Pastoral Care and Old Boys' News
Welcome back to Term 2 2023 as we prepare for a diverse range of rich learning experiences this Term including:
NSW Youth Week 2023
NSW Youth Week 2023 takes place this week from 20 to 30 April. There will be a range of activities, opportunities and events for young people to enjoy throughout the State.
This year’s theme, as set by the NSW Youth Advisory Council, is Connect. Participate. Celebrate. For information and to see what’s on you can visit visit nsw.gov.au/youthweek. To share this information with your networks and find the Youth Week media kit visit nsw.gov.au/youthweek/media-kit-2023.
Year 7 Up Study Skills Evening Monday 19 June - save the date
A reminder that as per our college calendar, towards the end of Term 2, on Monday 19 June, we will host Dr Prue Salter of Enhanced Study Skills to a Parent and Student Information night in the Gym from 6:30 pm.
Dr Salter is a highly acclaimed expert on maximising outcomes from organised learning and study patterns and protocols. Access is to her website is sponsored by the College and P & F using our SPX Username and password:
Username: spx Password: 25success
Dr Salter will also be working with our Year 11 students at their study day on Wednesday 17 May.
As per our policy over recent years, students in years other than Year 7 who may have missed Dr Salter due to lockdown etc are welcome to attend this event this year.
Recent representation of St Pius X College
Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Commemoration
The College was proud and inspired to be represented at the NSW Jewish Deputies-hosted Yom HaShoah Memorial ceremony at the Clancy Auditorium University of NSW on Sunday 16 April.
Hearing the testimony of elderly Holocaust Survivors, both living and recently passed, and lighting candles for their families and the 6 million Jewish people murdered in the Shoah is a deeply moving experience which our students respectfully understand from their excursion to the Sydney Jewish Museum.
On this occasion the keynote speaker was iconic Irish Catholic Australian Pulitzer Prize winning author Thomas Keneally who hails from the Western Suburbs Rugby League heartland, before moving to the Northern Beaches to become #1 Sea Eagles supporter and biographer for EREA graduate and St Pius X College Year 6 Teacher Des Hasler. Tom gave a rousing speech featuring his research for his book Schindler’s Ark which became the screenplay for Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning movie Schindler’s List. An Oscar for Oskar (Schindler).
Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway ANZAC Day Ceremony Saturday 22 April
The College was well represented at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway ANZAC Commemoration at Concord this morning by Year 11 student Tom R, Facilities Coordinator and Iraq veteran Mr David Reay and Mr Sean Brannan. Tom presented a wreath on behalf of the College.
The College has conducted Kokoda Track and Callan disability education immersions in 2014, 2016 and 2018. We are linked to Kokoda through Old Boy Bill James (Class of 68) who wrote the Guide to the Kokoda Track and facilitated a visit from Captain Bede Tongs MM in 2014, as well as former EREA Board member John Honner whose father Lt Col Ralph Honner is acclaimed as a hero of the Kokoda Track and Northern Beaches campaign! Our Cricket squad has been endorsed by and adopted the 2/33 Bn motto Strike Hard while their sister 2/25 Bn are linked through veteran Jim McCartney in whose footsteps we have hiked the Track.
Forestville RSL Club Sunday 23 April
The Forestville RSL Anzac Commemoration of the 108th Anniversary of the Gallipoli landings was held on Sunday 23 April.
St Pius X College was represented by Year 9 student leaders Sean O’Donnell, Lucas Gleeson and Air Cadet Rhys Bourke along with Year 6 students Joseph Wilson and Oliver Ryder.
108th Anniversary of ANZAC Commemorative Services
We thank Chatswood and Willoughby RSL Sub Branch Presidents Mr Barney Flanagan, Garry Brigden, David Ross and Willoughby Council for organising moving Garden of Remembrance Dawn and 7:00 am Willoughby Park Services.
In great tradition we were thoughtfully represented by College Captain Eamon Boyle, Alex Regan, Rory Rapa, Liam Hincksman, Liam Boswell, Riley Seeto and an Old Boy of the Class of 1981 in Sydney North Supt Paul Devaney at Dawn, and Vice Captain Mitch McGrath, Harrison Thomas and Hunter Austin at Willoughby.
It was great to share these 108th Anniversary of ANZAC commemorative services in community and we were blessed to be joined by Mrs Brenda Timp and the Mercy Student Leadership Team, Mr Marco Ianni and students from Our Lady of Dolours Primary, along with Fr David Ranson and Fr Marik from our Parish.
Old Boy and highly acclaimed bugler on the College bugle, Anthony Elliot and SPX trumpet tutor Mr David Sismey also performed with the award-winning Willoughby Brass Band.
Both ceremonies were reflective and informative in commemorating the service of so many great men and women over the years.
'No greater love hath any than to lay down their life for their friends.'
We will remember them…
Lest we forget
Red Dirt Immersion 5:00 am 25 June – 5:00 pm Saturday 1 July 2023
A final list of the 40-student Red Dirt Immersion crew will be notified next week after which time a final consent, gear list, directions and meal request form will be distributed. If you do need to withdraw please let Mr Brannan know ASAP as there is a wait list of students keen to attend.
Willoughby City Council RAP Consultation
Thank you and well done to the leaders of our Student RAP Team: Pat Frost, Dominic Mitchell and Lachlan Staber who represented us with great distinction at the recent Willoughby City Council RAP Consultation sessions with Susan Moylan Coombes. All members of lour student RAP Team will need to meet with Mr Brannan and our House Vice Captains SRC next Tuesday 2 May at lunchtime to commence planning our lessons to the Junior School preceding Reconciliation Week.
Old Boy News
The college was saddened to hear of the recent passing on Saturday morning of highly esteemed Old Boy, Dr James Biggs, 23/11/31 - 22/4/23. James was the first College Captain listed on our foyer honour board where he is recognised also as the 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket Captain in his Class of 1948! James went on to have a long career practising medicine and is survived by a large extended family including his son, Michael, who is also a neurosurgeon, daughters Susan, Carolyn and Katie. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are extended to James’s family, school mates and friends at this time. Vale Dr James Crawford Biggs, Rest in Peace.
Fide et Labore
Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing