St Pius X College Newsletter

From the Principal

  • Prayer
  • SPX HSC Trial Information Package for Students and Parents
  • STOP, REVIVE, SURVIVE DAY - Wednesday 18 August
  • P&F Meeting Cancelled
  • Assembly This Friday
  • Annual College Satisfaction Survey Feedback - Parents

Prayer 

Our EREA Executive Director, Dr Craig Wattam, wrote to all EREA Schools recently to express his grateful thanks and appreciation to all staff.  He thanked staff for their special care and tireless work being carried out at this difficult time.  He was very appreciative of the support, generosity and kindness staff are offering to colleagues and the wider college community.  He said that if there was one place he would want to be right now, it is in a Catholic organisation, where compassion, care and love of God and neighbour are paramount.  

As Dr Wattam states, 'we stand in solidarity with one another, and we respond as Blessed Edmund did, selflessly and in favour of those who need help the most.'

 

A reading for today from St Paul

St Paul wrote to the Philippians who were anxious and worried in a time of deep trouble and this advice is very relevant to all of us today:

"Don't worry about anything; but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.  And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6 - 7)

 

Let us all take our daily challenges one day at a time, one step at a time and keep safe in God’s loving embrace.

SPX HSC Trial Information Package for Students and Parents

The College continues to receive a range of advice from NSW Government Health and Education as well as Catholic Schools NSW and the Association of Independent Schools. We continually modify and update our protocols and procedures to ensure the safety and care of students and staff.

We are presently preparing a St Pius X College Trial HSC Information Pack for Students and Parents.  This will include final details about the planned HSC Trials, to commence on Wednesday 18 August including timetable, rooming and implementing a COVID-safe environment.

This will include finer details about the timetable schedule, examination rooming to ensure social distancing, COVID-19 protocols for transport, entering and leaving the school site and sitting exams as well as procedures for Illness and Misadventure. In this package there will also be further information on the COVID-19 Special Consideration Program, which covers oral and performance exams, major projects and submitted works for Languages, Music, Drama, Design & Technology, Visual Arts and Industrial Technology subjects.

This package will be issued to parents and students, once the Government have provided their final protocols which are due to schools later this week.  Please be aware these details may change, subject to decisions made by the government .

We are also planning an online HSC Parent and Student Information Evening for next Wednesday, 11 August at 6.30 pm. More details will be sent to Year 12 and Year 11 Accelerant students and parents in communication from Mr Lynch, the Year 12 Coordinator.

STOP, REVIVE, SURVIVE DAY – 

Wednesday 18 August for Years 5 - 11

We recognise that students and staff are having a great deal of screen time in TEAMS and we need a short break from this form of online learning and take a deep breath for the day!

To this end, on Wednesday 18 August we will provide work for the students to complete but there will not be classes held in TEAMS. 

Next week in Woodchatta, I will provide some more details.

P & F Meeting 9 August - Cancelled

In discussions with the P & F President, Mrs Sarah Gillard, we have decided to cancel the P & F Meeting scheduled for next Monday 9 August. We will reschedule this meeting at some stage probably later in the term.

Assembly this Friday

I hope that you are enjoying the weekly assemblies each Friday. This week’s Assembly will focus on Wellbeing and will be led by College Captain Liam Chang and the Year 12 students.

Parents are welcome to join us. The link is https://youtu.be/tFo6VebynWo

Annual College Survey Results - Parent Satisfaction Survey

As indicated in Woodchatta last week, below is further information on the Annual College Survey results.   

 

The table below is a summary of the Key Areas covered in the Parent Satisfaction Survey, with a comparison of results from 2020 to 2021.  Ranking is on a 5 point scale with 5  being the highest and 1 the lowest.  All average responses over 4 are considered ‘excellent’ and are in green.  All average responses between 3 and 4 are considered ‘good’ and are in blue.  No St Pius X College averages were ranked below 3 which would be considered ‘fair’ or ‘poor’.  

The College Leadership Team and Advisory Council has noted those Key Areas shaded in blue as suggested focus areas for the coming year, and will develop plans to further address these areas.

Below is a table of overall results comparing St Pius X College with Similar Schools and All Schools who participate in the surveys.  It is pleasing to note that generally St Pius X College has a positive percentage variation when compared to other schools.  Where there is a negative variation, the College is reviewing the data further to develop action plans to address.

Mr John Couani - Principal