Parent & Student Matters

NAPLAN 2023
History
Science
Languages
Diverse Learning
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Maths Drop In and Homework Help

NAPLAN 2023

For parents of students in Years 5, 7 and 9 please see the attached letter regarding this year's NAPLAN.

2023 NAPLAN Letter to Parents.pdf

Mr Stephen Davidson - Curriculum Administration Coordinator

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

Year 11 Ancient History

We have started the Year 11 Ancient History course with the study of ancient human remains. One of the first tasks required students to research an ancient bog body from Northern Europe and create a mystery box on their findings. These mystery boxes included an array of primary and secondary sources, including (replica) skeletal remains, ancient hair gel, weapons, autopsy reports and facial reconstructions. Students learnt that many of these ancient bog bodies were remains of Celtic people from the Iron Age and are believed to have been killed as part of ritual sacrifices. An incredible amount of critical and creative thinking was displayed across these mystery boxes and we all had fun learning about a unique area of history. Well done Ancient Historians!

Mrs Sophie Casamento - History Teacher

Science

Science Club

Science Club will recommence for the year tomorrow - Thursday (Day 4) at 1.00 pm in S2. All students from Years 7 - 12 are welcome.

Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator

Languages

Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year 2023 began on Sunday, 22 January and will end on Friday 9 February 2024. It is customary for this festival to begin with 15 days of festivities, family gatherings, prayers, and blessings. It has been a tradition of our school to honour culture and diversity. On Monday, 13 February, we celebrated the Lunar New Year during our whole school assembly. It began with Chinese New Year music playing in the school yard, followed by speeches presented both in Mandarin and English, and finally the distribution of Chinese Lucky Candy at recess.

Well done to our Year 12 Cultural Prefects, Henrik Hogg, Luke Sarkissian and Aaron Lau, and students from Year 9 to 11 Chinese classes, Liam Boswell, Flynn Mansbridge and James Kevric for their excellent efforts in delivering their speeches and informing us of this joyous occasion.

It was a wonderful start to the school week, filled with respect, positivity, and excitement.

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

Diverse Learning

Students Up-Close

Joshua Yu

Josh is in Year 8 and is an active learner who prefers to engage in his learning by visual and audio delivery. Josh is not afraid to seek out assistance. Here he is in the image below trialling the C-Pen. Mr Dalton was able to share this resource and his expertise in assistive technology. Josh was even happier than normal!

The Diverse Learning team at St Pius X College is working towards completing the Individual learning plans for neurodiverse students to be able to excel in the classroom.

Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Diverse Learning team throughout the year.

Annabel Gunns agunns@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Carolyn Scott cscott@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Antonella Schiller aschiller@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Meredith Leedham mleedham@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Michael Dalton mdalton@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Phone (02) 9414 4382

Supporting Diverse Learning in Catholic Schools

A Guide by Parents for Parents

Please see references below to the Council of Catholic School Parents’ publication. The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) Special Needs Working Party has developed a valuable resource to assist parents of children with diverse learning needs.

“I hope and pray that parents and carers of children with diverse learning needs will find this resource supportive as they navigate the school system and are encouraged to be the best advocate they can be for their child.”

Chair of the Parents Working Party

https://www.ccsp.catholic.edu.au/students-with-diverse-learning-needs

Success at Secondary School

Success_at_Secondary_School.pdf

Mrs Annabel Gunns - Diverse Learning Coordinator

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Thanks again for a great turn out for Monday morning's meeting, and also to Mr de Silva for joining us at the meeting.

We have converted to a direct payment system to the Duke of Edinburgh Award office for 2023.

Those boys who have registered between 9-13 February will need to re-register so that they can pay International Duke of Edinburgh Award directly. I will send a reminder email and apologise for this inconvenience.

Please meet on Monday 20 February at 8.15 am in B3 to start planning your individual award.

Follow the link for the Duke of Edinburgh Award philosophy

https://dukeofed.com.au/about-the-award/award-philosophy/.

Mrs Annabel Gunns - Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator

Maths Drop-In

MATHS DROP-IN YEARS 7 - 12

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS 7.40 am - 8.30 am | Starts Thursday 16 February

Maths Drop-In will commence tomorrow. The sessions will 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 | Starts Friday 17 February

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