From the Principal

• Reflection
• Cocurricular Colour Awards and Staff Meeting (Monday 8 September)
• Celebrating 130 years of excellence - Mercy Catholic College
• Creativity in Action – ‘Write a Book in a Day’ Challenge
• Anticipating Creativity – Lights, Camera, Pius! Film Festival
• Join Us at the Chatswood Spring Fair!
• Leadership Update – Supporting Our Broader EREA Community
• Father's Day Celebration - Friday 5 September
• Thank you for a fantastic P&F Trivia Evening
• Rugby Grand Final Success
• Vale Brother Edmund John Griffith
• Key Dates 

Reflection

Honouring Our Fathers – A Reflection for Father’s Day

As we approach Father’s Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this day not just as a celebration, but as a time to honour the men who have shaped our lives: our fathers, grandfathers, and all the significant male figures who have guided us with strength, humour, and love.

Earlier this year, I lost my own father. This will be my first Father’s Day without him, and I’ll be honest it’s hard. I feel the sadness deeply, and the emotions are raw. He was a constant presence in my life, and his absence is felt in ways I never imagined. So today, I write not only as a Principal, but as a son who misses his dad dearly.

In searching for meaning, I came across a light-hearted list titled 'The World According to Dad.' It’s a collection of classic dad-isms, those familiar phrases that many of us grew up hearing:

'This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.'

'Quiet. I’m watching the footy.'

'Bring back all the change.'

'I’m not made out of money!'

'When I was your age, I walked 5kms to and from school, uphill both ways.'

'You’re going, and you will have fun!'

'Don’t put your feet on the furniture. Your mother will kill you.'

'Just wait till you have kids of your own.'

'I wasn’t asleep. I was just resting my eyes.'

These lines may make us smile, but they also remind us of the everyday wisdom, humour, and love that fathers bring into our lives.

Being a father or a grandfather, uncle, mentor, or role model is not always easy. It’s a journey filled with challenges, laughter, and quiet moments of pride. As a grandfather, a father and a son, I’ve come to treasure days like this when we pause, reflect, and simply be with one another.

To all the students reading this: don’t forget to tell your dads how much you love them. We may not always say it, but we truly need to hear it.

And to those who, like me, are missing their fathers today know that you’re not alone. Let’s honour their memory by living with the love and values they passed on to us.

As we gather on Father’s Day, in the presence of God and one another, let’s be thankful for the men who guide us, love us, and walk beside us. And let’s seek out those sacred moments we can share together.

Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for Us

St Pius X - Pray for Us

Live Jesus in our Hearts - Forever!

Cocurricular Colour Awards and Staff Meeting

On Monday next week, we will be celebrating the cocurricular achievements of our students at our Cocurricular Colour Awards at the Concourse.

For next week only, we have swapped Day 6 and Day 7 on Monday and Tuesday, so Monday will now be Day 7 and Tuesday will be Day 6.

Year 7 must therefore wear their sport uniform on Monday as they will be travelling to Oxford Falls for their usual Day 7 PDHPE lesson.

On Monday afternoon, school will finish early as we have a staff meeting commencing at 2:30 pm. All classes will be shortened on Monday to accommodate both the awards ceremony and the early finish.

Celebrating 130 Years of Excellence – Mercy Catholic College

This year, Mercy Catholic College marks an extraordinary milestone, 130 years of educating and empowering young women. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the enduring vision and commitment of the Sisters of Mercy and the generations of dedicated teaching staff who have shaped the lives of countless students.

From its earliest days, Mercy Catholic College has stood as a place where girls are nurtured to grow in faith, knowledge, and compassion. Rooted in the Mercy tradition, the College has consistently provided an environment where young women are encouraged to lead with courage, serve with humility, and strive for excellence.

The legacy of the nuns and educators who have served the College over the past 130 years is profound. Their tireless dedication, often behind the scenes, has built a foundation of academic strength, spiritual depth, and community spirit that continues to flourish today.

It was an honour for Mr Petrie and myself to attend the Mass on Monday 1 September celebrating this outstanding achievement. To be part of such a significant moment in the College’s history was both humbling and inspiring. The sense of pride, tradition, and community was palpable, and it was a privilege to witness the ongoing impact of Mercy education firsthand.

On behalf of the St Pius X community, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mercy Catholic College. May this anniversary be a time of joyful celebration, deep gratitude, and renewed purpose as the College continues its mission of forming strong, compassionate, and capable young women for the future.  Let us continue to strengthen our partnership in the shared mission of educating and nurturing young people. Together, may we create even more opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and thrive side by side, in faith and in purpose.

Creativity in Action – ‘Write a Book in a Day’ Challenge

We are proud to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our 7 teams from Year 7 to Year 10 who enthusiastically participated in the Write a Book in a Day challenge. This national initiative invites students to collaborate, imagine, and produce a complete book, written and illustrated, all within a single day. It’s a demanding task, but one that brings out the very best in creativity, teamwork, and perseverance.

From the moment the challenge began, our students were full of excitement and energy. The atmosphere was electric, and it was inspiring to see ideas come to life so quickly. Each team embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and determination, and I am confident that the books they produced will be a true testament to their commitment, imagination, and love of storytelling.

A special thank you to Mr Westhoff and Mrs Keighery for their passionate promotion of this literacy initiative during Literacy and Numeracy Week. Their encouragement and support helped make this opportunity possible and ensured it was a meaningful experience for all involved.

Congratulations to all the students.  You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve accomplished. We look forward to seeing your stories inspire others and hope this is just the beginning of many creative journeys ahead.

Anticipating Creativity – Lights, Camera, Pius! Film Festival

The countdown is on for one of the most exciting events in our school calendar Lights, Camera, Pius! Our annual Film Festival is on today, Thursday 4 September, and anticipation is building as students prepare to showcase their storytelling talents through short films that promise to be imaginative, inspiring, and uniquely their own.

This festival is more than just a celebration of film, it's an opportunity for students across all year levels to demonstrate their creativity, collaboration, and technical skills. Whether it's writing, directing, acting, editing, or designing, every role plays a part in bringing these stories to life.

We can't wait to see the originality and passion our students will bring to the screen. Who knows we may even discover the next Steven Spielberg among us!

Let’s celebrate the power of storytelling and the incredible talent within our school community. Lights, camera… action!

Join Us at the Chatswood Spring Fair!

A reminder that the College will be participating in the Chatswood Spring Fair on Saturday 6 September.  The fair is a vibrant community celebration that brings together families, local organisations, and schools in a day full of colour, connection, and creativity.

As part of our involvement, we will be proudly promoting the Chatswood Parish and the Educational Precinct, alongside our wonderful neighbours Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Mercy Catholic College and Our Lady of Dolours Primary School. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the strength of our shared community and the values that unite us.

We warmly invite all our current families and future families to visit us throughout the day. Whether you're reconnecting or discovering us for the first time, we look forward to sharing our story and celebrating all that makes our community special.

A highlight of the day will be the Drumline performance in the parade, scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm. It promises to be a dynamic and energetic display of student talent that you won’t want to miss!

Come along, say hello, and enjoy the spirit of the Spring Fair with us!

Leadership Update – Supporting Our Broader EREA Community

We are pleased to share that Mr Brannan will continue his secondment in 2026 as Acting Deputy Principal at St Edmund’s College, Wahroonga an EREA school dedicated to supporting students with diverse learning needs. This opportunity has been a deeply enriching experience for Mr Brannan, and he has truly valued the chance to contribute to such a unique and important community. We wish him every success as he continues to lead and serve with compassion and commitment.

In light of this ongoing secondment, we are grateful for the strength and stability of our leadership team here at school:

• Mr Gillogly will continue in his role as Assistant Principal – Pastoral Care

• Mr Ticli will continue as Wellbeing Coordinator

• Mrs Ramsey will continue as Assistant Leader of Learning, Science 

Each of these staff members has been outstanding in their roles throughout 2025, and we look forward to their continued leadership and support as we move into 2026.

We thank them for their dedication and the positive impact they continue to have on our students and school community.

Father's Day Celebration Friday 5 September - 

Honouring fathers and raising awareness  

We warmly invite all families to join us for our Father’s Day Mass tomorrow. 

Details:

7:30 am Mass at Our Lady of Dolours Church

8:30 am Breakfast at the College

This is a special celebration honouring the fathers, grandfathers, and significant male figures in our lives. It’s a meaningful opportunity to come together in prayer and gratitude, and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at this beautiful event.

In addition, Friday is also Jersey Day a fun and important initiative to raise awareness for Organ Donation. While it’s not a fundraising event, Jersey Day encourages conversations around the life-saving impact of organ and tissue donation.

Students are encouraged to wear their favourite sporting jersey over their school shirt to show their support. Whether it’s footy, soccer, basketball or any other team, it’s a great way to celebrate community spirit and raise awareness for a vital cause.

We warmly invite all families to stay and join us for breakfast following the Eucharistic celebration.  It is a wonderful opportunity to connect, share stories, and continue the celebration together.

Thank You for a Fantastic P&F Trivia Evening!

A huge thank you to all the families, staff, and friends who joined us for the P&F Trivia Evening. What a night it was! The event was filled with laughter, friendly competition, and plenty of surprising answers to some very interesting questions. It was wonderful to see our community come together for an evening of fun and connection.

Special thanks go to Mr Geaney and the P&F Committee for their outstanding organisation and enthusiasm in bringing this event to life. Their efforts created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made the night truly memorable.

We’re already looking forward to the next opportunity to gather and celebrate our vibrant school community!

Rugby Grand Final Success – A Celebration of Team Spirit

We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 16B and 15A rugby teams, who both competed in their respective grand finals with incredible determination, teamwork, and pride. Their performances were a true reflection of the spirit of our College - resilient, united, and committed.

Both teams demonstrated not only skill and sportsmanship, but also a deep commitment to one another. Their unity and effort are a testament not only to the players themselves, but also to the dedication and guidance of their coaches.  A special thank you to Mr Gates and Mr Saar, who coached the 16B’s, and to Mr Kovacic and Mr Perry, who led the 15A’s. Their leadership and support have been instrumental in helping our students grow both on and off the field.

Congratulations to all involved.  Your success is something the entire College community can be proud of.

Go the Blue and Gold!

Vale Brother Edmund John Griffith (1932 - 2025)

The College was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Brother Edmund John Griffith this week.

Br Griffith was the first student from the college to enter the Brothers.  He was a devoted, sincere and humble man of God. He returned to the college in a number of roles - as the Primary School Principal from 1965 to 1968, as a teacher and finally, the Archivist from 1979 - 1993 when illness forced his retirement.

Br Griffith always saw the college as his home and loved living in community here and going to Chatswood Oval to see Gordon play on a Saturday afternoon.  He also shared a love of the sea and had a passion for scuba diving. 

'Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.'

Key Dates

Term 3

Week 8

Mon 8/9 Day Swap (now Day 7)

Staff Meeting - early finish day for students (2:30 pm) / Cocurricular Colour Awards 

Tues 9/9 Day Swap (now Day 6) 

Chapel Mass (Mercy) 

Wed 10/9 RUOK? Day Assembly / Drama Excursion (Year 9-10)

Fri 12/9 Market Day

Sat 13/9 ISA Senior Invitational Athletics Carnival / MWJCA Cricket R1

Sun 14/9 Youth Mass

Fide et Labore

By Faith and hard work

Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever

Mr Michael Ronchetti - College Principal