Department News

  • Performing Arts
  • Public Speaking & Debating

Performing Arts

Ensembles

All ensembles commence this week. Please read the attachment below for days and times. Ensemble rolls have also been placed on the Performing Arts Noticeboard.

Instrumental Tuition

Tutors commence lessons this week. Students will receive their Music Pass in their first lesson and then will need to have it with them each time they wished to be excused from class to attend tuition. If you submitted a lesson application for your son and have yet to hear from a tutor, please contact the Performing Arts Coordinator at TBates@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

 

80th Anniversary Concert

This is a last call for any Old Boys of the College who wish to be involved in this celebration on the 18th May. Please go to the Old Boy’s website for further details and information or contact the Performing Arts Coordinator at TBates@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

 

Piano For Sale

Contact Martin at martin.g@bigpond.net.au or 0403188675, $200.00 or nearest offer.

 

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Public Speaking & Debating

Macquarie University Schools' Cup Debating Competitions

St Pius X College students will participate in the Macquarie Schools’ Cup competitions which are run on school days at Macquarie University.  Students attend the day with a debating coach and information about the day is provided to the students closer to the date.

There are three competitions:

  • Senior (Year 10):   16th February, 2017 (Mrs McCormack is organising this at the moment)
  • Intermediate (Year 9):  usually early Term 3
  • Junior (Years 7 and 8):  usually late Term 3

Catholic Schools' Debating Competition Public Speaking

The CSDA Public Speaking competition runs on the following three Friday. Information on venues and times will follow as soon as the College is informed. Students can register their interest in participating in the CSDA competition at lunchtime on Thursday 9th February at 1pm in the JCR.  If you miss this meeting and want to be involved in Public Speaking please contact Mrs Waterson.

 

Public Speaking Competition dates

Term 1:         

Round 1            March 3

Zone Final       March 10   

Final                   March 17  

 

Catholic Schools' Debating Competition (CSDA)

Registration forms are at the front office now.  Students need to complete the form and return it to the box marked “Public Speaking and Debating” on the front verandah.  The CSDA competition dates are as follows.  St Pius X College will host as many of these rounds as possible as home events are easier for our parents. The 2017 CSDA competition dates:

 

Term 2

Round 1    April 28

Round 2    May 5

Round 3    May 12

Round 4    May 19

Round 5    May 26

Round 6    June 2

Elimination Round 1  -  June 16

Elimination Round 2  -  June 23

 

Term 3

Quarterfinal - July 21;   Semi-final -July 28;   Grand Final - August 3

 

If you want to be a part of the terrific St Pius X College debating community it is essential that you attend ALL of the first six rounds.  If your team makes it through to the Elimination round (and beyond) you also need to keep the above dates free.

 

Our senior students act as coaches/supporters for our junior teams.  We are also lucky enough to have ex-students to work with the junior teams as the younger students really enjoy contact with our ex-debating “champions”.

 

Schools' Debating Network

St Pius X participates in the Schools' Debating Network (SDN) Competition.  Schools include: Abbotsleigh, Redlands, Riverview, Roseville, Stella Maris, Monte & Wenona. This 7 round competition runs in Term 3 every Friday night from 21st July to 8th  September.  There will then be a Tiebreaker and Final round.

  • Round 1 21st July, Roseville College hosting St Pius X
  • Round 2 28th July, Stella Maris hosting St Pius X
  • Round 3 4th August, Riverview hosting St Pius X
  • Round 4 11th August, St Pius X hosting Wenona
  • Round 5 18th August, St Pius X hosting Monte
  • Round 6 25th August, Abbotsleigh hosting St Pius X
  • Round 7 2nd September, Redlands hosting St Pius X
  • Tiebreaker 8th September, hosted by St Pius X
  • Final 15th September, hosted by Monte

The fee for the CSDA extra-curricular activity is $105.00 which will be included in your Term Two school fees.  This fee goes towards paying for Friday evening coach hiring in order to get to our away venues.  We keep our fees as low as possible and have funding from the St Pius X College P & F to subsidise the cost of hiring coaches on Friday evenings.

 

Two hours of training per week is mandatory. Our training commences 2-3 weeks before Round 1 with Pius hosting pre-season ‘friendly’ debates with 2-3 local high schools. Friday afternoon training from 3.30 – 5pm is compulsory for all debaters and coaches determine the other hour or so of training each week at times that suit their team.  CSDA debates commence at 6pm and students and coaches either travel to venues at 5pm or, when hosting, students have a one hour dinner break before our guests arrive at Pius for a 6pm competition commencement.  SDN debates have a different, later running order.

 

Thank you on behalf of the brilliant Pius debating coaches and senior student mentors.

 

St Pius X also competes in the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Competition and the Plain English Speaking Competition - details will follow.

 

Mrs M Waterson - Debating and Public Speaking Convener