Pastoral Care and Old Boys' News

• Safer Internet Day
• Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day
• Welcome to Mr Ronchetti
• Land Care
• Red Dirt Immersion and RAP
• Boxercise Begins for 2023
• Peer Support for Years 5, 7 and 11
• Peer Mentoring for Years 5 - 7 and Years 10 - 12
• From Police Youth Engagement Officer
• Parent Information Evenings
• North Sydney Cadet Unit
• Old Boys' News

Safer Internet Day

Happy Safer Internet Day for Tuesday this week. In the spirit of safeguarding, guiding, and supporting our young men online I have included some advice from Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant and Greg Gebhart from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner regarding their website and upcoming short webinars below.

Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day this Friday, 10 February

A reminder that Year 7 students will need to wear sports uniform and bring their Recess, Lunch, pens and an A4 book / clipboard to lean on as they write their letter to an Edmund Rice student in another hemisphere. We will bus to Oxford Falls after assembly for our day which incorporates learning about the story of Edmund Rice Education around the world, St Pius and our social justice programs, as well as developing a cohesive cohort as the Class of Year 12 2028!  

Welcome to Mr Ronchetti

In the spirit of welcome, the 13Ds Basketball Squad produced a great win on their home court on Saturday before posing with Mr Ronchetti at the Treacy Centre Courts Oxford Falls. It was a great day of sport, both home and away, with our 1st V and 1st XI Cricket both prevailing at Oxford Falls and our 2nd XI Cricket, led by Luke Austin’s wicket taking and run making innings, along with Ben Mooney winning at Oakhill! Luke’s brother Joel topped off a great week of ISA Rep 1st XI Cricket selection and ISA Rep trials.   

Land Care

A great start to our Landcare Project 2023 with Frenchs Forest Parish at St Anthony’s Terrey Hills Kieran’s Creek site, saw our students accrue 2.5 Eddie Rice Social Justice hours, working alongside their Brigidine College counterparts last Sunday. Andre Mury and Aidan Parsons (Yr 12), Pat Frost and Liam Carroll (Yr 11), and Olly Ryder (Yr 6) weeded exotic pest plants and planted natives along the creekline, an ancient pathway which links the Cammeraygal Northern Beaches with Cowan Creek.

This year there are three more Youth based planting days on: Sunday 30 April, 23 July and 15 October.

The Parish Community Dates for working bees are: 2nd Saturday of every month 9.00 am -12.00 pm (8.30 am Daylight Saving). As a part of our RAP we would also like to be represented at Singing Up Country Celebration of Indigenous Culture and Music Concert: Sunday 4 June with a 3.00 pm Welcome to Country and workshops and 7.00 pm Concert featuring Johnny Nichol and St Pius’ own Kevin Hunt. Contact Mr Brannan for more details and sign up via the permission note attached below.

Red Dirt and RAP

Our Red Dirt Immersion to visit the people, cultural sites, towns and Aboriginal schools and communities of Western NSW will take place again this year between 25 June and 1 July. If you are up for some Deep Listening, Learning and mid-winter camping in tents and PCYC, see Mr Brannan next week to collect an Expression of Interest Form. This year, with the Uluru Statement From The Heart Referendum stimulating a lot of interest and learning, we may be joined by some representatives of CBHS Lewisham, Brigidine College and Mater Maria Warriewood who are keen to join our RAP journey.

Boxercise Begins

Boxercise Begins this Thursday 9 February commencing at 7.30 am in PE Uniform in the Junior Yard. 

All students from Year 5 up are welcome to this connecting and positive wellbeing initiative which will be led by our Year 12 and student leaders including Tomo Wilkins and Liam Thompson. We supply, gloves and focus mitts; students just need to wear PE uniform and “get amongst it” from 7.30 am Thursday. All welcome.

Peer Support for Year 5, 7 and 11 facilitated by Ms Dempsey and Ms Bamber

The Peer Support Program commences on Monday 13 February during Period 4 to support students' transition into Year 5 and Year 7 at St Pius. The program runs on a weekly rotation with Year 11 Peer Support Leaders mentoring a group of Year 5 or 7 students to develop the social, emotional and learning skills required for successfully negotiating their commencement learning across the school year. The program will conclude in Term 2, with a session and lunch at Beauchamp Park at the end of Week 1 Term 2.

Year 11 students undertaking Peer Support training

Peer Mentoring for Year 5-7 and 10-12

The Peer Mentoring Program facilitates students new to the school being supported by mentors from Years 10 – 12 who can meet with them outside of class times. Students are currently being identified and prioritised for the 2023 program which will commence with a morning tea in the Prayer Garden on Monday 20 February. Contact Mr Russo, Mr Brannan, Mrs Gill, Mrs McCarthy or your Pastoral Care teachers for more information or to join the program.

Police Youth Engagement Officer: Snr Const Lynda Hart

Recent communication with our Police Liaison Officer Senior Constable, Lynda Hart, has highlighted some cyber safety concerns for young people within our local community, including online extortion of adolescents and young men. We certainly access, advocate, and reinforce the advice provided by our support network including the Police, Youth Command, and eSafety Commission (below) on behalf of our young men and encourage you to seek ways to have these important conversations and stay across your son’s online activities, safety, and security.

Parent Information Evenings

Thank you to all members of our community who have supported and engaged with these opportunities for communication in support of your sons' wellbeing, learning and pastoral care journeys through the school. Our Year Coordinators, Pastoral Care Teams and Counsellors invest significant time and resources in supporting your sons development, and we appreciate your feedback and communication to this end. The student diary, email and CANVAS provide rich opportunities for communication, listening, goal setting, and learning. All of these are designed to be accessible to all members of our learning community.

North Sydney Cadet Unit

In conjunction with their studies and extra curricula representation of the College, a number of our students engage with local Cadet Units of which North Sydney is the closest. This allows them to pursue this interest and also support events such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

Old Boys' News

Play for Brothers Rugby in 2023 - Scholarships Available

• Founded in 1947, the club fields teams in Seniors, Colts (U/21) and in 2023 we are looking to add a Women’s Sevens team.  
• All abilities are welcome. Come down with your friends to enjoy the playing and social side of rugby. Training one night a week at Roseville Chase, with a feed included.
• Colts receive free playing gear, registration is free and they get fed and watered at home games.
• A small number of education scholarships are available (including some solely for ex-students of St Pius X College) for men and women who are U/21 as at 1 January of the year they are playing.

Express your interest in playing for Brothers in 2023 by clicking on the following link: http://www.brothersrugby.com.au/. You can also follow the club on Facebook: Brothers Rugby Club Sydney or feel free to contact the Development Officer Rodger Shanahan: rugby@brothersrugby.com.au or 0447440366.

Biala Homework Program

Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer?

Would you like to help Aboriginal high school students with their homework?

Volunteers are needed for a homework support program for Aboriginal girls living at Biala Hostel. Tutoring is at the hostel in Allambie Heights every Tuesday during term time from 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm. Ideally volunteers will have an educational background.

Interested?

Contact Keren for more information: jaskeren@optusnet.com.au.

Keren Cox-Witton

Jews for Social Action, North Shore Temple Emanuel

https://nste.org.au/tikkun-olam/social-action/aboriginal-support

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care and Wellbeing