Pastoral Care 

• Wellbeing Quote from the Student Diary
• Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day
• Safer Internet Day
• Travelling on Public Transport
• Year 9 Cross Country
• Year 10 Cultural Games
• Year 7 Vice House Captains for Semester 1
• Wellbeing Wednesdays
• College Counselling Team
• Boxercise
• Mentoring

Wellbeing Quote from the Student Diary

"If you have a strong purpose in life, you don’t have to be pushed. 

Your passion will drive you there” 

Roy T Bennett

Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day

We take this opportunity to commend our Year 7 Pastoral Care Coordinator, Mr Steinman, and his Well-Being team of College Counsellor, Mr Russo, Year 7 Pastoral Care staff: Ms Van Riet, Ms Loughman, Ms Zervakos, Mr McBrearty, Mr Mendez, Mr Balboa (Social Justice Coordinator), and Br Carl Sherrin, all of whom flourished during a highly successful EREA Touchstone Induction Day at Oxford Falls on Friday.

The day was an impeccable introduction to what we have to celebrate as students of St Pius, inheritors of the Edmund Rice education ethos and a cohort who will grow together to become our graduating class of 2026. Students learnt about our holistic history (indigenous and contemporary), connectedness and responsibility to be “Better Together”. They will now complete the task of writing emails in their RE classes, explaining what it is to be an Edmund Rice student of St Pius to Year 7 students at St Raphael’s Zambia, Stella Maris Uruguay, and St Fintan’s Ireland.

Later this Term, 10 - 12 March, the students will have the opportunity to connect further on our Year 7 Camp at Tea Gardens, for which safety planning preparations continue, and information notes will be distributed soon. The Year 7 Pastoral Care theme: Belonging to a Team, and Gospel Spirituality guiding quote: “The Good Soil” Luke 8:15 will be explored further in class and on Camp which we are greatly looking forward to.  

Safer Internet Day

Tuesday this week celebrated Safer Internet Day and there is still opportunity to register and attend the Office of eSafety Commission’s Webinar next Monday. 

The webinar is run by Greg Gebhart who presented at St Pius in 2019 and is an informed contemporary leader in supporting students and families to overcome online issues. 

eSafety's parent guide to cyberbullying and online drama

This Safer Internet Day 2021 webinar will look at how parents and carers can support young people to have safe and respectful online relationships and what to do if things go wrong.

It will cover:

• starting conversations with your child about their online friendships and positive ways to deal with changing relationships
• understanding the rights, laws and community expectations that govern social media use
• where to seek help if your child is involved in a cyberbullying incident.

The webinar will include case studies, research and targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.

REGISTER NOW

Dates (Australian Eastern Daylight Time):

Tuesday 9 February 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Wednesday 10 February 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm

Wednesday 10 February 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Monday 15 February 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm

Monday 22 March 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm

There will be further opportunity to learn about eSafety priorities when "Bully Zero" organisation present to our Year 6 and Year 7 cohorts on Friday 26 February and we follow up the Monday 1 March P & F Meeting with an eSafety Webinar “It takes a Village” on Thursday 4 March. 

Further information regarding registering for this "Bully Zero" whole school parent webinar will be provided in upcoming Woodchattas. 

Travelling on Public Transport

A reminder, as the year begins, of students' responsibilities when travelling on Public Transport.  Our students are our ambassadors in public.  Students should use common courtesy and Christian values in keeping with our Touchstones and College culture whilst travelling.  This includes giving up seats for adults and others.

Please note:

• All students are required to wear a mask on and around buses (public and chartered), trains and stations.  These areas are currently being patrolled to ensure this expectation is complied with.
• All students are expected to tap on and tap off each time they travel and to use a valid Opal Card.
• No student should attempt to jump any barriers for their own safety and the safety of others.
• If students do not have a valid Opal Card, please go online to Transport for NSW to apply for one.

Year 9 Cross Country

Congratulations to the following students who placed highly in last Wednesday’s Year 9 Cross Country at Oxford Falls:

House Points for this event:    

Rice:     670 

Treacy: 620

Barron: 440

Purton: 380                                            

Year 10 Cultural Games

Year 10 Triple PDHPE this Tuesday featured Cultural Games and it was pleasing to see the students enthusiastically engage with sports including Marngrook (AFL), Gaelic Football, Wheelchair Basketball and Fencing.

Rotations of these sports will continue over the next three weeks so there is opportunity for all students to develop their skills in each sport.

Year 7 and 8 Parents are reminded to complete the informed consent forms for Aquatic activities which the students will also be engaged with over the coming three weeks.

Year 7 House Vice Captains Semester 1 2021

Finally congratulations to the following Year 7 students who were appointed to the House Vice Captain positions of responsibility for Semester 1. They will be responsible for supporting the Beauchamp Park and House Sports Program as well as representing the College at upcoming ANZAC Commemoration Ceremonies this term and next:

Barron: Justin Robson   

Purton: James Linneen     

Rice: Luke Austin       

Treacy: James Pachett

Wellbeing Wednesdays

As a launch to Wellbeing Wednesdays for the year our Year 12 Student Leaders introduced themselves and the concept of forming an inclusive community to our newest students in the Junior School during Pastoral Care time today.

Wellbeing Wednesdays will continue throughout the year and give students the opportunity to consider their health and wellbeing through activities such as mindfulness, growth mindset and positive education using the College Diary and other resources.

St Pius X College acknowledges our First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and particularly the Cammeraygal people, 

whose interconnection with this land sustained and 

fulfilled them mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually, 

over thousands of years. 

May we learn from their wisdom.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

College Counselling Team

A very warm welcome back to the new school year to all our SPX families.  Once again, we look forward to providing confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family throughout this year.  Let me introduce our College counselling team and relevant contact information for your safe-keeping.

Mr Rick Russo

Counsellor (Full time Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.

Email:  rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au 

Direct Phone:  9414 4359

School Mobile (in case of emergency):  0418 438 325

Mrs Joe McCarthy

Psychologist (2 days per week:  Tuesday and Thursday) working with students across all year groups.

Email:  jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au 

Direct Phone:  9414 4322

Mrs Judy Gill

Psychologist (2 days per week:  Wednesday and Friday) working with students across all year groups.

Email:  jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au 

Direct Phone:  9414 4315

Throughout 2021 the Counselling Team, together with the Learning Support Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE / SELF ESTEEM AND RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive Catholic school community.  Please do not hesitate to make contact with any of the above team should the need arise.

Boxercise for fun and fitness

Every Thursday and Friday mornings from 7.30 am - 8.10 am in the Junior School Playground

What a great way to start your day!

Boxercise is an energetic, group activity which promotes positive health and well-being. Students from across all year groups (Years 5 - 12) can attend, and are encouraged to participate every week to build strength, fitness and friendship.  All gear is supplied, at no cost to parents.  See you there on Thursday morning.

"Hit to get fit!"

Individual Mentoring for our younger students in Years 5, 6 and 7

The well-being of ALL of our students at St Pius X College is at the heart of our Pastoral Care Program and our voluntary mentoring program is an integral part of that program. Senior students who have all been trained in the Peer Support Program, voluntarily elect to become a peer mentor to provide additional support and care to our newer and younger students in Years 5, 6, and 7. In brief, mentoring is an additional, one to one, non-judgemental relationship formed between a Senior student and a younger student during school hours to provide support and encouragement to our younger students. At St Pius X College, we implement the “Peer Mentor” program to build upon the concept of “creating connections” amongst students in an effort to promote “school spirit” and a caring “Christian community.”

These are activities held on a Friday afternoon after school and involve the generous time and assistance of several teaching staff.  These group activities include rock climbing, bush walking, kayaking, beach walking and paddle boarding.

First preference is given to students most in need of support in Years 5, 6 and 7. This is usually nominated from a member of the Counselling Team, though parents can make direct contact with one of the counsellors to confidentially put forward their son’s name for inclusion. Students who benefit most are those who do not have a regular male role model in their lives, and those who have been affected through death/divorce or low self-esteem/resilience issues.

Please feel free to contact Mr Rick Russo 9414-4359 rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au, Judy Gill 9414-315 or Joe McCarthy  9414-4322 to discuss the possible inclusion of your son in the well-being program.

Mr Rick Russo - College Counsellor/Chaplaincy Services