Student Matters
Duke of Edinburgh/Outdoor Education Hike - October 2016
- From the Head of Student Services
"Swim for a Cause" White Ribbon Day Swimming Relay
"Rock for a Reason"
ICT Devices and Smart Phone Use
Year 9 Ceroc Dance Excursion
Leadership Forum
Year 8 PDHPE Lifelong Physical Activity Program
Year 10 Reading Awards
Dedication of Oxford Falls Chaplin Oval Electronic Scoreboard to Mr Bryan Hoy
Top Plumbing Trade Apprentice award for ex-student Rory Halliday
- Duke of Edinburgh 2017
- Student Opal Card Applications for 2017
- General Notices - Holiday Activities
From the Head of Student Services
"SWIM FOR A CAUSE" White Ribbon Day Swimming Relay
The College was well represented at last Friday night’s Willoughby Council “Swim for a Cause” White Ribbon Day Relay at Willoughby Leisure Centre. A formidable Year 11 Relay Swim team captained by Jesse Kerlin and comprising of Josh Thrum, Matt Staal and Jordan Franic-Smith, participated in this community event against some fast opposition. Female Australian Swim Team members were on hand to celebrate this event which consolidated our recent work as a College to demonstrate respect for women and take a stand against violence.
Our thanks go to Mrs Kerlin who transported the team and supported them in the event as well as our P & F Executive which endorsed and sponsored this worthy event.
“Rock for a Reason”
Congratulations to the Mercy College organisers of last Friday night’s “Rock for a Reason” performance night at which the St Pius X College music talent contributed significantly through bands including Vice Captain Daniel Butler (11), Jack Moran and Harrison Pfeiffer (10) and Hamish Alexander and Oliver Tysoe (9). The Rodrigues family who this year were part of our Kokoda Track expedition team through father and son Karl and Macsen(10) were notably represented by Carmel who has joined force with the St Pius X bands in recent Willoughby Council and Battle of the Bands events. This follows Carmel’s highly rated performances on The Voice. Well done to all involved including a well behaved support group.
A reminder to all that Year Coordinators must be informed of any involvement in interschool activities so that we can assess our need to communicate and support other schools in such events. Thank you to Mr Adrian Brannan who liaised with Mercy College to oversee our students' participation in this worthy event.
ICT Devices and Smart Phone Use
A timely reminder to all students at this stage of the school year that ICT devices and phones etc are not to be misused and that:
No photographic / other device is to be used on campus or elsewhere, to photograph / record any other student, staff, member of the school, or outside community, without permission, or good reason to do so eg in the interests of public safety. Permission of a responsible member of staff should be sought when using any photographic or recording device for any reason eg an educational purpose.
Year 9 Ceroc Dance Excursion
All Year 9 excepting elective history students and an advance proportion of Year 8 are reminded that as an important component of their PDHPE curriculum and Pastoral Care/Wellbeing program, they will participate in a CEROC Modern Dance workshop at Oxford Falls next Tuesday 29th November, combined with students from Brigidine College, St Ives.
The event was a highly successful and entertaining one last year in which our students really rose to the occasion hosting our guests in a responsible and inclusive manner, and working particularly well to include students from Brigidine’s Caroline Chisolm program for students with disability. The title of best “on ground” performer was awarded to Angus Growden last year and is up for grabs in 2016.
Students will need to wear correct sports uniform, travel from school as normal, bringing their lunch on the day. Dismissal from Oxford Falls or at Jamieson Square on the return trip may be possible with a permission note. Looking forward to a successful day of energy, cooperative interaction and dance performance.
Leadership Forum
Our Semesters 1 and 2 House Vice Captains and Stages 4 and 5 Leadership Group along with all Year 7 students will attend a Leadership Forum at Oxford Falls on Friday 2nd December. All students invited will be required to wear correct Sports Uniform, assemble at the podium and travel to Oxford Falls after morning roll call on the day. Dismissal from Oxford Falls or at Jamieson Square on the trip home may be possible with a permission note.
Guest presenters for the Leadership Forum include Mr Brian Canavan, Inagural State of Origin Queensland Team Trainer, ex Roosters CEO and now NRL Chief of Operations who brings a wealth of experience in player and team management and leadership modelling; Nick Papastamatis, former St Pius X College Captain and now chiropractor and business leader; members of Tribal Warrior Program for Indigenous Cultural Integrity; and our own Year 9 MindMatters students.
Lunch details are yet to be confirmed but students will need to bring their lunch at this point, unless P&F funding and the Year 9 MindMatters Student Empowerment Team manpower allows us to run a BBQ. Please see Mr Brannan or Mr McBrearty for more information and stay tuned for distribution and return processes of permission notes.
Year 8 PDHPE Lifelong Physical Activity Program
The Year 8 PDHPE Lifelong Physical Activity Program continues this week with students variously engaged in Surfing, Rockclimbing, Bushwalking and Fishing during their Triple PDHPE period each Tuesday. The Bushwalking group enjoyed a hot day walking beside the Carrol Creek, Lyrebird Track and upper Middle Harbour reaches from Ferguson St NPWS depot to Davidson Park Roseville Bridge before casting a line in at the picnic area with mixed success. It was a great way to conclude the exam period for the boys who thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Congratulations to PDHPE Coordinator Richard Lacey for facilitating such a rich program on behalf of our students wellbeing and learning.
Year 10 Reading Awards
Congratulations to the following Year 10 students who received Edmund Rice Reading awards and Thomas Keneally reading Challenge. In doing so they contributed to the House Cup points competition with Treacy House, leading the way by 190 points.
Oliver Stewart, Jeremy Harris, Joshua Staggs, Daniel Aposhian, Phillip Cullen, Carlo Orbegaso-Jordan, Harrison Crowe-Maxwell, Chris Lanzon, Juan Rodrigues, Christian Harris, Harrison Pffeifer, Hunter Clarke , Isaac Fong, Cody Fisher Peel, Nicholas Parker, Alexander Bain, Michael Currington, Daniel Hall, Alistair Wright, Adrian Currington, Andy Lau and Zac Parkin.
Congratulations to Zac Parkin who led the way with some higher order reading material in this challenge to develop the literacy standards of our students and thank you to Mrs Keighery for her work in organising the Year 10 Edmund Rice Reading Challenge and more recently with presenting the Board of Studies “All My Own Work’ mandated program before any student can begin their Year 11 HSC Studies.
Dedication of Oxford Falls Chaplin Oval Electronic Scoreboard to Mr Bryan Hoy
A dedication of the scoreboard to commemorate the significant contribution of Mr Bryan Hoy to the St Pius X College community will take place at 1pm at the new electronic scoreboard, Chaplin Oval, 1 Dreadnought Rd, Oxford Falls on Saturday 26th November. A brief ceremony will be held with Bryan’s family, friends and members of the school community, who are all warmly invited to attend. Bryan’s contributions to the College before his untimely passing in September 2014, as a student, sportsman, parent, teacher, coach, Old Boy and son of an Old Boy, are indeed worth celebrating.
Fittingly the event coincides with the innings break of our 1st XI Cricket match vs St Pats Strathfield, who Bryan played against on the old Mars Rd Lane Cove Chaplin # 1 in both Rugby and Cricket in 1985. Equally poignant is the fact that Bryan’s grandfather was one of the parents of the College who cleared rocks from the original version of Chaplin Oval.
Top Plumbing Trade Apprentice award for ex-student of St Pius X College: Rory Halliday
We are proud to report that after recently placing in the top 10 apprentices of all trades at the Group Trades Association NSW / ACT awards, Rory Halliday (SPX Class of 2011) and a fourth year plumbing apprentice, was last week awarded the Master Plumbers Association Gold Medal - the top gong for the plumbing ‘Apprentice of the Year’
Duke of Edinburgh 2017
Chatswood Library receives many applications from students for Duke of Edinburgh volunteer experience. This year the library is asking for applications ahead of the forthcoming school year so they can evaluate and assign students to start their work experience in February. Please see the flyer below for more information:
Ms K Manga - Duke of Edinburgh Convenor
Student Opal Cards
We have been advised by Transport NSW that Student Opal Card Applications for 2017 can now be processed online. Parents no longer need to submit a printed copy of the application to the College for endorsement and lodgement. However, parents can be assured that printed applications which have already been submitted to the College will be endorsed and lodged.
Please find below a Fact Sheet issued by Transport NSW.
Ms R Gaston - Student Travel
General Notices
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
- Mary MacKillop - Summer Holidays & Beyond at the Museum
- Glenaeon OOSH Holiday Care Program
The Glenaeon OOSH Holiday Care will be run from Monday 12th December 2016 to Thursday 22nd December 2016 and Monday 16th January 2017 to Friday 27th January 2017.
Details can be found on the website at: