Parent & Student
Matters
A reminder to all budding St Pius filmmakers to enter their films into the upcoming College Film Festival - Lights Camera Pius!
What's happening in the College?
- Market Day Tuesday 3 September: CANTEEN CLOSED
- A Showcase of 2019 HSC Works in Visual Arts, Music and Drama
- Snowy Hike Training
- Kokoda Track Expedition 2020: 1st Training Hike Invite
- Year 10 History: Visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum
- Year 10 at the Zoo
- Year 10 Elective Music: Entertainment at Meals on Wheels
- College Film Festival - Lights Camera Pius! Friday 13 September
- Winter Sports Photos
- Science Week at SPX
- Broken Bay Science Week Competition
- Year 12 Science Students - One Day HSC Science Advantage Course at UTS
- Chess
- Debating
- Chatswood Street Fair - Saturday 7 September
- Welcome to Willoughby Picnic - Meet your Community
Canteen Closed on Tuesday 3 September
Please note that the Canteen will be closed and no orders will be taken on Tuesday 3 September due to Market Day.
A Showcase of 2019 HSC Works in Visual Arts, Music and Drama
Thursday 5 September
from 6pm - 8pm
at Chatswood Campus.
Digital image by Joshua Matar (Detail)
Snowy Hike Training
A reminder to parents and potential participants attending this year’s Snowy Hike that students must attend one of the following qualification hikes and the practice hike and mandatory training at Oxford Falls.
- Qualification Hike – participants MUST attend at least one of the initial qualification hikes below. Students require a daypack with water / snacks, suitable clothing and hiking boots if available.
- Thursday 29 August: 10km circuitous route from Chatswood 3.30-6.30pm.
- Thursday 5 September: 10km circuitous route from Chatswood 3.30-6.30pm.
- Practice Hike/Mandatory Training – participants MUST attend this afternoon practice hike after school. Students must carry their full backpack and wear the hiking boots they will use on the Snowy Hike. Students will then be bused to Oxford Falls campus for mandatory training and overnight stay. These sessions will cover necessary training around mountaineering / hiking (eg. safety, first aid, menu plan/cooking, low impact bushwalking, tent construction, packing, hypothermia etc. Equipment will be issued during this training.
- Students will then remain at Oxford Falls for their Study Day.
- - Thursday 31st October 3.30pm – Friday 1st November 9.00 am
Mr Paul de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Kokoda Track Expedition 2020
1st Training Hike Invite
Expedition dates: Monday 29 June – Thursday 9 July 2020
The Kokoda Track Expedition training is about to begin. We will be walking from Brooklyn to Cowan, 13.4km (1 big hill). This is an opportunity for all prospective participants to meet, prepare and to discuss all aspects of the Kokoda Track Expedition 2020.
- When: Sunday 8 September 2019
- Meet: Cowan train station 7.20am (Train to Hawkesbury River train station/Brooklyn 7.40am;
- arrive 7.49am
- Finish: Cowan train station 1.00pm (approx.) Trains every 60 minutes to Hornsby
- Need: 3 litres of water (no water on route), hat, sunscreen, snacks, sense of humour
If you have expressed an interest in attending the expedition and have not received a payment timeline email or if you are interested in being included in this expedition then please contact Mr P. de Silva via email: pdesilva@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
All members of the College Community are welcome to attend these training hikes (good level of fitness required).
Next Hikes for 2019 – To Be Confirmed
2. Sunday 6 October 2019
3. Sunday 3 November 2019
4. Sunday 1 December 2019
Mr Paul de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Year 10 History: Visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum
Last week all Year 10 History classes visited the Sydney Jewish Museum as part of their unit on the Holocaust which is being studied this term. The Museum provided a three part program called Understanding the Holocaust which engaged the students. The privilege of hearing the story and messages from a Holocaust survivor was a highlight of the day. The lessons these women were able to present based on their experiences were as valuable as the stories themselves. All students were given a guided tour of the Museum by volunteers who enthusiastically pointed out new exhibits and information about many aspects of the topic. Finally, a presentation from a Museum Educator focussed on key parts of the Holocaust.
All of this gave the Year 10s very useful ideas for their upcoming assessment but, more importantly, the history of this dark period of the twentieth century has so many layers that they can now continue to explore. All of the Museum staff were impressed by the questions and answers from the boys and the respect that they showed throughout their visit. Well done Year 10!
Mr Pat Rodgers - History/Legal Studies Coordinator
Year 10 at the Zoo
Our Year 10 boys enjoyed a most informative and productive day at the Zoo during their Geography Excursion last week. The main focus for the day was an examination of human and natural interaction with threatened habitats and environments. What is the Net Primary Productivity Rate of Tropical Rainforests? A question often asked!!
Mr Mark Pawlak - Geography Teacher/Year 10 Coordinator
Year 10 Elective Music
Our Year Ten Elective Music Class provided entertainment at a social gathering for the Chatswood Meals on Wheels clients last week during lunch at the Chatswood Dougherty Community Centre. They were warmly received.
Mr Mark Pawlak - Year 10 Coordinator
College Film Festival - Lights Camera Pius!
Friday 13 September - at lunchtime in the College Gym
Just a reminder to all budding St Pius filmmakers to enter their films into the upcoming College Film Festival - Lights Camera Pius!
We’d love to see you enter your short films (maximum of 3 minutes) that you have made this year. From thrillers to documentaries, all genres are accepted as long as they are rated PG or below. All submissions must be entered by the end of Week 7, at the box in the School’s Front Office. We have lots of entries already, so be sure to get your films in quickly! If you are more interested in watching the films, be sure to join us in the Gym during lunch-time on 13 September in Week 8.
There will be prizes given out to the most well-composed and engaging films, chosen by a judging panel of teachers. We’ve seen some great films from the young men of St Pius in previous years and can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 2019.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask Ms Bryant, Ms Doyle or any of the boys from the Film Festival Committee. Hope to see you there!
Ben Marino - Year 10
Poster by Oliver Robson - Year 10
Winter Sports Photos
The Winter Sports photos are being taken on Wednesday 4 September during Periods 1 – 3. Full sport uniform will be required for Rugby, Football and Tennis. All other photos will be taken in full school uniform including Blazers. All students need to bring their ID card for each photo they are in. The Running Order for the photos will be in the next Woodchatta.
Year/Group photo orders from the previous photo day have not been processed yet. All photos will be processed after the Winter Sports Photos have been taken.
Miss Leisa Proc - General Coordinator
Science Week at SPX College
All students are encouraged to join the Science Department next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime as we celebrate SPX Science Week. Please see the flier below to see what activities are on offer each day.
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
Broken Bay Science Week Competition
Last week all students from Years 7-10 participated in the Broken Bay Science Week Competition, run by Education Perfect in honour of National Science Week.
I am pleased to announce that Andrew Guerrera from Year 9 came first in that competition out of over 6000 students, with a total of 11,867 points. Andrew won a voucher from Education Perfect and an Elite certificate. Congratulations to Andrew and also to Ethan Li from Year 7 who came 9th, and all the students who participated in the Competition. Overall our school came 2nd with students being awarded over 40 achievement certificates.
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
Year 12 Science Students
One Day HSC Science Advantage Course at UTS
Saturday 28 September 2019 from 9.00am - 4.00pm
Year 12 HSC Science Students are invited to attend an intensive one day course covering the HSC Physics, Biology, Chemistry, EES, Investigating Science and Science Extension exams. This is a well-regarded revision course for Science students.
The various subject workshops throughout the day will include:
- Answering long-answer questions
- Answering multiple choice questions
- Answering short-answer questions and
- Yellow Submarine : A think-tank style session where participants will be unpacking the syllabus and writing their own questions.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.cognitoforms.com/STANSW/hscscienceadvantage
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
Chess
Unlucky! The Intermediate A chess team consisting of Tristan Williams, Ethan Griffin, William Licquorice, Manav Purohit , Andrew Guerrera and Perter Yastreboff have had their chess season halted in the cruellest of circumstances. This team finished the normal competition rounds in first place for their division and went on to play Shore A in a quarter final last Friday afternoon.
The result was even at 2 games apiece. However, the rules of chess dictated that the result for Board 4 be dismissed which meant that Shore were awarded victory of 2-1 over our boys. This is the first time in many years that St Pius has had such success and we congratulate these boys on their efforts. Well Done!!
Ms D Ramsey - Convenor
Debating
Ms Michele Waterson - Convenor
Chatswood Street Fair 2019 - Saturday 7 September
Please click on the flyer below for details.
Welcome to Willoughby Picnic - Meet your Community
Saturday 12 October - 10.30am to 1pm
Please click on the flyer below for details.