Pastoral Care

From the Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

Wellbeing Anecdotes from the Student Diary Planner:

“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” (Sigmund Freud)

“Don’t be afraid of your tears. They’re not there to scare you. They’re there to let you know something is worth it.” (Joy Bell)

Visitors to the College by Reconciliation Advocates

Year 7 Study Skills Information Evening

NSW Rugby State Championships Weekend Junior Representatives

Willoughby City Parent Support Seminar:  Understanding Gaming Addiction

Visitors to the College by Reconciliation Advocates

Visit to St Pius X College by Catholic Schools NSW State Manager Programs and Policy, Jayde Gray, and Wilcannia Forbes Diocese Aboriginal Education Officer, Merindah Wilson.

We were privileged on Monday 17 June to host two leaders of Catholic school education who are proud advocates for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australian people. Jayde Ward is a representative of the Gadigal people of the Sydney region with strong connections to the Wiradjuri people of the Western slopes of NSW, while Merindah was born in Walgett of the Kamilaroi people but now works extensively supporting Catholic education on Wiradjuri country.

Merindah plans to meet us in Brewarrina and Bourke as our Year 9-11 Social Justice and CIP expedition to Coonabarabran, Baradine, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke and Dubbo in the first week of the holidays visiting towns, places, local schools and communities in the drought affected areas of North Western NSW.

The 50 students and staff participants in our expedition are busy accumulating winter rated sleeping bags and light layers of clothing to keep warm, as well as stationery and sporting equipment with which to connect with the communities we visit. I am pleased to report that Year 9 at Brigidine College, with whom we will share a Ceroc Dance Workshop in November, have also seen fit to collect box-loads of stationery for us to donate to the remote schools we visit in Bourke, Walgett and Brewarrina.

In support of our preparations and ongoing reconciliation journey Jayde and Merindah were highly complimentary of our students and actions as components of the St Pius X College, EREA and Narragunnawali RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan).  Their positive and busy day with us included:

• A St Pius welcome from School Captain Oliver Tysoe, Expedition Leaders -Tyson McCallum, Conor Ryan, Ashley Johnson, Cavan Ryan and Caleb Hanrahan - and Mr Cunneen.
• Tour of the school and our acknowledgements of the Cameraygal land on which we live and learn.
• Meeting with OLD and OLGC Primary School Mercy College and Parish representatives to develop our site-specific RAPs and Actions.
• Meeting with Mr Ryan Balboa, Mr Adrian Brannan, Mr Nathan Mulheron and the abovementioned students as members of our Narragunnawali RAP committee and ongoing “ambassadors for reconciliation”.
• Lunch Meeting with the St Pius X College Leadership Team to consider our actions on behalf of the First Nation people and students of St Pius in context.
• Combined Year 5 St Pius and Our Lady of Dolours lesson on Reconciliation in Australia.
• Briefing of the Bourke expedition students and staff on which country and people we will be visiting and cultural understandings to consider.

The feedback from our visitors, students and staff has been highly positive, affirming and useful as we prepare for our upcoming exciting expedition and broader journey into a future which celebrates the diversity, strengths and insights provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the benefit of all Australians. 

Year 7 Study Skills Information Evening

ELES Principal Prue Salter leads Year 7 Study Skills Evening Information Centre

It was encouraging to see the large numbers of Year 7 students and their parents who braved a cold Monday night to attend our study skills information evening presented by Prue Salter. Prue is a highly regarded consultant who has worked with our students from Years 7 to 12 over the past ten years to help them develop the learning skills, growth mindset, and insights which will support them through school, the HSC, Tertiary studies and lifelong learning.

There is an opportunity for Year 8 students and parents to catch up this session next year in June 2020 as a refresher, otherwise our students will meet her again in Year 11 with a session targeting the skills and patterns of study required to overcome the adversity of an evolving HSC in a resilient and informed manner.

I thank Prue, Year 7 Coordinator Mr Phil Stollery and all those who attended on Monday evening for their ongoing concern for the wellbeing and development of the College and its students in developing a lifelong love of learning and challenge.

NSW Rugby State Championships Weekend Junior Representatives

Last week, in the context of our 1st XI Footballers who play their CIS Cup final tonight, I acknowledged our senior students who had represented their districts in the State Rugby Championships over the June long weekend.  It would be remiss of me then, not to name and albeit incomplete list of students from our Junior age groups.  Congratulations to:

• Gus Patterson- shadow reserve for U14 Gordon team who won their state championships v ACT Brumbies.
• Zac Flynn and Will Pavely represented U14 Manly (6th in state championships)
• Noah Miller, Darcy Aylmer, Hugo and Oscar Kalcher from Year 7 represented Gordon in the U13s.
• PJ Marren (Year 7) represented Gordon in the U12s along with James Griffith (Year 7), Archie Harris (Year 6) and probably some others.

Go Pius rugby!

And best wishes tonight to our 1st XI team, Mr Quilty, Mr Yue and Ms Proc. May we support them also in the most positive manner possible as we continue to celebrate the diversity of talent and accomplishment and endeavours of all students at the College.

Willoughby City Parent Support Seminar

Please see the flyer below for an upcoming Parent Support Seminar on Understanding Gaming Addiction in Young People. The seminar will be held in the Willoughby City Council Chambers on Wednesday 26 June.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care