St Pius X College Newsletter

Parent & Student Matters 

  • Science Club 2022
  • Year 11 Biology
  • From the History Department
  • Chinese New Year in the Junior School
  • Book Breakfast - Author Interview and Book Signing
  • The International Duke of Edinburgh's Award
  • Year 12s Welcome at Chatswood Library
  • Diverse Learning Morning Study
  • Maths Drop-In

Science Club 2022

Last Thursday we were finally able to start our Science Club for 2022... and what a turn out!

41 students turned up to either help lead or participate in the activity... a huge increase in numbers compared to our last few years. 17 of these new members were from Year 7 and 13 from Year 11.

Students enjoyed making mini fire extinguishers from vinegar and bicarb soda in a side arm test tube and hose (which produces carbon dioxide gas)... and using them to extinguish the flame of a tea light candle. Our Year 10 members made a larger version of the same thing and found that the greater amount of chemicals used definitely produced a larger amount of gas. 

A huge thank you to all of our members, but in particular our new Year 11 Science Club members who assisted our Year 7 members with the experiment.

All new members of Science Club will be added to the Science Club Teams page where you can share your ideas or suggestions for future Science Club activities.

We will still endeavour to build an animal skeleton from real bones, but have other things planned over the coming weeks.

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator

Year 11 Biology

Earlier in the year, Year 11 Biology students were given the opportunity to work together to create a model of a cell membrane. They displayed creativity in the selection of materials and when completed, seemed to have a better understanding of cell structure and function.

Mr Justin Varjavandi - Biology Teacher 

From the History Department

There are some very worthwhile and exciting opportunities that are presented to History students each year. 2022 sees the return of several competitions that St Pius X historians are encouraged to consider.

  1. All Stage 5 Mandatory History students will take part in the annual Australian History Competition. This is a very popular activity which St Pius has participated over a long period. It consists of 50 source based multiple choice questions to be completed in class on day between 31 May and 3 June. Further details can be found here https://australianhistorycompetition.org.au/
  2. The National History Challenge is open to all students. It is a research based competition with entries due on 26 August. Registrations and information about this chance to be a historian are found at https://australianhistorycompetition.org.au/. The theme for this year is Causes and Consequences.
  3. The History students in Years 10 and 11 have the opportunity to apply for the NSW Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship. Details can be found at https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/education/premiers-anzac-memorial-scholarship/how-to-apply/

Applications for this prestigious award close on 28 March.

 

If students have any questions about any of this, please do not hesitate to see me.

 

Mr Pat Rodgers - History/Legal Studies Coordinator

Chinese New Year in the Junior School

On Friday 4 March the Junior School celebrated Chinese New Year during the Friday afternoon assembly. Year 6 boys, dressed as the New Year Beast, paraded through Junior School classrooms with their drums and tambourines making loud noise to repel evil spirits according to Chinese customs. Year 6 presented an excellent speech about Chinese New Year, followed by Year 5 singing the Gong Xi Gong Xi song to staff and students. 

It was a beautiful end to the school week, full of positive vibes and excitement. The boys had great fun.

A special thanks to Mr Stephen Cummins for the audio and Mr Tony Cunneen for the photography. 

Mrs Leanne Lee - Language Teacher

Book Breakfast - 17 March - Senior Library

 

A continental breakfast will precede the interview with a book signing to complete this St Patrick’s Day event.  Limited seats available - don’t miss out.

RSVP Here

Mrs Karen Keighery - Library and Information Services Coordinator

The International Duke of Edinburgh's Award

During the Week 3, at the Year 9 Form meeting, students were guided through the process of joining the International Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at SPX. They were advised to take a joining sheet for parental consent and to also complete an online registration on the International Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website: https://dukeofed.com.au/. I am pleased that approximately 25 students have completed this process to-date. Should your son like to join the Award, he is encouraged to collect the Duke of Ed documents from the table at the Student Reception Office.

This Thursday, a follow up Duke of Edinburgh’s Award meeting will be held at lunchtime in C1. The meeting is open for all any Duke of Ed student to attend. The purpose of this meeting will be to show the students how to complete the ‘set up’ stage of the International Online record Book (IORB). Students will also learn about the process of organising an ‘Assessor’ to guide them through the specific areas that they have chosen to focus on in achieving the Award. An ‘assessor’ is an individual who is over 18, has a current Working with Children Number (WWCN), available by applying at Service NSW, and is NOT a direct family member, and has skills and experience in the area that the participant has chosen. 

The students will work with this person to set their personal goals, and gain insight into how to reach their goal from someone who has the ‘know how’ to assist them. A reminder that students must hand in the Assessor Commencement Guide (ACG) and Volunteer Code of Conduct and have it checked and approved online, prior to commencing ANY activity.

For example, John would like to improve his Bass guitar skills to perform at the SPX Twilight Concert in Term 4, playing a challenging piece of music. He has chosen Mr Shane Cranney, his music tutor, to be his assessor. Mr Cranney has agreed to support John and has completed the Assessor Commencement Guide (ACG) and Volunteer Code of Conduct given to him by John. After Mr Cranney has signed the forms, the forms have been submitted to Mrs Manga to have the WWCN checked. John has also entered Mr Cranney’s details on his International Online Record Book (IORB) during the ‘set up’ stage and is now waiting for an online approval so that he can begin the activity. Once the Online approval has been given, John has his first lesson with Mr Cranney and begins to log his hours, one hour every week, until he completes the time requirements (Bronze Award = 13 continuous weeks or 26 weeks for a major area). After John has completed his Skill hours, Mr Cranney will be prompted online to complete his ‘Assessor Report’ on John’s commitment to reaching his personal goal. John has not been signed off by the current Award Leader, Mrs Manga, for an over sign off on this single area of the Award. 

John can decide to complete his Service and Physical activities, required to complete the Award, either simultaneously to his Skill or afterwards. This is a personal choice that John will make depending on his other responsibilities. John can also choose to join the Outdoor Education Program at SPX to complete his Adventurous Journey (AJ) with Mr de Silva as his ‘Assessor’ or compete the AJ at his own leisure and expense with an external provider, such as Camp Somerset or South Bound Adventures. Note that any External Provider MUST STILL be approved by SPX and entered and approved on the IORB, BEFORE participating in the activity.

Further information about the International Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can be found at https://dukeofed.com.au/

Mrs Kara Manga - Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Convenor

Year 12's Welcome at Chatswood Library

The HSC years mean that, for many students, the public library takes centre stage.

St Pius X College Chatswood is fortunate to be just next door to Chatswood Library and it’s world class. At last week’s Year Group meeting, Year 12 students were warmly welcomed to the library by Librarian, Barbara Swartz, and were impressed to see what’s on offer.

Barbara presented Chatswood Library as an extension of our own, with extended opening hours 7 days a week, an enormous research collection, HSC study guides, Wi-Fi and bookable group study spaces and experienced librarians there to help.

Chatswood Library is well equipped for those who find it conducive for effective study. Their larger collections meet the wider research demands of HSC subjects. Barbara encouraged students to also take advantage of the NSW State Library’s HSC resources & programs.

So, when you need a place to study or some great learning resources you’ve got a head’s up on where to turn to.

Mrs Karen Keighery - Library and Information Services Coordinator

Diverse Learning Morning Study

All students are very welcome to use the quiet space and seek guidance on their studies. Morning study will continue until Week 9 this term and runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7.30 am - 8.30 am.

Mrs Annabel Gunns - Diverse Learning Coordinator

Maths Drop-In

Maths Drop-In Years 7-12

Maths drop-in sessions run each Tuesday and Thursday morning 7.40 am – 8.40 am in C1.

This is the ideal place where students can come and feel comfortable to ask questions, take time to study or nut out some challenging problems. Rewards are given, laughs are heard and words of encouragement are shared. Come along and be a part of the team in C1.

 

Maths Drop-In Years 5-6

Junior Maths Drop-In sessions will run from 8.00 am - 8.40 am in The Learning Enrichment Room in the Junior School.

This is an ideal place for extra revision or taking the time to get support if need. Come along and be part of the team.

Mrs Amanda Fileman - Classroom Teacher