From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular
Athletics
Basketball
Cricket - ISA & MWJCA
Football
Rugby
Squash
Tennis (NSTA)

From the Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

Cocurricular Colour Awards

Next Monday we will be presenting the Cocurricular Colour Awards (Silver and Gold) at our special presentation at The Concourse. This is a student-only event and the online link (link also below) will be forwarded to parents to view the event. It will commence at 10:55 am.

Year 8 - 12 will be attending. All students attending the ceremony must be in Full Winter Uniform including Blazers.

We will be swapping Monday and Tuesday's timetabled lessons around next week.

All students must be prepared for Day 7 lessons on Monday. On Tuesday they will attend their Day 6 lessons.

Year 7 students therefore must wear their PE uniform on Monday as they will be heading to Oxford Falls for their Tuesday PE lesson at Recess.

Monday is an early dismissal day to accommodate our Staff Meeting. All students will be dismissed at 2:30 pm

Lessons will be shortened to accommodate the Ceremony and the early finish.

Grand Finals - Rugby

After the washout of the previous week, our 15A and 16B rugby teams played their grand final last weekend at Campbelltown under sunny skies. We congratulate both teams who were victorious and are now ISA Rugby Premiers!

I thank and congratulate the players for their hard work throughout the season and also the coaches, Mr Jack Kovacic, Mr Will Perry, Mr Justin Gates and Mr Andrew Saar.

Thank you also to the parents and supporters who have generously given their time on the weekends over the past two terms.

Summer Season Cocurricular Registrations

Summer Squash registrations are now OPEN
Cricket registration (both MWJCA and ISA) remains OPEN
Junior School NSTA Tennis remains OPEN

Summer season registrations are now closed for the following sports:

Basketball IPSHA Competition Yr 5 and 6 CLOSED

ISA and Development Yr 8 - 11 CLOSED

Summer Tennis (NSTA) Yr 7 – 11 CLOSED

Junior School only

Touch Football IPSHA Competition Yr 5 and 6 CLOSED

Softball IPSHA Yr 5 and 6 CLOSED

Performing Arts registrations will remain open for all ages.

Mr Matt Stearn - Assistant Principal, Cocurricular

Athletics

I am very pleased to announce that this morning at our cocurricular assembly, we presented Christian Wong as our Athletics Captain for 2025. Christian’s talent and dedication to athletics at the college is a positive asset to the team.

Congratulations Christian.

After several weeks of ground closures due to wet weather, it was fantastic to finally see our athletics students back in training. Coaches have already shared positive feedback after just one week, which is an encouraging start to the season.

This year, we are fortunate to have an outstanding coaching team guiding our athletes. Our long-standing coaches, Ron Bendall (sprints), and Chris Zilifian and Chris Li (distance), continue to provide their expertise and leadership.

In addition, we are delighted to welcome:

Ryan Dowling and Matteo Dall’Amico (sprints and jumps)
Jess Johnston, Maddison Duncombe, and Mikayla Duncombe (throws)

Together, this team brings a wealth of experience across all disciplines, offering our students invaluable guidance and support as they prepare for the season ahead.

Training continues every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at Dunbar Park, Sobraon Road, Marsfield. Students travel by school bus, departing from the front of the school on Anderson Street at 3:15 pm. Training concludes at 5:00 pm, with return to school by 5:30 pm. Parents who wish to collect their son directly from Dunbar Park may do so at 4:55 pm, and are asked to notify the supervising Pius staff upon arrival.

Students are reminded to bring:

SPX House shirt or Athletics singlet
Appropriate footwear
Water bottle

Invitational Carnivals

On Saturday, 30 August, our athletes competed in their first Invitational Carnival. With perfect weather and a great atmosphere, the day was filled with energy and enthusiasm. Our boys represented Pius with pride and commitment in their respective events - well done to all involved.

Looking ahead, our next Invitational Carnival will be held on Saturday, 6 September at ES Marks Athletics Field, Kensington, where St Pius X will be hosting the field events. We are seeking parent volunteers to assist on the day. If you are available, please email Ms Lee at llee@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au to register your interest - any support, whether for a few hours or the whole day, would be greatly appreciated.

Ms Leanne Lee – Athletics Convenor

Basketball

Grading for the 1st V Basketball squad took place last week. We have an additional trial session added today to ensure all players, including those with school-based commitments or who missed earlier sessions, have an equal opportunity to push for selection.

Following today’s final grading session, we will select the 10 players for the 1st V, as well as name the 1sts Practice Squad, who will have the opportunity to train with the 1sts throughout the season.

The 1st V team will be announced in next week’s edition of Woodchatta.

Year 7–10 Grading Update

Basketball grading for Years 7–10 has commenced this week, with Year 10 and Year 8 working hard out at Oxford Falls.

Grading for Year 7 and Year 9 will take place next week.

Please note: Due to changes in the Cocurricular Colour Awards, the Year 7 grading schedule has been adjusted. It will now take place only during Monday’s PE lesson at Oxford Falls. There will be no after-school session due to the Monday afternoon staff meeting.

All other grading sessions remain unchanged at this stage.

Stay prepared and bring your best effort to the court!

Key Updates:

Singlet Sizing (Year 7-10) - Singlet sizes have been submitted to the College Uniform Shop. Please be patient as they process the orders that can now be placed by families. If you need to purchase a singlet, please do so via the below link. When purchasing online, please indicate in the purchase sets your son's year group. This is to avoid any number clashes.
https://www.spx.nsw.edu.au/parent-community/uniform-shop/
Preseason Fixtures - Save the date: Saturday 18 October (Week 1, Term 4) will be a preseason game (at this stage it will include all A and B Teams). More teams may be included with venues and times to be TBC.
Holiday Camps will run during the upcoming school break, offering extra skill development and gameplay. We were hoping to have dates to share in this week’s edition but unfortunately, they are yet to be confirmed by our Coaches. Please stay tuned. Sign-ups will be via Clipboard and places will be limited.
Training Schedule - Due to the size of our program the training schedule is complex and jam-packed. There will be morning sessions each weekday, two afternoon timeslots at Chatswood in the school gym and several teams that will travel to Oxfords Falls, Monday-Thursday. The final timetable will be shared prior to the season commencing, once teams are finalised and coaches are appointed to each team. Your son’s training time and day will appear in Clipboard once published.

ISA Season Dates

Round 1: 25 October 2025
Round 2: 1 November 2025
Round 3: 8 November 2025
Round 4: 15 November 2025
Round 5: 22 November 2025
Round 6: 29 November 2025
Round 7: 31 January 2026 (TBC)
Round 8: 7 February 2026
Round 9: 14 February 2026
Round 10: 21 February 2026
Semi Finals: 28 February 2026
Finals: 7 March 2026

We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from our families and the SPX Basketball Supporters Committee. A special thank you to those who have already expressed interest in getting involved, it’s great to see such enthusiasm around the program.

If you’d like to join the committee or help out in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out via email: jbourke@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au Your support makes a real difference!

Grading Calendar

Thank you for your continued support.

Mr James Bourke - Basketball Convenor

Cricket

ISA Cricket

1st and 2nd XI ISA Cricket trials continue this Thursday at Oxford Falls.

Trialling players are to catch the bus from OLD Church at 3:10 pm. Bus departs Oxford Falls for return to Chatswood at 5:00 pm

Trialling players will need to bring their own playing kit.

1st and 2nd XI ISA Season Outline is attached. Please mark key dates in diaries.

Mr David Reay - ISA Cricket Convenor

MWJCA Cricket

CRICKET SEASON STARTS 13 SEPTEMBER

Registrations remain open for the upcoming MWJCA cricket season, which begins on Saturday, 13 September. The season will feature 3 rounds before the school holidays, followed by the continuation of the competition in Term 4.

To ensure your son's participation, registration is required on both Clipboard and PlayHQ:

Clipboard – for internal College registration and team coordination. The College fee for cricket is paid via the app.
PlayHQ – for official MWJCA registration. There is a $17.50 fee payable directly to Cricket Australia for player insurance. This will be available via the Clipboard app.

For anyone who is yet to complete either of the registration links, please see the links below.

PlayHQ Registration Links

To streamline competition entry and meet MWJCA’s structure, players must register in the correct stage based on their year level:

Junior School (Stage 2 – Years 5–6): Register here
Senior School (Stage 3 – Years 7–11): Register here

The MWJCA competition is divided into Stage 2 and Stage 3 formats, which reflect Cricket Australia's player development framework.

To streamline the registration process, all Junior School players will be registered in Stage 2, while all Senior School players will register in Stage 3.

Junior School Players – Key Information:

Competitions played in Manly Warringah Junior Cricket Association (MWJCA), with matches played on the Northern Beaches every Saturday. Each team bats & bowls for 30 overs.
Under 12s – Matches on Saturday afternoons
Under 13s – Matches on Saturday mornings
We encourage parent volunteers to support teams as coaches, managers, umpires or scorers.

Uniform Update:

A new uniform will be introduced this season for all players. Details on sizing and ordering will be shared soon. The new kit will be required for match days.

If you have any questions about registration, teams, or uniform, please don’t hesitate to contact me at rbalboa@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.

Mr Ryan Balboa - MWJCA Cricket Convenor

Rugby

The ISA season ended over the weekend with the grand finals, bringing an end to what has been a great season of rugby. All teams who played should be proud of their efforts and the way they represented the school.

A massive congratulations to our 16B and 15A teams who finished the season as ISA Premiers. Two strong wins in the grand finals capped off an excellent season for both sides - well deserved.

Thanks to Ted Webster, Tania Moran and the SPX Rugby Club for all the work behind the scenes this year. Your support makes a huge difference and is always appreciated. Also, a big thank you to Mike Cross the Trytime coaching staff for their efforts across the season, and to all the parents and families who’ve helped with transport, encouragement, and support week in and week out.

Looking forward to what 2026 brings - thanks again to everyone who played a part this season.

These students were presented to the college community at our Cocurricular Assembly this morning.

St Pius X Rugby Club - Annual Golf Day

Come and join the fun and support SPX rugby at our annual golf day.

18-hole Ambrose Team Event with a shotgun start Prizes for Nearest the Pin, Longest Drive and the chance to win a Volvo on the “Hole in One” second hole and a raffle during dinner.

COST: $150/player incl. light lunch, golf, dinner and drinks

Extra cost: $30/person - Golf Cart (must be shared by 2 people)

Bookings: go to - https://events.humanitix.com/spx-2025-golf-day

For further information contact: spxrugby@gmail.com

Sponsor a Hole!

Friday, 17 October 2025

The SPX Rugby community invites all families and friends to join us for our Annual Rugby Club Golf Day — a great mix of fun, networking, and fundraising in support of our Rugby program.

This year, you can choose your lucky hole (1–18) to sponsor - but get in quick, as spots will fill fast!

Why Sponsor a Hole?

Your business will enjoy excellent visibility across our rugby community, including:

A professionally printed banner displayed on the course
Advertising in the official Golf Day program
Mentions via WhatsApp, the College newsletter, and direct email

Event Highlights:

Ambrose team format Hole prizes, including a Volvo Hole-in-One challenge!

Sponsorship Packages:

$550 – Hole sponsorship only
$800 – Hole sponsorship + 1 player ticket
$1,050 – Hole sponsorship + 2 player tickets
$1,550 – Hole sponsorship + 4 player tickets

📩 Interested in sponsoring?

Email wibke@iinet.net.au to secure your hole and be part of a fantastic day on the green!

2025 NSW Rugby Union - Peugeot Club Raffle

St Pius X College are thrilled to be a part of the 2025 NSW Rugby Union x Peugeot Club Raffle, where one lucky winner will drive away in a brand-new Peugeot 3008 Hybrid GT Premium. This raffle is the perfect opportunity for you to win an incredible vehicle while supporting our Rugby program.

🎟️ Tickets 🎟️

1 ticket - $20.00

3 tickets - $50.00

8 tickets - $100.00

20 tickets - $200.00

🎫 BUY NOW 🎫

https://www.raffletix.com.au/?ref=pz5kr&sref=ed93da97

Grand Prize:

🏆 A brand new Peugeot 3008 Hybrid GT Premium

Create your own Rugby highlight reel for 2025

This is your opportunity to create your own highlight reel from the 2025 Rugby Season. TOPPA are offering personal packages from all the footage captured during the 2025 rugby season at Pius. Please see below packages and link to the order form.

🔹 HIGHLIGHT STARTER – $295 The perfect DIY foundation

◆ 10–15 minutes of curated raw clips of the individual player

◆ Organised by game for easy editing

◆ Delivered in HD via Google Drive

🔸 ELITE HIGHLIGHTS – $495 Most Popular

◆ Professionally edited 4minute highlight reel

◆ Custom music Multi Angle Editing

◆ Transitions, slow motion, overlays

◆ Two rounds of revisions included

🏅 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE – $895 Recruitment Ready standout profile

◆ Up to 8 minutes +Additional 5 games beyond 2025 Season

◆ Personalised title cardname/team/position/stats

◆ Five rounds of revisions

◆ Delivered in HD, vertical & web-ready formats

Term 3 Rugby Dates for the Diary:

Thursday 11 September – Opens Jersey Presentation (Greengate Hotel)

Mr Justin Gates - Rugby Convenor

Squash

Finals Week!

A huge thank you to all SPX squash players for your efforts this week. The final round was a tough one, with every team facing highly skilled opponents. Congratulations to SPX7, who came out victorious - an impressive finish to the regular rounds!

This weekend marks the finals, and all teams will be competing. Match times and venues are still to be confirmed, but I’ll post the details to Canvas as soon as they’re available.

Special mention to SPX1 and SPX4, who will be battling it out for the championship title. Best of luck.

Mr Paul Formosa - Winter Squash Convenor

Summer Squash

Mr Joe Madani - Summer Squash Convenor

NSTA Tennis

Registration Reminder

Thank you to the families who have registered for the 2025/2026 NSTA season via Clipboard. Registrations for senior school NSTA tennis (Year 7 - 11) have now closed.

Senior School Grading Day

A reminder that the Senior School Grading Day will be held on:

Date: Saturday, 13 September
Time: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm
Venue: Oxford Falls Racquet Club
Address: 1110 Oxford Falls Rd, Frenchs Forest NSW

Further details regarding group allocations will be shared next week. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Mr Christopher Nouragas - NSTA Tennis Convenor

Careers