Pastoral Care

From the Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

• Year 9 “Camp” Preparations
• Kokoda Commemoration
• OXFAM Trailwalking Challenge​
• Student Leadership Team Elect 2019 Camp​
• Old Boys Sponsored Student Leadership Team Speechcraft Course​
• Student Leadership Teams 2018 – 2019 Handover Meeting​
• Student Diary Planner and Pastoral Care Programs Feedback​
• St Pius X College Counselling Team
• Semester 2 House Vice Captains
• St Pius X College Old Boys Association Annual Dinner​
• Boxercise at the College for Years 5-12 every Thursday and Friday morning at 7.30am
• White Knight Foundation Walk Against Youth Violence - Sunday 23rd September

Year 9 “Camp” Preparations

The Year 9 Pastoral Care Team continues with preparations for the Year 9 Pastoral Care Rites of Passage Homeroom “Camps” to be held at the College's Retreat Centre at Terrigal in early Term 4. The Huntington House Centre, to be known as Workul Koo (Indigenous translation for “Good Water”), provides the ideal setting for the students to investigate their own personal development, sustainability in practice, indigenous spirituality and culture, as well as enjoying local bushwalks, a paddle board session on the lagoon and a surf lesson. It’s a far cry from Year 8 Great Aussie Bush Camp! Mr Stollery has asked that preliminary permission forms attached to the information note be returned this week.

Kokoda Commemoration

Next Friday 7th September, 20 of our Kokoda Expedition 2018 participants and members of our cadet ranks will join Mr Reay, Mr Long and Mr Brannan in representing the College at the 2/33 AIF Battalion commemoration at the ANZAC Memorial Hyde Park.

Pre-dawn, 7th September 1943, after fighting over the Kokoda Track the 2/33 Bn were waiting fully armed and fuelled in trucks at the end of Jackson Airstrip, awaiting air transport to battle in Northern PNG. In a cruel twist of fate a fully loaded US Liberator Bomber taking off crashed into the waiting transports. 60 infantrymen, 2 drivers and all 11 aircrew lost their lives. This incident remains Australia’s worst ever air disaster.

The 2/33rd Bn Association are delighted that 75 Years later our students will join what may be their last ever reunion, to remember the endurance, courage, mateship and sacrifice of their comrades.

Lest we forget!

OXFAM Trailwalking Challenge

There was a significant flavour of SPX participation in last weekend’s OXFAM Trailwalk charity event addressing global poverty, health inequities, and sustainability initiatives.  The event involved teams of up to 4 people walking 100km through Sydney’s picturesque bush from Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River, via Berowra Waters, Bobbin Head and Middle Harbour to Manly. Some teams, including that of Chris Tysoe class of ‘85 (father of College Captain 2019 elect Oliver Tysoe), jog/ run sections of the course.

I would highlight also the significant achievement of a 3 man team of Year 10 St Pius X College fathers who completed the 100km in 28 hours, and in the process raised thousands of dollars for OXFAM's most worthy charity initiatives. Congratulations to Michael Bird, (veteran of over 300 Rugby Games for Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club), Alan Montgomery and Nick Bowen.

Age shall not weary them ... although 100km scrambling overnight through Sydney’s bush trails caused significant fatigue, aches and bruises!  Well done Mick, Alan and Nick.

Student Leadership Team Elect 2019 Camp

This week our Student Leadership Team Elect 2019 led by College Captain Oliver Tysoe begin preparations for their tenure of leadership of the College in earnest with a three day Camp at our Workul Koo / Huntington House Retreat Centre. Mr Masters will facilitate the development and goal setting of the various Leadership Teams: Captain and Vice Captains, Learning Prefects, Mission and Identity Prefects, Cultural and Sustainability Prefects, Student Wellbeing Prefects and House Captains.

These teams will mobilise the talents and energy of the great many 2019 HSC students who have demonstrated their potential as senior leaders of the College. Mr Couani will take the opportunity to address the team on Thursday morning before returning for the Junior School Father’s Day Sports BBQ. While on their return travel on Friday afternoon the Student Leadership Team will take the opportunity to visit our closest EREA partner School in St Edmunds College, Wahroonga, a school for some incredibly positive students who live and learn with various levels of mild and moderate intellectual and physical disability and ability.

It is always a positive experience interacting with and learning from the students of St Edmunds, and we thank their staff in Ms Bernadette Acred, Mr Carl Southern, Deputy Ms Rebecca Kirwan and Principal Mr Jon Franzin, all of whom have close links with St Pius, for facilitating our visit.

Old Boys Sponsored Student Leadership Team Speechcraft Course

One of the unique opportunities and commitments for our Student leadership Team elect is a speechcraft course sponsored by the St Pius X College Old Boys Association and designed to develop their lifelong skills, confidence and ability in communicating and presenting in various forms, teams, contexts and groups.

The course will consist of four sessions.  The sessions are timed to reduce negative impact on the Preliminary and HSC studies and will be held as follows:

• Session 1    Friday 12 October                   10.00 am – 1.30 pm     School Holidays, College Boardroom
• Session 2    Friday 19 October                   3.30 pm – 5.30 pm       Week 1 Term 4 Assembly Podium
• Session 3    Friday 26 October                   3.30 pm – 5.30 pm       Week 2 Term 4 College Boardroom
• Session 4    Wednesday 14 November   3.30 – 4.30pm School & 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm Chatswood RSL

Parents are invited to attend the final session on Wednesday 14 November at Chatswood RSL. 

Student Leadership Teams 2018 – 2019 Handover Meeting

As the Student Leadership Team 2018 led by Dan Hall time their final run to the HSC, their 2019 counterparts begin their tenure of leadership of the College. It is timely then that the portfolio teams: Captain and Vices, Learning, Mission and Identity, Cultural and Sustainability and Wellbeing Prefects and House Captains meet to share and pass on their goals, ideas, achievements and learnings for consideration from one team to the other.

This will occur in Year 5 Gold and Blue Classrooms next Thursday 6th September at lunchtime with thanks to Ms Williams and Mr Carroll for making their learning spaces available. 

Student Diary Planner and Pastoral Care Programs Feedback

As preparations begin for the Annual Calendar cycle rollover of Pastoral Care programs and planners, it is timely to call for feedback and ideas from the College community on how we can improve our programs, protocols, support structures and resources.

Feedback can directed through our Student Empowerment Mindmatters Teams, Pastoral Care Teams, Student Wellbeing Prefects or directly to Year Coordinators and Mr Brannan.

The inclusion of positive psychology, positive education, and growth mindset principles and resources, along with goal setting and planning activities and student photographs, artwork, ideas and relevant dates and opportunities, have been well received components of the student planners. More student, staff and parent input on how to refine practices can only improve the outcome and support of student wellbeing and performance. Thanks in advance for your positive participation on this process.

St Pius X College Counselling Team

As we wish Mr Russo well on leave in sunny Spain, Portugal and Sicily, at the Russo ancestral home, we welcome back long-time colleague and supporter of our Counselling Team in trained psychologist Ms Kellie Dargan.

Ms Dargan’s return to our counselling ranks ensures, notwithstanding the winter flu season, that we will have counselling support for our students on every day of Term 3.  The Counsellors will be working closely with our Year Coordinators and Pastoral Care Teaching Teams.

We greatly appreciate the seamless transition Ms Dargan represents in supporting our Counselling Team and particularly Ms McCarthy and Ms Gill in Mr Russo’s well deserved leave of absence.

Term 3 Counselling:

Ms Dargan:        Week 7:  Tuesday 4th to Thursday 6th September

                                 Week 8:  Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th September

                                  Week 9:  Monday 17th to Wednesday 19th September

                                  Week 10:  Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Friday 28th September

Ms Gill:                  Monday, Tuesday, Friday each week

Ms McCarthy:    Wednesday, Thursday  in Week 1

                                  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday in Week 2

Semester 2 House Vice Captains

Congratulations to each of the following students who have been elected by their peers to give voice to their cohort, assist in the upcoming RUOK, Founders Day, and other co-curricular activities, and represent the school at events such as the Centenary of Remembrance Day Ceremonies.

The presentation of the Semester 2 House Vice Captains will take place at Sports Assembly on Friday 7th September and to this end Semester 2 HVCs are asked to collect the appropriate badge from their Semester 1 counterpart, or see Mr Brannan early in Week 7 if there is any difficulty in doing so, such that all is in order for Assembly on Friday 7th September.

St Pius X College Old Boys Association Annual Dinner

Associations and connections of the College are reminded that the Annual Old Boys Dinner will be held on Friday 14th September (delayed from the usual first Friday in September) from 6pm at the Chatswood Club, Help St Chatswood.  The class of 2017 are sponsored free of charge and College Captain for 2017, Joe Unwin, will lead a prayer and tribute to Lachlan Ridley.

Bookings can be made at Trybooking:  https://www.trybooking.com/400629

Please contact Old Boys President Jeff Clarke or Mr Sean Brannan at the College for more details.

Boxercise

A reminder that Boxercise is held every Thursday and Friday morning at 7.30am in the Junior School playground.  This MindMatters initiative provides friendship, fun and fitness to strengthen students’ resilience and general sense of wellbeing.  Classes are free to all students.

White Knight Foundation Walk Against Youth Violence - Sunday 23rd September

Limber up and get ready to make a difference for The White Knight Foundation in the 2018 Walk Against Youth Violence.  Join us for a fun day out and make every step count!

• When:   Sunday 23rd September 2018 - 8:00am - 10:30am
• Where:  From West Spit Reserve, Mosman to Manly Wharf
• Why:  To raise funds for those affected by youth crime whilst on their journey through rehabilitation.

Details can be found in the flyer below.  

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care