From the Principal

• Prayer 
• Pursue Your Passion
• Welcome to 2020
• Coronavirus Update
• Your son's classes and timetable
• Staffing Changes 2020
• Positions of Responsibility
• ISA Sports this weekend
• Performing Arts 
• Major Upcoming Events in Term 1

Bush Fire Prayer: 

Creator God, 

You breathe life into all things and make them holy, and we thank you.

Our land, our people, our fauna are suffering and we pray for rain. Please soak our land.

We pray for those who are enduring unimaginable injury and loss through fire. Bless them with deep comfort, consolation and hope.

We pray for our heroic fire fighters. Cover them with your protection and bless them and their families.

We pray for our leaders. Inspire them with courage and wisdom needed for this time.

Your people look to you with trusting hearts and the certainty of your love.

With deep gratitude and longing, we ask you to hear our prayer. Amen.

I found this prayer earlier in January on the Southern Cross Catholics website and thought it might help for us to join together in prayer for the tragedy that we have all experienced in some way during this Christmas and New Year period across Australia.

If you or your family have had some direct challenges and you feel that school counselling would help, please don’t hesitate to contact either Mr Russo, Mrs Gill or Mrs McCarthy. Also please feel welcome to contact the Year Coordinator to let us know how your son is.

Pursue Your Passion

Our theme for the year was developed by our Year 12 leaders and is “Strength Through Support” with a message for us all to “Pursue Your Passion”. 

Let us all work to support one another as the New School Year begins.

Welcome to 2020

On behalf of the College I warmly welcome all students, parents and staff to the 2020 school year. We look forward to welcoming the students to school tomorrow (Thursday 30 January).

This early edition of Woodchatta aims to provide information regarding the start of the school year and the many events that will occur early in the term.

I look forward to the year ahead with great promise and energy. In next week’s Woodchatta I will include more information about the holiday events and the work completed during the holidays but enough for now to advise the community of the happenings in this first part of Term 1.

Coronavirus Update

Further to my letter to parents yesterday on the Novel Coronavirus, I wish to update you regarding the announcement by the New South Wales government, issued by the Ministers for Health and Education.

The NSW Departments of Health and Education have recommended that any student who was in China over the past 14 days should not return to school as the coronavirus’ incubation period can be as long as two weeks.

As a result the College has determined the following:

• Any student who was in China over the past 14 days should not return to school this week. A 14 day incubation period applies from the date of the student's return to Australia.
• On return to school, the student should present a medical clearance. The medical clearance should note specifically that the examination has cleared the student in respect of coronavirus. Once a medical clearance has been obtained, please contact Mr Mark Casey, the Deputy Principal to make arrangements for your son's return.
• Attached again is my correspondence of 28 January which remains current.

Students who returned to Australia more than 14 days ago and have shown no symptoms should be able to return to school this week.

The same advice applies to staff.

Catholic Schools NSW continues to work closely with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international Novel Coronavirus situation and the College will continue to work with these bodies. I will advise you of any future advice as it comes to hand.

In accordance with normal protocols staff and children who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve.

If you have any concerns or wish to discuss this further, please contact the Deputy Principal, Mr Mark Casey mcasey@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or call the school on 9411 4733.

Your son's classes and timetable

The student timetables and classes are available on the Portal and for all students in the Junior School and new Year 7 students, this will be explained on the first day.

Staffing Changes for 2020

The College has had a number of changes to staffing and I warmly welcome staff new to the College.

During the holidays there were a few late changes to staff and I advise the community that Mrs Pip Waters (Performing Arts Coordinator) has accepted a position at William Clarke College. Mrs Waters will leave us at the end of Week 4 and in Week 5, we will welcome Mr Anthony Timmins who is currently the Performing Arts Coordinator at Oakhill College.

Mrs Natalie Rawle has moved to Toowoomba in Queensland with her family and the College has appointed Mr Paul Taylor from the Australian Institute of Music.

I sincerely thank and acknowledge Mrs Waters and Mrs Rawle for their contribution and service to the College and wish them well for the future.

In next week’s Woodchatta I will give more introduction to new staff, and staff new to their leadership position.

• Mrs Janelle Arena – Canteen Manager (with Mrs Anna Coombs)
• Mr Richard Camilleri – Science Laboratory Assistant
• Mr Sam Di Sano – RE and History
• Mrs Emma Fryar – English
• Mr Jim Hartnett – RE and History
• Mr Daniel Quilty – English
• Mrs Lisa Sutton – Student Reception (with Mrs Hunt and Mrs Panozzo)
• Mr Paul Taylor – Performing Arts
• Leigha Zervakos – RE and HSIE

Positions of Responsibility

Attached below is the list of staff who hold specific positions of responsibility in the College in 2020.

ISA Sport this weekend

The ISA Sports Competition (Senior School) re-commences this Saturday 1 February. Please see the Senior Sports page for relevant details.

Junior School Sport commences the following week on Saturday 8 February and NSTA Tennis on Saturday 15 February.

Performing Arts 

The Performing Arts Parents’ Association Meeting is next Tuesday Feb 4 in Music Room 1 at 7pm all welcome.  

Pius/Mercy School Play 2020

All senior students (actors and crew) are invited to attend a meeting to find out more about this year's proposed play.

Details:  Monday 3 February in the St Pius X Drama Room from 3.20 pm to 3.45 pm

Major Upcoming Events in Term 1, 2020

• Years 5, 6 & 7 Parent Information Evenings Monday 3 February 
• Swimming Carnivals - Tuesday 4 February (Senior) and Wednesday 5 February (Junior)
• Opening School Mass Tuesday 18 February
• P & F Commencement Mass 5.30 pm Saturday 22 February
• Junior School Parent/Teacher Meetings Monday 17 February
• Ash Wednesday 26 March
• First P & F Meeting Monday 2 March

Please refer to the 'Upcoming Events' page of this Newsletter for the 2020 College Calendar and Term Dates. 

Mr John Couani - Principal