Parent & Student Matters  

What's happening in the College? 

• Year 10 Student Enjoys Success!
• Business Mentors Needed
• From the History Department:  The National History Challenge
• 'Meet the Scientists' at Macquarie University
• Year 8 (2020) Science Students:  Forensic Science Camp at The Armidale School
• Willoughby Library:  Manga Mayhem!
• Kokoda track Expedition 2020 – Participants Training Hike

Year 10 Student Enjoys Success!

Congratulations to Ciaran Lynch on his performance at the Junior State Gymnastics Championships held last weekend. Ciaran placed second overall in the level 6 Open Division. Well done Ciaran!

Mr Mark Pawlak - Year 10 Coordinator

Business Mentors Needed

St Pius X College is holding an 'Australian Business Week' for our Year 10 students in November as part of their Term 5 activities.

On Monday 25 November we need assistance with Business Mentors who will come and work with our students for several hours here at the College between  9.30-11.30. If you are interested please contact Mr Steven Quilty  via squilty@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Mr Steven Quilty - EBGC Coordinator

From the History Department

The National History Challenge

In Term 3, all Year 9 Elective History students were given the opportunity to participate in the National History Challenge which is run by Australian History Teachers Association each year. Each student completed a history essay on the theme of People and Power. The six best efforts from the two classes were then entered into the Challenge. Sachin Ng, Rufus Ashford, Elliot Cook, Ethan Rosetto, Cody Choi and Ben Cullen all took a different perspective on the theme and are congratulated on their excellent writing.

Ben Cullen was judged to have written the best essay of all Year 9 students in New South Wales. At a special ceremony last Thursday at the Hyde Park Memorial, he was presented with a medallion and certificate in recognition of his highly sophisticated written response. Ben’s speech at the ceremony about his essay was an insightful reflection of the whole process. He is to be commended on the effort that he put into this, the quality of his essay and the fine manner in which he represented St Pius. This is an outstanding achievement.  Ben's essay can be found below.

Mr Pat Rodgers - History/Legal Studies Coordinator

'Meet the Scientists' at Macquarie University

We invite high school students, parents and teachers to attend our Meet a Scientist evening at the ANSTO User Meeting at Macquarie University.

• When: Monday 2 December, 5.15pm-7pm
• Where: Macquarie University – MUSE, 18 Wally’s Walk, Macquarie Park
• Cost: Free

Program:

• Arrive at 5.15pm for a 5.30pm start.
• 5.30pm: Presentation - Introduction to ANSTO
• 5.50pm: Q&A session with a panel of scientists
• 6.20pm: Students, parents and teachers invited to join the poster session and speak with science ambassadors about their research.
• Register: https://meetthescientistsansto.eventbrite.com.au

You'll have the opportunity to talk with scientists about research they've done using some of ANSTO's landmark infrastructure and capabilities. Many scientists are expected to attend to showcase their recent research accomplishments. This is the first time students and teachers have had access to such a large number of ANSTO scientists and collaborators.

Themes include:

• Advanced materials
• Engineering, industry and innovation
• Chemistry and crystallography
• Nanomaterials and nanotechnology
• Structural biology
• Food, pharmaceuticals and radiotherapy
• Surface science and thin films
• Earth, interstellar and extreme environments
• Imaging (material, medical, cultural, heritage and history)
• Spectroscopy (Electronic, vibrational and magnetic spectra)
• Technique development (X-ray, neutrons and ion beams)
• Emergent physics (magnetism and electronic structure)

Come and see scientists present their research at a large scientific conference!

For any enquiries, please call the ANSTO Discovery Centre on (02) 9717 3090 or email tours@ansto.gov.au.

Mrs J Schuster - Science Coordinator

Year 8 (2020) Science Students:  Forensic Science Camp at The Armidale School

The 2020 Talented Students' Forensic Science Camp which will be held at The Armidale School from Tuesday 7 July to Saturday 11 July 2020 is open to Year 8 (2020) students.  For details please see the flyer below.

Mrs J Schuster - Science Coordinator

Willoughby Library:  Manga Mayhem!

Create, share, inspire and be inspired in the interactive fortnightly Manga Meet.

See the flyer below for details.

Mrs K Keighery - Senior Teacher Librarian 

Kokoda track Expedition 2020 – Participants Training Hike Sunday 3 November

The third of our training hikes is locked in for Sunday 3 November 2019 when we will be walking from Berowra to Cowan, a distance of 12.9km.  This is an opportunity for all participants to meet, prepare and to discuss all aspects of the Kokoda Track Expedition 2020.

• When:  Sunday 3 November 2020
• Meet:    Cowan train station at 7.45am (Train to Berowra 8.02am arrives 8.09am)
• Finish:   Cowan train station 12.30-1.00pm (approx.)
• Need:    2 litres of water (refill at Berowra Waters), hat, sunscreen, snacks, OPAL card, sense of humour

In the event of track work we can do a car shuffle from Cowan to Berowra. In the event of track closures due to controlled burns we will decide on an alternate route.  All member of the College community are welcome to attend these hikes.  

Next Hikes:  (Please note that I will confirm the following hikes as we move closer to the dates.)

4.             Sunday 1 December 2019

5.             Sunday 5 January 2020 (own training)

6.             Sunday 2 February 2020

Mr Paul de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator