St Pius X College Newsletter

From the Deputy Principal

  • Trialling a New Timetable in Term 2
  • Winter uniform
  • From Sydney Trains

Trialling a New Timetable in Term 2

In Term 2, we will be trialling a revised daily schedule aimed at supporting student wellbeing and improving the overall flow of the school day. Importantly, there will be no reduction to student learning time.

 

There are two key changes:

1. Earlier Finish – 3:05 pm

To help ease congestion on local transport routes, the school day will finish at 3:05pm. This decision follows consultation with Willoughby Council, local schools, Chatswood Interchange, and NSW Police, all of whom support staggering finish times in the transport precinct.

To accommodate this change, homeroom will be shortened by five minutes. This earlier finish will also benefit students attending after-school sport or training by allowing them to board buses to Oxford Falls earlier.

 

2. 30:30 Break Model

We will move from the current 20-minute recess and 40-minute lunch to two balanced 30-minute breaks. This adjustment is designed to improve student wellbeing, reduce pastoral concerns, and create a more structured break routine. Key benefits include:

  • Many students prefer to eat their main meal at recess - the longer break allows more time to do so without feeling rushed. Additional food options will be available during recess.

  • Students attending Oxford Falls for PE will now be able to order and collect lunch before boarding buses (excluding daily specials).

  • Year 12 students will be permitted to go offsite for both recess and lunch, freeing up space and easing pressure on seating, recreation areas, and the canteen. This added flexibility also acknowledges their senior status and supports their growing independence as they prepare for life beyond school.

  • A shorter lunch period helps reduce disengagement and restlessness, allowing students to return to class more settled and ready to learn.

  • More spaces can be opened for recreational activities and House competitions across the school.

  • Ensemble practice will still be held during lunch for our musicians with access to 40 minutes practice. 

To help assess the effectiveness of these changes, students will be surveyed at both the start and end of Term 2. We are hopeful this trial will result in a more positive, efficient, and supportive school experience for all staff and students.

 

Daily Schedule (Term 2, 2025) 

  • Movement Bell: 8:30 
  • Homeroom: 8:35 - 8:47 (12 mins) 
  • Period 1: 8:47 – 9:40 (53 min) 
  • Period 2: 9:40 – 10:33 (53 min) 
  • Recess Break: 10:33 – 11:03 (30 min) 
  • Period 3: 11:03 – 11:56 (53 min) 
  • Period 4: 11:56 – 12:49 (53 min) 
  • Lunch Break: 12:49 – 1:19 (30 min) 
  • Period 5: 1:19 – 2:12 (53 min) 
  • Period 6: 2:12 – 3:05 (53 min) 

Start of Term 2 - winter uniform 

A reminder that students are to return in Term 2 wearing full winter uniform. This includes the college blazer, shirt and tie, long grey pants with black belt and the college grey jumper for extra warmth, along with black or grey socks and polished black leather school shoes. Please see the Uniform Shop page for details on holiday opening times.

The college uniform also includes the college backpack. The sports backpack issued for sporting tours is NOT part of the college uniform from Monday to Friday. It can be used on weekends or sporting tours.

From Sydney Trains 

We have received the following notifications from Sydney Trains.  As always, students are reminded of the need to tap on and off appropriately, and also behave in a courteous manner at all times.  Students are not able to use their school opal cards during the holidays and should therefore use personal opal cards.

 

Student Rail Safety in the holidays

School holidays are fast approaching and whilst this is an exciting time for both students and teachers, we do unfortunately experience a general spike in young people displaying dangerous and anti-social behaviour across our entire Sydney rail network, both on our trains and at our stations.

These behaviours include but are not limited to, a small number of high school-aged children who at times engage in serious or anti-social activities such as riding on the outside of trains, jumping onto the tracks, or applying graffiti to trains or station property . 

We would like all students to return to school safely with stories of the exciting holiday memories that they made .

Whilst students are enjoying their days out with family or friends, they should always act in a safe and respectful manner on and near stations and trains, and to simply be aware of their surroundings. Have fun but please do it safely. 

Our friendly staff are on hand and always ready to help, students and the community are encouraged to seek their assistance should they at anytime need support, feel unsafe, have an emergency, or simply just want to have a chat whilst waiting for their train. Remember to always tap on and off, stand behind the yellow line, and be courteous to staff and other customers. 

 

Minor train timetable changes from 19 April 2025

From Saturday 19 April 2025, TransportNSW will make changes to some train services on the T1 North Shore, T5 Cumberland, Hunter and Central Coast & Newcastle Lines. 

These changes are being introduced as part of a regular review of train services to improve services for passengers. 

Some T1 North Shore services will be extended from Hornsby to Berowra, improving connectivity for school students travelling home on the T1 North Shore Line in both directions. 

As a result, minor adjustments will also be made to the departure times of some weekday afternoon services for all stations on the T1 North Shore Line from Hornsby to Roseville.

On the T5 Cumberland Line, adjustments will be made to the departure times of eight weekday off-peak services, improving connections for passengers interchanging to T1 Western Line services at Seven Hills travelling towards the Sydney CBD.

There will be changes to departure times and departure platforms of some weekday services on the Hunter Line.

On the Central Coast & Newcastle Line there will be an adjustment to the departure platform of one service. 

All adjustments are minor but may mean some services arrive a little earlier, or depart later, or there are additional services available which weren’t an option previously.

The adjustments are part of a regular review of services by Sydney Trains and are now visible on transportnsw.info and travel apps. 

Ms Elizabeth Watson - Deputy Principal