Parent & Student Matters 

• Congratulations to Year 8 student, Jack Treder
• History
• English
• da Vinci round-up
• Science
• Visual Arts

Jack Treder, Water Polo NSW Grand Final champion

Year 8 student, Jack Treder, represents the Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers Water Polo club in the U14 A Division.  Over the past six months, Jack and his team have shown outstanding dedication, hard work, and team spirit maintaining the top position on the ladder of Water Polo NSW Summer Metropolitan season. Last night his team WON the Water Polo NSW MU14As Summer Metro Grand-Final!

Jack is already preparing for his next major challenge—the 2025 Australian Youth Water Polo Championships in Perth starting 14 April.  It's an exciting opportunity for Jack to compete on the national stage. 

Mr Dominic McGeekie - Year 8 Pastoral Leader

History

Year 9 Elective History 

In Year 9 Elective History, the students have been studying ancient Rome and ancient Egypt as part of their Constructing History unit. In this term’s assessment task, a replica of an artefact from one of the societies was built by each student. More importantly they labelled the artefact with key details about it that would be suitable for a museum exhibition. Research into the significance it played in the ancient civilisation and its legacy today was also investigated. The Elective students did a very good job with the design of their artefact and the research required.

The artefacts are on display at the entrance to the Senior Library and all are encouraged to pay this a visit. Thank you to Mrs Keighery and Mrs Ramos for arranging the display. 

Mr Pat Rodgers - Leader of Learning History and Legal Studies         

English

Year 10 English Incursion

On Thursday, 27 March, Year 10 students at St Pius X College had the opportunity to watch a live performance by the Australian Shakespeare Company. The actors delivered an engaging and entertaining show, making Shakespeare’s themes of love, power, and betrayal feel relevant to a modern audience. The performance was both educational and captivating, showcasing the timelessness of Shakespeare’s works.

A unique aspect of the event was the involvement of volunteer students, who were invited to participate in certain scenes. These students were able to interact with the actors, giving them a firsthand look at the dynamics of live theatre. It was an exciting and memorable experience for those who volunteered, and it added an interactive element to the performance for the whole audience.

Overall, the performance was a valuable experience for the Year 10 students, helping them connect with Shakespeare’s work in a personal and memorable way. The event sparked further interest in theatre and literature, making it an enriching and enjoyable day for everyone involved.

By Vito Fogolin and Blaise O’Brien - Year 10 students

da Vinci Club round-up

For the last 8 weeks students from Years 5 – 11 have been participating in the da Vinci Club before school every Tuesday morning. With the help of the Learning Prefects, the students have engaged in Mathematics, Cartography Science, Code Breaking and finally Poetry and Art.

Well done to all the students who got up early to start the day with some brain gymnastics!! I have included below some of the poetry that the students produced. 

Good luck to our Year 11 students who head to Knox next Tuesday to compete in the Regional Finals. 

The da Vinci Club will resume in Term 4.

Mr Paul Cummins - High Potential & Gifted Education (HPGE) Coordinator

Science

National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) - Year 12 Program (for current Year 11 students)

Applications for the 2026 NYSF Year 12 program are open.

The NYSF Year 12 Program is a leading STEM program that gives incoming Year 12 students the opportunity to explore future STEM pathways, visit universities, TAFE and industry, and meet hundreds of STEM enthusiasts just like them. 

•    The Australian National University, Canberra (6 –14 January 2026)

•    The University of Queensland, Brisbane (13 – 21 January 2026)

Participants will be immersed in science and technology, and stay at either The Australian National University or The University of Queensland in January. They'll be absorbed into an unforgettable community to broaden their STEM future. 

Financial support is available in the form of scholarships.

For more information please visit their website:

STEM experiences for Years 10-12

NYSF STEM Hubs are bite-sized NYSF experiences, for students Years 10 and up.

STEM Hubs travel to different cities across Australia, running in the July school holidays. They’re a fantastic way to connect with the NYSF community and engage students who are unable to attend in January.

Registrations for STEM Hubs will open in mid-May but you can register your interest today using the link above.

If you have any questions about the programs, please contact the NYSF office at nysf@nysf.edu.au.

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Leader of Learning, Science 

Visual Arts

2025 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize

Entries are now open for the 2025 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize.

Now in its fifth year, the prize has become one of the leading competitions for both art and design with an environmental focus.Artists and designers from across Australia, including young people aged 7 to 18 years, are invited to submit work on the theme of the environment.  This is your chance to be part of the conversation around climate issues and inspire a sustainable future.Finalists will be featured in an exhibition across our 3 galleries: Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Curl Curl Creative Space and Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery.

$3,000: Young artists prize

Key dates

• Submission deadline: Sun 19 May, 5:00 pm
• Finalist notification: Thu 29 May, by 5:00 pm
• Exhibition: Fri 1 Aug – Sun 14 Sep

If you have any questions about the above contact artdesignprize@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au .

Ms Frances Doyle - Leader of Learning, Visual Arts