St Pius X College Newsletter

Pastoral Care

  • Forest Coach Lines Bus Stop Change
  • Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day
  • EREA Child Safeguarding Standards
  • Football Tour
  • St Mary's Bowraville
  • PDHPE Lessons
  • Rugby Players Wanted
  • Old Boys vs Students Gala Day - Sunday 13 March
     

Forest Coach Lines Bus Stop Change

After consultation with Forest Coach Lines, students who catch home-bound buses from Anderson St were informed today that they can continue to use the bus stop 20m up the hill from the Help St lights and pedestrian crossing. Afternoon supervision will be provided there and student safety as they return home from Chatswood remains our highest priority.

Bus routes affected include: 277 to Castlecove, 278 to Killarney Hts, 254 School special to Belrose, 293 School Special to Davidson, and 280 to Warringah Mall. (Noting that passengers who alight towards Allambie Rd should be given priority on the 280)! 

If you have any queries or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at sbrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.  We will continue to monitor the situation including student safety and security, under the various conditions of weather and time. Buses will still stop south of Help St if signalled.

All students are reminded to maintain their attention to safety, not to rush recklessly across the road, give space to the buses and other people on the kerb, and remain courteous and considerate of other passengers particularly giving priority and their seats to paying members of the public, elderly and vulnerable passengers.

Thank you particularly to those students at the College who have supported our newer / junior students in getting safely to and from school over the recent weeks. I have positive reports of many senior students, including Jake Socrates of Year 12 and Josh Turner of Year 10, going “above and beyond” to assist junior students in getting safely to school.

Yr 7 Touchstone Induction Day

At Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day last week the Year 7 students were integrated in teambuilding activities led by College Counsellor Mr Rick Russo and Mr James Cummins of the Positivity Project as well as learning about the story of our school from Br Carl Sherrin (Old Boy Class of 1954) and Social Justice Activities by Social Justice Coordinator Mr Ryan Balboa.

It was a great day for the students to spend some time at Oxford Falls and connect with each other in fun and engaging activities as they begin their journey as High School students and connect their “Curriculum of Story” with the school and each other.

I thank the Year 7 Pastoral Care Staff who supported the students on the day: Ms Gleeson, Ms Doyle, Ms Scott, Mr Simpson and Mr Reay as well as the Year 10 Student Empowerment Team Mind Matters members who contributed: Riley Seeto, Michael Krizan, Pat Frost, Chris Mander, Alex Dixon, Jose Monk, Conrad Ansted and Dominic Mitchell.

What a great resource of positive feedback, knowledge and experience to have Br Sherrin talk to Year7! 

St Pius X College and EREA Child Safeguarding Standards and Priorities

Consistent with our commitment to maintaining a safe student-centred learning environment, the College adheres to standards articulated across all Australian Governance structures as communicated through Edmund Rice Education Australia. Last year our focus on Standards 2 and 8 in particular will be extended to auditing the other standards this year.

Football Tour

Our 1st XI Football squad have already conducted a number of Trial matches under the leadership of Mr Quilty, and last Friday afternoon travelled to stay at our Wamberal Retreat Centre Workul Koo in a pre-season mini tour. Although our matches against Central Coast Sports Academy and Grammar were rained out, the training and team building sessions were informative in developing the squad. Thanks to Mr Quilty, Mr Lacey and Mr Stollery who took the tour and congratulations to squad Captain Daniel Bacic who celebrated his birthday on the tour.

Mr Mark Smith – connection with St Mary’s Bowraville

In a week in which St Pius X College proudly celebrated diverse cultures with an assembly acknowledging Chinese New Year, we also commemorated the anniversary of The 1965 Freedom Rides. It was great to join Mr Mark Smith good friend of St Pius X College and Aboriginal Education Officer from our partner school St Marys Bowraville, at the Indigenous All Stars vs Maori All Stars Rugby League match on Saturday night. In December Mr Smith hosted Mr Steinman, Mr Stollery and myself along with Year 9 and 10 students Aaron Lau, Declan Carrol, Luke Sissons, Dominic Mitchell and Pat Frost on our visit to deliver the Christmas Giving presents from Year 7 to St Mary's community, whose Principal Ms Nadine Slingsby and Deputy Ms Tameeka Glass were very pleased to celebrate St Mary’s close relationship with St Pius X College.

Another great EREA supporter of the Gumbayngirr people Christian Brother Steve Morelli this week was presented with an Order of Australia Medal for his services in working with the Gumbaygirr people and language dictionary over many years.

PDHPE Sessions

At triple PDHPE sessions this Term Year 7 and 8 are undertaking aquatics learning in surf skills, surfing, paddle boarding and swimming while Year 9 extend the program to include Water Polo under Mr Cogan’s expert teaching.

Meanwhile Year 10 are learning Culturally Diverse games including Wheelchair Basketball, Fencing, Gaelic Football and Hurling.

 

The House Cup Points for Tuesday’s Gaelic Football tournament were:

Rice 200 points, Purton 150, Treacy 100 and Barron 50. 

Rugby Players Wanted

The Old Boys Rugby Club is looking for players from the classes of 2020 and 2021 particularly to form a colts team supported by our EREA brothers in Waverley College. Old boy of the College, Lowy Institute expert on Middle Eastern Affairs and former Military Attaché to Abu Dhabi, Colonel Rodger Shanahan, has the Waverley boys ready to begin training at Roseville Ovals 6.30 pm Wednesdays.

Contact Mr Brannan sbrannan@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au if you would like details.

Old Boys vs Students Gala Day

The Old Boys vs Students Gala Day on Sunday 13 March presents as a get together opportunity for a game of touch / basketball from 10.00 am and BBQ at 11.30 am while Mr Quilty’s 1st XI take on a star-studded Old Boys XI. Please see the House Captains or contact Mr Brannan for more details.

 

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing