Pastoral Care and Old Boys' News

• Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day
• Peer Mentoring and Morning Tea
• Student Attendance
• School Opal Card use
• Red Dirt Immersion
• Old Boys' News

Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day

The Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day last Friday, 10 February, was a great success in terms of giving the Year 7 2023 cohort the opportunity for deep listening, interaction and rich learning on country at Oxford Falls.

The five sessions on the day included:

1. A first nations and social justice component featuring the significance and meaning behind our Reconciliation Jersey artwork and responsibility to be Ambassadors for Reconciliation.
2. An Edmund Rice Touchstones beyond borders articulating the ideals and story of Edmund Rice education and writing a letter to an ER student in Year 7 in another corner of the World articulating what it means to enjoy being and Edmund Rice student at St Pius X Chatswood.
3. A Mindmatters Be You Community building, interacting and sharing session.
4. An African Drumming, call and response reflection session for impulse control and 
5. An opportunity for group play on the great Oxford Falls facilities prepared so well by our Groundskeeper, Ron Noort and Caretaker, Trent Willoughby. 

We are ever grateful to Br Carl Sherrin (St Pius / CBC Chatswood Class of 1953). Br Carl did a magnificent job, as he has for the past 10 years, inducting our Year 7 students in the values of Edmund Rice Education using the EREA Touchstones and many examples of the men and women he has worked with across schools in Country and Metropolitan NSW and the Philippines.

His brave statement that “St Pius X (CBC) Chatswood is the best school in the world” is well received by the students on whom his enthusiasm and positivity is never lost! 

Br Carl is an amazing example and we wish him well for his 87th Birthday on ANZAC Day!

Thank you also for the success of the day to Mrs Loughman, Mr Quilty, Mrs Baguley, Ms Barwick, Mrs Scott, Mr Balboa, Mrs Lewis, Mr Stearn, Year 10 leaders: Year 10 Support Students: Rob Oner, Flynn Pavely, Christian Wong, Julian Johnson, Jonathan Nercessian, Charlie Woolf, Sam Cooper, Luke Mortimer, Ben Flynn, Beau Gaughan, Harry Schuster and Mr James Cummins of the Positivity Project who led the African Drumming touchstone reflection session.

Peer Mentoring Morning Tea

Please note that with Mr Russo’s return this week the Peer Mentoring Program for 2023 will be officially launched with a  morning tea for participants (Year 5, 6 and 7 Mentees and their Year 11-12 Mentors)  in the Prayer Garden next Tuesday. Please see the Counselling page of this week's Woodchatta for further details.

Student Attendance Records

A timely reminder to all students and parents / carers to please be proactive in monitoring the College’s attendance records and reports online. Any anomalies and queries should be directed to our Attendance Officer at studentmanagement@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.

Students should be proactive in visiting the Student Administration Office to amend any incorrect absence for that day on the Attendance Roll, preferably before the 11.00 am email notification to which parents can respond to alert us to any adjustments or issues of concern.

School Opal Card Use

Following up from being able to commend the excellent conduct of many of our students, such as those on the 523 Bus, it has come to my attention that some students are not in the habit of presenting their Opal Cards when getting on / off public transport. While this might not seem like a big issue, it can actually place some services in jeopardy and overcrowd others. Transport NSW uses tap on and tap off data to gauge the need for service allocation. As such, all students are to be reminded of their responsibilities and good conduct in travellling to and from school safely and in good order, which the huge majority invariably do.

Red Dirt Immersion

Students are invited to see Mr Brannan from Thursday this week to express their interest in the 2023 Red Dirt Expedition which will take place from 5.00 am Sunday 25 June to Saturday evening 1 July. The visit to some remote and rural NSW communities including Coonabarabran, Baradine, Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke involves some mid-winter camping and a willingness to show positive resilience, deep listening and rich learning . See Mr Brannan for more information.

Old Boys' News

Play for Brothers Rugby in 2023 - Scholarships Available

• Founded in 1947, the club fields teams in Seniors, Colts (U/21) and in 2023 we are looking to add a Women’s Sevens team.  
• All abilities are welcome. Come down with your friends to enjoy the playing and social side of rugby. Training one night a week at Roseville Chase, with a feed included.
• Colts receive free playing gear, registration is free and they get fed and watered at home games.
• A small number of education scholarships are available (including some solely for ex-students of St Pius X College) for men and women who are U/21 as at 1 January of the year they are playing.

Express your interest in playing for Brothers in 2023 by clicking on the following link: http://www.brothersrugby.com.au/. You can also follow the club on Facebook: Brothers Rugby Club Sydney or feel free to contact the Development Officer Rodger Shanahan: rugby@brothersrugby.com.au or 0447440366.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care and Wellbeing