Department News

• Robotics
• Debating
• Performing Arts
• Languages
• Science

Robotics

RoboCup Junior Regionals at St Pius X College

After months of preparation, our Robotics Club hosted the RoboCup Regional Competition. Over 70 teams from more than 20 schools descended on the College Gym to compete in categories of Dance, Rescue and Robot Soccer. This is a competition that the College has been involved with for a number of years and is just a small part of our Robotics program.

Congratulations must go to:

Team:   Jeager                                   1st Place                Opens soccer

                Circuit Breakers                2nd Place               Opens soccer

                The Terminators               2nd Place               Gen II Soccer

                The Dream Memes           3rd Place                 Gen II Soccer

                Subscorpions                     New to the competition

Please click on the gallery below for a selection of photos from the competition.

Thank you to the ongoing support from our Leadership Team, the P& F, the parent body and to Mr ten Seldam for his assistance on the day.

We wish the boys all the best for the upcoming State and National events being held at the University of New South Wales later this month.

Mr P de Silva - Robotics Convenor

Debating

Year 8 Debating

Congratulations to Year 8 Team B who participated in the finals of the CSDA Debating Competition last Friday night at Oakhill College at Castle Hill. The team’s performance was outstanding, with all members working together to produce tight arguments and considered rebuttals based on evidence. The team should be very proud of their achievements this season and their improvement in constructing a reasoned argument with some very challenging topics.

A big thankyou must go to our support team of parents from both Team A and Team B teams, who have provided ongoing support for our Year 8s. Your time and support is very much appreciated.

Year 12 Debating

• JOSIAH LISING
• RYAN ATTARD
• KEENAN SMITH

(aka:  The Undefeated Champions of the Largest Debating Competition in the Southern Hemisphere) 

Mr Camilleri’s Year 12A debaters were victorious last week in the CSDA Finals.  They faced Waverley College at Oakhill College.  Their win was well deserved and it was an honour to watch the way that these three Year 12 students work to win an argument.  There will be more to come summarising the exception skills of Josiah, Ryan, Keenan and the other three Year 12 debaters once they have returned from Trials and retreat week and we have had our St Pius X Celebration Partai.  

A big thank you to all of the Year 12 parents who have supported debating over the years including  Mrs Smith, Mrs Lising and Mr & Mrs Attard who have been attending all of the finals debates  to support the team.  A special thanks to Mr Attard who has logged the night with brilliant photos, now running in the school foyer.  Congratulations to James Camilleri, their exceptional ex-debater coach, and thank you to Matthew Harris, 2015 Debate Captain and Year 11 coach for coming along to support the Year 12 team at the Finals.  Thank you to Mr Couani, Mr Casey and Mr Brannan for attending to support the Year 12 and Year 8 debaters. 

SDN Debating Competition Round 3:  Week 3 of Term 3 - Friday 5th August

This Friday 5th August, St Pius X College will host Riverview for Round 3 of the Schools’ Debating Network.  The topic area is ‘Environment’ and debates commence as follows:

Primary / Year 7 / Year 8:  5:30pm Prep for 6:30 pm Debate

Year 9 / Year 10 / Year 11/ Year 12:  6:30pm Prep for 7:30 pm Debate

Last Friday Mrs Easton and Ms Sumner ran the SDN event to Stella Maris. 

Round 2 of the Sydney Debating Network Competition was hosted by Stella Maris at their Benedict Campus in Manly last Friday evening. St Pius X College was represented well by our capable squad of Year 7 – 11 Debaters who enthusiastically debated various issues related to education in the 21st Century. Commendations particularly go to Joshua Jones who was prepared to challenge himself by stepping out of his comfort zone and debating up, lending a hand where needed. Our Year 10 team put in a strong effort and were victorious. We are all looking forward to Round 3 which will be hosted this Friday at St Pius X College.  Mrs Easton

Students have met with coaches and know who will be debating this Friday.  ALL students need to attend training from 3.15pm. The Year 7 and Year 8 debaters commence their prep at 5.30pm so they will conclude their training at 4.30pm and can travel to Westfield to purchase their dinner.  They know to stay together and to be back in The Blue Room by 5.15pm at the latest.

Year 9 – Year 12 debaters commence their prep time at 6.30pm so they may continue training until 5pm depending on arrangements with their coaches. They need to be in The Blue Room no later than 6.15pm.  Debates usually run for 50 minutes so Year 7 and 8 can be collected at around 7.15pm and Year 9-12 can be collected at around 8.15pm.  Thank you for supporting this wonderful debating program.

Mrs M Waterson - Debating Convenor

Performing Arts

Year 12 Drama Performance Night

Congratulations to Ms Fernando and the Year 12 Drama students for an entertaining evening last Wednesday. The Showcase of HSC individual and group works saw a diverse range of performances, with evocative and amusing titles including, “Brains, Brawns and a Little Finesse”, “Yours to the Final Deadline” and “Captain Craig”, to name but three. We wish the boys well as they now polish their performances leading up to their HSC examination on Friday 26th August.

Academic Awards Assembly

Congratulations to Mrs Talati and the Intermediate Concert Band on their contribution to this very important event last Friday. The performances of “Sweet Caroline” and Shrek Dance Party” certainly had the audience tapping their toes!

PAPA Meeting

Is on TONIGHT in the Core Music Room, commencing at 7.00pm. Parking is available in the Junior School yard. All parents whose sons participate in Music and Drama at the College are warmly invited to attend.

Studio Concert

Students who undertake vocal tuition with Mr Richardson will be holding a studio concert in the Band Room on Monday 15th August commencing at 5.00pm. Everyone is welcome.

College Orchestra Workshop and Recording Day

Will take place on Sunday 14th August commencing at 10.30am in the Band Room. An email has been sent to all parents with details.

Meet the Music

Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 Elective Music students will attend the third concert in this series on Wednesday 17th August (Week 5), 6.30pm at the Opera House. The concert concludes at approximately 8.30pm. Students must be neatly attired and be in their seats no later than 6.20pm. Tickets have been given to all students concerned.

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Languages

HSC Oral Exams

The College, and in particular the Language Department, would like to wish the best for our students in Year 12 Languages who will begin the HSC Oral Examinations this Saturday. We would ask that you join us in keeping the boys in your thoughts and prayer over the next coming weeks.

Alexander Rogerson (Swedish Continuers) August 6th  

Nektary Kotlaroff (Russian Continuers) August 20th

Andreas Berger (French Continuers) August 20th

Jean-Claude Blanc (French Continuers) August 20th

Geoffrey Cipriano (French Continuers) August 20th

Andre Xeni (Greek Beginners) August 27th

Exchange to Japan

We would also like to wish Alistair Wright, Year 10, who has been studying Japanese at Open High School, all the best for his in-country experience in Japan. We will look forward to hearing about your adventures in Japan over the coming months.  

High School Study Abroad

Cultural Exchange Departing December/January 

White Christmas High School Program in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain & Switzerland - run by Campus Education Australia (CEA)

Please see the following flyers for full details:

Mrs K Manga - Language Coordinator

Science

For all the SPX students and their families with an interest in astronomy

August sky guide: Five bright planets, Perseid meteor shower, and Aquila

In August, all five bright planets grace the evening sky for the last time until 2018, the Perseid meteor shower is visible in northern Australia, and Aquila the Eagle flies high in the north.

Early this year, we were treated to the sight of all five bright planets in the early morning sky for the first time since 2005.  In August, all five will be on display again — this time in the early evening. We will not see a line-up of all five bright planets again until 2018.  There will also be some bright planet and star encounters, topped off by a spectacular encounter of Jupiter and Venus later in the month, that will have no counterpart in 2018.

The planetary dance will be visible the whole month, and will not be dimmed by the light of the full Moon.  Read the full story http://abc.net.au/news/7669430

Ms J Black - Science Coordinator