Parent & Student Matters
- Winter and other Sport Photos
- Purchasing Summer Sports and Co-curricular Photos
- Technology and Applied Science
- Microfiction Competition final
- Science
- Lights Camera Pius! Film Festival 2023
- Kokoda Track Expedition 2024 Information Night
- Splinters, Splashes, Sounds, Stage, Snaps and Stories
- Maths Drop-In
Winter and Other Sport Photos
On Tuesday 29 August, the last session of college photos for the year will be taken.
Photos to be taken include:
Prefects, Chess, Debating, Public Speaking, Sons of Old Boys, Duke of Edinburgh, Senior Mentors, Captains of Sport, Sports House Captains, Boxercise, Robotics, Rugby, Football, Tennis, Squash, Athletics and Cross Country.
A full list of photos being taken will be included in next week's Woodchatta. Photos will be taken in full school uniform and/or sports uniform.
Year 10 students involved in photos must bring their appropriate uniform for their photos and then get changed for their Triple PE session down at Oxford Falls.
Purchasing Summer Sports and Co-curricular Photos
If you wish to order any photos from the summer sports and co-curricular photo day please follow these instructions:
- To view and order Sports and Co curricular photos please go to: www.melbastudios.com.au
- Click on “SCHOOLS”
- Password is: archer
Ms Leisa Proc - General Coordinator
Technology and Applied Science
Year 7 have been studying the Food and Agriculture unit in Technology class, providing valuable insights into the entire food production process – from cultivation to consumption. Growing herbs and tomatoes, learning about wheat growth, and understanding cheese production are all important aspects of our food supply chain.
This week we are creating pizzas as a culminating activity. This will be a wonderful way to tie all these concepts together. Not only will students have the chance to apply their knowledge practically, but they'll also get to see how the various ingredients they've learned about can be combined into a delicious final product.
Ms Jennifer Walsh - TAS Teacher
Microfiction Competition grand final
On Wednesday last week, 30 students from Year 6 to Year 11 competed in the grand final of the St Pius X College Microfiction Competition. Students composed their stunning stories of 100-words or less in a live event held in our Senior Resource Centre.
Students had an hour to compose their story while including the unique word 'illuminate' and the unique action of 'crafting'.
The final round is being judged by Year 12 Learning Prefects Xander, Darcy, Jamie, and Ned and winners will be announced in Week 7 to coincide with Literacy Week.
Mr Daniel Quilty - English Coordinator
Science
Science Week
SPX SCIENCE WEEK- Innovation: Powering Future Industries
The SPX Science Department warmly invites all students to come and join us to celebrate SPX Science Week (Monday 21 - Wednesday 23 August). The theme this year for Science Week is Innovation: Powering Future Industries. There will be activities for students related to this theme each lunchtime, as per the schedule below.
There will be raffle tickets handed out to all attendees/ participants and lucky door prizes drawn on Monday and Tuesday. Prizes also for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the Wednesday Quizizz.
A small gift will also be given out to the first 20 students each day.
This year’s theme could not be more relevant to our society, where innovation is essential for economic growth, sustainability, and progress. Science and innovation are the driving forces behind significant progress in various fields, including health, technology, and the environment.
Australian industries that are undergoing innovation include agriculture, space, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. Many changes to these industries are coming thanks to advances in computing, such as artificial intelligence (AI).
Science Club cancelled
There will be NO SCIENCE CLUB this Thursday due to SPX Science Week happening in Week 6. Instead, could all Year 11 Science Club Leaders please attend a brief meeting at 1:00 pm in S2 this Thursday with Mrs Schuster.
New Addition to the Science Department
We have baby fish! The Science Department warmly welcomes a large number of baby Endler Guppies to S1. We thank Ms Barwick for sharing her tank and baby fish for the remainder of the term.
The guppies are currently very tiny and great at hiding. We hope that the students in S1 enjoy watching the fish grow and develop their many and varied colours over the next few weeks. We have included some information about Endler Guppies and their ecosystem and care needs.
The Science Experience
The Science Experience is a nationwide STEM outreach program for students in Year 9 and 10.
Each program is designed to provide students who have an interest in science with an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities under the guidance of scientists who love their work.
There are three upcoming programs in NSW:
Macquarie University: 4-6 October 2023
Meet passionate scientists and get hands-on with science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
University of Technology, Sydney: 26-28 September 2023
Various hands-on and fun science, maths and technology activities.
University of New England: 16-18 January 2024 (for students in Year 10 and 11 in 2024)
You will immerse yourself in a world of science, see their science facilities, learn from leading scientists and participate in various workshops. (Students will be able to stay in one of UNE's colleges on campus - accommodation and meals are an additional cost.)
The cost for the programs are as follows:
1 day program: $72.00
2 day program: $150.00
3 day program: $210.00
There may be an opportunity to receive Rotary sponsorship towards the cost of these programs.
For more information please visit www.scienceexperience.com.au
Phone: 03 9756 7534.
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
Lights, Camera Pius! Film Festival 2023
The annual Film Festival is only a couple of weeks away and excitement is building. Anyone with entries yet to be submitted is encouraged to do so as soon as possible. The final date for submissions in Friday 25 August.
This week tickets (free) are being released to staff, Year 12 and Film Festival Committee members and entrants. Remaining tickets will be released for Year 7-10 students on Friday. The festival will be held on Friday 31 August from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm at Hoyts Chatswood Westfield Cinema 1.
Ms Frances Doyle - Visual Arts Coordinator
Kokoda Track Expedition 2024 – Information night
The Kokoda Track Expedition is once again upon us. We are at the point of taking expressions of interest for participation in our 2024 Expedition and anticipate training to begin later in the year. The dates for the Expedition are:
Monday 1 July – Thursday 11 July 2024
The expedition is open to all students who will be in Year 9 to Year 11 in 2024 and their families.
In the past we have had fathers and sons, mothers and sons, uncles and brothers and sons, sisters and brothers and fathers, old boys and fathers - you get the idea.
An information night will be held on Tuesday 22 August in the College Gym starting at 6:00 pm and will go for approximately 1 hour.
Parking will be available on the College grounds.
Date: 22 August 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: College Gym (Chatswood Campus)
Expedition dates: Monday 1 July – Thursday 11 July 2024
Mr Paul de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Splinters, Splashes, Sounds, Stage, Snaps and Stories
The annual exhibition from our talented Year 12 students will be held during Week 6 at our Chatswood campus on Thursday 24 August from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Major works from the following subjects will be presented: Drama, Design and Technology, History Extension, Music 1, Music 2, Industrial Technology, Photography, Video and Digital Imaging and Visual Arts.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Francis Webb Poetry Reading - Save the Date
Willoughby Library will host the annual poetry reading of Francis Webb next Saturday at 2:30 pm. This year, our College will be proudly represented by Year 11’s Michael Krizan who will read a Webb poem, along with poets and academics. You can read more about this special event and reserve a seat here. Look for more details on this event next week.
Mrs Karen Keighery - Library and Information Services Coordinator
Maths Drop-In
Students working hard at the Maths Drop-In sessions:
MATHS DROP-IN YEARS 7 - 12
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS 7:40 am - 8:30 am
Maths Drop-In continues each Tuesday and Thursday morning 7:40 am – 8:30 am in C1.
These sessions are open to all students from Years 7-12 and are an ideal way to receive extra help, to do additional study or to complete homework. It is a great way to study with a friend and get ahead. Just simply turn up with your Maths books. Come along and be a part of the team in C1.
MATHS DROP-IN AND HOMEWORK HELP FOR YEARS 5 - 6
FRIDAYS 8:00 am – 8:40 am
Drop-in to 5 Gold for help with difficult mathematics concepts or general homework. This is an ideal place where students can come and feel comfortable to ask questions. Students are encouraged to bring along specific queries, tasks, assessments, homework, general revision and problems to work on, with Mrs Fileman on hand, ready to help.
Mrs Amanda Fileman - Mathematics Teacher