St Pius X College Newsletter

Department News

  • Mathematics
  • Pastoral Care - Year 10
  • Performing Arts
  • Public Speaking & Debating
  • Senior Resource Centre

Mathematics

Boys in Years 7 to 10 will receive their ICAS Mathematics Competition papers back on Wednesday 30th August in Homeroom.  Their results for this compulsory competition will arrive later in the year.

Mr T Garvey - Mathematics Teacher

Pastoral Care

Year 10 Pastoral Care

We were fortunate to have Inspector Sam Crisafulli (Redfern Police) and Eunice Grimes (Head Mentor of Tribal Warrior) visit our College this week.  Sam and Eunice emphasised the importance of our community working together to instil better outcomes for all. The presenters gave some context to Year 10 regarding the Redfern Riots and the unfortunate death of a young Indigenous boy in 2004. From this tragedy they recognised that a cultural shift needed to take place if they were to work alongside and better the community.

This tragedy culminated in a boxing program run by the Redfern Police and the Indigenous community. Three mornings a week a boxing program starting at 6.00am sees members of the community work together to recognise values of respect, health, sportsmanship and cameraderie.

This successful program has seen lives changed and has led to a decrease in crime in the Redfern area. The students were extremely humbled and excited about the program and have since reflected on their own Community Involvement Program and Social Justice Initiatives.

 

We look forward to building our involvement with the Tribal Warrior Program into the future.  These presenters reminded us that we must be the change we want to see in the world and that we must be aware of cultural stigmatisation and correct our language in order to build a more harmonious environment.

 

Ms A Foord - Wellbeing Coordinator

Performing Arts  

SPLINTERS, SPLASHES, STAGE AND SOUND

This showcase of Year 12 HSC major works is on TOMORROW night, commencing at 6.30pm in the Band Room. The Year 12 HSC Music students will be performing works from their program and there will be selected individual and group performances from the Year 12 Drama class. There will also be a special presentation to the Year 12 Drama students from the PAPA.

 

TWILIGHT CONCERT

The second Twilight Concert for the year will take place THIS Friday 1st September (Week 7), commencing at 5.00pm in the Junior School yard (gymnasium if the weather is inclement). All major ensembles (with the exception of the Guitar Ensembles) will be performing and there will be a special presentation to all Year 12 Music students from the PAPA.

 

YEARS 10 AND 11 MUSIC PERFORMANCE NIGHTS

These will take place on Tuesday 5th September and Wednesday 6th September respectively in the Band Room, commencing at 5.00pm. Parents and friends are warmly invited to support the boys.

 

INTERMEDIATE JAZZ BAND AUDITIONS

These auditions will take place during periods 5 and 6 on Friday 8th September. The following positions are available: 2 x alto saxophone, 2 x tenor saxophone, 1 x baritone saxophone, 2 x trombone. Students who wish to audition should see Ms Bates in the Performing Arts Staffroom for further information, an audition time and music pass. Students will not be permitted to audition unless they have a signed pass.

 

MEET THE MUSIC CONCERT

Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 Elective Music students will be attending the next Concert in the series on Thursday 21st September. Tickets will be sent home with the students in the next week.

 

 

The Year 12 Drama class having finished their HSC performances last week.

 

 

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Public Speaking & Debating

PUBLIC SPEAKING

James Baldock competed in the 2017 Northern Sydney Regional Final on Wednesday 16th August at The Arts Unit at Lewisham.  He competed against students from North Sydney Boys High, Hornsby Girls High, Arden Anglican School, Shore School, Normanhurst Boys High, Wenona School, Ryde Secondary College, Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College and St Aloysius College.

He gained exceptional experience at this event and felt confident about this speech presentation. However, his impromptu speech was more challenging. Congratulations to James for reaching such a prestigious level in your public speaking.  Both James Baldock and Joshua Jones will be presented with their certificates at next Monday’s assembly.

 

SCHOOLS DEBATING NETWORK COMPETITION (WEEK 1-7 TERM 3)

Last Friday we travelled to Abbotsleigh College for Round 6 of the SDN Competition.  We didn’t win any debates on the night. However, as noted in last week’s Woodchatta, our students understand that the SDN is a competition where we are punching above our weight and that this competition is an effective training experience.  Again, the coaches and I were so proud of the attitude that the St Pius X College boys displayed after their losses.

This Round 7, Friday 1st September, St Pius X College is travelling to Redlands at Cremorne Senior Campus.

Please click on the attachment below for Ms Waterson's full report including SDN venue information.

Pubic Speaking & Debating.pdf

Senior Resource Centre

  • Author with superpowers shares creative writing tips

Award-winning author Jack Heath told us that he uses the superpowers of “imagination and vocabulary” to turn words into money in a string of action-packed books.  Jack said the key to writing was to write something that you would want to read, something that would keep you engaged from the beginning. Aside from “paper, pen and an idea”, Jack’s keys to creative writing include:

  • Build suspense and surprise into stories.
  • Use similes.
  • Portray characters by what they do and what they feel.
  • Edit and redraft! This takes twice as long as writing.

Victor Lahoud, Ben Giles, Oliver Fitzroy of Year 8 and Mrs Keighery

 

In celebration of Children’s Book Week, Jack Heath spoke to Years 5, 6, 7 and 8.

He is pictured below with Year 5 boys.

 

  • Poetry Out Loud

I was wowed by 'Poetry Out Loud', celebrating and showcasing the incredible poetry of St Pius X College Old Boy Francis Webb at Willoughby Library last Saturday.  It made me proud to be part of a school that can boast such a respected alumni. It also made me proud to see Nicholas McKenzie of Year 10, supported by his mates, read a poem that Francis is thought to have written between the age of 7 and 10.

The poets and academics who gather at this celebration are constantly wowed by Francis and this added to my positive feelings. Dr Luke Fischer of the University of Sydney said that 'Five Days Old' is a poem which rivals Yeats’ poem 'When You Were Old' as the greatest poem of all time. Dr Michelle Hamadache of Macquarie University, editor of the esteemed literary magazine 'Southerly', said she couldn’t imagine life without Francis. Each poet, filmmaker and academic who read brought more insight and conveyed the awe they feel at reading St Pius X College's Francis Webb, and it was contagious.

 

Dr Toby Davidson, a Macquarie University lecturer and editor of Webb’s Collected Works, organises the event each year. He is to be congratulated and it would be great if more people could take advantage of this event next year.  You too can feel proud or just be wowed.

 

Ms K Keighery - Senior Teacher Librarian