Parent & Student Matters 

What's happening in the College? 

• Semester 2 Reports
• Science Club Report
• Year 7 POP ART Paintings
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award Update
• Library Borrower's Record
• Back in the Lab! Holiday Science Program for Year 9 & 10 Students
• Textbooks for 2021

Semester 2 Reports 

The Year 10 Semester 2 Reports were placed on the Portal on Friday 27 November.  The Semester 2 - End of Year Reports for Years 5 - 9 will be available on the College Portal from the afternoon of Thursday 3 December.

Your son's End of Year report provides information on his standard of achievement and his approach to learning for each subject.

We congratulate all students who are recipients of Fide et Labore Awards.

Please see the attached document for further information on Reports.

Mr Alex Damo - Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning 

Science Club Report

For our last Science Club session for 2020, we decided to make Science-inspired Christmas trees, which are proudly being displayed in S2. Boys were asked to use retort stands, bossheads and clamps and a variety of different pieces of glassware to make the Christmas trees. 

The boys kindly thanked the Science staff who have been ensuring that Science Club runs each fortnight. Our Science Department would also like to thank the boys who attend each fortnight, for bringing their enthusiasm and sharing their evident passion for Science with us. 

We wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. We now look forward to Science Club 2021!

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator

Year 7 POP ART Paintings

Pop Art draws inspiration from the everyday including imagery from popular and mass culture.

Students researched art works by artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. They developed their designs using Photoshop and explored colour relationships before they started painting. The paintings are vibrant and dynamic! Well done Year 7 Artists!

Ms Donna Janes - Art Teacher

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Update

Need to Complete your DoE Award? 

As the year draws to a close, many of our students are looking for opportunities to complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards (DoE). As the College is unable to run the Adventurous Journey (AJ) component of the Award for the remainder of this year and until further notice, students are advised to seek opportunities with external providers.

There are two providers that we have had SPX students use at times when the College has not been able to run a Hike. These are Camp Somerset and Outward Bound. Due to the effect that COVID-19 has had on running AJ’s at school, the availability for 2020-2021 AJ’s with external providers are filling up fast. Please find the links to these providers below:

Camp Somerset: https://www.campsomerset.com.au/duke-of-edinburgh.html

Outward Bound: https://www.outwardbound.org.au/duke-of-ed/

It is important to note that Mr de Silva usually runs Hikes for the College. In DoE speak, this is an Expedition, Hike, foot mode. It is important to ensure that you maintain this mode throughout your DoE journey from Bronze, Silver and Gold. When going on an AJ, ensure that it is a Hike, unless you are intending to do something different all through your Award. 

As a student needs to have their intention to participate in an AJ signed off by Mrs Manga prior to participation, if your son is interested in enrolling, please contact me this week to arrange to have the AJ created online. This is mandatory in order for the AJ to count towards the Award.  

Again, the template for writing an AJ report, which is required to be completed as soon as the student has completed the Hike, is available for download on the College App in the Outdoor Education area. All DoE paperwork is available for download, including Assessor documentation, from the College App. Paperwork is also available from the student Office on request. 

Should you need to contact me, please do so via my email, Kmanga@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or on the College number - 9411 4733. I am also available to meet with students from 8:05 am most mornings, with the exception of Wednesdays. I can also meet at lunch times and after school. 

Mrs Kara Manga - Duke Of Edinburgh Coordinator

Library Borrower's Record

By borrowing nine books to include in his holiday reading, Dylan in Year 7 has set a new library record.  Dylan’s choices include two epic fantasy series, 'Keys to the Kingdom' and 'Old Kingdom' by Garth Nix, ever constant in our top 100 books.   

Students from all years are taking advantage of our uncapped book lending, knowing that holidays provide the time to read a truly great book. 

Wishing everyone many wonderful literary adventures these holidays!

Mrs Karen Keighery - Senior Teacher Librarian

Back in the Lab! 

Holiday Science Programs for Year 9 & 10 Students

Any keen scientists in Year 9 or 10 are welcome to sign up for the Back in the Lab! holiday programs held on campus at the University of Sydney on Wednesday 13 January and Thursday 14 January 2021.  For more information please use the attached link.

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator

Textbooks for 2021

All parents with students in Years 7 - 11 2021 were recently sent an email regarding textbooks for next year, which are available for purchase now.

Students have also been given the following information to assist them in which subjects they will be studying next year:

• Year 7 2021:  A list will be posted outside Mr Long's Office, and parents were emailed from Mrs Jennings
• Year 8 2021:  A list has been posted on the Year 7 noticeboard outside Mr Virgona's Office
• Year 9 2021:  An email has been sent to students currently in Year 8 confirming their Elective Subjects for Year 9
• Year 10 2021:  Students in Year 9 should know their two Elective Subjects they are retaining for Year 10
• Year 11 2021:  Students in Year 10 have  been emailed confirmation of their courses for Year 11.

Attached are:

• The ISBN list for all books from Year 7 to 11;
• Information on the Sustainable Bookshop (for second hand books);
• Information on T's Textbooks (for new and second hand books); and
• The Campion order forms for each year group (for new books).

While you are welcome to purchase books through any means, please be aware of which Edition of the book is required (using the correct ISBN).  Older editions of textbooks may have different information than what will be used in class.

If you have any questions regarding textbooks for next year, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Alex Damo at either adamo@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or 9411 4733.

Mr Alex Damo - Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning