Student & Parent Matters
Mock Trial Success
- Photo Orders - Performing Arts & Other Group Photos
- ThinkuKnow Cybersafety Education Information Night - Tuesday 25th July at 6pm in the College Gym
- RoboCup Workshops at St Pius X College
- Mock Trial Success
- Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Journey
- Snowy Hike Expedition 2017 - Information Night
- Kokoda Track Expedition 2018 Information Night
- Visit by Mr John Honner, Kokoda Track Historian
- EREBB – EREA Connections
- Old Boys Annual Dinner
- Free Workshop - 31st August: How to Teach a Learner Driver
Performing Arts and other Group Photos
Photo orders can still be handed in until the end of this week 21st July. Please place all Order Forms in the Silver box. Order forms can be obtained from the Student office.
Miss L Proc - General Coordinator
From the Head of Student Services
Thinkuknow Cybersafety Education Information Night - Tuesday 25th July at 6pm, College Gym
All adult members of the College Community are welcomed to our Australian Federal Police sponsored ThinkUKnow Cyber Safety Information session: Field experts will present on the risks associated with Cyber and Social Media Activity to young people.
One of the topics, among the many we have been requested to address, is the risk to student’s digital reputation and future career search, and employment prospects, of online social media profiles and online activity in the short term.
The presentation will take place at the College Gym at 6pm on Tuesday 25th July, with details on how to book below. Parents, carers and teachers of all year groups are invited to attend with future student educations sessions to follow.
Please confirm numbers by booking on the free booking website: https://www.trybooking.com/QSEF
Further information is provided on the flyer and poster below.
Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services
RoboCup Workshops at St Pius X College
A Workshop and Coaching Clinic will be run in preparation for the NSW Open at St Pius X College Chatswood on Saturday 29th July. Robotics Club students will be able to experience competition conditions while fine-tuning their robots. Referees will be on hand to give advice about the competition and the free exchange of ideas between teams will help to improve student and robot performances.
Workshop Details
When: Saturday 29th July, 2017 10:00am – 4:00pm
Where: St Pius X College Chatswood, 35 Anderson St, Chatswood
Format: Workshops and coaching clinics using competition conditions
Competition Dates:
- State: 21st and 22nd August 2017 at UNSW
- Nationals: 23rd and 24th September 2017 at UQ (unsupervised)
Mr P de Silva - Robotics Convenor
Mock Trial Success
Congratulations to our Mock Trial team who have scored yet another success and remain undefeated in the Competition. They are currently sitting at 13th place out of over 150 schools across NSW. Last night’s trial was a negligence case involving a dog attack on a postal worker. It was a very complex case, with the issue of contributory negligence being raised. Our witnesses were rock solid, our barristers debated finer points of the law, our solicitor gave excellent advice and our magistrate’s clerk kept everything running smoothly. We were up against Ravenswood who were formidable in opposition, so winning was all the sweeter. Congratulations to Jasper Choi, Phillip Cullen, Connor Foung, Tom Findlay, Hunter Clarke, Darcy Gyzen, Nikita Papastamatis and James Spencer.
Ms A Gripton
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Journey
Saturday 5th August – Sunday 6th August 2017
The next Adventurous Journey scheduled for our Duke of Edinburgh program will take place on Saturday 5th August – Sunday 6th August in Ku-Ring-Gai National Park. Due to risk minimisation considerations, students who do not complete the pre-training will not be permitted to complete the Adventurous Journey component of their Duke of Edinburgh Award through the College. Many companies external to the College offer these Journeys.
Training will continue to take place on Monday afternoons from 3.30 to 4.30pm in A3.
If you are 14 years of age or older you are able to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Please see Mrs Manga for more information.
The upcoming proposed Journey dates are as follows:
Term 3 Week 3 Bronze
Saturday 5/8 – Sunday 6/8: Students require: 6 hour days over 1 night
Term 3 Week 8 Bronze/Silver
Friday afternoon 8/9 - Sunday 10/9: 7 hour days over 2 nights
Term 4 Week 8 Gold
Year 11 Snowy Hike 1/12 - 7/12: 8 hour days over 3 nights
Mr P de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Snowy Hike Expedition 2017 - Information Night
INFORMATION NIGHT: Wednesday 26th July at 6.30pm in the Sarto Centre
Expedition Dates: 1st December – 7th December 2017
Who can attend: Any student that is currently in Year 11 at the College
Expressions of Interest: to be done via a Google Doc. emailed to the students
School Contact: Mr P de Silva (pdesilva@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au)
The Information Night for the 2017 Snowy Hike Expedition will take place in the Sarto Centre on Wednesday 26th July 2017 at 6.30pm. The purpose of the information night is to give an overview of the timelines, journey, student preparation, equipment and risks associated with this type of activity. The Expedition is planned to take place in the last week of the school calendar year.
Mr P de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Kokoda Track Expedition 2018 Information Night
INFORMATION NIGHT: Monday 24th July at 6.30pm in the Sarto Centre
Expedition Dates: 29th June to 8th July (to be confirmed)
Who can attend: Any student who will be in Years 9-11 in 2018; a family member; Old Boys; past Expedition attendees.
Expressions of Interest: directed to Mr P de Silva (pdesilva@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au)
The Information Night for the Kokoda Track Expedition will take place in the Sarto Centre on Monday 24th July 2017 at 6.30pm. The hike is open to all students who will be in Years 9 to Year 11 in 2018 and their family. Old Boys are also eligible and welcome to participate.
The Expedition is planned to take place in the first week of the end of semester holiday period in 2018 (29th June to 8th July; to be confirmed). Formal training will begin in September this year.
So if you have a thirst for Australian history, have a relative who served or just love a physical challenge then this is for you. Perhaps you have walked the Track before and would like the challenge of doing it again?
Mr P de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Visit by Kokoda Track Historian
Visit by John Honner, Kokoda Track Historian, on Friday 11th August, 1.30pm in the Sarto Centre
On Friday 11th August the College will host an esteemed member of the EREA Board, Mr John Honner, to speak to the students and interested members of the College community on matters relating to the 1942 Kokoda Track Campaign. Mr Honner’s father, Lt Colonel Ralph Honner, returned from the Battles of Crete and the Middle East with the 6th Division to take command of the 39th Militia Battalion at the Battle of Isurava Village on the Kokoda Track. The vastly outnumbered and inexperienced 39th Mud over Bloods courageously withstood the Japanese advance for weeks on the Kokoda Track to lay the groundwork for eventual victory over the previously unstoppable Imperial Japanese Army.
Lt Colonel Honner led his men with distinction, returning them to the PNG Northern Beaches Battles in December 1942 where he reinforced the AIF assaults and masterminded the capture of Gona, famously signalling by radio “Gona’s gone”. He later commanded the 2/14th AIF Battalion in the battles at Shaggy Ridge and northern PNG.
The opportunity to hear Mr Honner speak on these unique events in Australia’s history will be afforded to our Year 10 History students, guests and those interested in our St Pius X College Kokoda Expedition 2018, from 1.30pm in the Sarto Centre. We will launch our planned Kokoda Expedition 2018 with an information night for all interested parties on Monday 24th July as per Mr De Silva’s notice above.
Please contact Mr Brannan for more information on Mr Honner’s visit.
Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services
EREBB – EREA Connections
It was pleasing to see our 1st XV Rugby Team go through undefeated and line uncrossed in the Annual Gold Coast Rugby Tournament this week. Mentored by our own Ninja Warrior 1st XV Rugby Coach Mr Francis Cullimore, the team were competing for the 25th time in the 27th Year of the competition.
The Carnival served as the Australian Division 2 Schoolboys State Championships and while we did not get to play the Tasmanian, Northern Territory and South Australian State teams, our 1st XV defeated five Kiwi teams who had beaten the above.
The South Australian Team who went on to win the Div 2 State Championship over Northern Territory featured EREA students from our brother schools, CBC Adelaide and Rostrevor College. The Trophy was presented by Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union Patron Br Bob Wallace, a former staff member of St Pius X College in 1967-68. Other former staff members to catch up with us at the Tournament included past Sportsmaster Mr Peter Bromley (1980 – 1999), Mr Michael McGriplis now an ARU Education Officer, and Mr Mark DeBrincat, now the Rugby Convenor – Development Officer at Cranbrook.
Our 1st XV were the best ambassadors for our school through the style of play led by players such as N Panozzo (C), J Hinchey, W Russell, L Spencer, S Kafer, D Markovtzev, L Lowick, D Greenland, J Thrum, O Fisscher, J O'Hearn, L May, A Graffeo, D Habib, J Roberts, D Gyzen, B Jones, B Woo, T Gazey, L Courtney and J Price.
Congratulations to our 1st XI Football who, under Mr Quiltys guidance, not only defeated Kings and Newington over the break to win their tournament but also kept alive the long held tradition of Old Boys vs 1sts matches during the holidays. It is a testament to the talent that Mr Quilty has coached in recent years that the Recent Old Boys won 2 -1 courtesy of goals to Nick Refenes and Claudio Rosano to Charlie Hammonds 1st XI goal.
Thank you to the SPX Old Boys Association who contributed both to the Queensland Tours and Old Boys/Students matches in both football and rugby.
Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services
Old Boys Annual Dinner
A reminder to save the date and book in early for the St Pius X College Old Boys Annual Dinner on Friday 1st September, this year celebrating the College's 80th Anniversary. Booking details will be in next week’s Woodchatta. Please pass the word around and remember 2016 Student Leavers are sponsored free.
Mr S Brannan - Head of Student Services
Free Workshop: How to Teach a Learner Driver
