From the Principal     

• PRAYER:  Palm Sunday
• Students Return to School on Wednesday 26th April in Full Winter Uniform
• Happy Easter to All
• Interim Reports
• 'Boy Overboard' 
• Events of Week 9
• Best Wishes to our Touring Sporting Teams
• Distribution of The Collegian
• Update on Northern Beaches Hospital & Wakehurst Parkway Traffic Changes
• Key Dates for Term 2

A Palm Sunday Prayer

On this day of great rejoicing, Lord Jesus Christ, when we welcome You as our King and Saviour,

we also walk in the shadow of Your cross.

Blessed are You who come in God’s name to save us.

Strengthen our faith this Palm Sunday so that when the time comes to carry the cross

we might still call out to You with heartfelt praise.

Give us the grace and the courage to follow You this Holy Week from death to resurrection,

from darkness to the fullness of light.

We need You, Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen

Saint Pius X ... Pray for Us

Blessed Edmund Rice ... Pray for Us

Live Jesus in our Hearts ... Forever

Students Return for Term 2 in Full Winter Uniform

Students return for the start of Term 2 on Wednesday 26th April in full winter uniform.

Please see information on the College Winter Uniform requirements in the Deputy Principal's section on the following page.

Happy Easter to All

As we close the College at the end of the week I offer appreciation to all staff, students and parents for a very successful and engaging term. We give thanks for all that we receive.  At this Holy time of Easter, take time in personal prayer and reflection on the greatest gift of all and that is the death and resurrection of Christ.

The Mass times for Holy Week for Our Lady of Dolours are below.

Wishing all our families every Easter blessing.

'Boy Overboard'

What a wonderful and powerful drama I witnessed with the performance of this year’s play entitled 'Boy Overboard'. This was a real triumph for the students of St Pius X College and Mercy College, the Director Mrs Sarah Fernando and the Performing Arts Department. There has been enormous effort and many hours of rehearsal put into these final three nights.

The Mercy College girls were outstanding and I thank their Performing Arts teacher Ms Amy Gill and the Principal, Ms Suzanne Kavanagh. I sincerely thank Ms Tracey Bates who gave leadership support throughout this project and was there every step of the way.

There are so many of our staff to thank and I acknowledge in particular Ms Tracey Bates, Ms Sarah Fernando, Mr Stephen Cummins, Mr Ian Talati, our Maintenance Team, Ms Julie Ingram, Ms Ann Stewart, Ms Jane Higgins, Ms Ann Brady, Ms Cathy Jellema, Mr Scott Steinman, Ms Felicity Whelan, Mr Justin Donnelly, Mr Jack Kovacic, Ms Natalie Rawle, Mr Mark Anderson, Ms Sarah McCormack and Ms Veronica Kugananthan.  

Please see a selection of photos in the Performing Arts Section on the DEPARTMENT NEWS page of this newsletter.

Events of Week 9

There were indeed many highlights last week and I express sincere thanks to all the students and staff involved and most notably:

• Year 5 & 6 Camps:  Mr Tim Long, Ms Sam Iwatani, Ms Jenny Williams, Mr Glen Carroll, Mr Terry Patterson, Ms Mary Doheny, Mr Michael Simpson, Mr Paul Cummins, Mr Deb Cummins, Ms Elena Martin, Ms Bettina Spanyik and Ms Jess Offer.
• ISA Swimming Carnival:  Ms Leisa Proc and Mr Matthew Stearn
• Year 8 RE Excursion:  Ms Katie Meale, Mr Phil Stollery, Ms Lisa Guerrera, Ms Felicity Whelan, Mr Jack Kovacic, Mr Adrian Brannan and Mr Benn McBrearty.
• Chapel Opening Mass:  Mrs Donna Dempsey, Mr Adrian Brannan and Mr Jim Olson
• Peer Support:  Mr Sean Brannan, Mr Joe Lynch and Ms Janelle Dempsey
• Year 12 exams:  Mr Ross Masters, Mr Tony Cunneen, the Studies Coordinators and the Learning Support Team for their efforts in Week 1 of these exams.
• Rugby and Football vs St Aloysius College: Thanks to all Junior and Senior Players, Coaches  and Convenors.

Best Wishes to our Touring Sporting Teams

During the holiday break we have a number of significant sporting teams on tour and we wish them every success. I offer appreciation to the College staff who are giving up their holiday time to take these boys away on such a great experience.

• First XI Football – Tour to Qld to play in the EREA Cup:  Accompanied by Mr Steve Quilty, Mr Simon Yue, Ms Leisa Proc, and Mr Chris Semaan.
• U/15 Rugby – Tour to New Zealand:  Accompanied by Mr Joe Lynch, Mr Mark Casey, Mr Benn McBrearty, Mr Scott Steinman and Mr Francis Cullimore.
• Junior Football – Tour to Tamworth:  Accompanied by Mr Paul Cummins and Mr Tim Long
• Junior Rugby – Tour to Armidale:  Accompanied by Mr Greg Virgona and Mr Glen Carroll

The Collegian

The Collegian for 2016 was distributed to the oldest student in each family today (Years 6-11).  Year 12 students will receive their copy early in Term 2.  Please ensure that The Collegian gets home to you.  

Update on Northern Beaches Hospital &

Wakehurst Parkway Traffic Changes

On Monday evening, I met with Ferrovial who are the Company working on the roads and civil works for the Northern Beaches upgrade. They are proceeding with the stockpiling of materials along the Wakehurst Parkway. Much of the land is owned by Roads and Maritime Service RMS (NSW Government).

Ferrovial have approvals to do this and the document below is a community statement which has already been released. Please read it over and look at the diagrams on Page 2.

For your clarification, the land on Wakehurst Parkway outside the C3 Church is owned by RMS and they have commenced fencing this area last weekend. The area outside SPX is half RMS land and half SPX land.

At the meeting we discussed the use of this land by Ferrovial and we are close to agreement. The College Board has agreed to this as well.  In essence this will proceed and is essential for the Northern Beaches Hospital Project.

Implications for SPX

In short the document below explains it all. It is a laydown area for equipment, machinery, non-contaminated materials and carpark. Ferrovial have all approved safety regulations and WHS in place. There are no contaminates or toxic wastes or soils involved at all. There are safeguards in place for the mitigation of dust and the like.

There are traffic changes and we are able to advise them of peak times when we need to minimise traffic on dates.  The site will be restored at the end of the project which will be approximately at the end of 2018.

If parents have any concerns please contact me through Ann Brady abrady@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Term 2 - Key Dates

Wednesday 26th April:    Students return to Term 2 in full winter uniform

Tuesday 2nd May:             80th Anniversary Mass

Thursday 18th May:          'A Night Full of Stars' 80th Anniversary Concert at The Concourse - tickets for                                                          the Concert will go on sale at the start of next term.

Mr John Couani - Principal