Pastoral Care

• Remembrance Day
• Kokoda Day
• Speechcraft Dinner
• Year 9 Camps
• Year 9 Ceroc Dance Workshop

Student Wellbeing Anecdote from the Diary

“Life isn’t a matter of milestones, but of moments.”

 

Remembrance Day

Students are reminded of their commitments to the fitting and earnest commemoration of all those who have served and/or suffered in conflicts at next Monday’s Remembrance Day commemorations. Most of the College will gather with veterans, Old Boys, guests and their families in the Junior Yard at 11am where Old Boy of the College and Vietnam veteran Mr David Lethbridge will reflect on his experiences and consequences of War, and the literal and purposeful meanings of ANZAC from his perspective. Some students including 6 Red (Mr Cummins' Class) and a delegation of House Vice Captains and representatives of the College will attend the Chatswood RSL commemoration in the Garden of Remembrance at 11am. Please bring your water bottle, hat and appropriate sun protection and heed all directions on the day.

If you would like to attend either commemoration please contact Mr Brannan or Ms Cheney in the College Office for more information.

Kokoda Day

Last Sunday was Kokoda Day, a day commemorating the raising of the Australian Flag on 3 November 1942 on the Kokoda Village Plateau which had just been re-occupied by Australian troops after months of bitter fighting, both in withdrawal and advance, across the Owen Stanley Ranges along the Kokoda Track from Imita Ridge to Isurava. In this context two Wednesdays ago our Year 5 students attendee the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Concord to listen to several WWII surviving veterans explain the significance of the Owen Stanley Campaign in historical and human context.

Fittingly our Year 5 students reflected on St Pius’ many connections and links to the campaign and Papua New Guinea generally including: Lt Bede Tongs MM, 3rd and 2/3rd Bn AIF who visited us prior to our first Kokoda Expedition in 2014, Mr Long’s father, Lt Bruce Long 3rd Bn, Pte Jacob DeSisto, old boy of the College who fell in battle on Bougainville 18/12/1944, and is buried in Bomana Cemetery, Port Moresby, Lt Jim McCartney 2/25 Bn AIF who passed away in Manly in September aged 99. Jim was a member of St Marys Manly Parish who knew of St Pius Kokoda Expeditions and was generous when I interviewed him regarding his experiences on the Track, in WWII generally, and his life in Egypt, Brisbane, Armidale and Manly. The 2/33 Bn Association after whom our 1st Cricket Best and Fairest Award is dedicated. The Christian Brothers who serve those at the margins by setting up and leading disability education in Papua New Guinea through their 19 Callan Services centres. Mr John Honner EREA Board Member and son of “Kokoda Hero” Lt Col Ralph Honner. And Mr Bill James, Old Boy of the College who is Chair of the Kokoda Track Foundation, Campaign Historian, and author of The Guide Book to the Kokoda Track. Mr Andrew Viney of St Pats Strathfield who will visit to teach our Expedition party some basic Pidgin English prior to our Expedition.

St Pius X will hold its fourth bi-annual Kokoda Expedition next July including students, staff, Mums, Dads, Uncles, Aunts and connections within the school community hiking the Kokoda Track, visiting Abuari Village where the 56 Bn was ambushed and we have developed many strong links over our 4 Kokoda Expeditions, and hopefully visiting and conducting some form of Immersion with Callan Services despite the dates of our expedition not quite aligning. 

Our development of a rich learning program around our Kokoda Track experience has been a positive feature allowing our community to reflect on the contribution of some incredible people and an amazing generation of men and women, to Australia’s fabric. 

Lest we forget

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

Speechcraft Dinner

After their superb Investiture at the Concourse last Thursday and leadership at the subsequent Snowy Practice Hike, HSC Study Day, Year 5 Orientation day and Weekend Swimming and Sport fixtures, the Student Leadership Team and their families are reminded of the culmination of our Speechcraft Course with a celebratory speaking dinner from 6pm at the Chatswood RSL Club Auditorium next Wednesday from 6pm. Students are preparing their speaking presentations this Friday afternoon in the Board room, and will be looking to showcase the best of their speaking / presentation skills on the evening.

Trybookings close soon and can be made via the link emailed by Ms Ann Brady last Thursday.

Year 9 Camps

Today marked the successful conclusion of Year 9 Pastoral Care Rites of Passage Camp 5. The students engaged in paddleboarding, surf swimming, kayaking, surfing, a personality enneagram reflection, an environmental sustainability and water viability values walk, a bushwalk, and discussion of Aboriginal Australian history, heritage, culture and spirituality with Aboriginal man Stuart McMinn. On behalf of every Year 9 student I thank the Year 9 Pastoral Care and support staff: particularly Mr Simon Yue, Ms Sarah McCormack, Mr James Quinn, Ms Jacqui Loughman, Mr Fernando Mendez, Ms Pip Waters, Mr Kiaran O’Byrne, Ms Denise Ramsay, Mr Jack Kovacic, Mr Jim Olson, Mr Adrian Brannan, Mr Pat Cogan, Mr Rick Russo and Mr Mark Anderson for their significant contribution to the facilitation of a rich learning experience and formative step in the development of the students in Year 9 as they continue their Pastoral care Journey through the school.

The themes of Year 9 are: Pastorally: Respectful Men of Honour and Gospel Spirituality: “Go and do likewise” Luke: 10 25-37: The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Through this students are encouraged to listen to the story of others in a way that is curious, non-judgemental, empathetic, humble, respectful and hopeful. They explored ways of having a growth mindset: “I cant do that ……. yet”, showing integrity, honesty, and gratitude, and accepting perseverance and resilience as precursors to success.

Workul Koo, the College's shared Retreat Centre at Terrigal, provided the ideal setting for this valuable learning journey and the students certainly expressed grateful for the opportunities afforded them by both their families and the College.

Year 9 Ceroc Dance Workshop

Year 9 students and parents are reminded that next Friday 15 November the annual Ceroc Dance workshop will be conducted with our partner school Brigidine College at our Oxford Falls campus. Students are asked to bring their lunch, full and correct sports uniform and most respectful learning demeanour to the event. Meet at school for normal Friday sports assembly and attendance rolls before travelling to Oxford Falls by bus. There is a significant amount of student leadership required in our running of the day, so see Mr Brannan if you are able to support our organisation of the logistics etc. Angus Growden was our inaugural winner of the St Pius X College Best and Fairest Ceroc performer five years ago and we look forward to a similarly high standard of dance next week.

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan - Assistant Principal Pastoral Care and Wellbeing