From the Principal

• Prayer 
• P&F Meeting 
• College Financial Audit
• Commonwealth Census Audit
• NSW Registration and Accreditation Inspection
• Annual Plan
• Before School Playground Supervision
• Summer Sports Season
• Overseas Tours and Coronavirus
• Personal Hygiene
• New School App
• Major Upcoming Events in Term 1

Prayer 

I was at St Dominic's College Penrith (one of our Brother schools) on Tuesday and the students led this prayer in striving to become better people through their Lenten journey.

This Lent we return to dust:     Pride

We return..... Jealousy

We return..... Judging

We return..... Nursing old grudges

We return..... Anger

We return..... Disappointment

We return..... Frustration

We return..... Selfishness

We return..... Having to have the last word

We return..... Being too busy to notice people

We return..... Only helping those where there is a benefit to us

P&F Meeting 

Last Monday evening’s meeting was an excellent gathering and Mr Long outlined the wonderful start to the year made by Year 5 and 6. The Year 6 Camp was superb.  Please see the Junior School report for details. Best wishes to our Year 5 and Year 8 camps for next week.

I presented the Building Proposal for 39-41 Anderson St and there were many good questions and a full discussion. I will pass on the feedback to the architects and we are moving towards lodging the DA in next few weeks.

Below you can find the proposal as was also outlined in last week’s Woodchatta

College Financial Audit

Over the last week the College has undergone its annual external financial audit conducted by Crowe Howarth.  It was a very clean audit and I thank Mr Carson (Business Manager) and the Finance team for their stewardship of the College’s resources.

Commonwealth Census Audit

This week the College has been audited for its 2019 Census data including its record keeping for all student attendance and including the NCCD for students in Learning Support. The audit looked at Individual Plans, programs, work samples and the like. This is all specifically related to school funding. The College had a very positive and clean audit in this regard as well and I thank Mr Carson, and his staff.  Thanks to Mrs Annabel Gunns (LSE Coordinator) and the Learning Support Team.

NSW Registration and Accreditation Inspection

This year the College is due for a full Inspection as it is every 6 years. This inspection is conducted by the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) and encompasses all our curriculum, assessment and reporting. It includes the Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care, safety and security of the site. It also reviews our policies including Child Safeguarding and Child Protection policies procedures and reporting.

All school policies are reviewed such as WHS, Governance and so on. We need to submit all our documentation by 31 March and NESA will be here in mid-June. We are on track and prepared for this Inspection.

Annual Plan

The 2020 Annual Improvement Plan has been endorsed by the College Board.  It has been prepared by the College Leadership Team following evaluation of our 2019 Annual Plan, School surveys and results from last year.

Before School Playground Supervision 

Parents are reminded that morning playground supervision in the College commences formally at 8.30 am. There are many activities at the school that begin at 7.30am such as Boxercise, Music Rehearsals and so on and there is incidental supervision with many staff present throughout the school from 7.30 am.

The school premises are open from 7.00 am but there are generally Maintenance staff, canteen and some Senior staff about the school.

Parents are asked to be mindful of these hours when sending students to school at an early hour.

Summer Sport Season

We have had a great season over Term 4 2019 and term 1 2020 and I thank and congratulate all our teams – players and coaches for their representation this year.

Of particular note is the success of both our First and Second Cricket teams who have qualified first in the Finals. We wish them well in the big last game of the season.

We have 7 Basketball teams in the Grand Final this weekend.

Congratulations to Mr Madani and the Squash representatives who have won the Open Division.

Best wishes to our ISA Swimming team who will represent us next week in the ISA swimming Carnival and our Junior team who are competing today in the IPSHA carnival.

More details are available in the Sports section.

Overseas Tours and Coronavirus

Parents are asked to carefully consider any holiday travel plans and the Government advice regarding coronavirus and also returning to Australia from areas affected by coronavirus including China and Iran but also other affected areas.

On Monday I sent information to all parents regarding the advice to schools who have overseas tours this year. Currently we have 2 scheduled tours. The U/15 Rugby Tour to New Zealand at Easter and the Kokoda Expedition. Both are presently on hold. The College is seeking further advice from EREA, our travel companies, Gov’t agencies and Edmund Rice Education Australia. A decision will be made over the next week.

Next Tuesday 10 March at 6.00 pm I would like to hold a meeting with the parents of the U/15 Rugby Tour and I will write to those parents to finalise the details of the meeting. We will have more information then and we can discuss the options open to us at that stage.

The Kokoda Expedition is under discussion too and I will advise the parents of that group once further information is at hand. We have a few weeks yet to make final decisions for that trip.

Personal Hygiene

We are all urged to take extra care with our personal hygiene and we are emphasising with the students the need for them to wash their hands, and be mindful when they cough to cough into their elbow, refrain from handshakes and so on. This is consistent with advice from the health department and I’m sure it is consistent with what parents are advising their family.

New School App

Download the new College Mobile APP today!

If you haven't already downloaded the new College App, please be sure to do so this week.  Stay up to date with the latest College news and notifications on your mobile device. Download the new College Mobile APP today.

The old APP has been discontinued and all key communications will now be placed on the new APP, in addition to the Woodchatta and emails.

Download instructions are attached below.

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/st-pius-x/id1498569584

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fraynework.stpius

Major Upcoming Events in Term 1, 2020

• ​​​​​​Year 10 Reflection Day #1, Friday 6 March
• Year 5 Camp Wednesday 11 - Friday 13 March
• Year 8 Camp Wednesday 11 - Friday 13 March
• OPEN DAY - Saturday 14 March
• Basketball Presentation Evening - Tuesday 17 March

Please refer to the 'Upcoming Events' page of this Newsletter for the 2020 College Calendar and Term Dates. 

Mr John Couani - Principal