Parent & Student Matters
- Drama
- History
- Science
- Languages
- Peer Support
- Diverse Learning
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Maths Drop In and Homework Help
Drama
Drama Production - Save the Date
History
Premier's ANZAC Memorial Scholarship for 2023
Applications for the Premier's Anzac Memorial Scholarship for 2023 are open for students in Years 10 and 11. History students in those year groups are strongly encouraged to check the details at the following link for this tremendous opportunity. Successful applicants will take part in a study tour to Darwin and Singapore in September and October this year.
Details can be found at https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/education/premiers-anzac-memorial-scholarship/.
Please talk to your History teacher or me if you are interested.
Mr Pat Rodgers - History/Legal Studies Coordinator
Science
Science Club
Welcome back to Science Club 2023! Our enthusiastic Year 11 and 12 leaders arrived early to help with the many new Year 7 students who attended this week. The students made invisible ink with bicarbonate of soda and water, wrote secret messages on paper with the ink, waited until it dried and then exposed the messages with a mixture of turmeric and rubbing alcohol. The results were excellent, and the students enjoyed revealing the secret messages.
The Science behind this? Bicarbonate of soda is a base and turmeric is an indicator. Indicators are substances that change colour in the presence of an acid and/or a base. When the yellow turmeric came into contact with the bicarbonate of soda in the secret message, it turned red.
We hope to do an electrostatic levitation during next Science Club… so any students from Years 7-12 are welcome to attend.
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
Languages
Chinese Club
Chinese Club has commenced for the year. It is open to Year 7-12 students every Wednesday Day 3 and Thursday Day 9 in D1 from 1.00 pm. This term, the focus is on Chinese arts and crafts. If you are interested in calligraphy, paper cutting, and making lucky bracelets, this is the club for you. See Ms Beryl Li for more details.
Mrs Leanne Lee - Languages Coordinator
Peer Support
Last week the Peer Support Program began, involving the Year 11 leaders along with our Year 5 and 7 students. During Term 1, the Year 5 and 7 students will meet weekly in groups of 8 with 2 – 3 Peer Leaders.
The Year 5’s will work together through a number of structured activities on a module called Keeping Friends. They will explore the concepts of friendship, building relationships and develop skills in empathy and critical thinking.
The Year 7’s will work on activities focusing on resilience and assisting students with transitioning to secondary school. Throughout the program, students will acknowledge their strengths and achievements, identify people who support them, and learn how to view challenges as opportunities for growth.
For our Year 11 students, engaging in the process of leadership training has both immediate and long-term benefits. Being Peer Support leaders gives these students wonderful experience as they develop into the leaders of the college next year.
During the training, students participated in a range of activities focusing on:
- leadership skills
- relationships with others
- their role and responsibilities
- the structure of a peer support session
- understanding how groups work
- strategies to lead a group
- the facilitation of some activities
- verbal and non-verbal communication
- empathy
- decision making
Benefits for Peer Leaders include:
- building positive relationships across the school
- practicing leadership skills
- increasing confidence in leading a group
- improving organisation and time management
- enhancing social and emotional learning
Ms Janelle Dempsey and Ms Veronica Bamber - Peer Support Leaders
Diverse Learning
New Staff Induction
On Thursday Diverse Learning had the wonderful opportunity to lead discussion for new staff at St Pius X College about the roles and responsibilities we have to our diverse learning students.
We acknowledged that EREA has two Special Education schools quite nearby, St Gabriel’s and St Edmund’s, and that offering an equitable education has been a hallmark of the Christian Brothers' education model for a long time.
In a mainstream school, such as St Pius X College, we are continually asking, “How can we continue to adapt in order to create appropriate learning adjustments for our students?”
We looked at societal attitudes, Catholic values and the overarching legal framework within which we operate. We concluded with an acknowledgement of visible or invisible disability; respect for people with a disability or learning difficulty is paramount.
I would like to thank the new staff for the experience and knowledge that they bring from an array of areas in the education sector. We embrace you as you become an integral part of the evolving Diverse Learning framework at St Pius X College.
Academic Awards Ceremony (2022 Achievements)
Mr Michael Dalton was a presenter at yesterday's academic awards, congratulating students for their achievements and application to learning during 2022. Many of the students are supported by Diverse Learning and have excelled in specific key learning areas.
Social Skills Initiatives
Please see below several options for 16+ people; all information provided by Meredith Leedham and Michael Dalton.
The sociable group is dedicated to providing a strengths-based, safe, social haven, where individuals can nourish their authentic selves and build meaningful connections. They validate, celebrate and support, all communication, and listen and learn from those with lived experience.
https://icannetwork.online/online/ This online platform offers networks for youths up to the age of 22. Resources are very good and very active among the ASD community. They are based in Melbourne.
https://www.amazingskills.com.au/ This is similar to the iCan network and is based in the ACT. It is more suited to primary and secondary students and focus on social skills and anxiety.
https://www.acu.edu.au/about-acu/autism-at-acu The Australian Catholic University has a whole department that assist ASD students with their studies.
Mrs Annabel Gunns - Diverse Learning Coordinator
Maths Drop-In
MATHS DROP-IN YEARS 7 - 12
TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS 7.40 am - 8.30 am
Maths Drop-In has commenced. The sessions run 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 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.
Starting Friday 17 February, with Mrs Fileman in 5 Gold.
Mrs Amanda Fileman - Mathematics Teacher