Pastoral Care
- Wellbeing Quote from the Student Diary
- Student Wellbeing
- Reporting and Recording of Student Absences
- Extended Leave
- Mobile Phones and PLDs
Wellbeing Quote from the Diary
"Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right” Henry Ford
Dear parents, welcome to the 2021 School Year at St Pius. I hope you have enjoyed a great break with your sons, families and friends albeit, for all of us, one affected by Covid-19 restrictions at times.
Student Wellbeing
The College has an outstanding Counselling and Wellbeing team led by our Year Coordinators, Pastoral Care and Teaching staff, and our Counsellors. The Counsellors, Mr Russo, Mrs McCarthy and Mrs Gill are available should any assistance be required. Please contact Mr Brannan or Mr Long should you require immediate assistance for your son or contact the counsellors directly. If your son is feeling anxious about returning / starting school for 2021, please talk to him about how change impacts everyone, and that it is normal to feel anxious at the start of a new school year. It is important to be prepared as much as possible: bring a spare A4 workbook, pens, a growth mindset, flexibility and a team approach to coping with challenge. We will be there to support him as a valued member of our College community.
Some good supporting advice is offered by:
Maggie Dent
Reachout transition support
Reporting and recording of Student Absences
With regards to the College’s legislated and moral responsibilities to accurately record attendance and academic progress of your sons’, the College exercises its duty of care and concern for the safety, wellbeing and learning of our students with the utmost integrity.
Administratively, Attendance Rolls are marked in morning administration or assembly time 8.42 am – 8.57 am.
Students are marked absent or present by their Homeroom Pastoral Care Teachers on the IWISE timetable. Subsequently an email to the nominated parent’s address is generated if an Absence has not been explained by mid-morning.
Parents should therefore contact the College to explain any student absence, at their earliest opportunity, and preferably before roll call, by:
- Ringing and leaving a message on the attendance line: 9414 4377
- Emailing The Attendance Roll Manager: studentmanagement@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
- Using the portal to explain an absence http://iwise.stpiusx.nsw.edu.au/igloo/portal
- Providing a written/printed note explaining the absence on the next available opportunity. As per Mr Couani's advice, any member of the College Community who experiences COVID-19 symptoms must remain at home, undergo a Covid test and remain away until they are able to provide official notice of Covid free status to the College.
Extended Leave
Extended holiday leave during school time is not encouraged by NESA (the NSW Educational Standards Authority), however must be notified to the school using the form on our website. Mr Couani has some limited discretion as to what types of leave can be approved (including educational and sporting representation). Regardless, it is important that assessment and learning schedules are consulted, and that the College is given ample notice for planning, learning and reporting purposes.
Mobile Phones and PLDs
Over recent times there has been much research and discussion on the benefits and concerns around information communication technology, including mobile phones and PLDs, on the learning patterns of students.
To this end, as published in the Student Diary Planner, the school expects that the following policy be adhered to:
Mobile Phone Policy
a) Students must put their phones in their locker when they arrive at school and only take them out when the leave the school. The Junior School students must place their phones in the designated Phone locker in their Home Room.
b) Any messages for students from parents should be through the College office.
c) If students are found with their phone during the school day, the phone will be taken from them and sent to the office for the Deputy Principal, Mr Casey, or Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care, Mr Brannan to hold for safekeeping. If a student refuses to hand over their phone they will be sent to the office to see Mr Casey.
d) The phone will be returned at the end of the day and students will receive a 1/2 hour detention and parents will be notified. Any further breach will mean a further detention of 1 hour will be issued.
No photographic /other device is to be used on campus or elsewhere, to photograph or record any other student, staff, member of the school, or outside community, without permission, or good reason to do so eg in the interests of public safety. Permission of a responsible member of staff should be sought when using any photographic or recording device for any reason eg an educational purpose.
Students’ mobile phones and similar apparatus can detract from learning and must be turned off during regular College hours unless directed by a teacher for legitimate educational purposes. At the personal level, if there is a need to use a phone/device, a student should gain prior approval from their relevant Year Coordinator.
Parents – all student contact must go through the administration office during school hours.
This is an area of growing concern across the educational community, and one in which your support of the College in the education and protection of your son and indeed, all members of the College community, is greatly appreciated.
Looking forward to a great year ahead and to seeing as many of you as possible online at the upcoming Parent Information Evenings. A reminder that Year 5, 6 and 7 Parent Information Evenings will be held on Monday 4 February and Year 10 and 11, Parent Information Evenings on Thursday 7 February as per the College Calendar and emailed communication.
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