Pastoral Care 

• Year 7 2024 Transition Day
• Year 7 2024 Parent Information Evening (online)
• Student Leadership Team Investiture and Code of Conduct: Commitment to an Inclusive Community
• Student Leadership Team Speechcraft Course 
• Buddies not Bullies Beachwalk
• Baradine Immersion
• St Mary’s Bowraville Gift Run
• HSC Result Day BBQ

Transition Day

Yesterday St Pius X College conducted a highly successful Transition Day for Year 7 2024 who will form the Graduating Class of 2029.

The new students from 20 feeder schools joined our current Year 6 students in being welcomed by our Senior Student Leaders who then accompanied them to their diagnostic tests before an ice block and  BBQ lunch prepared by our Cultural, Mission and Identity and Wellbeing Prefects. In the afternoon they met with some key Year 7 Pastoral care teachers in the B Wing homerooms to prepare for the vagaries of getting organised with a locker and timetable to prepare for a 6 period day and learning across the different faculties and staff.

It is exciting to note that some of the friends that met on Tuesday will be lifelong friends attending and sharing all of the rites of passage and adventures that life and our journeys entail.

Year 7 2024 Parent Information session (new date)

Please note the adjustment to the Year 7 Online Parent Information session to next Wednesday, 8 November, from 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm. At this time we hope to introduce the new Year 7 Pastoral Leader for 2024. A link to this online Microsoft Teams Meeting will be distributed via an email from cjennings@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au early in Week 5.  

We look forward to seeing Year 7 2024 parents at this meeting and will make information available to anyone who is unable to attend.

Student Leadership Team Investiture and Code of Conduct: Commitment to an Inclusive Community

As our new Student Leadership Team commenced their tenure of leadership across the college last Thursday at the Senior Student Leadership Investiture in The Concourse, they challenged the College community to recommit to our values of an inclusive community through their revision of our Code of Conduct:

OUR STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT

A Code of Conduct is an important list of expectations of behaviour at our college. Students are encouraged to live by the school’s touchstones and values in the Edmund Rice Tradition. The student Code of Conduct is based on respect for yourself, fellow students, teachers, and the greater College. We support students in trying their best to follow this student code of conduct. If your behaviour is positive and productive, you may receive merit awards. If you break the student code of conduct there may be consequences. 

1.Learning expectations:

All students are guided to actively engage with their learning at St Pius X College. This includes positive classroom cooperation and approach to academic endeavours.

• Productive teaching and learning depends on students co-operating with their teachers and peers. 
• Students are expected to complete the various class and homework tasks set by teachers and maintain an intact level of attendance. 
• Students are expected to complete assessment tasks to the best of their ability in line with College plagiarism policies. 
• Students are to fulfill the College’s expectations of student learning outlined in the Student Learning Attributes in the College Diary (Page 20).

2. Classroom Etiquette:

It is important that students respect the class environment of their teachers and peers without compromising the learning needs of others.

• Good manners and respect are expected in interactions with fellow students and teachers.
• Students have a right to learn without being disrupted by the misconduct of others.
• Students should be well presented, prepared and prompt to their lessons out of respect for themselves and others.
• Uphold general standards of student etiquette (refer to page 22).

3. Respectful Relationships:

Respect for all is a key value at the College. Students should strive to treat others with courtesy and dignity.

• Students should exhibit considerate treatment of all staff members and visitors.
• Students are expected to be welcoming and inclusive within and beyond the College community.
• A student should not be in possession of any article that could cause harm to others.
• Students are not to engage in any form of verbal, physical, psychological or online bullying. Similarly, a student’s personal belongings are not to be interfered with at any time by other students.
• The school yard should be a safe place for all students and rough or wild games in the yard are not permitted. A hands-off policy applies at all times.
• Discrimination in all cases is not tolerated. 

4. Respect for the College:

Students have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the shared school environment and reputation.

• In travelling to and from school, on excursions, during school sport or when representing the College in any way students should be polite and considerate towards all.
• Possession or use of cigarettes, drugs, vapes or alcohol either at the College or when representing the College is considered unacceptable. 
• Students should be well-groomed and presented; both at school and in view of the public.
• Students must keep their surroundings clean and tidy; any vandalism of school property is viewed as a serious offence.
• Students must not be ‘out of bounds’ unless approved and/or supervised by teachers.
• Misuse of technology or social media to display the College, or members of, is a serious breach of trust and IT guidelines.

Possible Consequences for Breaching Student Code Of Conduct:

• verbal and non-verbal warnings given during class,
• student moved within class or seated outside of room (ref. School Policy),
• student given extra work or is to accompany a teacher on duty (recess or lunch, picking up papers, etc.),
• students placed on behaviour contract or daily monitoring card,
• parents contacted (by either class teacher or Year Coordinator – Notice of Concern Level 1),
• lunch detention or a before/after school detention (ref. School Policy), Year Coordinator detention – Friday afternoon,
• Saturday detention,
• interview with Year Coordinator / Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care
• referral to College Counsellor,
• interview with Deputy Principal - suspension.

Student Leadership Team Speechcraft Course 

We are grateful to the St Pius X College Old Boys' Association who sponsor Ms Valerie Holland to train our Student Leaders in developing their presentation skills for life.

The program began at our Student Leaders' Training week in August and culminated in the Ceremony last Thursday.  It also included online meetings with the students from Stella Marist (Edmund Rice) College Uruguay.

Buddies not Bullies Beachwalk

Members of our Peer Mentoring Program are encouraged to make contact with your buddy and save the date of Friday 24 November after our Founder's Day Festival to engage in our annual beachwalk, swim and afternoon tea at Long Reef and Dee Why Beach.  See Mr Brannan next week for permission notes.

Baradine Immersion

Expressions of interest are being considered from Year 10 students who would like to be considered for our Baradine Remote and Rural Immersion. Departing early on Sunday 26 November we will spend 5 days 'On Kamilaroi Country' and in the schools and community of Baradine and Coonabarabran.

Students will be required to pack lightly but bring their school sports shirts as well as a Mess kit – Bowl, knife, fork and spoon, tea towel and robust cup with handle. See Mr Brannan with any questions. 

St Mary’s Bowraville Gift Run

Members of our student RAP Team in Years 7, 8 and 9 are being considered to visit St Mary’s Bowraville on 12 and 13 December when we will deliver the Christmas giving  gifts to the school community as well invest in sessions teaching in the classrooms, interacting at breaks with the students. We will then meet proud Gumbayngirr Uncle Mark Smith to go worming at Scott’s Head and fishing in the Nambucca River. See Mr Brannan for details.

HSC Result Day BBQ

A reminder that the HSC Results BBQ will be held on Thursday 14 December and all members of the Graduating Class of 2023 are encouraged to attend this important function.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care