From the Principal
- Reflection
- Blessed Edmund Rice Icon
- Staffing News
- Year 11 HSC Preliminary Examinations
- P&F Trivia Night
- ISA Athletics Carnival
- Students Leaving at the end of the year
Reflection
The struggles of life to find success
A boy watched a butterfly struggle to break out of its cocoon. Finally, the boy could bear to watch no more and, feeling sorry for the butterfly, he opened the cocoon and set the butterfly free. However, after spreading its wings and flying for only a few metres, the butterfly fell to the ground and died. The boy had wanted to help the butterfly by making life easier but in fact, the butterfly needed the struggle to gain strength that would enable it to fly free and live.
Life can sometimes seem like long struggle, especially when we are young. It is frightening to think of all the mistakes we could make as we strive to grow up into confident people, able to love our own lives. However, without the struggle, without trying hard and making the effort, we can never grow. Nor can we succeed, because success in everything is based on long hours of hard work.
As the boy and the butterfly found out, there are no short cuts. Yet in the struggles of life, we can find challenge, enjoyment and wisdom. In the end we shall value the prize more deeply if we made the effort, fought the fight and achieved our goals.
As the young men of Year 12 prepare themselves for their final week at St Pius X College, I hope they reflect on their journey and their challenges, enjoyment and wisdom this journey has provided them in their formation as Pius graduates. They would have realised early on that there are no short cuts to success but rather they required to embrace the College motto ‘fide et labore’ to truly experience success. It is through faith and hard work that we can call ourselves sons of St Pius X College. As teachers and parents, we picked them up on so many occasions, helping them realise their true potential. Now we are at a time when we need to let them be free to fly and live their lives as young men educated in the St Pius X way. Please keep all our Year 12 graduating students in your prayers as they conclude their time with the College and walk through the College doors for the last time next Wednesday.
Blessed Edmund Rice Icon
The Icon provides all Edmund Rice communities an insight into the person who was Blessed Edmund Rice.
St Teresa of Avila
Edmund feasted on the writings of St Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite mystic of the preceding century, and there are strong similarities between the two. She was magnificently practical and expressed her profound spirituality in very plain language. She is seen here with her staff and her book "Interior Castle". Around her are some of her favourite symbols -mountains, rain, river - and there is an affinity between her features and those of Edmund - strength, vision and eyes that look into the far distance.
Blessed Edmund Rice saying:
‘Give to the poor in handfuls’
Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for Us
St Pius X - Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts - Forever!
Staffing News
After a considerable time teaching at St Pius X College, Mr Alex Listo has been to see me to submit his resignation, given the recent news of his distinguished university results as a postgraduate in Political Science.
These results have made him eligible for a doctoral Research Fellowship. In combination with his requisite university tutorship, he will be undertaking specialised research, through the registered graduate internship with the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).
As well as his teaching experience at St Pius X, Mr Listo has a wealth of experience and skills, which he previously accrued as an electoral research officer, press secretary and speech writer in the State and Federal political arenas here in Australia and in Southeast Asia.
On behalf of the entire College, past and present, I would like to thank Mr Listo for his outstanding contribution to the College and for being a faithful servant of St Pius X College and Edmund Rice education. We wish Mr Listo every success in his new endeavour and we hope he returns frequently to let us know how he is travelling. Good luck and good bye Mr Listo.
Year 11 HSC Preliminary Examinations
Please keep all our Year 11 students who commenced their Year 11 HSC PreliminExaminations this week. These important examinations will provide significant guidance for our students as they consider their HSC course of study. May God guide all Year 11 students throughout these examinations and the discernment about their future program of study.
P&F Trivia Night
A reminder of that the rescheduled P&F Trivia Evening is on this Friday. A reminder that it is a World Cup theme. I am looking forward to sharing a night of fun and some knowledge with the community. I hope to see you there.
ISA Athletics Carnival
Yesterday we were exceptionally well represented by our athletes at the annual ISA Athletics Carnival at Homebush. By all accounts the team performed numerous personal best times and distances. At the time of writing this article we were not aware of the final placings as unfortunately the relays were not able to be conducted because other events ran overtime. Hopefully, our relay teams will be able to perform at a later date. Special thanks go to Mrs Lee and Mr Steinmann for their coaching and preparation of the team. Thanks also to Mr Stearn who assisted the team on the day and ensured our athletes had appropriate representation at the next level. This carnival brings us to the end of the athletics season. Thank you to all our athletes for their commitment and support of our program.
Students Leaving the College at the end of the year
Parents are reminded that if you are considering a change of schools at the end of the year, it is the policy of the college that a term's notice should be given in writing to the Principal. As we head towards the end of Term 3, I ask any parents considering a change to make contact with the college.
You are also welcome to contact the College Registrar to discuss any enrolment matters: cjennings@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever
Mr Michael Ronchetti - Principal