Department News

• History
• Performing Arts
• Visual Arts
• Languages
• Senior Resource Centre
• Debating

History

NEWS FROM THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT

Just one year after the College first opened its doors, a boy was born in Slovakia. These two seemingly unconnected events merged last Thursday when that boy born in 1938 came to St Pius to speak to all of Year 10 about his incredible life.

Tom Fleming, whose two grandsons, Oliver (Year 7) and Christian Robson( Year 5) are students here, told a remarkable story of survival, tolerance and family. When Tom was just six, the Gestapo arrived to take him and his parents. After he had farewelled his father for what would be the last time, Tom and his mother were sent to Terezin camp in Czechoslovakia in late 1944. When the war ended and Terezin was liberated by the Soviets, Tom was one of just 123 children out of 16000 to have survived the camp.

His story was of particular relevance to Year 10 History students who have just begun their study of the Holocaust. Tom’s kind donation to the library of a number of his books “Lolli’s Apple” will enable the boys to read his whole story. It is a tale which has much to teach all of us.

Thanks to Tom and his wife, Caroline, who accompanied him for giving up their time to present his very moving tale. Thank you also to Ms Keighery for hosting this event in the library and for her work to make this happen. It was very pleasing that Oliver and Christian were also present to hear their grandfather at this special event.

Mr P Rodgers - History Coordinator

Performing Arts

BLACKROCK DRAMA PRODUCTION

Congratulations to Brodie Jones from Year 11 (in white shirt), on his compelling performance in the Youth Theatre Ensemble’s production of Blackrock by Nick Enright. The Year 11 Drama class found this a powerful piece of realistic theatre with profound themes of mateship and violence.

HSC DRAMA EXAMINATIONS

Best wishes to the Year 12 Drama class as they present their individual and group performances on Friday to the HSC markers. Years 9 and 11 Elective Drama classes, along with selected Year 8 students have been invited to attend as the audience.

SPLINTERS, SPLASHES, STAGE AND SOUND

This showcase of Year 12 HSC major works is on Thursday 1st September. All Year 12 HSC Music students will be performing works from their program and there will be selected individual performances from the Year 12 Drama class, commencing at 6.30pm in the Band Room. There will also be a special presentation to the Year 12 Drama students from the PAPA.

TWILIGHT CONCERT

The second Twilight Concert for the year will take place on Friday 2nd September, commencing at 5.00pm in the Junior School yard (gymnasium if the weather is inclement). All major ensembles (with the exception of the Guitar Ensembles) will be performing and there will be a special presentation to all Year 12 Music students from the PAPA. There will also be a Father’s Day raffle with some amazing prizes!

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Visual Arts

EXHIBITIONS

The Concourse Art Space has a show of Photographs by Michael Hayley, an old boy of the College. Photography student in Years 9 and 10 will view these this week.

Casula Powerhouse has Refugees on until Sept 11. This is an impressive show of works by artists who have had to flee their place of origin including Marc Chagall, Lucien Freud, Yoko Ono and many others. A free show well worth the trip.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Riviera at the Art Gallery of New South Wales – very busy, so booking is recommended with many sessions sold out already.

Splinters, Splashes, Sounds & Stage 2016 showcasing HSC works in Industrial Technology, Art, Music and Drama will be on at the College from Thursday September 1, 6:00pm – 8:00pm with music performances commencing at 6.30pm. Artworks can still be viewed on the Friday to coincide with the Twilight Concert.

Mr M Anderson - Visual Arts Coordinator

Languages

CHINESE LANGUAGE CLUB

This Semester, our students together with Mrs Wang, have initiated a lunchtime gathering of keen language students to participate in a Chinese Language Club. These students have recently put their Mandarin skills to the test, entering a competition next term where they will participate in a Chinese Language Spectacular at Sydney Town Hall .

The students have been working on a dramatic performance, which they recently recorded, and were successfully granted an entry into the competition. Their act is a one of a kind and one of the longest of the Spectacular. While the boys still have much to practise and learn, we commend them on their efforts.

The Language Department would like to acknowledge the hard work and enthusiasm of Mrs Wang and the following students:

Year 7: Cameron Smith, Oliver Robson, Emerson Ansted, Ethan Rocket, Max Wilkins, Ben Marion, Ben Giles, Callum Fitzgibbon, and Ben Mooney

Year 8:  Oliver Lenehan, Charlie McElvogue and Lucas Wareham

Mrs K Manga - Languages Coordinator

From the Senior Resource Centre

AUTHOR VISIT THIS FRIDAY:  Tristan Bancks:

This Friday, the young and dynamic author, Tristan Bancks is going to inspire students in Years 8 & 9.  Tristan, a successful writer will tell students his story. He will entertain them by reading from his award-winning novel, ‘Two Wolves’ and he’ll share a few tips on writing. But that’s not all.

Tristan is an ambassador for the ‘Room to Read’ campaign. Their motto ‘World Change starts with Educated Children’ captures the belief that increasing world literacy can right social injustice.  And Tristan is passionate about the power of literacy to change lives.  Students can support Tristan and this campaign by bringing along a gold coin.

As well, Tristan will available to do book signings at Recess and Lunch. If parents would like their son to have a signed a copy of ‘Two Wolves’, they can purchase a copy for $17, payable on the day.

You can read more about the important project, ‘Room to Read’ in the flyer below. 

POETRY OUT LOUD: this Saturday

Now in its sixth year, Poetry Out Loud celebrates the life and poetry of Francis Webb (1925 -1973). Webb was a student at St Pius X College, starting at the school in its first year, 1937.  Br. Carter commented in the 1949 Collegian that Webb had a mania for poetry with an ambition to be published in the Bulletin. This he achieved at 17 with the first of many poems published by them. In 1948, his epic poem, ‘A Drum for Ben Boyd’ was published to great critical acclaim. The Bulletin’s critic wrote, “it was major effort of creation” requiring “a largeness of mind, a largeness of heart, a largeness of vision”.

Come along to Poetry Out Loud this Saturday at Chatswood Library from 2-4 pm. It provides a unique way to experience Francis’ poetry and admire his prodigious talent. A number of accomplished poets read his poems and then relate what the poems mean to them. Since 2014, our school has been invited to elect a student to read at this event and Jack Moran from Year 10 will represent the school this year. I am sure that Francis Webb would be pleased as Jack shares Francis’ love of poetry.

Some facts about Francis Webb:

• Les Murray said, Webb is the “gold standard” of Australian poetry
• Webb left an enormous body of published work
• A biography, ‘God's Fool: The Life and Poetry of Francis Webb’ by Michael Griffith details Webb’s life and achievements
• He is taught in Australian Literature courses at universities
• A spiritual vein runs deeply through Webb’s poetry. Poems explores not only his life experience but the political, historical and natural worlds. His poem the Canticle, on St. Francis of Assisi is an ode to Webb’s constant reflection and admiration of the Saint’s life.
• He wrote a series of radio plays which were aired on the BBC

Lastly, Webb was appalled by the anti-Semitic attitudes that prevailed in the 1940s and his deep appreciation of aboriginal culture is shown in several of his poems. He would surely have been pleased with the strength of social justice evident at St. Pius today.  More details about this event are available in the flower below.

Ms K Keighery - Senior Teacher/Librarian

Debating

SDN DEBATING

Last Friday night St Pius X College hosted Monte Sant Angelo Mercy College. There were some close debates and our Year 9 team won their debate.  Congratulations!  

This Friday we will travel to Abbotsleigh, Wahroonga on the train.  All debaters will go to their debate training until 4pm when the students debating on the night will catch the train with staff and coaches to Wahroonga. We will continue our training in classrooms at Abbotsleigh until prep time commences.  It is VITAL that students bring another sandwich and a drink for their supper as there will be no time for students to travel to Westfield this week to purchase food. If students buy their supper from our canteen at lunch time their coaches can heat it up after school in the staffroom microwave. We hate telling the boys they can't buy food as we travel to the station. 

Once we arrive at Abbotsleigh we will be able to contact parents to let them know exactly where the debates will be held in the school.

Year 5 - Year 8   Prep time 5.30 - 6.30  Debate time: 6.30 - 7.15 (ish)

Year 9 - Year 12 Prep time 6.30 - 7.30  Debate time: 7.30 - 8.30 (ish)

All students will need to be collected from Abbotsleigh.  A map of the school is on the Schools' Debating Network website.  We look forward to seeing you there. 

Mrs M Waterson - Convenor