St Pius X College Newsletter

Student & Parent Matters

Snowy Hike: Crossing the Tooma River

  • From the Head of Student Services:
  •    -   Year 12 Netball v Mercy College
  •    -    Year 11 Student Leadership 
  •    -    Business Studies & Legal Studies Guest Speaker
  •    -    Old Boys News
  •    -    The Liam Knight 'White Knight Foundation Walk' - Sunday 24th September
  • HSC Study Camps
  • Snowy Hike Expedition - Information for Participants
  • Go4Fun FREE Healthy Lifestyle Program
  • Host an Overseas Student in 2018​
  • Schoolyard Handball Holiday Competition
  • FREE Workshop:  Teaching Learner Drivers ​

From the Head of Student Services

Year 12 Netball v Mercy College

As Year 12 students consolidate their learning from the HSC Trials in preparation for their upcoming graduation and HSC Exams, the opportunity was taken yesterday to combine with Mercy College who are currently celebrating their Mercy Social Justice Week in the Annual Year 12 Netball Extravaganza.  While Netball was the real winner, some technicalities in the rulings saw Mercy College celebrate a narrow victory. James Kellendonk narrowly missed a key goal under the watchful eye of Mercy College Librarian, Mrs Margaret Kellendonk. 

It was pleasing that Police Superintendent Sam Crisafulli, on hand following the Year 10 Pastoral Care period, witnessed twin sons Mitchell and Jacob wearing the Mercy netball tunic with such pride. Ms Foord’s other Year 10 Pastoral Care guests, Tribal Warrior Mentors Ms Eunice Grimes who plays for the Redfern All Blacks Indigenous Women’s Rugby League Team and former St George NRL player Bert Gordon, were also in attendance and highly impressed with our students.

There may be an opportunity for some Years 9 - 12 students to attend morning Boxercise sessions with the Redfern Tribal Warrior community during the holidays. Please see Ms Foord or Mr Brannan if you are interested.

 

Year 11 Student Leadership 

Year 11 Student leadership Team Captains, Vice Captains, House Captains and Prefects Elect joined Year 11 Coordinator Mr Batchelor and myself at Oxford Falls last Friday to make plans for their leadership tenure of the College. Each leader chose portfolios and focus year groups to represent from Year 5 to Year 12 so that all students can have a representative voice through this group. The portfolios represented are  Mission and Identity, Wellbeing, Learning and Cultural and Sustainability.

On Thursday of this week a handover will occur at a lunch meeting in 5 Gold where the 2017 Student Leadership Team will meet the 2018 Student Leadership Team to pass on role statement and goals within their leadership portfolios to ensure the student-empowered leadership of the College remains on track and in good hands.

 

Business Studies and Legal Studies Guest Speakers

As our Senior students in Years 11 and 12 study their respective syllabi we were fortunate, under the guidance of Mr Quilty, to have Old Boy and Flight Centre Founder Mr Bill James visit the College on Wednesday before school to talk to our Business Studies students. The syllabus-related case studies from Bill’s wealth of experience was of great value and insight to all in attendance.

Next week one of Bill’s classmates and good friends, Magistrate John Andrews, is planning to attend to provide insights to our Legal Studies students in the Syllabus Areas of Criminal Law.

The College is a richer learning environment for this powerful interaction with such distinguished members of our wider community. We thank them greatly for their generosity with their time and expertise.

 

Old Boys' News

It was great to see Karen and Neil Jones in attendance at the Rugby Supporters' Club function at The Willoughby on Saturday night. Their older son Luke is the College’s 2nd ever Wallaby after playing with Michael Hooper in the St Pius X College 11As to First XV from 2002-2009. Michael captained the Wallabies on Saturday night, demonstrating that under scoreboard pressure even the All Blacks are vulnerable. Early on Sunday morning Luke’s new team The Bordeaux Bègles in Southern France defeated Clermont 32-25 in the French Top 14 Competition. Mitchell Jones, Luke’s younger brother, is also currently travelling in Europe.

All three have unfortunately had to put in their apologies for the Old Boys Annual Mass and Dinner for the 80th Anniversary this Friday which begins with 4.30pm Mass in the Chapel before a tour of the College Archives and Junior School, and experiencing the Twilight Concert.  This will be followed by a 6pm departure on buses from the College to Oxford Falls for a Tour and Dinner.

 

The Liam Knight 'White Knight Foundation Walk'

This Spit to Manly Walk is another great way to support the White Knight Foundation and enjoy a scenic walk on Sunday 24th September.  See the information on the Social Justice page of this newsletter for details or contact the MindMatters Student Empowerment Team.

 

Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services

HSC Study Camps

Youthworks Spring HSC Study Camps are still open for registrations.

 

The study camps are filling up fast but there is still space at all three of our HSC camps for students to register.  Click on the link below for more information about the camps on offer:

http://www.youthworkscentres.net/hsc-camp#hsc-camp-info

 

Mr T Cunneen - Senior Students Studies Coordinator

Snowy Hike Expedition

Just a reminder that there will be a qualifying hike for those attending the 2017 Snowy Mountains Hike this coming Thursday 31st August.  The hike will commence at 3.30pm and finish at 6.30pm. Students are to meet in the Blue Room prior to 3.30pm.

  1. Qualification Hike:  participants must attend at least one of the initial qualification hikes below. Students require a backpack with water / snacks, suitable clothing and hiking boots if available. Students MUST attend at least one qualification hike:

              -     Thursday 31st  August:  10km circuitous route from Chatswood, 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

              -     Sunday 10th September:  Buddies not Bullies Bushwalk, Acron Oval to Davidson Park 8.30am                        to 1.00pm.

 

 

     2.  Practice Hike/Mandatory Training:  24th October 3.30pm to 25th October 9.00 am

Participants must attend this afternoon practice hike after school. Students must carry their full backpack and wear the hiking boots they will use on the Snowy Hike. Students will then be bused to Oxford Falls campus for mandatory training and overnight stay (camping). These sessions will cover necessary training around mountaineering / hiking (for example: expectations, safety, first aid, menu plan/cooking, low impact bushwalking, tent construction, packing, hypothermia etc.)  Students will then remain at Oxford Falls for their Study Day.

The closing date for applications to attend is fast approaching. We will allocate places initially on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Applicants will still need to meet the requirement of having the physical ability and resilience needed to undertake the hike in an alpine environment.

Closing date for applications is Monday 8th September.

Application can be made via the trybooking link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/306703

Mr P de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator

Go4Fun FREE Healthy Lifestyle Program

Go4Fun is  a FREE healthy lifestyles program for children who are aged between 7-13 and above their ideal weight, and is funded by NSW Health. With an emphasis on practical, fun learning the program is designed to deliver sustained improvements in families diet, fitness levels and overall health. 

The program runs for 10 weeks alongside the school term and is delivered twice a week for two hours, the first hour consisting of interactive discussions and activities about nutrition and behaviour change and the second hour alternating between land and water games based exercise. Go4Fun encourages a family approach and as such a parent or a carer must attend all sessions with the child. Go4Fun is completely free for children and families to attend and the sessions are run after school. Go4Fun is not a diet and does not encourage rapid weight loss in children; rather it is about empowerment – putting the child at the centre of a range of ways to make healthy lifestyle changes in terms of physical activity, food, self-confidence and personal development. By following the Go4Fun principles, participants will lose weight naturally and thereby build a foundation for healthy living – for life.

 

If you think your family could benefit please call 1800 780 900 to get more information or register a child.

Host an Overseas Student in 2018

Schoolyard Handball Camp

Handball Australia is running a Schoolyard Handball Camp in the holidays.  See below for details:

Free Workshop:  Teaching Learner Drivers

31st August at St Ignatius College Riverview

7th September at the Dougherty Centre Chatswood