From the Principal
St Pius X College Chatswood
- Reflection
- The 'Set Menu' of a St Pius X Education
- 2027 College Student Leadership Investiture and Academic Awards presentation
- Right to Disconnect
- School Sports Uniform transition period
- Cocurricular Program
- Dates for your diary
Reflection
I know a school…
I know a school…
I know a school where learning is celebrated,
where there is laughter and loving,
where there is celebration in the joy of living and learning.
I know a school where risks can be taken, mistakes made
and successes built upon
I know a school where the community prays and grows together each day,
in faith, hope and love and respect for each other.
I know a school where new and better ways of teaching and learning are sought after, and where each person’s needs are met.
I know a school where anything can happen through discovery
and the beauty of ordered learning is open to innovation and spontaneity
I know a school where each person is valued and accepted for who he or she is
I know a school where each member gives God the first place in all that happens and everyone uses their talents for others.
I know a school where what I read in the Gospels comes alive.
I know a school that is curriculum-focussed, student-centred, community oriented and culturally rich.
I know a school where children are recognised as thinkers, feelers and doers and the whole person is educated.
I know a school where education is for all and there is enough freedom and enough pragmatism to make it work.
I know a school where the poor, the disabled, the lonely and those with problems will find themselves helped, not by anything said, but by everything done.
I know a school that is freed from past injustices and is open to the future.
I know a school embracing the future with the words: ‘All are welcome here’.
As a community shaped by the EREA Touchstones, we are called to make St Pius X a college that we know and value, where every student is supported, challenged and encouraged as they navigate the complexities of life. Like the vision expressed in The School I Know, each of us has a role to play in building a community that reflects the Kingdom of God.
This invitation is ongoing and asks us to contribute positively through our commitment to the high standards and expectations that unite us as a College community. At our College Assemblies we constantly speak about the importance of Respect as a fundamental value that underpins all we do. Respect begins with ourselves, in the choices we make and the standards we uphold each day. It then extends to others through our words, actions, understanding and acceptance.
Just as God continually calls us to be the best version of ourselves, our College encourages each member of the community to embrace this challenge. By living our values of Respect, Faith, Excellence and Opportunity, we strengthen our community and contribute meaningfully to the mission of bringing the Kingdom of God to life in our daily interactions.
Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for Us
St Pius X - Pray for Us
Live Jesus in our Hearts - Forever!
The 'Set Menu' of a St Pius X Education
At our College Assembly on Wednesday, I shared a simple story, a metaphor, about dining at a restaurant. When choosing a restaurant, there are often two options. The first is a buffet, where you can select the foods you like, the dishes that are most appealing, or those that best suit your personal preferences. The second is a set menu, where the courses have already been carefully chosen and everyone receives the same experience.
I suggested to our students that being a member of the St Pius X College community is much more like a set menu than a buffet.
When families choose St Pius X, they choose more than a school. They choose a Catholic educational community built upon shared values, expectations and traditions that have shaped generations of young men. Our students are not invited to select only those aspects of College life that they find convenient or appealing. Rather, they are called to embrace the full experience and all that it means to be a member of this community.
The 'set menu' of a St Pius X education includes but not restricted to:
Living the EREA Touchstones.
Embracing our College Values of Faith, Respect, Excellence and Opportunity.
Following the Student Code of Conduct.
Demonstrating Respectful Relationships and Respectful Behaviour.
Committing fully to learning and personal growth.
Taking responsibility for personal presentation, including uniform and grooming standards.
Adhering to the College Phone Policy.
Living the St Pius X Factor to Enhance Learning.
Contributing positively to the life of the College.
These expectations are not optional. They are part of the commitment that comes with membership of our College community. With privilege comes responsibility, and students are expected to uphold all aspects of the standards that support a positive, respectful and successful learning environment.
Importantly, this cannot be achieved by the College alone. The partnership between home and school is one of the most significant factors in a young person's growth and development. When parents and the College work together with a shared commitment to the same standards and expectations, students receive a clear and consistent message about what is important.
I encourage parents to continue supporting the College's expectations around learning, behaviour, uniform, grooming, punctuality and respectful relationships. These seemingly small daily habits teach young people accountability, resilience and personal responsibility. They also reinforce the shared values that help our students develop into confident young gentlemen of character and integrity.
At St Pius X College, our goal is not simply to educate students academically. We seek to form young men who live with faith, treat others with respect, strive for excellence and embrace the opportunities before them. The strength of our community lies in our willingness to embrace the entire 'set menu' together, ensuring that every student benefits from a culture of high expectations, care and belonging. Through a strong partnership between students, families and staff, we can continue to provide the environment in which every young man is challenged to become the very best version of himself.
2027 Student Leaders' Investiture and Year 11 Preliminary Academic Awards
The College Student Leadership Investiture for 2027, to be held next Monday, is one of the most significant ceremonies in our College calendar. It marks the formal appointment of our new student leaders and symbolises the passing of responsibility from the outgoing leadership team to the next generation of young men who will lead and serve our community in the year ahead.
This occasion is a moment of great pride and reflection for our students, families and staff. It recognises the commitment, character and leadership potential of those who have been entrusted with positions of responsibility, while reaffirming the values that define life at St Pius X. As they take on their leadership roles, these students are called to lead with humility, integrity and purpose, inspiring their peers through their actions and fostering a culture of service, inclusion and excellence across the College.
The Investiture also marks an important milestone for our entire 2027 Year 12 cohort. While a select group of students will wear formal leadership badges, every Year 12 student has a leadership role to play as the most senior members of the College. Their influence, example and support of younger students will help shape the character and culture of our community.
As the custodians of the College in their final year, our Year 12 students are entrusted with far more than leadership titles. They inherit the rich traditions, history and spirit of St Pius X and have a responsibility to preserve and strengthen these for future generations. Through their commitment to our values of Faith, Respect, Excellence and Opportunity, they set the standard for those who follow. The legacy they leave will be measured not only by their achievements, but by the example they provide, the relationships they build and the way they encourage younger students to embrace all that it means to be a Pius man.
Under the leadership of College Captain Mac Hillsdon, we look forward to seeing the Class of 2027 embrace this responsibility with pride, ensuring that the traditions and culture that have shaped our College continue to thrive for many years to come.
At this ceremony we will also acknowledge and celebrate the academic success of our Year 11 students who have recently concluded their Preliminary year, by presenting the Year 11 Academic Awards.
Please use the following link to view next Monday's investiture and awards ceremony:
As our Year 12 students continue through Week 2 of their HSC Examinations, we ask the St Pius X community to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. This important period marks the culmination of years of hard work, commitment and perseverance, and we are proud of the way our students have approached this challenge.
The support of family, friends and our wider community plays an important role in helping students remain calm, confident and focused. As a faith-filled community, we invite you to continue praying that our young men are blessed with courage, wisdom and confidence as they undertake each examination.
Guided by our values of Faith, Respect, Excellence and Opportunity, we wish all Year 12 students every success as they strive to achieve their personal best.
'Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.'
Robert Collier
Please continue to keep our Year 12 students and their families in your prayers as they complete this significant chapter of their St Pius X journey.
Right to Disconnect
As part of the College’s ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, we are introducing an after-hours email auto-reply for staff.
From 4:00 pm until 8:00 am Monday to Thursday, and from 4:00 pm Friday until 8:00 am on Monday, emails sent to staff will receive an automatic reply acknowledging that the email has been received outside normal working hours.
The purpose of this initiative is to support the Right to Disconnect and recognise the importance of staff having the opportunity to disconnect from work outside their normal working hours.
We understand that parents and carers have busy schedules and may find that the most convenient time to send an email is in the evening or early morning. You are welcome to continue sending emails at a time that is convenient for you. The introduction of the auto-reply does not prevent communication with staff outside normal working hours.
However, emails sent during this period may not be read or responded to until the staff member returns to work. The auto-reply will clearly indicate that the email has been received and that a response can be expected during normal working hours.
This initiative is intended to:
support the wellbeing and work-life balance of our staff;
reinforce the College’s commitment to the Right to Disconnect;
reduce any expectation that staff should monitor or respond to emails outside their normal working hours; and
provide greater clarity around when parents and carers can reasonably expect a response.
We recognise that effective communication between the College, students, parents and carers is an important part of our partnership. This initiative is about supporting healthy boundaries for our staff while maintaining open and accessible communication with our families.
For your information, the auto reply email will contain the following:
Thank you for contacting St Pius X College.
Please note that your email has been received outside of the College’s regular business hours. Our staff are not expected to monitor or respond to emails outside of their normal working hours.
Your enquiry is important to us, and we will respond as soon as possible during normal business hours, generally within two business days.
We appreciate your understanding of our staff’s need to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal time.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we introduce this initiative and continue to work towards a positive and sustainable environment for our entire College community.
School sports uniform – transition period coming to an end.
As communicated in last week's Woodchatta, the transition period was designed to provide families with ample time to prepare for the introduction of the updated College PE uniform and to ensure a consistent approach across the College. As we approach 2027, we remind families that all students will be required to wear the updated College PE uniform from the commencement of the school year. We encourage families to ensure all uniform requirements are in place before the start of Term 1, 2027, and thank parents for their continued support in upholding our College standards.
Blue College Polo
College Tracksuit
Socks
Shorts
The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. What PE uniform should my son wear when attending the Oxford Falls campus
a. When travelling to and from the Oxford Falls, students should wear the College PE uniform
College House Polo
College Navy Sports Shorts
College White Socks
Training shoes/appropriate footwear
College Tracksuit (optional)
Rain jacket (wet weather option)
b. While participating in the Oxford Falls PE Program, students may wear:
Any College crested sports uniform (eg: rugby or football jersey, etc …)
College training top
College rain jacket
College Tracksuit top
College Track Pants
2. What PE uniform can I wear when participating in PE classes at the Chatswood campus?
Students are only permitted to wear their College PE uniform during PE classes. That is:
College House Polo
College Navy Sports Shorts
College White Socks
Training shoes/appropriate footwear
College Tracksuit (optional)
Rain jacket (wet weather option)
3. Will the older sports uniform attire be acceptable to wear?
Please Note
Use of the ‘older’ sports uniform will be phased out by the end of 2026. All students must have the updated PE uniform by the beginning of the 2027 school year.
4. What uniform do I wear if I am unable to wear my full College uniform?
Students who cannot wear their full College uniform, for whatever reason, should wear:
New College Polo
College Navy sport shorts
College White Socks
appropriate training shoes
College Tracksuit (optional)
5. When can students wear the rain jacket?
As stated in the diary, rain jackets:
can be worn as part of the College tracksuit when required.
can be worn in the event of wet weather over full summer or winter uniform.
must not be worn instead of the winter blazer, jumper or the new Tracksuit top.
Please note: The current College Rain Jacket will not available once the current stock has been exhausted. The College is currently investigating alternatives. College umbrellas are available for purchase through the uniform shop.
6. For Saturday games
Students must wear appropriate College Sports uniform (basketball, cricket, rugby, football etc.).
The full College tracksuit is an (optional) extra. Otherwise, either full summer or full winter school uniform should be worn specific to the season.
In the case of cold weather, College scarves can be worn. These can be purchased through canteen at Oxford Falls.
Students are encouraged to wear their sport specific College training tops to games in instances where full school uniform is not required. OR, the blue College polo. The House shirt should not be worn to any of the fixtures.
NO MUFTI is permitted. Students must attend all College fixtures and events in College uniform unless stated otherwise.
Cocurricular program continues this week – thank you for supporting the high standards surrounding our College sport and playing uniform
Thank you to all the students and the parents in supporting our sporting uniform standards last week at our Oxford Falls campus. Not only was it great to see the students competing enthusiastically, but we also showed how well we respect our uniform.
I am remaindered of the phrase ‘The standard we walk past is the standard we accept.’ Let us work together in not walking past a standard we do not accept.
Whether you are playing at home or away, best wishes to all our teams this week and continue to strive for your personal best and represent the College with pride.
Dates for your diary
Term 4
Week 3
Mon 26/10 2027 Senior Leaders' Investiture & Award Presentation
Tues 27/10 Chapel Mass (Pius) / Year 7 2027 Information Night (Online) / Performing Arts Studio Concert #2
Wed 28/10 Year 11 Reports issued / Year 7 Vaccination Clinic #2 / Year 12 2027 Retreat - 30/10 / Performing Arts Studio Concert #3
Thur 29/10 Year 5 & 6 2027 Transition Day
Sat 31/10 ISA & NSTA R3 / IPSHA R9 / ISA touch football R2
Fide et Labore
By Faith and Hard work
Live Jesus in Our Hearts - Forever
Mr Michael Ronchetti - College Principal