From the Principal     

• Prayer 
• HSC
• Principal Professional Development
• P&F AGM:  Monday 6th November at 7.30pm in the Sarto Centre
• Purchase of Textbooks for 2018 - Changes to Bookhire
• Change of Parish Priest for Our Lady of Dolours Parish Chatswood
• Congratulations to Scott Browning Year 10

PRAYER

Today is the Feast Day of St Luke and so we pray:

Almighty God, you inspired your servant St Luke the Evangelist and Physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and the healing power of your Son.

In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, he also showed the divinity of Jesus and his genuine compassion for all human beings.

May St Luke intercede for us that we may deepen our understanding of the Gospel and grow in compassion of Jesus.

May his intercession enable our College to follow your way and plan for us.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God forever and ever.

Amen.

                                                                       St Luke the Evangelist - Pray for us

                                                                        Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for us

                                                                                     St Pius X - Pray for us

                                                                         Live Jesus in our hearts -  Forever

HSC Begins!

Our Year 12 students have begun their HSC exams this week completing both English Paper 1 and Paper 2 on Monday and Tuesday.  Please keep Year 12 in your prayers.

Principal Professional Development

During the school vacation period and the first week of this term I attended the International Confederation of Principals Conference in Cape Town, South Africa entitled “Brainwaves of Change”.

This was an outstanding gathering of Principals from across the world centring on best practice in leading learning in schools across the world. It also focused understandings on the brain and the ways we learn as well as emotional and intellectual functioning for young people today. Leading academics presented and the great sharing between Principals was a most enriching experience.

During this time I was also able to visit a good number of Edmund Rice schools and communities as part of Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders.  As you may be aware St Pius X College is a lead school and I was fortunate to visit St John’s College Parklands in Cape Town and to meet their Year 12 2018 student leaders at their retreat when visiting the Christian Brothers Retreat Centre in Stellenbosch.

I was also privileged to visit the Edmund Rice Justice Centre and they took me to see their work in Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. These are townships in Cape Town and there are many issues that Edmund Rice Ministries assist in those communities.

In Johannesburg, I was fortunate to visit Mount St Edmunds College Pretoria and Veritas College Springs. Both are Edmund Rice schools and while I was there I was part of their Year 12 Matriculation Graduations. Interestingly, South African Matriculation examinations began on Monday, the same day as our own HSC began. At both these schools I was able to strengthen our international relationship with them and also learn from their educational provision for their learners.

I acknowledge with appreciation the support of the College Board for my professional development and I thank Mr Casey for taking over the role of Principal for that week.

P&F AGM

Monday 6th November at 7.30pm in the Sarto Centre

This year’s AGM will be held on Monday 6 November and I encourage parents to be involved.  The P&F are looking for more assistance next year as there are a number of parents of Year 12 students who are leaving the Association this year.

I wish also to acknowledge again the exceptional service given by Mr Paul Hunt as President. As advised last term, Paul is concluding his term at the end of the year and this is one of the positions we will need to fill at the meeting.

Purchase of Textbooks for 2018

Changes to Bookhire

The changes to the Bookhire system for 2018 that have been outlined to parents will be implemented over two years with parents of students in Years 7, 9 and 11 in 2018 needing to purchase textbooks.

The College’s preferred supplier has now been determined and I am pleased to advise that Campion Books will provide these services. Parents are able to purchase from other suppliers but we have established this relationship to enable consistent service and availability at a competitive price.  Early in November the booklists will be available and more details will be provided to parents.

Students in Years 8, 10 and 12 in 2018 will continue under the present Bookhire system and this will then be phased out by 2019.

Change of Parish Priest for Our Lady of Dolours Parish Chatswood

It has been announced that Fr Paul Finucane, our wonderful Parish Priest at Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Chatswood has been appointed to Holy Cross Kincumber commencing in 2018. Fr Paul has been a tremendous support to the College and his Ministry with the students and families both past and present has been extraordinary. We sincerely thank Fr Paul and look forward to an opportunity to acknowledge him before he leaves at the end of the year.

We have been advised that the new Parish Priest will be Fr Jim McKeon who is the current Parish Priest of Holy Cross Kincumber. We look forward to welcoming Fr Jim next year.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Scott Browning of Year 10 who has been selected to represent Football NSW at the 2017 Boys National Training Centre (NTC) Challenge to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra this week.  The Challenge is run by Football Federation Australia and represents the highest level of competition for the State team.  Well done Scott!

Congratulations also to Liam Tachjian (Year 10) who was also selected but was injured and unable to attend.

Mr John Couani - Principal