Department News

• History
• Languages
• Performing Arts
• Science

History

Year 9 Canberra Excursion

Last Tuesday, the Year 9 Elective History students met at 6.15am to journey to Canberra for the day. The National Museum of Australia was exhibiting the 100 Objects from World History on loan from the British Museum. The incredible collection from a range of time periods and different regions was a fascinating display. The invention of Wi-Fi provided the Australian connection as Object 101. A stroll through the other galleries showed the boys various parts of our nation’s history and heritage.

After lunch, the Australian War Memorial was visited. The students had studied the Vietnam and Iraq Wars last term and the post 1945 display gave them an engaging experience about these conflicts. The World War One and Two galleries were also seen and the new layout and items have made the Memorial a fitting place of remembrance. Many boys were able to go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Roll of Honour before departing back home.

Each boy took away something different from the excursion about the past, Australia and how history is represented. Thanks to Ms Fernando and Ms Allington for accompanying the two classes.

Congratulations to Billy Moran

Congratulations to Billy Moran, Year 12 2016, on achieving second place in the NSW History Teachers’ Association History Extension (US Studies) Essay Competition. Each year, students from across NSW enter their major works into the competition, so this is similar to achieving a place in Encore or ArtExpress.

Billy’s essay was on the failed Enola Gay exhibition at the Smithsonian, and in it he discussed the dangers of special interest groups controlling national history (Woolworth’s “Fresh in our memories” campaign should ring a bell!). Billy will be awarded his prize at an event in 2017 and receive $200 for his efforts. Well done, Billy.

Please click below if you would like to read Billy's essay.

Mr P Rodgers - History Coordinator

Languages

Year 9 French Excursion

To celebrate the end of the year of study for Year 9 French students, we went on an excursion to enjoy a French lunch at ‘Le Bistro de Philippe’ in Gordon. Students had just completed a unit of work on French food, so they knew what to look forward to on the day. We were served a Menu Fixe – of Beef Bourguignon with Green Beans and ‘les frites’, followed by Crepes with Berries. C’est delicieux!

Please click on the gallery below to see some photos taken on the day.

It was a great treat to end the year, especially for students completing their language study as they move to new courses in Year 10.  Bonnes vacances!

Ms S-J Grove and Ms S Sumner - Languages Department

Performing Arts

TWILIGHT CONCERT

Thank you to all performers in Friday night’s concert. It was a wonderful evening, albeit a little humid! Thank you to the students and staff who set-up during the afternoon in the blazing sun, PAPA for running a sumptuous barbeque, colleagues from other Departments who gave of their time to help supervise the boys and the Ensemble Directors for ensuring all groups were ready to perform. Finally, thank you to the audience who joined in the carol singing at the end of the evening with good humour and great gusto!

Please click on the gallery below for a selection of Twilight Concert photos.

80th ANNIVERSARY CD/USB

These are now available from Student Administration for $10.00. Every 2016 ensemble contributed to this recording and it will make an excellent “stocking filler” this Christmas.

JUNIOR SCHOOL PRIZE DAY OXFORD FALLS

The Junior Jazz Band and Junior Choir will be performing at this event tomorrow. Senior School students who are in the Jazz Band should wear their summer uniform and ensure they bring food and drink for recess and lunch. Students will travel to and from Oxford Falls by bus and will return to the College by 3.00pm in the afternoon.

BOY OVERBOARD

Best wishes to the cast as they use this holiday period to learn their lines and immerse themselves in their characters. There are two holiday rehearsals planned and Mrs Fernando has given all cast members a schedule advising of the dates and times.

HOLIDAY INSTRUMENT PRACTICE

Students are reminded to take their instrument from the Band Room Store Room before school finishes this Friday. There will be no access the Band Room during the holidays, should students forget. The Christmas holidays are also a good opportunity for personal instruments to be serviced, so they are in good playing order for the start of the new year.

REHEARSALS/TUITION 2017

With the exception of the Senior Choir and College Orchestra, all other ensembles will commence in Week 2 of Term 1 next year. The Senior Choir and Orchestra rehearsals will commence in Week 1 at 7.30pm on their usual days of Wednesday and Friday. Instrumental tuition will also commence in Week 2 of Term 1. Parents should expect to hear from tutors in the last week of the holidays.

ENSEMBLE PLACEMENTS 2017

Due to the overwhelming number of students who auditioned for our ensembles, it is taking a little longer than anticipated to place them. It is hoped that parents of all ensemble students will be emailed before Christmas.

AND FINALLY

……..thank you to all students who have participated in the Performing Arts Program at the College this year. There have been some truly wonderful and inspiring performances. I wish everyone a happy, holy and safe Christmas. I look forward to seeing you all in 2017.

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Science

 HSC Summer Headstart Programs at Sydney Univeristy in the January Holidays

Please see the flyer below or go to http://scischool.com.au for more details.

Ms J Black - Science Coordinator

Senior Resource Centre

Medal Winning Readers

It is an outstanding reading achievement. Each and every year from Years 3 to Year 9, students across NSW attempt to read 20 books. Of the million students who participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge only 400 complete it to medal stage. Of these, 7 are St Pius X College students and they have been awarded the Premier’s Reading Challenge Medal.

Mr Damo, Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning, commended the boys on their commitment to reading. He explained the great value in reading books to develop comprehension skills and deep understandings. Our Principal, Mr Couani - an avid reader, also congratulated the students, saying how much he loves to read, always looking forward to his bed-time reading.

Read for pleasure these holidays

Literacy expert, Professor Stephen Krashen says that ‘reading for pleasure’ is the single most effective way to increase literacy.  Not only that, he says ‘it’s pleasant!’

These holidays, the library is supporting ‘reading for pleasure’ with UNLIMITED borrowing and a wide variety of books to choose from.

As well, there are ebooks at the ready.  Our collection of over 1000 titles has a sophisticated ebook reader. It offers night reading and settings for people who experience dyslexia. Check out an ebook at https://stpiusx.wheelers.co

Mrs K Keighery - Senior Teacher Librarian