Parent & Student Matters
- Programming Competition
- Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey
- Microfiction Competition
- Science
- History
- Maths Drop In
Programming Competition
On Friday 13 June, 9 teams, comprising 25 students from the Junior and Senior Schools represented St Pius X in the UNSW Programming Competition (ProgComp), which is an annual 'live' national programming competition hosted by UNSW. The students should be congratulated for their efforts in analysing the challenging problems, proposing and developing solutions and collaborative team work.
The students involved were Luca Harding (Year 11), Matthew Oppen (Year 11), Alexander Nancarrow (Year 11), Oliver Butler (Year 11), Lucas Mackenzie (Year 11), Enzo Gambino (Year 11), Michael Cheah (Year 11), Cameron Giang (Year 10), Joshua Wang (Year 10), Patrick Kisso (Year 10), Liam Spatola (Year 10), Charles Li (Year 10), Marcus Ng (Year 10), Leo Ward-Harvey (Year 10), Thomas Kneeshaw (Year 10), James Bone (Year 10), Alfred Avila (Year 8), Daniel Lepedjian (Year 8), Benjamin Daza (Year 8), Micah Chan (Year 7), Harry Wortley (Year 7), Angus Rands (Year 7), Alexander Ruf (Year 6), Chang Li (Year 6), James Yu (Year 6).
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey
Congratulations go to the 40 students who completed the Practice Adventurous Journey on the weekend. The students hiked 23 km from Hornsby to Berowra over the two days camping near Crosslands Reserve.
The group experience clear crisp days and a very cool night in the campsite.
A very big thank you to Mr Munday for his assistance and to Old Boys, Oliver Mullen and Josh Monico. A big thank you also goes to our Year 11 helpers, James Mooney and Evan Littler. Their experience and guidance for the students was invaluable. Thank you also to our Duke of Edinburgh Convenor, Mrs Gunns.
Mr Paul de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Microfiction Competition
Last week, 40 students from the Junior and Senior School competed in the Microfiction Grand Final. With only an hour time limit, they competed to craft the best story of 100 words or less, using the unique words 'horizon' and 'linger'.
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded prizes – especially to Anthony Parissis of Year 12, who won the competition for the second time in four years!
1st Overall – Anthony Parissis, Year 12
2nd Place – John Medalla, Year 11
3rd Place – Joshua Booth, Year 11
First Round Winner – Patrick Elliott, Year 12
Primary School Winner – Dario Leotta, Year 6
English Faculty Prize – Zachary Rapa, Year 10
Principal’s Award – James Sykes, Year 8
Academic Prefects Prize – Rohan Chang, Year 11
I would like to thank the P&F, whose ongoing support for prize money, makes the competition viable, and the Academic Prefects, Adam Fitrzyk, Luke Mortimer, and Jimmy Furini, who organised and judged the competition alongside me. You can read the winning entries in the attached file. The next step for the competition is to hand over to our talented Visual Arts teachers and students to illustrate the final publication, which should be printed towards the end of Term 3.
Mr Daniel Quilty - English Teacher
Science
National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) - Year 12 Program (for current Year 11 students)
Applications for the 2026 NYSF Year 12 program are open.
The NYSF Year 12 Program is a leading STEM program that gives incoming Year 12 students the opportunity to explore future STEM pathways, visit universities, TAFE and industry, and meet hundreds of STEM enthusiasts just like them.
• The Australian National University, Canberra (6 –14 January 2026)
• The University of Queensland, Brisbane (13 – 21 January 2026)
Participants will be immersed in science and technology, and stay at either The Australian National University or The University of Queensland in January. They'll be absorbed into an unforgettable community to broaden their STEM future.
Financial support is available in the form of scholarships.
For more information please visit their website:
STEM experiences for Years 10-12
NYSF STEM Hubs are bite-sized NYSF experiences, for students Years 10 and up.
STEM Hubs travel to different cities across Australia, running in the July school holidays. They’re a fantastic way to connect with the NYSF community, meet STEM professionals and check out real-life STEM workplaces. Registrations close 20 June.
Fee: $50.00
Melbourne: 7 to 11 July 2025
Perth: 7 to 11 July
Adelaide: 14 to 18 July 2025
Sydney: 14 - 18 July
If you have any questions about the programs, please contact the NYSF office at nysf@nysf.edu.au.
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Leader of Learning, Science
History
The College was saddened to hear the recent news of the passing of Tom Fleming. Tom has had four grandsons at St Pius X and had also been a guest presenter for the Stage 5 History classes who have been studying the Holocaust on a number of occasions.
Tom was born Tomas Fleischmann in 1938 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. His dramatic experiences as a child survivor of the Theresienstadt Camp run by the Nazis are told in his book Lolli’s Apple. The St Pius X Senior Resources Centre has several copies of this story of his separation from his father and the time he spent in the camp with his mother who gave birth to his younger brother while imprisoned.
Tom told of his experiences many times around Australia including regularly at the Sydney Jewish Museum. For those who listened to his presentations at our school, it was a privilege to have heard from an extraordinary man.
Our sympathies go to his family. Students are encouraged to borrow his inspiring book. Tellingly, he inscribed one copy with:
To the young men of St Pius - Be inspired by learning and never give up.
Mr Pat Rodgers - Leader of Learning, History/Legal Studies
Maths Drop In
It's been fantastic to see so many wonderful students coming together at Maths Drop-In to support one another and prepare for their upcoming exams. The space has been full of collaboration, problem-solving and determination - a true reflection of learning in action. Whether it's brushing up on tricky topics or gaining confidence through peer support and study, the energy has been inspiring. Keep it up!
Mrs Amanda Fileman - Maths Teacher