Pastoral Care
- Year 9 Camps
- Year 9 Ceroc Dance Workshop
- Pastoral Care Reporting
- Student Leadership Team Investititure
- Speechcraft Graduation Dinner
- Remembrance Day and Kokoda Day
- Buddies not Bullies Beachwalk - 24 November
- Old Boys' News
Year 9 Camps
Our Year 9 Rites of Passage camps based on the Good Samaritan call to action: 'Go and do likewise', Luke 10: 25-37 conclude this week with Mr Steinman, Mrs Zervakos, and Mr Phaesie engaging 9H5 through the program of Stand Up Paddle Board and Ocean swimming challenges, Aboriginal Cultural Awareness, Surf lessons Jesuit reflection and Environmental awareness, concern and actions.
Feedback from all students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive the rich learning shared and achieved with smaller homeroom groups at our spectacular Beach Retreat setting at Workul Koo on Wamberal Beach.
The growth and social emotional learning demonstrated by Year 9 is proof positive of the capacity and ability of this cohort as they develop the sense of self, story, and optimism to resiliently overcome adversity and grow stronger.
Year 9 Ceroc Dance Workshop
In extension of our Respectful Relationships and Rites of Passage Camps SEL programs, Year 9 will attend the Ceroc Dance Workshop with Brigidine College at Oxford Falls on Friday 17 November. Students will be required to wear sports uniform on this particular day and engage in the learning and dance activity in a positive manner. Each student will progressively dance with each of our Brigidine guests and must show respect to all of the students on the day.
The event has always been greatly enjoyed by our Year 9 students and the Champions Trophy is a sought-after piece of silverware since it was first won by Angus Growden in 2014!
Pastoral Care Reporting
At this time in the year the Pastoral Care Teams and Year Coordinators who are charged with the ongoing care and concern for the pastoral development of our students are preparing to write Pastoral Reports which reflect on the progress and situation of each Year 7 – 10 student. It is timely at this point to have a conversation with your sons on their personal growth, journey, and story this year. It can be a good exercise to have them write and reflect on their own report: their development and connection through learning and involvement in the life of the College community.
Snowy Mountain Practise Hike and Training
With the Senior Student Leadership investiture this Thursday, members of the Student Leadership Team who are also attending the Snowy Practise Hike and Training Evening at Oxford Falls are reminded to place their backpack at the Office admin veranda in the morning ready to depart in the 22 seater with Mr Brannan as soon as the afternoon tea with parents concludes ready to catch up with the practice hike on its walk of the Cascades Trail around Davidson and Forestville.
Speechcraft Graduation Dinner
At this stage we will have to unfortunately have to cancel our Student Leadership Team speechcraft graduation dinner. A very full Term 4 calendar and the reduction of a week of teaching and learning has resulted in a very busy schedule for our Year 11 students in particular while our Old Boys focus is on the Old Boys Business Network Group meeting on the evening of 14 November. Contact Mr Sean Brannan for details: sbrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Remembrance Day and Kokoda Day
With Kokoda Day on 3 November, and Remembrance Day 11 November (to be celebrated at a College Assembly from 10:30 am on Friday 10 November at our Chatswood Campus) expressions of interest are called from students, ex-students, families and connections who might wish to represent the school in this capacity. Particularly students who can attend the Chatswood Garden of Remembrance Ceremony (10:30 am Saturday 11 November) in full polished Summer uniform can contact Mr Sean Brannan sbrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
Buddies Not Bullies Beachwalk
Friday 24 November, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm Long Reef to Dee Why Beach then return to Chatswood.
The end of year activity for our Peer Mentoring Program is our Founder's Day Festival Beachwalk.
After the Founder's Day whole school event at our Oxford Falls campus on Friday 24 November we will hold our final Peer Mentoring activity for 2023 in recognition of Mr Rick Russo. Students will depart directly from our Founder's Day Event at Oxford Falls at 2:00 pm. We will walk with our Peer Mentoring Buddies from Long Reef to Dee Why for beach activities, a swim and afternoon tea.
Subsequently, students can be picked up at Dee Why Surf Club or return to Chatswood for pickup from the College at around 6:30 pm.
With many of our Year 12 mentors now having left the school we would like to recruit some Year 11 students to assist with this event. Please see Mr Brannan in Week 4 for a permission note if you would like to be involved, preferably with your Peer Mentoring Buddy. If you are not on the Buddies list but would like to attend please see Mr Brannan.
Old Boys' News
Preparations continue for the Old Boys Business Network Group meeting on 14 November. Contact Mr Sean Brannan sbrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or David Bullard / Sam Loricco through the Old Boys Association for more details.
Current events
Monday’sABC Q and A Program featured prominent Middle Eastern affairs expert consultant, former Lowy Institute representative, and published author, retired Colonel Rodger Shanahan, Old Boy Class of 1982!
With all the grave concerns for current events in and around Gaza, it is some comfort to listen and consider the insights of a credible voice on the issues, and one with whom we can share context and story.
Our thoughts and prayers are also extended on behalf of another unsung hero Colonel Paul Bruce who is currently serving another Middle East tour of duty.
Fide et Labore
Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care