Pastoral Care

• Wellbeing Quote from the Diary
• NAIDOC Assembly
• SPX Factor Short Film Festival
• Willoughby Council Holiday Programs
• Advent Giving Initiatives at the College
• Year 10 'Term 5'
• At this Stage of the Year

Wellbeing Quote from the Diary

“There is no short cut to any place worth going.”

NAIDOC Assembly

The College proudly celebrated our Narragunnawalli Reconciliation Action Plan at our NAIDOC Assembly last Friday with a visit from two proud Wiradjeri women: Catholic Schools NSW State Manager Jayde Ward and Pre- Service Teacher from the University of Wollongong Riley McElhone.

The Assembly and subsequent RAP Meeting was led by our Students from our RAP Team: Ronan Crispe, Connor Ryan and Ashley Johnson supported by Nathan McAdam, Cavan Ryan, and Ben Cullen.   

Ronan was able to articulate the many initiatives conducted at St Pius in support of Reconciliation “conversations” such as our Artwork, Ambassadors of Reconciliation Jerseys for touring teams and groups, The Red Dirt Expedition to remote NSW communities last year, our Acknowledgement of Country and Indigenous Touchstones Artwork, among the many other examples.

The highlight of the Assembly was Jayde and Rileys’ responses to Connor and Ashley’s interview questions regarding their experiences as Aboriginal women and advocates for Aboriginal culture and people and their hopes for the future of Australian society which were both informative and enlightening.

Jayde and Riley were very generous with their time having travelled up from Wollongong, they took time to speak with our Year 5 classes as future ambassadors for Reconciliation and our RAP Committee in the College Chapel.

We thank Riley and Jayde and our RAP Committee of Connor Ryan, Cavan Ryan, Ben Cullen, Ronan Crispe, Quinton Crispe, Ashley Johnson, Nathan McAdam and Nicholas Kwan for their ongoing work on behalf of our Community.

St Pius X College Chatswood

Standing on Cammeraygal Land

Always was, Always will be! 

SPX Factor Short Film Festival

Congratulations to all of our Student leaders and particularly our Cultural leaders Liam Kinna, Ashley Johnson, James Baldock and the creative leader / Director of their short film, Charlie Hamill for the conduct of the SPX Factor short film Festival which featured creative videos from 5 Gold to Year 12 and even Mr Couani and the Staff Band on display in Homeroom today. No doubt the judges will be busy allocating House Points to the 2021 House Cup as we go to print.

Another great example of student leadership and student voice coming to the fore at the College. Well done to Year 11/12  Coordinator Mr Ticli and all involved.

Willoughby Council Holiday Programs

There are some highly commended school holiday opportunities from Willoughby Council Youth Services whish may be of interest to our students. Two First Aid Courses in January will support young people's skill development and to give them an opportunity to boost their resume.  The courses are heavily subsidised by Council to improve young people's access and involvement and will be located at Chatswood Youth Centre.

The course details include:

Jan 12 & 13: Youth Mental Health First Aid Course - $30 

Jan 21: First Aid Course - $40

For further information contact:

Lily Giles - Youth Development Officer

WILLOUGHBY CITY COUNCIL

PO Box 57 Chatswood NSW 2057

P +61 2 9777 7993 

ME Lily.Giles@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au

http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/

Advent giving initiatives throughout the College

In consolidation of our Year 7 Giving Tree for St Mary’s Bowraville, Year 9 Social Justice Christmas Hamper appeal for St Anthony’s Terrey Hills, Year 10 Collection for Centacare and Year 11 Collection for St Michael’s Meals at Darlington for Sydney’s Homeless, all students are encouraged to think of others at this time of Advent.

On Sunday 13 December, St Anthony’s Terrey Hills will hold their Hamper Mass to bless our gifts at 9.00 am. We would like to be represented by some students from the College both at the Hamper Mass and the following Tuesday morning with Mr Di Sano and/or Mr Brannan to deliver the Hampers. If you live near Terrey Hills / can attend the Myoora Rd Church for Mass on the 13th, or the following Tuesday, meeting either at the Church or at Chatswood when the Van gets picked up, please see either Mr Brannan or Mr Di Sano to confirm the arrangements. The Hampers are delivered to the Burdekin Institute, St Vincent de Paul and Catholic Centacare at Brookvale, so the commitment would be for 2-3 hours.  

Edmund Rice encouraged us “to give to the poor in handfuls”. The boxes these students will deliver serve to give meaning and purpose to our efforts to liberate others and share a positive message of joy and hope at Christmas. 

Year 10 Term 5

This week Year 10 have engaged with a range of activities including skills for life such as ironing, shaving and job interview techniques as well as training to become Peer Support Leaders to our new Year 5 and Year 7 students next year under the watchful eyes of Peer Support Facilitators Mrs Dempsey and Mrs Bamber.

The life skills they are learning under the patient guidance of Mr Pawlak will stand them in good stead for years to come.

At this stage of the year

We give thanks for the year that has been and for the company we have shared and the people who have shared the journey with us. We wish College Captain 2021 Liam Chang well as he represents us at the EREA Student Leaders Conference to be held online early next year. 

Above all we wish all students, families and staff a Holy Christmas and festive season and a great Summer break before we return rested, recreated and rejuvenated for an exciting 2021 College year packed with positive growth and learning experiences. 

St Pius X College acknowledges our First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and particularly the Cammeraygal people, 

whose interconnection with this land sustained and 

fulfilled them mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually, 

over thousands of years. 

May we learn from their wisdom.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing