St Pius X College Newsletter

From the Principal

SPX Christmas Cards designed by our Year 6 Students - available from the Student Office

  • Advent
  • Merry Christmas to All
  • Christmas Twilight Concert
  • Staff Movement at the College
  • Junior School Presentation at Oxford Falls
  • Removal of the Big Tree
  • Work being done at the College During the Holidays
  • Donation Thank You
  • Important Dates
  • SPX Christmas Gifts

Advent

Loving God, We give you thanks for the blessings of this holy Advent season.

You are the source of life, of hope, and of all good things.

We look forward to the coming of the light of Christ at Christmas.

Help us to turn toward that light in our lives.

We rejoice at the gift of your Son who taught us to love in your name.

May we be people of peace and justice all the days of our lives.

Your kingdom come and your will be done now and forever.

Amen.

 

Merry Christmas to All

As this is the final Woodchatta for 2016 I wish all our St Pius X College families and the whole SPX community every blessing for Christmas. I thank each of you for your contribution to the College this year.

I wish to also acknowledge with appreciation Mrs Roslyn Gaston who produces Woodchatta each week.

Christmas Twilight Concert

Last Friday evening the Christmas Twilight Concert was held in the Junior school playground and I congratulate all the performers. They were simply outstanding. I thank Ms Bates and all the Performing Arts staff and Ensemble Directors. It was wonderful to finish with singing Christmas carols together.

 

 

Particular thanks to Mrs Odette Shahady and the PAPA helpers who ran the BBQ and the raffle.

A great night was had by all.

 

Please see the Perfoming Arts section of this newsletter for a full photo gallery.

Staff Movement at the College

Leaving:                                Arriving:

Mr Steven Hopley             Mr Jack Kovacic

Mr David Spies                   Mr Ed Codsi 

Mrs Min Wang                     Ms Leanne Ho

Ms Jessie Tu                        Mrs Natalie Rawle (returning from Maternity Leave)                      

 

I sincerely thank Mr Hopley, Mr Spies, Mrs Wang and Ms Tu for their service and professionalism. We wish them every future success.

Giving Tree & Christmas Hampers

Year 9 are busy with their collection of non-perishable food items and toys for the Frenchs Forest Parish Terrey Hills St Anthony in the Fields Church St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers and Year 7 are collecting age and gender labelled toys for the Giving Tree, which will be delivered to St Joseph’s Walgett and St Mary’s Bowraville communities.

We need everyone to make a concerted effort to ensure we reach out to these communities in generosity and friendship this week.

Junior School Presentation

Tomorrow, Thursday 8th December, will be the Annual Junior School Awards Presentation at Oxford Falls commencing at 12 noon.  Please see the Junior School News section of this newsletter for full details.

The Big Tree 

The Big Tree in the main yard is to be taken down during the holidays.  We have kept it going for the past three years beyond what we should have and it has now become dangerous to the point where it could lose branches or worse and injure someone. The arborist told us it needed to be removed 3 years ago and it has deteriorated even more since then.  The timber is twisted and generally unusable. However, we will save some of the timber and endeavour to make some symbolic carvings from it. This tree removal has all the appropriate approvals.

Work during the holidays

Each Christmas there is much work to be completed throughout the school including the completion of our renovations in the former Brothers House. The highlights of these are the new Chapel and the Drama Room facilities. The current Leary Learning Centre classrooms will also be refurbished and further seating in the playground will be installed.

Donation Thank You

Thank you letter from Edmund Rice.pdf

As you will note from last week's Woodchatta we have donated significant funds this year to a range of our partners including Callan Services which is funded through the Edmund Rice Foundation.  I share with you a letter of thanks from Br Bill Wilding thanking the College for the most recent $12,000 donation to PNG.

Important Dates

YOU ARE INVITED TO THESE COLLEGE EVENTS:

Junior School  Awards Presentation:  12 noon on Thursday 8th December at Oxford Falls

Years 5-10 Closing Mass:  10.00am on Friday 9th December at OLD Church

 

OFFICE CLOSES

Parents are asked to note that the College Office will close next Friday 16th December.

 

SCHOOL RETURNS

All Students return to school for the start of Term 1, 2017 on Monday 30th January.

SPX Christmas Gifts

If you are looking for a good Christmas present we have the following items available from the Student Office:

  • Christmas Cards  designed by Harrison Pierides and Emerson Raphael of Year 6.  Cost is $10 for one pack of cards (10 cards) or 2 packs for $15.
  • SPX College 80th Anniversary Music CD.  This CD, entitled 'A Musical Celebration' features music performed by all our students involved in music this year and will be our commemorative CD for the 80th Anniversary.  Cost $10.

 

Wishing the St Pius X College community every Christmas Blessing

 

 

Mr John Counai - Principal