Pastoral Care
St Pius X College Chatswood
Year 9 Camp
NSW School Vaccination Program
Mental Health Month 2026
Parent Webinars
Year 9 Camp
Year 9 Camp Somerset Begins with Energy and Enthusiasm
Our Year 9 students have made a fantastic start to their Camp Somerset Outdoor Learning Program, arriving safely and quickly embracing the challenges and opportunities of camp life.
Following their arrival and orientation, students settled into their groups, participated in a range of icebreaker activities, and set off taking themselves out of their comfort zone.
Throughout the day, students demonstrated excellent teamwork and organisation as they collected camp equipment, prepared their campsites, and learned the practical skills required for outdoor living. The afternoon saw students begin their first activity rotations, from river run, to create stack to hiking. Teachers were impressed by the positive attitude shown across the cohort and the support students provided one another throughout the day.
As the sun set, students gathered around the campfire to reflect on the day's experiences and enjoy time together. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for students to strengthen friendships, develop independence, and create lasting memories. With such a positive beginning, the camp is already proving to be a valuable experience that will continue to foster personal growth, leadership, and connection over the coming days.
Group 1
Group 1
Mr Justin Gates - Year 9 Assistant Pastoral Leader
NSW School Vaccination Program
NSW Health will offer vaccinations to all Year 7 students again on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Year 7 – Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)
Plus catch-up Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (dTpa) if not given previously on 14/10/2026.
Also:- Year 8 – dTpa and HPV (if not given in Year 7)
Year 10 – Meningococcal ACWY (if not given at the previous clinic)
Consent (permission) is Required for the vaccines to be provided
- No need to complete another form if you already provided consent
- Previous consent remains valid.
- If you wish to withdraw consent, please do so before the clinic date by:
- Updating the consent online
- Notifying the school, or
- Contacting the Public Health Unit on (02) 9485 6971
How to Provide Consent
- Visit the NSW School Vaccination Portal: https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage
- Log in using your ServiceNSW account details (or create one if required click here).
- Complete the online consent form:
- Enter your child’s details including Medicare
- Read the Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement
- Submit your consent
- You will receive an SMS and email when you have successfully submitted the online consent form.
HPV Vaccine
This vaccine protects against HPV-related cancers that include almost all cervical cancers, 60% of cancers of the throat, tonsils and tongue, and many genital and anal cancers for both men and women. Only one dose of HPV vaccine is required.
No Medicare or difficulty with the online form?
A paper consent form is available from the school.
Student absent from school on clinic
Receive the vaccine at a future school clinic, or
Visit a GP or participating pharmacy
Further information
For more information on routine school vaccinations, visit
For translated information, visit
www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx
If you have difficulty completing the online vaccination consent form, please email
nslhd-phuschoolvaccinationprogram@health.nsw.gov.au or phone 029485 6971 for assistance.
Mental Health Month 2026
This year's Mental Health Month theme, A Little Connection Goes a Long Way, highlights how everyday moments of connection can support mental wellbeing.
Connection can take many forms and can be done in ways that feel safe and comfortable for each person. It might be an interaction with the world - like having a brief chat to a neighbour, spending time with loved ones, or volunteering in the community. It might also look like moments of self-connection, such as engaging in a hobby you enjoy. Small, simple acts can make a big difference to our mental health.
Research shows that feeling connected can support mental wellbeing by reducing stress, improving emotional balance, and making it easier to cope with challenges.
How will you connect this Mental Health Month?
Parent Webinars
Transition to High School - Managing Anxiety free webinar
Delivered by WayAhead Mental Health Association NSW, this webinar is designed to support families with children going to high school in 2027 or 2028.
Date: Thursday 22 October 2026
Time: 12:00 noon - 1:15 pm OR 7:15 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: online via Microsoft Teams
Register: Lunchtime session (12:00 noon)
Evening session (7:15 pm)
eSafety Commissioner
The office of the eSafety Commissioner offers free webinars for parents and carers.
Please use this link to their website for more details.
Mr Martin Gillogly - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care