Pastoral Care

Harmony Day at the College
Opal Cards
Hair Policy
Parent webinars and workshops
Harmony Day at the College
Harmony Week in Australia runs from Monday 16 March to Sunday 22 March 2026 and celebrates the country’s cultural diversity while promoting respect, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Throughout this week, our school foyer is decorated to raise awareness and celebrate the many cultures that make up our school community. The colour orange is the official colour of Harmony Week because it symbolises social communication, meaningful conversations, and mutual respect. On Wednesday morning, our Student Wellbeing Prefects presented at the school assembly, speaking about the importance of inclusion, celebrating diversity, and how students can actively stand against racism in everyday school life.
Australia is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Some key facts include:
Nearly half of all Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas.
Australians identify with more than 300 different ancestries.
Over 300 languages are spoken in Australian homes.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples represent the world’s oldest continuing cultures.
Australia welcomes people from almost every country in the world, creating vibrant multicultural communities.
Diversity contributes to Australia’s innovation, creativity, and global connections.
One of the key touchstones of our school is to promote and maintain an, 'Inclusive Community'. Promoting inclusion and standing against racism benefits everyone. When we embrace diversity, students feel safer, respected and valued, friendships grow across cultures, and everyone has the opportunity to learn from different perspectives and experiences.
Harmony Week is a reminder that everyone belongs and that our differences make our community stronger.
Mr Paul Ticli - Wellbeing Coordinator
Opal Cards
All eligible students are required to have a School Opal Card and to tap on and off when travelling to and from school. These cards are subsidised by the NSW Government and may be free, depending on the distance from your home to school.
If your son does not have a card, please apply using the link below.
Tapping on and off ensures that we have enough public transport, especially buses allocated for our students.
Hair Policy
As we come to the back end of the term, could you please ensure that your sons hair matches our policy. Please refresh yourself with the College’s hair policy.
Hair Policy
Students must have their hair cut according to St Pius X College requirements as follows:
Hair should be neatly cut and maintained at all times.
Hair must be tapered at the back, sides and above the ears blending with the hairstyle. It must be cut and groomed so that the bulk of hair on the top of the head decreases gradually, blending with the tapered back and sides.
It must be worn short enough that no hair touches the collar or extends below the top of the eyebrows. A short all-over hair cut may be acceptable to a minimum No 2 cut.
Extreme hairstyles, including mohawks, step-cuts, under-cuts, radical cuts, dramatic layering, tracks, mullets, dreadlocks, strands of hair or lines are not permitted under any circumstances.
Colouring or dyeing, tinting, bleaching or overuse of product are not permitted.
If the haircut is too short, the student may be asked to wear a hat until the length is appropriate.
When a student’s haircut does not meet school expectations, parents of those students will be contacted, and the students may be asked to leave school to rectify it. Students may return once they adhere to school policy. A Friday detention may also apply.
The Deputy Principal, Assistant Principal Pastoral Care or the Head of Junior School, at their discretion, may make an exemption for a student from complying with the haircut policy. Such grounds for exception may be due to the student’s health, religious beliefs or cultural grounds.
Parents/caregivers of the student seeking an exemption are required to make an application in writing to the College Principal, Deputy Principal or Head of Junior School.
Free Webinar - Understanding Anxiety and Depression to Foster Resilience
Webinars empowering parents and carers to support teen mental health
The Black Dog Institute are offering free mental health webinars designed to provide practical tools, strategies and insights to help them support the young people in their lives.
Upcoming dates:
Monday 23 March @ 7:00 pm (AEDT) Register here
Tuesday 28 April @ 7:00 pm (AEST) Register here
Tuesday 26 May @ 7:00 pm (AEST) Register here
Thursday 25 June @ 7:00 pm (AEST) Register here
Webinar
The eSafety Commissioner team is presenting a webinar designed to help protect your child online.
The webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in upper primary and Year 7.
As your child moves into high school the influence of peers intensifies and online social connections become increasingly complex, but there is plenty you can do to support them.
When: Wednesday 18 March
From: 7:00 pm - 7:45 pm.
Tweens, Teens & Screens Free Webinar
Mr Martin Gillogly - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care



