Pastoral Care

 WELLBEING ANECDOTES FROM THE STUDENT DIARY PLANNER

“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. That makes you a winner right there.”  - Venus Williams.

 

“Just as we don’t realise we are breathing, we often don’t realise we are using our character strengths.”  - Martin Seligman

• Buddies not Bullies Bushwalk
• Year 9 REACH Day
• RUOK Day
• Year 9 PDHPE Dance
• Year 10 Willoughby – Gwydir Shire Council Student exchange and Willoughby City Fair
• House Vice Captains
• Student Leadership Teams 2019 and 2020 Summit
• Willoughby Council Youth Services HSC Student Support Lecture

Buddies not Bullies Bushwalk

Congratulations to all participants in Mr Russo’s highly successful Peer Mentoring Program in which students in Years 5–7 are mentored by students in Years 10–12. Over 50 of the students from the program participated in the Buddies Bushwalk with their mentors on Sunday. The picturesque Governor Phillip walking track along Middle Harbour from Acron Oval in St Ives to Davidson Park, Forestville provided the backdrop for the connection in action between our students.

I thank Mr Russo, Ms McCarthy, Ms Fileman, the many parents who joined and assisted us and the students for a very enjoyable Sunday bushwalk and BBQ experience which supported the ongoing enhancement of College and wellbeing within our Pastoral Care Program.

As we walked the track we reflected on the 30-40,000 years over which Aboriginal people have been the custodians and managed this magnificent environment, with the extensive shell middens along the track pointing to the thousands of seafood family barbecues that have been shared along the shoreline of Middle Harbour.

If we can get along with and care for each other and the environment in a similar way we will be doing well. Mr Russo’s Peer Mentoring Program takes many of our students a long way towards achieving this.

Year 9 REACH Day

This Wednesday 11 September, while Year 10 attend the bstreetsmart road safety education excursion, Year 9 will begin their preparations for RUOK Day, their Year 9 Camp, and higher callings within the school, by attending a REACH workshop at The Concourse which promotes the ideals of inclusivity and positive interactions in community. The REACH Foundation was founded by AFL player Jim Stynes to promote self-esteem and positive self-image among young people, to be considerate of others, act against bullying and achieve all they can in developing a positive society.  Some prominent past student leaders of the College have gone on to be team leaders and facilitators within the Foundation and come back to share their journeys with us.

The day was full of positive energy and we now challenge our students to go out and be “positive Men for Others” as they learn and develop into great men of integrity.

RUOK Day

This Friday 13 September the College celebrates both RUOK Day and the College’s 4th Annual Short Film Festival. Festivities begin before school when our Year 12, 11 and 10 Student Wellbeing Empowerment Teams will welcome all staff and students at the entrances.  Students are then invited to don their favourite Jersey for assembly when our Year 12 Team and Mr Lynch will begin the forum and RUOK Day discussion.  Year 10 will have a guest speaker Period 1 with Waratah player Jed Holloway addressing us in his role as a BATYR RUOK Day Ambassador.

All lessons will be shortened to accommodate an extended one hour lunchtime and Short Film Festival viewing.  In the spirit of RUOK Day, please ensure you engage someone in meaningful conversation and demonstrate the empathy and care that shows you value them and are willing to listen, consider and act.  The day will promote the EREA Touchstone and the concept of living and supporting one another in an Inclusive Community.

Year 9 PDHPE Dance

It was pleasing to note the student enthusiasm evident in the Year 9 PDHPE creative dance routines last Wednesday at Oxford Falls. The application to performance and positive growth mindset will be well utilised when we combine with Brigidine College St Ives for the Ceroc Dance workshop on 15 November.

Year 10 Willoughby – Gwydir Shire Council Student Exchange and Willoughby City Fair

Three of our Year 10 students - Dom Panozzo, Nick Ward and James Baldock - benefitted from the brainchild of former Willoughby Mayor and Old Boy Pat Reilly this week when they followed up on their cultural exchange visit to the Northern NSW town of Bingara.

Willoughby Council’s response to the Bingara Orange Festival featured a tour of Sydney on Friday, Saturday at the Willoughby Fair and a Sunday surfing lesson with Manly Surf School. The St Pius X Year 10 students will contribute to Willoughby Council Youth Services through the Youth Advisory Group.

All three have found the reciprocal visits a thoroughly informative and rewarding experience and we thank Renee and Lilly from Willoughby Council for enabling this invaluable learning experience.

House Vice Captains

Year 7–10 students are electing House Vice Captains over the coming weeks to provide distributed leadership and student voice to our pastoral care programs. The House Vice Captains will support the newly elected Year 11 House Captains throughout Semester 2 in leading the House Cup Competition which College Vice Captains Tyson McCallum and Michael Fakhoury will administer.

Some of their other duties will include representing the College at local Remembrance Day Ceremonies and assisting with preparation of the College Student Diary Planner for 2020.  Best wishes to all in the upcoming elections and appointments.

Student Leadership Teams 2019 and 2020 Summit

It was great to see the rich exchange of ideas and themes as our outgoing Student Leadership Team met with their newly elected successors in the Year 5 classrooms last Thursday lunchtime. The qualities, themes and legacies passed on between and from the two groups assure the College of another generation of great student leadership as Lachlan Mathie’s team take over from that of Oliver Tysoe.

Best wishes to both our outgoing class of 2019 and incoming Year 12 Leaders 2020.

Willoughby Council Youth Services HSC Student Support Lecture - 3 October 2019

Willoughby Library would like to support the wellbeing of young people sitting the HSC by offering a school holiday workshop on 3 October from 12:30pm - 2:30pm.  Please refer the flyer below from Willoughby Council.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care