From the Principal
- Prayer
- Year 10 Academic Awards
- Year 11 Exams Commence Next Week
- Year 12 Graduation and Formal
- HSC Success - OnSTAGE
- Junior School Walkathon
- Students Leaving the College at the End of the Year
- P&F News
- Colour Awards
- Young Writers Award Recipients
Prayer
Mary, Star of the Sea
8 September, Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady.
Yesterday was the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. Matthew's Gospel (1: 18-32) teaches us:
"Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
... behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet:
'Behold, the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us.'"
Whenever we are fearful of the future, we should all be comforted and “do not be afraid” because in times of trouble, know that “God is with us”.
Let us pray together:
Hail Mary, Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen
Year 10 Academic Award Recipients -
"The Big Improvers!"
On Monday we had a great celebration of the major achievements of Year 10 in their studies and I was proud to tell the school that Year 10 are “the big improvers”. I have recently addressed all Year 10 regarding their growth into their studies and that all of these boys can do even more and step into higher levels of achievement.
I commend to you the Awardees and below we can see the large numbers of students achieving their best and most improved efforts. Well done Year 10!
Rufus Ashford, Oliver Aylmer, Jake Baynie, Patrick Browne, Niccolo Burman, Jayden Chan, Elliot Cook, Ronan Crispe, Charles Crowe-Maxwell, Benjamin Cullen, Christopher Dimos, Christian Donato, Anthony Elliott, Isaac Elms, Thomas Fong, Richard Gauci, Jonah Gonzales, Ethan Griffin, Shoaland Griffiths, Andrew Guerrera, Frank Houlihan, Nicholas Kastropil, Patrick Lee, Max Leo, Bailey Littrich, Thomas Marren, Oscar Martin, Mihir Mathur, Nathan McAdam, Flynn McDonald, Regan Miller, Lachlan Moraza, Jake Ormsby, Justin Park, Angus Paterson, Alexander Pelle, Juan Platon, William Ramsbottom, Charles Robson, Ethan Rossetto, Joshua Sheather, William Staber, Jack Thornton, Christian Xeni, Peter Yastreboff, Aram Zarigian and Christopher Zilifian.
Year 11 Exams Commence Next Week
Best wishes to Year 11 who commence their end of year examinations next week. This week’s lessons complete their Year 11 instruction and in Term 4, they will begin their Year 12 studies. Best wishes to all these students. Please keep Year 11 in your prayers.
Year 12 Graduation and Formal
The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian has announced this week that Year 12 Formals can proceed and our Formal is set down for Saturday 14 November at Miramare Gardens Function Centre at Terrey Hills. The Premier will advise all schools of the COVID safe protocols for these events by the end of this week, Friday 11 September.
The St Pius X College Graduation Mass to be followed by the Presentation of Graduands and Awards is currently set down for Thursday 24 September at the Christian Brothers Centre at Oxford Falls. This is planned to be live streamed for parents and friends.
Further details and considerations will be provided to Year 12 parents next week.
2020 HSC Success - OnSTAGE
Daniel Halverson and Luke Thompson nominated for OnSTAGE
I am delighted to advise the College community that two of our Year 12 Drama class have been individually nominated by NESA for the HSC Drama showcase OnSTAGE. This is a huge achievement and I congratulate Daniel Halverson for his piece “Who is Sylvia?” and Luke Thompson for his piece “Reuben Guthrie”. All the Drama students have been performing extremely well under the teaching of Ms Penny Lindley and I congratulate Daniel, Luke, all the Year 12 HSC Drama students and Ms Lindley.
Junior School Walkathon
Congratulations and sincere thanks to the Junior School for the wonderful generosity in supporting the Junior School Walkathon. This raised $8,810.15 for St Mary’s Bowraville, St Joseph’s Walgett and our sponsored child through World Vision.
These communities definitely need our continued support in these COVID-19 times and I pass on their sincere appreciation.
Students Leaving the College at the end of the year
Parents are reminded that if you are considering a change of schools at the end of the year, that you are welcome to contact me at the College through my PA, Mrs Ann Brady abrady@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or phone 9414 4312.
I am very open to discussing any private and confidential matters. The College does provide financial support for school fees and parents are welcome to contact me or the Business Manager, Mr Nick Carson ncarson@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or phone 9411 4733.
You are also welcome to contact the College Registrar to discuss any enrolment matters: cjennings@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or phone 9414 4318.
It is the policy of the College that a term’s notice should be given in writing to the Principal if there is a change of schools. If notice is not given, a term’s fees in lieu of notice will be levied. As the end of Term 3 is near, I ask any parents considering a change to make contact with the College.
P & F News
This week our P & F President, Mrs Braelen Zwart has advised me that she will conclude her Term as President at the end of the year after 3 years in the role.
Braelen has been an outstanding President and I appreciate the many ways that she has supported the parents and the school in her role. Braelen offers great counsel and strong representation of the parents and does this with a sense of passion and fun. Braelen values community and has built friendships throughput the parent body. I am delighted that Braelen will continue in the P & F over the next 2 years to offer her support. Thank you Braelen.
The election of 2021 office bearers will be held next term at the P & F AGM to be held on Monday 2 November.
Colour Awards
Congratulations to the recipients of the Blue and Silver Colour Awards for Debating, Tennis, Football and Rugby which were presented at the Sports Assembly last Friday.
Please see the Senior School Sports Section of this Woodchatta for more details and photos.
Young Writers' Award Recipients
Two Bards in the Making
Congratulations to Ben Cullen and William Staber, both Year 10 students, who gained Merit Awards in this year’s Nan Manefield - Young Writers’ Award (YWA). Both Ben and William will join YWA and award winning author, Will Kostakis, for a writing masterclass.
The Nan Manefield Young Writers' Award is an annual writing prize overseen by Stanton Library and North Sydney Council and recently celebrated its 31st year.
Young people, aged between 11 and 18 years, were invited to submit either a poem or short story of up to 750 words.
The competition was judged in five age categories by a panel of professional writers.
To enter a writing competition and then qualify as a prize winner takes creativity and perseverance. Both Ben and William are driven by a deep passion for linguistic virtuosity.
Their signature epigrams below, illustrate their love for written expression by revealing the human experience.
Will: ‘Writing gives me the platform to express myself in a way that can’t be replicated anywhere else. It also provides me with the freedom to share complex thoughts and opinions through the universally natural but equally hard-hitting act of storytelling.’
Ben: ‘Writing gives me a creative outlet, especially during this time of social isolation. Simple words on a page can be so powerful.’
It is worth noting that Ben also received recognition from The Sydney Morning Herald for his sonnet about the Pandemic, which was published amidst the Lockdown during the Easter break.
Mr John Couani - Principal