Pastoral Care
Peer Mentoring
- Wellbeing Quote from the Student Diary
- E Safety Webinar for Parents
- Year 7 Camp
- Buddies Bushwalk Sunday 14 March
- Old Boys vs Students Gala Day
- Vale Mr Kevin Shanahan
- College Counselling Team
Wellbeing Quote from the Student Diary
"Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make, makes you”
John C Maxwell
E Safety Webinar for Parents
Following the Year 6 and Year 7 Bully Zero eSafety presentation on Friday 24 February we plan to hold a parent eSafety Bully Zero webinar entitled “It takes a Village” at 7.00 pm on Thursday 4 March. Please set aside the date and the link will be provided over the coming Woodchattas. You are welcome to contact Mr Brannan for further details.
Please find below an article link from Maggie Dent on teenage boys and gaming which I know is topical among many teenager families and a segway into our eSafety Webinar to be held on Thursday 4 March at 7.00 pm.
Year 7 Camp
The Year Pastoral Care 7 Camp will be held at the Great Aussie Bush Camp, Tea Gardens, Wednesday 10 – Friday 12 March. In keeping with the Year 7 Pastoral Care Theme: "Belonging to a Team" and using the Gospel Spirituality quote: “The Good Soil” Lk 8:1, the students will be engaged in challenging, rewarding and team building activities, both land and aquatic based, with their peers and staff over the course of the camp.
We are currently working with the staff at GABC to ensure all COVID-safe protocol planning is in hand and in keeping with the highest standards communicated by both educational and governance authorities.
Mr Steinman is currently organising tent/cabin and activity groups for the camp and will distribute information and permission sheets over the coming week.
The small group of Year 7 students who qualify to represent the College at the ISA Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 10 March will be able to travel with Mr Brannan in the College van that afternoon to catch up with the Year 7 group.
As preparations for the Camp continue, we look forward to hearing of the teamwork, connections made, and friendships initiated at this valuable formative and developmental experience for the students.
Buddies Bushwalk Sunday 14 March
Members of Mr Russo’s Peer Mentoring Program and other interested students and parents are invited to join their Buddies on the annual bushwalk at Euroka Clearing Glenbrook National Park on Sunday 14 March.
Weather and conditions permitting there may be an opportunity for a swim in either the Nepean River or Jelly Bean Pools, and/or a walk to the Aboriginal hand painting caves in the area.
Please direct any inquiries to Mr Brannan or Mr Russo.
Old Boys vs Students Gala Day
Under COVID-safe planning and protocols the fixtures for the Old Boys vs Students Gala Day has been moved from Saturday 27 February to Sunday 7 March. Football will be arranged by Mr Quilty while Basketball and Touch Football inquiries should be directed to Mr Brannan.
Vale Mr Kevin Shanahan
The College was saddened to hear late last week of the passing of a great supporter of the College from the 1970s and 80s, Mr Kevin Shanahan. He was the father of Mark - Class of ’77, Pauline combined Class of ’79 and Rodger - Class of ’82. Mr and Mrs Shanahan lived at Roseville and were stalwarts of the OLD Chatswood Parish. His son, Rodger has recently spoken at College Academic Assemblies having served as a Colonel in the Australian Defence Force, represented Australia as the Military Attache to the United Arab Emirates and is currently a Lowy Institute expert spokesman for Middle Eastern Affairs. Rodger and Louise Shanahan's sons Max and Leo graduated recently with distinction from Waverley (Edmund Rice) College.
RIP Mr Kevin Shanahan
St Pius X College acknowledges our First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and particularly the Cammeraygal people,
whose interconnection with this land sustained and
fulfilled them mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually,
over thousands of years.
May we learn from their wisdom.
Fide et Labore
Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
College Counselling Team
A very warm welcome back to the new school year to all our SPX families. Once again, we look forward to providing confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family throughout this year. Let me introduce our College counselling team and relevant contact information for your safe-keeping.
Mr Rick Russo
Counsellor (Full time Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4359
School Mobile (in case of emergency): 0418 438 325
Mrs Joe McCarthy
Psychologist (2 days per week: Tuesday and Thursday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4322
Mrs Judy Gill
Psychologist (2 days per week: Wednesday and Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4315
Throughout 2021 the Counselling Team, together with the Learning Support Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE / SELF ESTEEM AND RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive Catholic school community. Please do not hesitate to make contact with any of the above team should the need arise.
Mr Rick Russo - College Counsellor/Chaplaincy Services