Mission & Identity

• Year 10 Immersions
• Willowood Christmas Visit

Year 10 Immersions

Last week saw 26 Year 10 students involved in our annual immersion program. All reports gathered from the sites visited stated that our boys were an absolute credit to themselves and the College.

With specific reference to the Central Coast Immersion, St Pius had students working at Coast Shelter, the Regional Youth Support Services as well as having an opportunity to visit The Glen. Our work at Coast Shelter saw students preparing lunch for those living in hardship. Students saw first hand disadvantage that had been brought on by unemployment as well as drug and alcohol dependency. Each visitor to Coast Shelter commented on the courtesy of the St Pius students and the staff of Coast Shelter have provided us with an open invitation to return whenever we wished given the maturity and enthusiasm with which the boys worked.

The Regional Youth Support Services provides education, training and a safe place after school for the youth of the Central Coast. Our time at the Wyoming Centre was spent cleaning the outdoor facilities so that the children had a safe and welcoming place to play after school. Specific tasks included: repainting the lines on the basketball court, re- planting the vegetable garden, removing leaves, painting and general maintenance. The school students of Wyoming enjoyed the company of the St Pius boys who not only worked outdoors during the day, but played games and sports in the afternoon.

Our time on the Central Coast concluded with a visit to The Glen, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. We were provided with a tour of the facilities that attempt to help young men rid their lives of their drug dependency to then become productive members of the community. We heard the stories of how drug use had meant many of the clients lost homes, wives and children due to their actions. Following our tour we joined the men of The Glen at The Entrance for the March Against Domestic Violence. We joined with a cross section of the community to stand up against this violence that touches so many lives across the Central Coast. Students heard presentations from school students, poets and the police about the effect of domestic violence in the community. Following lunch we had the opportunity for a quick swim before returning to Chatswood to conclude our week.

Each of the three agencies have asked for our return so that we can continue to support those on the fringes of our community. The work of our students allowed them to truly live by the ideals set by Blessed Edmund Rice and we look forward to many years of assisting the Central Coast community.

Nathan Mulheron

Assistant Principal, Mission & Identity

Willowood Christmas Visit

"The performance was OUTSTANDING! The choir of PIUS boys sounded beautiful and added a whole other level to this Christmas event. We are so grateful to all the choristers who made an effort be there" wonderful words of appreciation by Ms Clare Barry, the Chief Diversional Therapist of Willowood Aged Care Facility, Chatswood.

It was an enjoyable and memorable time not only for the Aged Care residents of Willowood but as well, for a handful of dedicated and generous Year 10 and 9 students on Monday afternoon.

The selection of music was superbly welcomed by patients, medical professionals and hospital administration staff. The Christmas carols resonated with many of the members of the audience as they mutually exchanged smiles of appreciation with the choral songsters.

The boys, who practised for this long awaited event were on the day full of energy, enthusiasm and love of what they do – giving to others!  They were unmistakably talented and infectious. Many of the audience were touched by the reflective words spoken between songs. By the time “Silent Night” was played there was not a dry eye in the house but only gestures of praise with loud clapping.

Sincere thanks to the following boys:

Year 10: James Baldock, Liam Chang, Ben Giles, Ben Marino, Josh Jones, Alex Ramsbottom, Nick Ward.

Year 9: Ben Cullen, Anthony Elliott, Nathan McAdam, Justin Park, Joseph Reyes.

Mr. A. Listo

Willowood Pastoral Convenor.