Student & Parent Matters

• Seminar on 9th May:  The Power of Being a Father
• Bus Route & Timetable Changes from 6th May​
• Public Speaking & Debating
• Chess
• ANZAC Day Commemorations
• Yom Hashoah North Shore Holocaust Commemoration
• EREBB Rugby
• UBUNTU Choir Concert
• Kokoda Track Expedition 2018
• -  Participants' Training Hike this Sunday 6th May
• -  Fundraising for Callan Services PNG

The Power of Being a Father:  Seminar on the Father Factor on Wednesday 9th May

We are honoured to host author and presenter Robert Falzon for one night only on Wednesday 9th May at 7.30pm in Harrington Hall in the grounds of Mercy College. Robert is the starter of Men Alive and Growing Good Men, a Catholic organisation encouraging men, in this instance especially, in their roles as fathers and will give a seminar on The Father Factor .  Fathering is crucial for our youth (so is mothering!) 

Men who had a good relationship with their father have a higher life satisfaction level later in life.  When fathers are involved in their children's lives, society sees a decline in premature deaths, substance abuse and law-breking tendencies.  Yet even the best of men can struggle with how to be a parent to their young, teenage or even adult children.  

Robert is something of a Catholic version of Steve Biddulph, a man who can powerfully address the challenges and opportunities for contemporary fathering.  But this presentation isn't just for fathers; it's for young men who will become fathers, and for women who want to support their husband in being a great father.  

Please see the flyer below for details and RSVP by Friday 4 May 2018 to Cristina on 9847 0428 or faith.formation@dbb.org.au

Bus Route & Timetable Changes from 6th May

We have been notified that as from Sunday 6th May there will be changes to a number of bus routes and timetables to reflect customer demand and improve the reliability of services. These changes impact both school special and regular route services.

To ensure all students are aware of any change to their travel patterns, please go to  www.transportnsw.info to check timetables. 

Public Speaking & Debating

Information from Mrs Waterson can be found in the document below.

Mrs M Waterson - Debating and Public Speaking Convener

Chess

Chess Players:  A reminder that the Senior School Chess Competition begins  on Friday 11th May (Week 2 of this term).

Ms D Ramsey - Chess Convenor

ANZAC Day Commemorations

Congratulations to those members of the Student Leadership Team, Kokoda Expedition 2018, and younger students who represented the College at ANZAC Commemorative Ceremonies last week.

At a heavily populated Chatswood RSL Garden of Remembrance Dawn Service on Wednesday, College Vice-Captain Nikita Papastamatis was joined by Alec Paterson (Year 10) and Tom Reay (Year 6), in laying the wreath at the Cross of Remembrance within the magnificent Picardy Rose Garden. College Captain Daniel Hall, Vice-Captain Jack Moran and Prefect Hunter Clarke led a contingent of recent Old Boys, Parents and younger students attentive to Mayor Gail Giles-Gibney’s Occasional Address before retiring to the Chatswood RSL for the obligatory “cuppa and ANZAC biscuit breakfast.

The 7am Club Willoughby, Obelisk of Remembrance Commemorative Service saw Nikita Papastamatis and Matthew Garrett (Yr 12) lay some books for local Libraries, on our behalf, and that of our Kokoda Expedition 2018. This Service was attended by both NSW Premier and Local Member for Willoughby Gladys Berejiklian and Mrs Daphne Dunne, whose husband, local boy Albert Chowne, earned the Victoria Cross posthumously in Papua New Guinea. Chowne Hall at Willoughby Park is named for him.

On Sunday Prefects Oliver Stewart and James Spencer attended the Forestville RSL Commemorative Service along with Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan and Local Members Jonathon O’Dea and Brad Hazzard. There they also offered a collection of books to be offered to local Libraries on behalf of the College and Kokoda 2018 Expedition team. (Photos below)

Last week our U/15 New Zealand Rugby Tour Squad payed their respects to those who have served at Whare…. Maori Thermal Springs Village in Rotorua. The Maori battalions served with distinction with the Australian Imperial Forces notably at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli during the ill-fated August Offensive, sharing the tragic cost extolled at Lone Pine and The Nek. In WWII they fought bravely amongst the olive groves of Crete alongside Captain (later Lt Colonel) Ralph Honner, who later led the 39th Australian Militia Battalion (mud over bloods) with great distinction along the Kokoda Track. Ralph Honner was the 15th Western Australian to enlist for WWII and later worked in Sydney as a lawyer, represented Australia as Ambassador to Ireland (1968-74). His son John is Vice Chair of the EREA Council and a good friend and frequent visitor to St Pius X College.

Thank you to all who represented us so well in appropriate commemoration of those who have served and suffered in conflict, on this the Centenary of the watershed 1918 Battles of Villers-Bretoneux in defence of Amiens, Northern France. These battles consolidated the ANZAC reputation for skilful fighting, traditions of resilience through Courage, Endurance, Mateship, and Sacrifice, which our Kokoda Expedition will reflect on at the Isurava Village Battle ground PNG in July. In November as we commemorate the Centenary of the Armistice ending WWI. Our Junior School will attend the Kokoda Memorial at Concord, and our St Joseph’s Walgett Year 10 immersion team will present on the contribution of remote and indigenous communities to our Country. And thus further learn, and teach to others, the valuable lessons of our shared history. See Mr Brannan or Mr Rodgers to assist in these historical projects.

Mr S Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal Term 2

Yom Hashoah North Shore Holocaust Commemoration

At the kind invitation of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies representative, Ms Suzanne Green, Ms Allington and I were privileged to attend an April commemoration of those affected by that terrible chapter in modern history: The Holocaust. The moving first-hand accounts, so generously shared, of what it was like to live through that time, and subsequently “move as far away as possible”, to start up a new life in Australia, were at once sobering, enlightening and uplifting.

The ceremony was hosted at Masada College, St Ives, and provided a pertinent reminder of the great value of our shared interfaith dialogue, following up on the recent Year 8 Holocaust Museum excursion led by Ms Meale, Year 11 Interfaith shared experiences with Mr Adrian Brannan, and the ongoing partnership developed with Amity Muslim faith College through our Mission and Identity team.   

We thank Ms Green, on behalf of the Jewish Community of Sydney, for so generously welcoming us into this shared experience, so painfully remembered by those who, while elderly, are still able to relate their stories. The overriding message of tolerance of diversity and resilient strength in upholding the highest values of humanity over the worst, is one we need to hear and adhere to. The stories of those individuals strong enough to stand up against overwhelming wrongs, inspire us to stand up for what is right and make a positive difference in the world.  

Mr S Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal Term 2

EREBB Rugby

Our April Holidays 15s Rugby Tour to New Zealand featured visits to three Edmund Rice Colleges in St Thomas of Canterbury Christchurch, St Kevin’s Oamaru, (Otago Province), and St Peters, Auckland. This endeavour to reach out to Colleges of the Edmund Rice Tradition is in keeping with our role as an Edmund Rice Beyond Borders Lead School, in connecting our school and students, with other like-minded but often diverse institutions around the globe. Our Year 7 Letter writing to ER schools globally, UBUNTU Choir Concert, work with Callan Services in Papua New Guinea in parallel with our Kokoda Expedition in July achieve similar outcomes.

It was significant then that on our first full day in NZ, after playing St Thomas and touring Christchurch, when we attended 5.30pm Mass at Sancta Maria Parish Addington we ran into three Christian Brothers visiting from the global leadership team of the order: Br Hugh O’Neil a Canadian Brother who heads the order from Rome, Br Richard Walsh from Melbourne and Br Peter Dowling also from Australia. For the record our boys were complimented extensively on their presentation and conduct. 

Mr S Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal Term 2

UBUNTU Choir Concert

We look forward to our Week 4, Monday 21st May, hosting of the Kenyan – Ugandan UBUNTU Choir Concert. UBUNTU is an African derived concept well described by Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It works on the premise that we exist as humans because of who we are in relationship and positive interaction with others. Very salient and interconnected with the relationships we have with our Edmund Rice Partner Schools across Africa.

The Choir will run Master Classes with our Year 6 students Period 6 on Thursday 17th May and then after school on that day with our Junior and Senior choirs.

They will then perform at a Concert in the College Gym on Monday 21st May from 7pm. Tickets are available on the Trybooking Link https://www.trybooking.com/UZOO  with proceeds going to support the Choir and its educational initiatives in Africa. 

Mr S Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal Term 2

Kokoda Track Expedition 2018

Participants' Training Hike

Our next training hike will take place this Sunday 6th May where we will hike from Mt Ku-Ring-Gai to Cowan (17.2km).  It is important that all members of our group attend as many of these training hikes as possible. They provide an opportunity for us to gauge fitness, to share information and to address any potential concerns or issues before they manifest.  All members of the College Community are welcome to attend.

• When:  Sunday 6th May 2018
• Route: Benowie Walking track from Mt Ku-ring-gai to Cowan via Berowra Waters
• Meet:  Cowan Train Station 7.30am (Car shuffle to Mt Ku-ring-gai) Depart Mt Ku-ring-gai 8.00am (Train from Hornsby arrives Mt Ku-ring-gai 7.46am).
• Finish:  Cowan train station 2.00pm (approx.) Students dismissed from Cowan train station under parental supervision.
• Need:    3 litres of water (no water on route), hat, sunscreen, lunch, Opal card, sense of humour
• Weather:  In the event of poor weather, please check the College App.

Last Practice Hike:   

• #7 - Sunday 3rd June 2018

I would also like to highlight our Fundraising for Callan Services in Papua New Guinea (see article below).  Can I encourage you to take the time to read the article and to either make a donation or share the following link on Facebook:

http://mail-track.everydayhero.com/track/click/30190481/give.everydayhero.com?

Many thanks to those who have already made a donation to this very worthwhile cause.  

Fundraising for Callan Services PNG

There has been a large amount of interest from parents and the College community in relation to fundraising for Callan Services in Papua New Guinea as part of our Immersion and Kokoda Track hike coming up at the end of Term 2.

Callan Services is part of our global Edmund Rice network and provides education, health & community based rehabilitation services for people with disabilities in PNG. Since its establishment in 1991 Callan Services has expanded and there are now 19 centres. Its work is having transformative and destigmatising effects on children with disabilities. In particular, its work in early detection and an inclusive education model can successfully integrate and transition some students with disabilities into mainstream classes – with some outstanding results.

The College community’s support of Callan Services assists them to continue their work in transforming the lives of those living with disabilities as well as their families.  Donations can be made online through the EverydayHero link below.

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/spx-kokoda-callan-services-fundraising 

If you have any questions or suggestions for further fundraising please contact me or Jane Higgins at the College.

Mr P de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator