St Pius X College Newsletter

Student/Parent Matters

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Hike - October 2016

  • From the Head of Student Services
  • Year 11 Parent Information Meeting
  • Year 10 Parent Information Meeting 
  • Year 7 Parish Picnic
  • CHESS as an Extracurricular Option for Years 7-12
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • Student OPAL Card & Transport Information

From the Head of Student Services

Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day This Friday 10th February

This Friday our Year 7, 2017 cohort (Year 12, 2022) will engage undertake an EREA Touchstone Induction day at Oxford Falls. In keeping with the Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstones Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Liberating Education and Justice and Solidarity, the objective of the day is to develop those values and actions which will help Year 7 2017 (Year 12 2022) form an inclusive, just, thoughtful and considerate cohort, in the best Traditions of Edmund Rice Education.

 

To this end there are many role models and examples for us to draw upon with the 2016 Australian of the Year: David Morrison AO (St Edmund’s College Canberra), and 2016 Young Australians of the Year: Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett (St Josephs’ Gregory Terrace, Brisbane) of Orange Sky Laundry, being educated by Edmund Rice - Christian Brothers Colleges. While Edmund Rice Centre, Homebush Director, Mr Phil Glendenning was recognised in the recent 2017 Australia Day honours list.

Our Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day sessions on Friday include:

  1. Forming a community and making new friends across the Year 7 cohort.
  2. Indigenous Australian awareness: First Australians, and custodians of the land.
  3. Edmund Rice Education Globally: What it means to be an E R Student at St Pius X College
  4. MindMatters games oriented at facilitating positive interaction between members of the Year 7 cohort.

The Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) schools with whom our 7 RE students communicated the Touchstones in 2016, and with whom we hope to continue our email, skype and snail mail connections with in 2017, through our next generation of Year 7 RE students, include:

Mt Edmunds College, Pretoria, South Africa; St Anselm’s College, Birkenhead, Liverpool, England; St Mary's College, Belfast, Northern Ireland; Iona College, New York, USA; Stella Maris College, Montevideo, Uruguay; Cardinal Newman College, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Br Rice College, Chicago, USA; Fe y Allegria 26 College, Lima, Peru; St Thomas More Collegiate, Vancouver, Canada; Damian Memorial College, Hawaii, USA; St Kevin’s College, Redcastle, New Zealand.

Later in the year there will be opportunities for connection with other Edmund Rice Schools both in Australia and overseas. We also hope to run our biannual Warrumbungles MindMatters, Pastoral Care, Science and Indigenous Awareness Camp mid-year; and in 2018, potentially, our 3rd Biannual Kokoda Expedition with hopefully an Edmund Rice Immersion in Papua New Guinea dovetailed in. So whatever your goals, aspirations and choices, get training, make a positive contribution, and be the best you can be through Faith and Hard work.

 

Old Boys vs Students networking Gala Day: Twilight Saturday 25th February

At the conclusion of 1st V Basketball and 1st XI Cricket home matches at Oxford Falls on Saturday the 25th February approx. 4-7.30pm we plan to conduct this Annual Gala day as a twilight event with sessions and contact links as follows.

  • Touch Football / Rugby skills session - Contact: Nathaniel Panozzo / Mr Joe Lynch
  • Basketball Old Boys vs Students V - Contact: Anthony Maras / Mr S Brannan
  • Football Old Boys vs 1st XI:  Contact: Alec Vinci / Sam John / Mr Steve Quilty

All matches will be friendly and hopefully competitive as well with the opportunity to connect our current Senior Students with recent, and not so recent, Old Boys, for their mutual benefit socially, communally and professionally. Contact Mr Brannan or the contact people above, at the College on 94114733 for more details.

 

SPX Old Boys Association AGM

The SPX Old Boys Association would like to inform the College Community that its annual AGM will be held on Thursday 2nd March at 6.30pm in the Sarto Centre, Cnr Daisy and Anderson St, Chatswood.  All Old Boys and interested parties are welcome to attend.

 

 

SAVE THE DATE:  1st September - SPX Old Boys 80th Anniversary Dinner

A timely reminder that in this the 80th Anniversary of the College we plan to host the Annual Old Boys Dinner on the first Friday in September.

Festivities are planned to commence with an afternoon tour of the College followed by a Mass in Our Lady of Dolours Church and then transport to Oxford Falls for a look at the facilities there before dinner. Stay tuned to the SPX Old Boys communication and website for more details and advance bookings.

 

Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services

Attention Year 11 Parents

The Year 11 Parent Information Meeting will be held next Monday 13 February, in the College Gym, starting at 6pm and running for about an hour.  Students do not attend.

 

Mr B Batchelor - Year 11 Coordinator

Attention Year 10 Parents

A reminder to parents that the Year 10 Parent Information Meeting will be held in the College Blue Room next Monday 13th February commencing at 6:00pm.  Students are not required to attend.

Mr M Pawlak - Year 10 Coordinator

Year 7  Parish Picnic

This Sunday 12th February

Further details can be found in the flyer below and in the Assistant Principal Mission & Identity section of this newsletter.

Acclaim Junior Picnic.pdf

Mr A Brannan - Youth Ministry Coordinator

Chess as an Extracurricular Option for Years 7-12

Chess is a powerful educational tool which can enhance concentration and help develop your ability to solve problems! Please consider Chess as your extracurricular sport for Terms 1 & 2.  All students in Years 7-12 are welcome regardless of ability/experience.

  • When: Monday afternoon 3.30-4.30 beginning 20th February
  • Where: D1 and D2
  • Cost: Free trial for two weeks from 20th February

Should your son choose Chess they will receive further information and a permission note at the free trial training sessions.             

Ms Ramsey and Ms Dempsey - Coordinators of Chess

Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an internationally recognised Award and is open to all students 14 years or older. The award is made up of a number of components including: Community Service, Physical Recreation, Development of a new Skill and an Adventurous Journey. Many of these activities your son may already be doing at the College. If your son is interested in participating in this activity please get him to speak with Mrs Manga or Mr de Silva. Further information can be found at:

http://www.dukeofed.com.au/

 

Students wishing to undertake their Adventurous Journey through the College will need to complete their preparation training. Training is being offered on Monday afternoons from 3.30 to 4.30 in A3 for students to complete their pre-training prior to undertaking their first Bronze Practice hike. Due to risk minimisation considerations, students who do not complete this pre-training will not be permitted to complete the Adventurous Journey through the College. Many companies external to the College offer these Journeys. A permission note can be collected from Mr de Silva and students are advised to read the school daily notices. Training will begin on Monday 6th March.

 

A reminder that a meeting will be held every Day 9 in C1 for administration of the Award.

 

Mr P de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator

OPAL Cards & Student Travel

OPAL CARDS

Please note that ALL Opal Card enquiries are handled by Transport NSW.  Information for parents, guardians and students can be found online at www.transportnsw.info/school-students.

Electronic copies of brochures and flyers are also available to download from the Useful Forms and Information pages on the school transport scheme website at https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/usefulFormsAndInformation.

 

To report a lost, stolen or damaged School Opal card, please go to https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/reportPass. The card will be cancelled immediately and a new card will be sent within 8 to 10 working days.

 

Behaviour matters

Students are reminded to:

  • be mindful of safety
  • respect transport staff, transport property and fellow travellers
  • offer their seat to paying customers
  • always travel with a valid ticket
  • tap on and tap off every time if they are travelling in Opal areas.

Student Codes of Conduct are available at  http://www.transportnsw.info/school-students

 

 

FOREST COACHLINES: New departure time for Route 278S

A recent timetable adjustment has seen a minor change to Route 278S.

  • Route 278S to Killarney Heights is now departing Chatswood 5 minutes later, at 15:40pm.

Ms R Gaston