From the Principal
- Reflection
- NAPLAN Testing for Years 5, 7 and 9 students
- International Women's Day Assembly
- Blessed Edmund Rice Icon
- Junior School
- P&F Cocktail Evening
- School Advisory Council
- Open Day
- Open Day Volunteers
- Enrolment Applications Now Open
- Fees
- Cocurricular
- Key Dates Week 6
Reflection
The season of Lent
We begin the season of Lent with ashes on our foreheads.
Why this smudging?
To put on ashes, to sit in ashes, is to say publicly and to yourself that you are reflective, in a penitential mode… that you are grieving some of the things you have done or lost, that some important work is going on silently inside you. You are, metaphorically and really, in the cinders of a dead fire, waiting for a fuller day in your life.
All of this has deep roots. There is something innate to the human soul that knows that, every so often, one must make a journey of descent, be smudged, lose one’s luster, and wait while the ashes do their work. All ancient traditions abound with stories of having to sit in the ashes before one can be transformed.
We all know, for example, the story of Cinderella. This is a centuries-old, wisdom-tale that speaks about the value of ashes. The name, Cinderella, itself already says most of it. Literally it means: ‘the young girl who sits in the cinders. Moreover, as the tale makes plain, before the glass slipper is placed on her foot, before the beautiful gown, ball, dance, and marriage, there must first be a period of being humbled. In the story of Cinderella, there is a theology of Lent.
The Church taps into this deep well of wisdom when it puts ashes on our foreheads at the beginning of Lent. Lent is a season for each of us to sit in the ashes, waiting while some silent growth takes place within us, and simply being still so that the ashes can do their work in us.
God give us strength.
Strength to hold on and strength to let go.
Amen.
Adapted from: “Daybreaks – Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter Week” by Ron Rolheiser, OMI, pp. 3-4).
During the season of Lent, the canteen will not sell meat on Fridays. The canteen has organised a menu that will be able to serve all our community during this period.
A special thank you to all our students who were very revenant during our liturgies during Ash Wednesday. Thank you to Mr Petrie, Mr Balboa, Mr Di Sano and Mr Callow for providing our community with a meaningful experience of a significant season with the Catholic Church.
Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for Us
St Pius X - Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts - Forever!
NAPLAN testing for Year 5, 7 and 9
Students in Years 5, 7, and 9 will commence their participation in the National Assessment Program of Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) next week. The students will complete all four tests over Week 7 and Week 8. We wish all our students every success as they complete these diagnostic tests.
International Women’s Day Assembly
At our College Assembly on Wednesday, we celebrated International Women’s Day. Acknowledging International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and resilience of women in all aspects of society. It is a day to reflect on progress made toward gender equality while recognising the challenges that still exist. By marking this occasion, we show our commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. It is also a time to appreciate the women in our own lives - our colleagues, friends, family members, and mentors - who inspire and uplift us every day.
Thank you to our Mr Ticli, Ms Doyle, Mrs McCarthy, Mrs Fileman, Ms Bamber, Mr Gillogly, Mr Di Sano, Ms Sutton, Ms Gunns and Mr Balboa along with the Canteen and Maintenance teams for their support of this significant day.
Blessed Edmund Rice Icon
‘Give to the poor in handfuls’
The Edmund Rice Icon holds deep significance as a powerful representation of the life, mission, and values of Blessed Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers and the inspiration behind Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). It serves as a visual reminder of his dedication to faith, education, and justice, particularly his commitment to serving the marginalised and empowering young people through learning. The icon not only reflects the rich heritage of the Edmund Rice tradition but also challenges and inspires communities to live out his values of compassion, inclusivity, and service in today’s world. It stands as a sacred symbol of our collective responsibility to uphold his vision in our schools and beyond.
The icon by Irish artist Desmond Kyne, depicts the various aspects of Edmund’s life and plays an important role in retelling the story of Edmund while maintaining his legacy.
The original is about the size of a household door. Kyne uses the principles of Byzantine and Celtic iconography. He has devised, through modern technology, a unique process whereby light, falling onto a laser-ruled metal backing, is brilliantly reflected through glass in front, on which the Icon is painted. The icon literally glows and sparkles in different ways depending on the angle of viewing it.
Desmond Kyne's artistic portrayal of Edmund's life in the kinetic glass medium has played a remarkable part in making Edmund's life known.
So, the icon of Edmund Rice celebrates through symbolic pictures the holiness of Edmund and holds him up as someone we can imitate.
Junior School
Our Junior School are currently involved in two significant events. Year 6 have embarked on their annual excursion to Canberra, while Year 5 are experiencing their first camp with the College. Both events provide invaluable opportunities for students to build strong relationships with their teachers and peers - connections that will support them throughout their journey at St Pius X College. We look forward to hearing wonderful stories about their experiences and wish them all a safe and enjoyable experience.
The P&F Cocktail Evening
It is still not too late to join us on Friday 7 March at the annual P&F Association Cocktail function.
I would encourage all families, especially those new to the College to join us at this event.
I look forward to seeing at the Cocktail evening.
School Advisory Council
As we commence the new school year, I would like to introduce the members of the St Pius X School Advisory Council:
Chris O’Donnell (Council Chair)
Judy Black
Evan Griffith
Bernadette Keating
Roger (Rory) Lonergan
Michael Ronchetti
Mark Sullivan
Braelen Zwart
Nicholas Carson
Lisa Sutton
The St Pius X College Advisory Council serves in an advisory capacity and is directly accountable to EREA Colleges NSW, the governing authority for all EREA schools in the state. The Council is supported by three key committees: Finance, Property, and Governance & Risk, with each member contributing valuable knowledge and expertise. I extend my sincere gratitude to all council members for their time, dedication, and commitment to the ongoing governance and success of our College.
Open Day 22 March
Please encourage your friends and family who are interested in a Pius education to attend our Open Day.
Applications for enrolments for Year 5 & 7 in 2027 are now open for families to complete.
Current students have the opportunity to be involved in this significant day by enrolling as a helper as either a tour guide or a faculty assistant.
'Discover Your Future' – Join Us on Open Day
Open Day Student Volunteers
Student Volunteers are needed to assist with Open Day on Saturday 22 March 2025 at both Chatswood and Oxford Falls.
There are a number of time selections for you to choose from.
We need tour guides, helpers setting up and also help cleaning up at the end of the day.
Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
Please click on the link below to submit your availability.
Enrolments for Year 5 & 7 2027 Now Open
Enrolments for Year 5 & 7 2027 are now open and close on Friday 2 May. Please visit the college website for further information:
Cocurricular
Swimming Success: Congratulations to Ms Proc and the College Swimming team for their outstanding success at the recent annual Christian Brothers Swimming Carnival. There were many outstanding individual performances especially by Jack Dunk who finished the meet with four 1st places. Congratulations Jack. With an overall placing of second, behind Waverley College, this sets us up very well for the upcoming ISA Swimming Carnival. Please refer to the full report in the Cocurricular page.
We are proud to announce that we have reached the semi-finals of the ISA basketball and cricket season. While not every team has progressed to this stage, all players should take pride in the way they have represented the College - with dignity, honour, and sportsmanship. To those competing in the semi-finals, approach your games with confidence and fair play, drawing strength from the unity of your team.
We also extend our best wishes to our NSTA (Tennis), squash, district cricket, and Junior School sports teams as they continue their respective competitions this weekend.
May all our young men give their best efforts and represent the College with pride in their cocurricular pursuits.
Go the Blue and Gold!
Fees
As communicated to you earlier this term regarding the migration to a new software system, there has been a delay in fee generation. I can confirm that the fees will be sent out early next week. The fees will include the annual tuition, Resource, PLD, Locker, Padlock, ID card fees and the P&F Levy. Excursion fees have been excluded from this fee run. These excluded items will be included in the following fee run. Payment terms remain the same: either annual, triannual, monthly, or fortnightly.
Mr Lachlan Skeen - Business Manager
Key Dates
Week 7
Mon 10/3 Summer Sports Photos
Tues 11/3 Chapel Mass (Mercy)
Wed 12/3 NAPLAN commences
Thur 13/3 NAPLAN
Fri 14/3 NAPLAN / CSDA Public Speaking Grand Final
Sat 15/3 ISA Finals / IPSHA R5 / NSTA
Fide et Labore
By Faith and hard work
Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever
Mr Michael Ronchetti - College Principal