Department News

• Performing Arts
• Public Speaking & Debating

Performing Arts

ACADEMIC AWARDS CEREMONY

Thank you to the students in the Intermediate and Senior Percussion Ensembles under the direction of Mr Ian Talati for their lively contribution to this important College occasion last Friday.

ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGIES

Thank you to the Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Miss Felicity Whelan and Ms Gan for their prayerful support of the two liturgies which were held today.

PAPA MEETING

Parents of boys who participate in the Performing Arts program at the College are warmly invited to attend the next meeting on Wednesday 8th March at 7.00pm in the Core Music Room. Light refreshments will be served.

BOY OVERBOARD

Rehearsals for this production have been going well and it was pleasing to see all cast who were required in attendance at the first Sunday rehearsal last weekend. Boy Overboard will be staged in the Sarto Centre from Tuesday 28th – Thursday 30th March at 7.00pm. Tickets will go on sale next Monday 6th March at 9.00am. Please go to: https://www.trybooking.com/241016 Tickets will NOT be sold at the door. PAPA will be hosting a light supper at intermission.

PERFORMING ARTS LEVIES

Each student who participates in Music or Drama at the College is charged this levy. For 2017 it is $220.00. This amount will appear (along with instrument hire if applicable) on the next account sent to parents from the Finance Office.

COLLEGE ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP

The first workshop for the year will be held on Sunday 19th March in the Band Room. The full Orchestra will rehearse from 10.30 – 12.00pm and the strings will have an additional half hour finishing at 12.30pm.

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Public Speaking & Debating

CSDA COMPETITION PUBLIC SPEAKING

This Friday 3rd March Cameron Bragg, James Baldock, Josh Jones and Andrew Jackson will be travelling with Mrs Waterson and Keenan Smith (2016 St Pius X Debate Captain) to the CSDA Public Speaking Round 1 competition being held at Marist Sisters’ College, Woolwich. Registration is at 6pm for a 6.30pm commencement.

2017 CSDA Public Speaking Topics

• Mud, mud, glorious mud
• In defence of the Kardashians
• Emotional turmoil
• Strong and constant
• Socks
• How are things in Glocca Mora?

Public Speaking Competition dates

Term 1:

March 3     -    Round 1

March 10   -   Zone Final

March 17   -   Final

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS’ DEBATING COMPETITION (CSDA)

Registration forms are at the front office now.  Students need to complete the form and return it to the box marked “Public Speaking and Debating” on the front verandah.  Students need to watch Daily Notices regularly as Coaches will be contacting their teams early next week to organise training times.

The 2017 CSDA competition dates are listed below.  St Pius X College will host as many of these rounds as possible as home events are easier for our parents. 

Term 2:

Round 1    April 28

Round 2    May 5

Round 3    May 12

Round 4    May 19

Round 5    May 26

Round 6    June 2

Elimination Round 1    June 16

Elimination Round 2    June 23

Term 3:

Quarterfinal    July 21

Semi-final        July 28

Grand Final     August 3

If you want to be a part of the terrific St Pius X College debating community it is essential that you attend ALL of the first six rounds.  If your team makes it through to the Elimination round (and beyond) you also need to keep the above dates free.

Our senior students act as coaches/supporters for our junior teams.  We are also lucky enough to have ex-students to work with the junior teams as the younger students really enjoy contact with our ex-debating “champions”.

SCHOOL’S DEBATING NETWORK

St Pius X College participates in the School’s Debating Network (SDN) Competition. Schools include Abbotsleigh, Redlands, Riverview, Roseville College, Stella Maris, Monte and Wenona. This 7 round competition runs in Term 3 every Friday night from 21st July to 8th September.  There will then be a Tiebreaker and Final round.

Round 1     -    21st July, Roseville College hosting St Pius X College

Round 2     -    28th July, Stella Maris hosting St Pius X College

Round 3     -    4th August, Riverview hosting St Pius X College

Round 4     -    11th August, St Pius X College hosting Wenona

Round 5     -    18th August, St Pius X College hosting Monte

Round 6      -   25th August, Abbotsleigh hosting St Pius X College

Round 7      -   2nd September, Redlands hosting St Pius X College

Tiebreaker -   8th September, hosted by St Pius X College

Final             -    15th September, hosted by Monte

The fee for the CSDA extra-curricular activity is $105.00 which will be included in your Term Two school fees.  This fee goes towards paying for Friday evening coach hiring in order to get to our away venues.  We keep our fees as low as possible and have funding from the St Pius X College P&F to subsidise the cost of hiring coaches on Friday evenings.

Two hours of training per week is mandatory. Our training commences 2-3 weeks before Round 1 with SPX hosting pre-season ‘friendly’ debates with 2-3 local high schools. Friday afternoon training from 3.30 – 5pm is compulsory for all debaters and coaches determine the other hour or so of training each week at times that suit their team.  CSDA debates commence at 6pm and students and coaches either travel to venues at 5pm or, when hosting, students have a one hour dinner break before our guests arrive at Pius for a 6pm competition commencement.  SDN debates have a different, later running order.

Thank you on behalf of the brilliant Pius debating coaches and senior student mentors.

St Pius X College also competes in the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Competition and the Plain English Speaking Competition - details will follow.

Mrs M Waterson - Debating and Public Speaking Convener