcoming goal setting and reflection processes in Pastoral Care time.

Year 9 and 10 Smashed Australia Alcohol Awareness Education

As an important component of their Pastoral Care and PDHPE programs our Year 9 and 10 students will receive an Alcohol Awareness Presentation next Wednesday afternoon 15 March during Periods 5 and 6 respectively. In preparation for their learning in this lesson the students will be asked to complete a 5 minute pre-activity survey during Homerooms this week. We look forward to some important conversations and awareness raising on the importance of prevention of harm from alcohol use and misuse throughout our lifestyles, society, and culture.  

Year 10 Living Works Training

On Tuesday 28 March, as an extension to the students normal Year 10 PDHPE Oxford Falls Triple period, government funding has become available for the students to participate in a program developed by an Australian Mental Health and Wellbeing Organisation: Living Works – Safetalk: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training. Mr Russo and myself, attended the invaluable program last December and St Pius X College is grateful to Catholic Schools NSW counselling and wellbeing leader Jenny Coen who will join our Counselling and Pastoral Care Team to support the students and program on the day. Permission notes will be distributed in Year 10 Pastoral Care classes and we ask for your return of these asap for catering and organisation of this important contemporary program.

We also acknowledge our Youth Education Officer NSW Police Snr Const Lynda Hart who does great work to reinforce the messages around staying safe and being responsible citizens online, in school and across our community in this context. Snr Constable Hart will have the opportunity top speak with all of our students this semester and we are grateful for her support of our students, school and community.  

Year 11 United Nations Representatives

Congratulations to Year 11 students Jack Harrison, Tom McElvogue, Michael Krizan and Blake Markulin who will represent St Pius at the Junior United Nations State Conference Assembly this weekend at Cromer. We look forward to the lessons and shared knowledge they will be able to bring back to the College.  

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing