Student Matters &
MindMatters
- News from Head of Student Services
- Year 12 - 2017 Information, Year 11 Reports, Years 7-10 Examinations
- Duke of Edinburgh - Silver Award Adventurous Journey
- Student Opal Cards for 2017
News from Head of Student Services
Wellbeing Wednesday
On our second ever Wellbeing Wednesday at St Pius X College, the Year 10 MindMatters Student Empowerment Team, coordinated by Ms Allington, led the Home Rooms in a Smiling Mind app Mindfulness Meditation, to underline the importance of focus in composure in coping with adversity and achieving clarity in our lives.
Future Wellbeing Wednesdays will focus on topics such as:
- overcoming exam stress,
- diet and exercise,
- positive sleep patterns,
- benefits of positive interpersonal relationships, and
- showing gratitude for those who help us throughout our lives.
White Ribbon Day
Wellbeing Wednesday supported Ms Foord’s Year 11 MindMatters Student Empowerment Team, featuring Brandon Jubian and Tom Gazey who led the school in a celebration of White Ribbon Day.
- Respect and Gratitude for the positive influence of Women in our Lives -
Over recent weeks students in English have, under Mr Webster and Ms Foord’s Leadership, been completing posters commemorating Positive Influential Women in our World which are now on display taking pride of place in the College Foyer.
This morning, to celebrate White Ribbon Day (which actually falls during Exam Week 7), our students recorded the name and dedication of a woman: mother, sister, grandmother or significant other, who has a positive influence in their lives, on a post it note. Notes were then placed on our Wall of Respect for Women outside the College Foyer. Under the leadership of our Wellbeing Prefect Leaders and MindMatters Teams, the conversations thus started, emphasise the positive contribution, crucial roles and examples of women in all of our lives. Our aim is to challenge our students to develop a profound respect for women.
Lads and Dads Boot Camp
This fitness initiative led by Mr Joe Lynch and Mr Francis Cullimore provides students of all ages and their Dads the opportunity to share a morning workout in the Sarto Gym. It’s never too late to get fit for summer so contact Mr Lynch to register your interest and turn up to the Sarto Centre Gym , corner of Wattle Lane and Anderson Street at 7.15am warm up for a 7.30am start.
There is space for Peer Mentors and their Buddies if Junior Students would like join in but are having trouble dragging Dad to the gym on Tuesday mornings so again see Mr Lynch to see if you and your Peer Mentor Buddy qualify.
We look forward also to the Mums and Sons involvement of this initiative in the 2017 school year.
Speechcraft
Our Student Leadership body comprising of Captain Joseph Unwin, Vice Captains Daniel Butler and Angus Dingley; House Captains Joshua Thrum (Barron), Daniel Greenland (Purton), Sam John (Rice) and Brodie Jones (Treacy); Student Well Being Prefects: Matthew Hall, Daniel Warren and Nathaniel Panozzo, Learning Prefects: Peter Maniatis, William Maniatis and Demott Beattie; Cultural Prefects: Rory Beattie, Jacob Crisafulli and Alec Vinci; and Mission and Identity Prefects: Anthony Maras, Alex Graffeo and Andrew Jackson, complete their St Pius X College Old Boys Association sponsored Speechcraft Communications Course next Monday evening in front of a Dinner audience at the Chatswood RSL Club. Parents and Friends please book your meal on Trybooking if you haven’t already done so:
https://www.trybooking.com/230196
We look forward to an entertaining night on which the Team can demonstrate their public speaking skills.
Upcoming Mindmatters Buddies and Peer Mentor Dates:
- Friday 28th October - Indoor Rockclimbing
- Friday 25th October - Buddies not Bullies Beach walk (Following the Founders Day Festival)
- Thursday 1st December - Balmoral Beach Boxercise
See Mr Russo to register or contact him via email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
Duke of Edinburgh
Congratulations to our Duke of Edinburgh students who completed their Silver Hikes on the Weekend from Woy Woy to Wondabyne Station on the Central Coast under the guidance of Mr Paul de Silva and Ms Veronica Kugananthan. The build up to the Year 11 Snowy Hike Expedition continues with a briefing afternoon at Oxford Falls after Study Day this Friday the 28th October, and Practice Hike with packs and equipment next Wednesday 2nd November preceding the HSC Information night.
Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services
Year 12 - 2017 Information
Year 11 - Reports
Years 7 - 10 Examinations
Year 12 - 2017 Information Evening
Our current Year 11 students have completed their Preliminary HSC course of study and have commenced their HSC courses. This is a very exciting time for these students who have been waiting in anticipation to embark on this final year of senior learning. An information evening will be held on the evening of Wednesday 2nd of November in the College Gymnasium.
Year 11 Reports
Teachers are now well in the process of finalising Preliminary HSC grades for reports. Evidence of student's learning is being collated and will be used to determine levels of achievement. As stipulated by BOSTES, a standards-referenced approach is used for assessing and determining student achievement in Year 11 In standards-referenced assessment, the achievements of a student are reported using the Common Grade Scale for Preliminary Courses and these can be accessed from:
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/rosa/principals-teachers/common-grade-scale-pre-courses.html
Reports will be available on the Parent Portal towards the end of this week. An email notification will be sent and a hard copy will then be sent in the mail.
Years 7 to 10 Examinations
For students in Years 7 to 10, much of their learning during this term will be focussed on the exams. Most subjects in Years 7 to 10 will conduct examinations.
Year 10 examinations will commence in Week 5 and examinations for Years 7 to 9 will commence in Week 6. Examination timetables will be available on the Portal once finalised. Please avoid scheduling appointments during the examination period as it is not always possible to reschedule missed exams.
Preparing for Examinations
Many students may become anxious at the thought of examinations. Being well prepared can certainly reduce stress and improve levels of achievement. Exam preparation should commence now. Each night, students should allocate a portion of their evening study time to exam preparation. Waiting till the week before or even worse, the night before will increase anxiety. A simple way to start is to compile a glossary of key terms and concepts for each subject.
A comprehensive range of resources focused on exam preparations are available from the following website.
www.studyskillshandbook.com.au
username: spx
password: 25success
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding examinations.
Alex Damo - Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning
Duke of Edinburgh - Silver Award Adventurous Journey
An early departure from school on Friday was the beginning of our Silver Duke of Edinburgh test hike. After a train journey to Woy Woy the boys spent a number of hours exploring the outskirts of the town (maps don't always represent the situation on the ground). Friday night was spent camping near the top of Mount Wondabyne and included a trip to the summit where many photos were taken. After an adventurous and exciting evening the boys braved more wind, rain, lightening and leeches as they walked to a lovely campsite under the base of a suspension bridge on Piles Creek near the Moony Mooney Creek Bridge. On Sunday morning after a short liturgy the students were rewarded with stunning spring weather as they hiked to a conclusion at Wondabyne Station. A swim in the Hawkesbury River was extremely refreshing and therapeutic for the many aching and tired muscles as the students waited for the train to return them to Hornsby Station.
Congratulations must go to those boys that have now completed the Adventurous Journey component for their Silver Award. A big thank you must also go to Miss Kugananthan for her enthusiasm, sense of humour, patience and ongoing support for our Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys.
Any student who is 14 years of age or older interested in taking part in the College Duke of Edinburgh program needs to express their interest to Mrs Manga or myself.
Paul de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Student Opal Cards for 2017
Students who are going from Year 6 into Year 7, or any student who changes address, need to go to the link below and update their details. The last part of the updating process is to print the form and bring it in to the College for endorsement.
https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/updateDetails
We have been reminded by State Transit that it is a Condition of Use that students must tap on and tap off at the start and at the end of each trip with their Student Opal Card. This is important to ensure correct patronage data is recorded which is used to plan school special and regular route services. Currently many students are failing to tap on or off the Opal readers when using their Student Opal Card.
Please ask your sons to abide by this important condition of use so State Transit can continue to provide effective school bus services in the future.
Ms R Gaston