Department News

• English
• Mathematics
• Performing Arts
• Science
• Senior Resource Centre

English

Gifted and Talented Secondary Teachers Association (GATSTA) Cluster Days.

St Pius X College has developed formal links with the Gifted and Talented Secondary Teachers Association (GATSTA) and will be running an Applied Philosophy one day program and a Creative Writing one day program at our College in Term 1, 2018. These exceptional days of learning are not only an opportunity to support students to develop their academic skill sets; they also provide an opportunity for students to mix with like-minded students from other schools in Sydney.

GATSTA Creative Writing Program:   Week 9 Tuesday Day 2 27th March.

English students will be able to attend this important skill development course to help them to enliven their creative writing skills. The program will be run by Anne McCallum, ex-President of GATSTA, who will be supported by St Pius X College English staff.  The program will be provided to students identified by the Head of English.

Ms M Waterson

Mathematics

Gifted and Talented Secondary Teachers Association (GATSTA) Cluster Days.

St Pius X College has developed formal links with the Gifted and Talented Secondary Teachers Association (GATSTA) and will be running an Applied Philosophy one day program and a Creative Writing one day program at our College in Term 1, 2018. These exceptional days of learning are not only an opportunity to support students to develop their academic skill sets; they also provide an opportunity for students to mix with like-minded students from other schools in Sydney.

GATSTA Math Philosophy Day:  Week 8, Thursday Day 9, 22nd March 

In Term 4 last year Ms Collins and Mr Madani took several Math students to the GATSTA Math Philosophy Day held at Christian Brothers’ Lewisham. Their enthusiasm for this event cemented our participating in hosting a similar event in Term 1. The opening speaker will be Dr Mark Colyvan, a Maths Philosophy lecturer at the University of Sydney. Mark is an engaging and passionate speaker who engages well with students and is very generous with his time and intellect. This provision will be for students determined by the Head of Mathematics.

Ms M Waterson

Performing Arts

COMMENCEMENT MASS

Thank you to the Senior Choir, Ms Gan and cantor Lachlan Donlevy (Year 11) for leading the singing at this significant event to mark the start of the College year.

ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGIES

Thank you to the Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Ms Waters for providing quiet reflective music during these liturgies today.

YEARS 7 & 8 CLASSROOM GUITAR USER CONTRACT

This year there is an exciting new element to classroom music in Years 7 and 8. All students will be learning guitar as part of the mandatory performance aspect of the course. In order to facilitate the correct use and treatment of the guitars, both parents and students will be required to sign a user contract. This will be given out in class this week and needs to be returned the following day. Students will be unable to participate in guitar lessons unless the signed contract has been returned to the class teacher. The Music staff would sincerely like to thank the PAPA for funding the purchase of these instruments and the storage racks.

2018 PERFORMING ARTS LEVY

Each student who participates in the co-curricular performing arts program or undertakes instrumental/vocal music tuition, is charged a yearly levy. For 2018 this is $230.00. Ensemble rolls and tuition lists will be audited at the end of next week. Consequently, students have until then to decide whether they wish to continue in the program. The levy amount will appear on the Term 2 fee statement. Students who commence tuition or join an ensemble from Term 2 onwards will be charged a pro rata levy.

ENCORE CONCERT

Years 11 and 12 Music students will attend this showcase of the best 2017 HSC Music performances and compositions at the Opera House on Monday evening. A permission note has been sent home with all the details.

MEET THE MUSIC CONCERT

Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 Music students will attend the first in this concert series next Thursday 22nd February at the Opera House. A permission note has been sent home with all the details. Years 10 – 12 students will be given their tickets in advance and should be in their seats by 6.15am. As it is their first concert, Year 9 students will be required to meet Ms Waters at the Opera House Box Office at 6.00pm to receive their tickets. The concert concludes at approximately 8.30pm.

INSTRUMENTAL/VOCAL TUITION

Parents are reminded of the following regarding payment of tuition for lessons:

Students usually have 8 – 10 lessons per term. The cost of each lesson is $45.00. Music tuition fees are payable directly to the relevant tutor in advance, on the receipt of an account. Payment must be made within two weeks of receiving the invoice. If a decision is made to discontinue lessons, both the Music Tutor and the Performing Arts Coordinator must be informed in writing, three weeks in advance. Should notification be given during school holidays (including Christmas), then three lessons will be invoiced at the start of the following term. All music lessons take place during class time, with students withdrawn from class for 30 minutes on a rotational basis throughout the day. No guarantee can be made for requests of before school, recess, lunchtime or after school lessons.

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Science

Report by Michael Currington, Ben Di Tomasso, Marcus Rossetto and Matt Murphy on their experiences at the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) held in Canberra and Brisbane in January. Michael, Ben, Marcus and Matt are in Year 12.

CANBERRA:  Michael, Ben and Marcus

In Canberra for Session A we were hosted by the Australian National University where we stayed on campus with 200 other NYSF students from across Australia. Ben was in an Engineering interest group that on one occasion allowed him to visit ANU’s Engineering Research Centre where they learnt about 3D digital imaging using x-rays. Michael and Marcus were in a Physics interest group allowing them to visit places such as the particle accelerator at ANU, the gravitational wave detector and NASA’s deep space communication centre at Tidbinbilla. However, we were not limited to just Physics and Engineering as we got a lecture about Biophysics from 2018 Senior Australian of the Year Graham Farquhar and learnt about Aboriginal involvement in STEM and the importance of recognising Australia’s first scientists.

Apart from the incredible academic experience there was also a massive social aspect that allowed us to build networks and lifelong friends that will assist us in pursuing careers within Science and Engineering. Additionally, with incredible supporters including but not limited to CSIRO, Lockheed Martin, Rotary, Cochlear Foundation, the defence force and many of Australia’s top universities we were guaranteed a brilliant time.  The knowledge, experience and connections made will make NYSF stand out for our entire lives. It was one of the best two weeks of our lives and we highly recommend it to any students who are interested in Science.

BRISBANE:  Matt

Session B in Brisbane was similarly structured to the Canberra sessions as we were also hosted at a college at our host university, the University of Queensland, even though it was the first time ever that NYSF has been hosted in Queensland. I was put into a Chemistry interest group and thus many of the visits around Brisbane involved different studies and careers relating to the world of Chemistry which included visiting the school of Pharmacy and doing a range of interesting Chemistry demonstrations. The visits and activities however weren’t only to do with Chemistry, as we also visited many different facilities and met many different and interesting high-profile Australians across the wide world of STEM, including 2017 Australian of the Year and even past NYSF participants who have found success in their chosen field. It was a fantastic and informative experience to meet like-minded STEM enthusiasts and to discover the massive wide range of opportunities that STEM has to offer us in our future.

Ms J Black - Science Coordinator

Senior Resource Centre

Celebrating #Library Lovers’ Day

Move over St Valentine’s because 14 February is also Library Lovers’ Day and we celebrated by making origami hearts.Library Lovers’ Day is a chance for everyone to reconnect with the library and share the library love.

The initiative, coordinated by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), aims to raise the   profile of the services libraries offer to their communities.

This year ALIA asked prominent Australian authors to write a love letter to their library on the special place it holds in their hearts. The author letters make interesting and inspiring reads and are on display in our library. You can read the Love Letter Posters at https://www.alia.org.au/libraryloversday#resources.

Ms K Keighery - Senior Library Coordinator