Student Matters/Student Welfare

• NAPLAN 2016
• MindMatters for Families
• Student Leadership Team 2016-2017
• Buddies Bushwalk
• Kokoda Expedition 2016
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award
• Year 10 Information for Parents
• Winter Sports Photos
• General Notices

NAPLAN 2016

Please see the document below for an overview.

Mr A Damo - Assistant Principal Teaching & Learning

MindMatters for Families

'TEENS & SCREENS' PRESENTATION

Is your child constantly using screens? Is it always a battle to try and get them off? Do you have difficulty trying to figure out what the right balance is?

This presentation is highly recommended to all SPX parents and their sons.  In my opinion, it's about time that we restored the balance in this losing battle of too much screen and technology time. 

Come along to this interactive and highly engaging presentation on Wednesday 7th September and find out all you need to know about what a healthy digital diet looks like!

Please read the information in the flyer below and perhaps consider attending, along with your son.

THE WHITE KNIGHT FOUNDATION - WALK AGAINST YOUTH VIOLENCE

Join us on Sunday 25th of September as we walk from Balmoral to Manly to raise vital funds in order to provide meaningful support for young victims of youth violence through their journey to recovery.

When:   Sunday 25 September 2016

Where:   Spit Bridge to Manly

Distance:   Approx. 15km

Joining Fee:   $30 (To be paid via gofundraise on your own profile)

Start time:    8:30am (8:00am for registration) 

Finish time:  1:00pm

Please follow the link below to find all the details to enter into the walk.

http://www.thewhiteknightfoundation.com/events

If you require further information on how you can either volunteer or participate in this special SPX Community event please contact Mr Rick Russo via rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

BOXERCISE TERMS 3 & 4

Come along and join the team and get fit for Spring/Summer!

With the conclusion of the Rugby and Football seasons, what better way to keep fit than to join our fast-growing Boxercise team!  All gear is supplied free (mitts/gloves). The classes start at 7.30am on Thursday and Friday mornings and are led by an experienced group of Year 10 and 11 students under my watchful supervision.

Students learn boxing combinations together with a variety of cardio/strength exercises which promotes self-esteem, confidence and mateship across the years from Years 5 to 11.  For further details contact Mr Rick Russo on 9414 4359 or email rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

BOXERCISE WORKOUT FOR FATHERS/UNCLES/GRANDFATHERS/CARERS

September 8th or 9th at 7.30am

Over 100 students from Years 5 to 11 have participated in Boxercise classes this year, and with spring just around the corner what better way to improve your fitness levels than to participate in a Father/Son introductory lesson and enjoy the benefits of this wellbeing activity.

A warm invitation is extended to all fathers/grandfathers/uncles/carers to come along and have some fun on either Thursday or Friday morning, 8th/9th September at 7.30am.  Invitations will be distributed through your sons - hope you can make it!

BUDDIES BUSHWALK

Please note that reply slips are due this Friday 26th August for the Buddies Bushwalk which will take place on Saturday 3rd September.  (The original return date was Monday 29th August but this is the SPX Feast Day Holiday.)

Please contact Mr Russo via rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au with any queries.

Mr R Russo - College Counsellor

Student Leadership Team & Buddies Bushwalk

The Year 11 election of our Student Leadership Team 2016 – 2017 has now been finalised, guided by Mr Masters. The potential and opportunities for this next generation of leaders is very exciting as the College enters its eightieth year. The students engaged in an excellent leadership based reflection day at Oxford Falls which I was fortunate to be able to attend. Mr Hopley, Mr Masters and recent Old Boy and REACH program facilitator, Joshua Ward, presented eloquently on the topic which I am sure the students got a lot out of.

This week our student leaders elect will engage in the Student Leadership Camp at Huntington House and a Toastmasters Speechcraft course sponsored by the St Pius X College Old Boys Association.

The upcoming Buddies Bushwalk on Saturday 3rd September is a great opportunity for all Year 11 students to support the Peer Mentors- Mentees program and get a qualifying Snowy Hike in so contact Mr Brannan or Mr Russo to collect a note.

Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services

2016 St Pius X College Kokoda Expedition Assembly

Monday’s assembly featured a presentation of the Year 9, 10 and 11 students who with their Fathers, Mothers and sisters, formed our 28 strong, 2016 St Pius X College Kokoda Expedition Group. The students spoke eloquently of their experiences both on the Kokoda Track and within the pre expedition Immersion Experience to Callan Services and Jubilee Catholic Secondary School in Port Moresby.

Callan Services is the Christian Brothers education initiative in PNG which caters for the education of students with disabilities and without which there would be little or no support and education for this group. Our Expedition Group through the Edmund Rice Foundation raised $7000 for Callan Services which has also been our Junior Walkathon and Founders Day charity over recent years. Callan Services Gerehu presented a PNG Altar Cloth to the College which was presented to Mr Couani on Monday.

Old Boy of the College, co-founder of “Top Deck Travel”, “The Flight Centre”, historian and author of “The Field Guide to The Kokoda Track”, and Chair of The Kokoda Track Foundation, Mr Bill James, was on hand with Mr Owen Finnegan ex Wallaby and Old Boy of Waverley College, to present our Kokoda Trekkers with their certificates of achievement. (See photo above)

Mr James then provided a lecture to Year 10 Australian History on the significance of the Kokoda campaign to Australia. Poignantly his audience featured the Kokoda Trekkers including Declan Langreiter of Year 9 whose Great Uncle Flt Sgt Anthony Gillespie of Artarmon was KIA flying a Mosquito bomber over occupied Europe in 1945. Another Old Boy KIA in WWII was Jacob De Sisto whose grave we visited in Port Moresby. Anthony’s photos and medals are on display outside Mr Couani’s office, while a plaque commemorates Jacob’s life in the Junior School playground. 

Thank you to Mr De Silva and Mr Long who co-led the Expedition and to the SPX Old Boys association, the P&F and Officeworks (through Mrs Di Munich) who sponsored our expedition in support of Callan Services, PNG.

Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Last Friday saw three outstanding young men awarded with their Bronze Level, Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. Phillip Cullen, Cody Fisher-Peel and Jack Moran have each attained the first level of the DoE and are moving into their Silver Awards.

Each of these boys has completed voluntary participation in Physical Activity, Service to the Community and Skill Development. They have also completed their Adventurous Journey Practise and Qualifying Journey’s with Mr de Silva, SPX Outdoor Coordinator.

Congratulations to Phillip, Cody and Jack on their achievements.

If your son is interested in participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, please encourage them to see me for an enrolment form. Alternatively, meetings are held in C4 on Day 9. All over 14’s welcome!

Mrs K Manga - Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator

Year 10 Parents

A reminder that our Year 10 students will be attending their third and final Reflection Day this Friday at Oxford Falls. Our theme for the day is ‘A Day of Hope’.  Our presenter is Glen Gerreyn, the founder of The Oxygen Factory … please check link below. 

http://www.oxygenfactory.com.au/gyhu/about.php

The boys are to wear casual clothes/enclosed footwear.  They will need to provide their own morning tea and lunch.

Mr M Pawlak - Year 10 Coordinator

Winter Sports Photos

The Winter Sports Photos will be taken during Periods 1 and 2 on Wednesday 31st August in the Junior School yard. Sports involved include Rugby, Football, Tennis, Boxercise, Robotics and Athletics. Full sports uniform will be required for Rugby, Football and Tennis (ISA and Winter NSTA only). Athletics and Boxercise will be taken in full College Uniform. Photos of the College Leaders and Prefects will also be taken.

The basic rule is NO SPORTS UNIFORM NO PHOTO. Students have the option of coming to school wearing their Rugby, Football and Tennis uniform underneath their FULL COLLEGE TRACKSUIT or bringing their sports uniform to school and changing when their photos are called.

All students must have their Student ID cards with them when they are called for their photos.

Order Forms will be available from the Front Office on the day. Further details of when the photos orders are due back to the College will be posted at a later date.  The running order of the photos can be found below.

Ms L Proc – General Coordinator

General Notices

• Go4Fun Program

A FREE  10 week Go4Fun Program will run in Term 4 for children 7-13 years. This healthy lifestyle program has been proven to improve the nutrition, fitness and self-esteem of many children and has helped families become confident, healthier and fitter together by informing them about fats, sugars, how to read food labels, a guide to eating out, setting goals and many other topics. The children also spend an hour playing fun games and activities.  Please click on the flyer below to find out more.

• North Steyne Nippers

Registrations are now open for children aged 5-13 years.  

Please click on the flyer below for details.