Department News

• Performing Arts
• Senior Resource Centre
• Visual Arts

Performing Arts

WHITE KNIGHT FUND RAISING DINNER

Thank you and well done to the Senior String Quartet of Matthew Crotty (Year 11), Luke McManus (Year 10), Tom Van Dijk (Year 9) and Young Oh (Year 10) on their performance last Friday evening. The boys played superbly, receiving favourable comments from those who were listening.

EISTEDDFOD RESULTS

Congratulations to the Junior Jazz Band and their Director Mr Jonathan Dollin on being awarded a Highly Commended in the Secondary School Novice Stage Band section at the Sydney Eisteddfod on Monday morning. This is the first year that the Junior Jazz Band has competed in the eisteddfod and this recognition of the high standard of their playing is well and truly deserved.

Later in the afternoon the Intermediate Jazz Band under the direction of Mr Geoff Power were commended for showing good attention to detail in their performances, receiving an excellent mark of 90. To top off a busy day the Senior Jazz Band had a late night performing in the Secondary School Premium Stage Band section. Against some stiff competition the Band walked away with an impressive score of 92. Thank you to all students for the dedication and commitment you exhibit to your playing and of course a big thank you to Mr Dollin and Mr Power for the amazing work that they do with our jazz bands.

SENIOR DRAMA ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE NIGHT

On Tuesday 19th June (Week 8), the Senior Drama Ensemble will be presenting monologues that they have been working on during Semester 1. The evening will run for approximately an hour from 6.00pm in the Sarto Centre. Parking will be available in the College yard. Parents and friends are warmly invited to attend.

SENIOR STRING ENSEMBLE/COLLEGE ORCHESTRA

The Senior String Ensemble has been working hard over the last few weeks, whilst brass, woodwind and percussion players have had a break. Consequently, they too will have a break and not rehearse this coming Friday. The FULL ORCHESTRA will be rehearsing for the last three weeks of term starting on Friday 15th June (Week 7) commencing at 7.30am in the Band Room. All students are required to attend.

ASSASSINS

This fantastic musical investigates the varied and unusual ways that John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald and John Hinckley Jnr committed (or attempted to commit) the ultimate crime  ... the assassination of the President of the United States. Unfortunately, the College was unable to obtain a block of tickets for the musical but it is well worth seeing should you be interested. The shows commences 7th June at the Sydney Opera House.

A THOUSAND CRANES

Tickets are now on sale for this combined Mercy College and St Pius X College production. All details can be seen on the flyer.

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Senior Resource Centre

THE BOOK CLUB IS BACK

The first St Pius/Mercy College Book Club meeting for 2018 was recently held in the Senior Library. St Pius boys from Years 9 to 11 and the girls from  Mercy College discussed Cally Black’s kidnapping drama “In the Dark Spaces”. The book is in the running for the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s - Book of Year, but the verdict according to Book Club participants is that it is unlikely to win. Next book to be discussed is one of sci-fi author Ray Bradbury’s best works “Fahrenheit 451”.

If participating with fellow students in the Book Club sounds like fun, please contact me.

WRITER'S CAMP INVITATION

St Pius students in Years 6 to 9 are invited to attend a writing camp being hosted by Monte San't Angelo (in North Sydney) during the upcoming holidays.

 'Write Like an Author' is a four-day holiday program that will be run by author Brian Falkner.  See the flyer below for full details.

Ms K Keighery - Senior Teacher/Librarian

Visual Arts

Canon Photography Shoot

On Tuesday night we had the opportunity to take photographs at 'Vivid' in Chatswood with the Canon Collective Group. Although the rain poured down we persisted through and ended up taking amazing photos incorporating the rain.

During our debriefing, we were instructed to use certain camera settings and taught how to use the settings. We were provided with the camera equipment as well as tripods to help stabilise the shots. We were also provided with memory cards and expert advice. One of the techniques we used was to zoom whist capturing a long exposure to create light trails.

Adrian Tuersley and Oliver Robson (Year 9)