Pastoral Care 

• Wellbeing Anecdote from the Student Diary
• Bully Zero eSafety Parent Webinar this Thursday, 4 March
• Year 7 Camp
• College Visit by Br Brian Berg
• Buddies Bushwalk
• Old Boys vs Senior Students Gala Day
• National Day of Action Against Violence and Bullying
• Vale Mr Phil Chaplin

Wellbeing Anecdote from the Student Diary

“An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes 

which can be made in a narrow field” 

Niels Bohr, Physicist 

Bully Zero eSafety Parent Webinar this Thursday 4 March

All parents and members of the wider St Pius X College Community are warmly invited to join us in the Zoom webinar below on the topic of eSafety and addressing anti-social behaviours online. 

When:  Thursday March 4, 2021 7:00 pm Sydney time  Topic: St Pius X College - It Takes a Village

Please pre-register for this webinar using the link:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-w8g5M14TTCQeEqRUALcUA

The webinar is presented by Bully Zero a provider endorsed by the Office of the Commissioner for eSafety who presented last Friday to our Year 6 and Year 7 students on the topic of addressing bullying and anti-social behaviours both online and in person, in keeping with our stated priority of educating our young men to engage in Respectful Relationships which protect themselves, and pro-actively safeguard others who may also be at risk, at all times.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar and we look forward to learning about these important contemporary issues and protective strategies for our students online. See you online on Thursday. Mr Brannan.

Year 7 Camp Wednesday 10 – Friday 12 March

As our Year 7 Camp approaches I know there are some excited students preparing to enjoy time engaging with the Challenge by Choice activities offered at the camp including Raft Building, Kayaking, Archery and Team Challenge. In support of Mr Steinman’s extensive preparations let me remind families that a final Formstack declaration of good health (symptom free) will be distributed next Tuesday 9 March to be returned before our Wednesday 10 March departure.

Don’t forget your mask for the bus, sun protection (Sun hats, sunscreen, no Singlets etc), and growth mindset approach to learning!

Those Year 7 students who are proudly representing St Pius X at the ISA Swimming Carnival on Wednesday will be transported by Mr Brannan in the van to the Camp after the conclusion of swimming events. Mr Brannan will make contact with parents to arrange camp kitbags to be placed in the bus next Tuesday or picked up from the Olympic pool. 

College Visit by Iconic Christian Brother Brian Berg

On Tuesday, the College was graced by a visit from Br Berg who was hosted by Mr Couani, Mr Russo and our Student Leadership Team. One of Br Berg's past pupils at St Patrick's College Strathfield, Mr Brian Roach, the grandfather of St Pius X College Captain Liam Chang, was also in attendance as Br Berg responded at length to the questions from our current Student Leadership Team. Educated at Christian Brothers Colleges Burwood and Strathfield, Br Berg's long and distinguished career included stints as Headmaster of at least three schools and the Province Leadership Team. As Principal of St Dominic’s Penrith Br Berg provided our current Groundsman, Mr Ron Noort, with valuable lessons in how to prepare turf wickets and grounds. Lessons well learned according to all who marvel at the superb condition of our Oxford Falls facilities. The State All Schools Cricket Competition: Berg Shield is named in honour of Brian, testament to the esteem in which he is held across all sectors of sport and education. Currently aged 88, Br Berg is the active Parish Administrator of Braidwood Parish, Goulburn Diocese and a true champion of Edmund Rice Education.

Buddies Bushwalk Sunday 14 March

On Sunday 14 March Mr Russo’s Peer Mentoring Buddies Bushwalk will depart Chatswood at 8.00 am to hike from Euroka Clearing Glenbrook to the Nepean River before returning for a swim in the “Jelly Bean Pools”, weather and conditions permitting. This is an ideal opportunity for our students to connect with their Peer Mentors and enjoy some time away from the College environment with like minded students. Please contact Mr Russo or Mr Brannan if you have any queries.

Old Boys vs Senior Students Gala Day Sunday 7 March

Due to COVID-19 limitations the Old Boys vs Students Gala Day will be held next Sunday 7 March with limited numbers and no BBQ this year.

Mr Quilty has organised a star-studded Old Boys Team of past 1st XI players to take on our 2021 1st XI squad from 9.00 am (9.30 am kick off) on Walsh Oval.

An Opens V Basketball squad will take on an Old Boys team made primarily of our Old Boys Coaches in the CBC Basketball Courts. Tip off at 10.00 am. See Mr Brannan to register.

SPX Rugby Development Officer Mike Cross will combine with “Brothers” Old Boys Rugby trainers to run a training session for our Opens Rugby Squad from 10.00 am on Watkins Oval.

At 11.30 am there will be a brief gathering in the Walsh Oval Stand to recognise Old Boy Mr Phil Chaplin (refer below) who passed away last week.

National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence

Our Year 11 Student Empowerment Team and Year 12 Student Leadership Team are preparing a panel discussion on the topical concern of Respectful Relationships. Recently they met with the Mercy College Student Leadership Team and Mercy’s new Principal Ms Timp to ensure that our learning communities are cohesive and empathetic in addressing these issues. The way in which some in society seem to have misused power imbalances is a contemporary concern, and the upcoming NDAABV – Harmony Day presents as an opportunity for our students to hear from voices, perspectives and messages that reinforce the need to safeguard everyone in our community. If you have ideas for who could be a representative voice on our panel discussion please contact myself, Mr Brannan at school, College Captain Liam Chang, or Year 11 Mindmatters Team spokesman Ben Cullen with suggestions.

This Friday the Mercy and Pius extended Student Leadership Teams will meet for an afternoon tea to plan actions that will demonstrate the way forward with respectful relationships. Having attended many of the same Parish Primary schools together, there is every reason to believe our students should help and support each other, with great respect and integrity as they grow into young adults.

NDAABV will be celebrated along with Harmony Day on Friday 19 March while next Monday morning, 8 March, at Assembly we will mark International Women’s Day while continuing our theme of Respect For All.

Vale Mr Phillip Chaplin

Last Thursday morning St Pius X College sadly learned of the passing of one of its pioneers and stalwarts in Mr Phillip Chaplin. The College’s Number 1: Chaplin Oval, now located at the Treacy Centre, Oxford Falls, is named in honour of Mr Chaplin’s family and their work in developing the facilities of the school.

Mr Chaplin’s father, Mr Arnold Chaplin, himself an old Boy of Waverley Christian Brothers College, was instrumental in surveying the original Chaplin Oval at Mars Rd Lane Cove in 1948. In 1949 he and other volunteers prepared it for use by the students of the then Christian Brothers College Chatswood (subsequently named St Pius X College in 1954).

Mr Phillip Chaplin and his classmates V O’Neill, T Cunningham, G Casey and B Hadley toiled selflessly over the school holidays to assist the Brothers to lay drainage pipes, clear, level, and lay the soil on which generations of students were to host countless Rugby, Cricket and Football fixtures against opposition including our brothers from St Patrick’s Strathfield. The Mars Rd Lane Cove Chaplin Oval was in commission until 1992 when the College’s sporting facilities, including Chaplin Oval, were relocated to its present Oxford Falls location. Mr Chaplin enjoyed a long career as an Industrial Chemist and his two sons, Ross (Class of ’81) and James (’82) also attended the College.

Chaplin Oval today at The Treacy Complex, 1 Dreadnought Rd Oxford Falls.             

With the passing of Mr Phillip Chaplin, the College pays due deference to those, such as Mr Chaplin and his family, who laid the strong foundations from which the students of the College benefit today.

“May those who drink the water remember those who dug the well”.

Vale Mr Phillip Chaplin, Old Boy of St Pius X College Chatswood.

St Pius X College acknowledges our First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and particularly the Cammeraygal people, 

whose interconnection with this land sustained and 

fulfilled them mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually, 

over thousands of years. 

May we learn from their wisdom.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care