Parent & Student Matters 

• 2022 NAPLAN Results
• Science Club
• Lights Camera Pius! Film Festival Presentation
• Year 11 Photographic and Digital Imaging Class
• Morning Study
• Diverse Learning
• Maths Drop-In

2022 NAPLAN Results

NAPLAN Assessments were undertaken in Term 2 by students in Years 5, 7 and 9 and were conducted online. Five tests were completed: Reading, Grammar and Punctuation, Spelling, Writing and Numeracy. These results provide valuable information about student standards in literacy and numeracy and will be used to develop future teaching and learning strategies with the overall aim of improving students’ learning outcomes. Students’ NAPLAN achievements are also compared to their school-based assessments to identify any discrepancies in learning achievement.

The move to online adaptive testing has been beneficial as it provides a more accurate insight into students’ ability. With adaptive testing, students are continually provided more difficult questions until they plateau. For St Pius, this has revealed an array of students who are achieving at very high levels, well above their normal cohort.

It is very pleasing to see that our overall scores continue to remain above state averages.

Overall, the Year 9 results are very pleasing as St Pius X students are achieving above Statistically Similar School Groups in the domains of Writing, Reading, Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation. 

Parents of students in Years 5, 7 and 9 by now would have received a report detailing their son’s level of attainment. If you have not received this, please contact me at the College.

BANDS   

A student’s standard of achievement is reported in Bands.

Year 5 SPX compared to State

In Year 5, Bands typically range from Band 3 to Band 8 with some students attaining Bands 9 and 10. Students attaining Band 3 are below National Minimum Standards. Students at Band 4 are at Minimum Standards. Students at Bands 7 and 8 are at Proficient Standard.

The following table shows the percentage of students within the Top, Middle and Lower two Bands for Year 5 compared to State levels.

The proportion of students in the Top 2 Bands in Grammar and Punctuation has decreased from the previous year and will become an area for investigation and intervention. The number of students in the Top 2 bands for writing has increased which is pleasing as this is always a priority area. 

Year 7 SPX compared to State

In Year 7, Bands typically range from Band 4 to Band 9 with quite a few students at St Pius attaining Band 10. Students attaining Band 4 are below National Minimum Standards. Students at Band 5 are At Minimum Standards. Students at Bands 8 and 9 are at Proficient Standard.

The following table shows the percentage of students within the three sectors of Bands for Year 7 compared to State levels.

The number of students in the Top 2 bands for writing has increased which is pleasing as this is always a priority area. There has been a decrease in the number of students in the Top 2 Bands of Spelling, Numeracy and Grammar and Punctuation which will be investigated, and appropriate interventions implemented. Reading is a domain that has remained stable in the top bands. The number of students in the lowest two Bands in Writing has also decreased and is lower than both State and other Statistically Similar School Groups. The proportion of students in the lowest two Bands for Reading, Spelling, Numeracy and Grammar and Punctuation have increased and again will become areas for intervention. 

Year 9 SPX compared to State

In Year 9, Bands typically range from Band 5 to Band 10. Students attaining Band 5 are below National Minimum Standards. Students at Band 6 are At Minimum Standards. Students at Bands 9 and 10 are at Proficient Standard.

The following table shows the percentage of students within the three sectors of Bands for Year 9 compared to State levels.

The number of students in the Top 2 Bands for Writing in Year 9 has increased with a corresponding decrease in the number of students achieving at the lowest level which is pleasing as this is always a priority area. There were also decreases in the lower bands for Spelling, Reading and Numeracy. Only Grammar and Punctuation had a slight increase in the number of students attaining at the lower Band Standard. 

Utilising the Data

A detailed analysis of the NAPLAN results is now being undertaken to identify focus areas for improvement for each year level. Appropriate strategies to address these areas will then be formulated and implemented across the College. Analysis of individual students is also being conducted to identify particular students who may benefit from appropriate intervention. 

Mr Alex Damo - Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning

Science Club

This week we celebrated Halloween in Science Club. The boys enjoyed making bubbling green slime, spider webs from pipe cleaners and an articulated scary hand. Boys were able to choose the activity they were most interested in and complete it, with some help from Year 11 boys if they needed it. We then decorated the lab with the spooky, but glittery spider webs.

Next Science Club we will continue to do some fun activities as we lead into Christmas. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator

Lights Camera Pius! Film Festival Presentation

At Monday’s Academic Assembly Mr Couani presented the 2022 Lights Camera Pius! Film Festival Winners with their certificates: Years 5 and 6 – Arlo Costello, Years 7 and 8 – Noah Watson and Jake Swan, Years 10 and 11 – Caleb Hanrahan. Mr Couani also presented the Film Festival Committee with certificates acknowledging their fine efforts – Zavier Domenici, Ben Cutbill, Luca van Vuuren (absent Luke Sarkissian and Michael Krizan).

Ms Frances Doyle and Ms Annie Bryant 

Year 11 Photography Video and Digital Imaging - Reworking the Classics

In a recent class, the Year 11 PVDI students recreated a classic Australian painting, Shearing the Rams, by Tom Roberts.  They reimagined this in a classroom context with the help from some younger students. The students have been studying a range of Postmodern photography and used the strategy of appropriation to create a contemporary take on an old artwork.

Ms Frances Doyle - Visual Arts Coordinator

Morning Study

Open to all students in Years 5 -12, Morning Study is held from 7.30 am every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the Diverse Learning Office, Level 1 Main Administration Building.

Please consider this opportunity to consolidate learning, especially in the lead up to Term 4 exams for all subjects.  For all queries please contact Ms Gunns:  agunns@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Diverse Learning

Year 12 2022

Thank you, Volunteer Readers, and Writers for HSC Students

A sincere thank you to all volunteer readers and writers for HSC students from 14 October – 4 November 2022. We were fortunate this year to have some parents who were known to the boys and had worked with students during the year. We also thank Year 11 students who interrupted their studies so willingly to help other students who needed assistance.

Please keep in mind that this is a growing area and during exam blocks we will be calling for volunteer readers and writers for student assessments and exams who have a current volunteer Working with Children Check.

Year 10  Exams         Week 5

Year 7 - 9 Exams       Week 6 and 7

Year 5 - 6 Tests         Week 6 and 7

Please express interest in the voluntary reader or writer role to Annabel on agunns@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Year 10 Students Up-close

Lukas Majer and Daniel Fazzino 

Lukas and Daniel are mates who both access the support of the Diverse Learning Department. 

As these students prepare themselves for the senior years at St Pius X College, they have been able to select courses which really appeal to them. They have a common interest in practical subjects and have chosen for Year 11 in 2023 to undertake Industrial Technology Woodwork and Sport Lifestyle and Recreation. 

Diverse Learning assist these students with provisions for exams and occasional small group work. Lukas and Daniel know they will be supported academically and emotionally as they realise that there are just two years remaining to prepare for their young, independent adulthood.  

Diverse Learning respects and acknowledges Lukas' and Daniel’s courage in sharing their story with the St Pius X community and hope that their success enables younger students to be proud of their achievements, whether they are easily distracted or not.  

We eagerly await celebrating your achievements at the conclusion of 2024.  

Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) 

History teachers, Leigha Zervakos and Johnathon Dobb were invited to attend the CSNSW Professional Learning conference last week. This was an initiative to formally include teachers across disciplines to network and learn the importance of our faith, the Edmund Rice Touchstones, in our application of the Education Standards, based on the Disability Discrimination Act (1992). Thank you for representing St Pius X College among a wide range of other Catholic Schools in NSW.

Diverse Learning Teachers 

Mrs Annabel Gunns, Mrs Antonella Schiller, Ms Carolyn Scott

Diverse Learning Teacher’s Aides

Ms Meredith Leedham and Mr Michael Dalton

Diverse Learning Office 

Level 1, Administration Building

Opposite the Boardroom

(Upstairs from our Principal and turn right!)

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 – 8.30 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 on Friday mornings from 7.40 am - 8.30 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 needed. Come along and be part of the team.

Mrs Amanda Fileman - Junior School Teacher