Parent & Student Matters
What's happening in the College?
- National Youth Science Forum 2022
- NAPLAN 2021
- Year 7 History
- Maths Drop In
- da Vinci Decathlon - Years 9 - 11
- Year 7 and 8 Study Skills Evening
- Edmund Rice Feast Day - Further Events
- SPX Old Boys BBQ Back in Action
- Red Dirt Expedition 2021
- Singing Up Country - Music Festival
National Youth Science Forum 2022
The NYSF Year 12 Program to be held in January 2022 offers an exciting range of in-person and digital science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experiences for participants across Australia. In 2022, the NYSF will deliver a 12-day program from 10-25 January via a combination of in-person and digital STEM experiences. 2022 participants will experience everything the NYSF is famous for, including keynote speakers, lectures, hands-on workshops, debates, expos and enriching social activities. In-person STEM visit days and events will be held over a week of the program at major city hubs across the country, enabling students to meet each other and network with like-minded peers. A continuous program of digital events will run alongside the in-person events meaning the program is accessible to all. This option also means the NYSF experience is still accessible and stimulating should there be a COVID-19 hotspot emerge or lockdown called at a hub location.
For more information, please go to: https://www.nysf.edu.au/programs/year-12-program/
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
NAPLAN 2021
NAPLAN 2021 is now completely online Tests can thereby be marked more quickly, but the real advantage is that NAPLAN online will use tailored testing, which gives students questions better suited to their ability, resulting in more detailed individual assessment.
Tailored testing adapts to student responses in real time and presents each student with questions that are more or less difficult based on the student’s answers to previous questions. The adaptive nature of the tests means students are more likely to stay engaged with the tests as they receive questions appropriately targeted to their ability. This gives students more opportunity to show what they know and can do.
Information gained from the testing will be used to further drive improvements in student learning.
Mr Alex Damo - Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning
From the Diverse Learning Department
Assessments and Unexpected Injuries
If your son has an injury which limits his ability to write for an in-class assessment task please notify Diverse Learning as we will be able to provide for a scribe, rest breaks or extra time to write.
Make-Up Assessment Tasks Year 7-12
If your son misses an assessment task please note that Diverse Learning offers supervision with provisions at 7:30 am the following morning, so that any further disruption to learning is minimised.
Morning Study Class Years 5-11
All students in Years 5 - 11 are welcome to the Morning Study Class in C5 from 7:30 am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. This is an initiative to start the school day on the right foot, after homework has been attempted at home. It is separate to before school support which is available when assessment tasks are due.
Mrs Annabel Gunns – Diverse Learning Coordinator
What is Comprehension?
There are two main components of reading – decoding and comprehension. Decoding is where we work out what the words say, and comprehension is where we work out what they mean. Students need to go beyond decoding to derive meaning from a text. To comprehend is to go beyond the word level to get to the big picture. There are lots of ways students can show us that they understand the text – recall information, give a response, answer questions, interpret pictures and make connections. To reinforce student learning, parents are encouraged to utilise the following strategies at home when reading with your child.
Over the next five weeks we will be focusing on a comprehension framework that can be used at home and by your son at school to enhance comprehension.
The “Super Six” comprehension framework focuses on six strategies. Each week we will be focussing on one strategy from the framework.
- Making Connections
- Predicting
- Questioning
- Monitoring
- Visualising
- Summarising
Making Connections:
Mrs Petah Jamieson - Diverse Learning Year 7 and 8
Year 7 History
We are currently undertaking a study of Ancient Greece in Year 7 and 8 History classes. Students have enjoyed learning about the fascinating lives of Ancient Greeks, including their politics, religion, Olympic games and warfare. A particular favourite has been the study of the city-state Sparta and its strong warrior culture. The attached is a story written by one of our Year 7 students who used ancient artefacts from Sparta to inspire a creative story about a day in the life of a Spartan warrior in training.
Mrs Sophie Casamento - History Teacher
Maths Drop-In
A reminder that all students in Years 7 - 12 are welcome to Maths Drop-in. The sessions are run each Tuesday & Thursday morning 7.30 am - 8.30 am in C1.
Mrs Amanda Fileman - Teacher
da Vinci Decathlon
Well done to the Year 9 – 11 boys who participated in the da Vinci Decathlon last week.
Attached are some photos.
Below is a poem written by the students during the decathlon. Such a brilliant and powerful poem. Congratulations to the boys.
Mrs Michele Waterson - English Teacher
Yr 10 Da Vinci Decathlon Poem
Has Earth finally reaped what is has sown? –
Its ‘future’ not more than its past,
A corrupt incandescence of inhabitants is also ingrown.
A unformidable virus that time could never outlast.
Graves; stand as a sacrificial reminder.
All is life until reaper’s claws suffocate the Earth’s sight.
Rotting dirt by which we place our feet as a constant binder;
To what we loved; to how lovers danced in the twilight.
A deafening silence encapsulates Earth,
No children’s glee to brighten wither;
Nor instruments to glisten the evening sun;
Not even the hurly-birds can uncurl the human’s slither.
Destiny laughs at a barren land,
Moss; the only natural sophistication clinging to Earth’s legacy
in which not even Artificial can withstand.
R.I.P EARTH. “Man truly is the cruellest animal” – WE MUST FLEE!
Year 7 and 8 Study Skills Evening
We are pleased to advise we will be holding a Year 7 and 8 Study Evening again this year, on Monday 7 June from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm. This is a free event.
This is a highly recommended study skills evening which should be attended by parent/s with their son. In lieu of the cancellation last year due to COVID-19 we are inviting both Year 7 and Year 8 families and parents will be asked to book. The event will be held in the gym and parking will be available in the school yard.
Please use the following Trybooking link to book: https://www.trybooking.com/758453
Please see the attached for more information.
Edmund Rice Feast Day - Further Events
Aside from our Edmund Rice Feast Day Assembly last Wednesday featuring our College Archivist Br Carl Sherrin (Class of 1954) we were represented at several webinars:
Overnight an Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders webinar was hosted by the Irish Edmund Rice Schools Trust to celebrate Edmund Rice’s Feast day during which former leader of the Christian Brothers worldwide, Br Phillip Pinto, spoke eloquently of the connections of Justice, Liberation, Inclusion and Spirituality between the global Edmund Rice entities.
Schools, Universities and Outreach Centres from Ireland, England, Africa, Oceania, India and South America were joined for this meeting at which St Pius X College Chatswood was proudly represented and highly regarded by all.
During the day the Oceania Edmund Rice Ministries hosted a webinar which was attended by leaders such as Br Steve Morello who is a driving in force in reinvigorating First Nations languages in Northern NSW.
Here is the account of the webinar by three of our Year 9 students who represented us with Br Carl.
Last week on Wednesday, Quinton Crispe, Chris Mander and I were invited to join the EREA Feast Day Zoom Meeting, where we discussed how over time, we have turned Blessed Edmund Rice’s vision into reality. One member whose message really stood out to me was the South East Flexible Schools Network Co-Principal, Ivan Mahoney. He runs a school in North Melbourne which is a Flexible Learning Community that includes a variety of different members from different backgrounds. He explained the importance of an inclusive learning environment and how the staff have consistently been working to create a better society, where everyone’s opinions are taken into consideration. Overall, this meeting was really a reminder of the importance that the work of Edmund Rice is as part of the process of creating a more inclusive, fair environment.
Jose Monk - Year 9
SPX Old Boys BBQ Back in Action
Thank you to the old boys who lent a hand last Saturday for our first BBQ back following a restricted COVID footy season last year. The class of 1986 was well represented by Roy Callabrissi, John Preston, Paul Avery, Craig Lightfoot and Jeffrey Clarke.
There are five more Saturday home games in our calendar. For any fathers who may be SPX old boys, why not take the opportunity to catch up with some class mates and show your support to the school? The dates are 15 May, 22 May, 17 July, 31 July and 14 August.
If anybody is interested, please get in touch with our Old Boys Association President:
Jeffrey Clarke
0425 342 463
Red Dirt Expedition
Preparations for our Red Dirt Expedition are in full swing and over the coming weeks, prior to our 20 June departure we have a number of guest speakers and preparatory tasks to prepare the students as Ambassadors for Reconciliation. In November we hope to be able to host The Goodooga Central School at the Treacy Centre Oxford Falls as they come to Sydney to connect with us.
On The Red Dirt Expedition:
Students will travel by school minibus to the Warrumbungles National Park, Coonabarabran and subsequently to Baradine, Dubbo, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke to:
- Visit the Siding Springs Australian Astronomical Telescope (Coonabarabran).
- Set up camp for 2 night overnight stay (Warrumbungle National Park).
- Bushwalk the renowned Grand High Tops Walk / Visit Sandstone Caves and Reconciliation Sculptures in the Pilliga Scrub and/or Baradine Land Council and cultural sites with an Aboriginal guide from the Kamilaroi people.
- Drive to Dubbo to bike tour the Western Plains Zoo and stay overnight in Dubbo Caravan Park.
- Visit St Lawrence's and Coonabarabran High, St John’s Baradine, St Brigid's Coonamble, St Joesph's Walgett, St Patrick’s Brewarrina and Brewarrina Fish Traps, one of the oldest man-made intact archeological sites in the world - COVID-19 restrictions dependent.
- Visit St Ignatius Primary School Bourke to take reading groups, literacy, numeracy or sport sessions - COVID-19 restrictions dependent.
- Return to school camping overnight in Dubbo for afternoon dismissal from Chatswood on Saturday 26 June.
If there are any donations of stationery or sporting equipment or other ideas / materials we could share with the remote rural and Aboriginal communities we visit, please contact Mr Brannan.
Singing Up Country - Music Festival
Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish are promoting an outdoor mini music festival featuring Aboriginal music from Sydney which is very synonymous with the College’s Reconciliation Action Plan and initiatives such as our June Red Dirt Expedition. As well as to connect with and support local First Nations entities such as our local Gawura Aboriginal Education Consultation Group. This dry-event will be held on 23 May at St Anthony in the Fields Church grounds at 46 Myoora Rd, Terrey Hills. It features a fantastic line up of talent from Sydney's Aboriginal music scene. Tickets can be obtained at www.trybooking.com/BQNBD. Sausage sizzle and tea & coffee and water included. The fundraising band raffle boasts $2500 worth in prizes.
Mr Sean Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal