Parent & Student Matters
Bastille Day Assembly
What's happening in the College?
- Bastille Day Assembly
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Snowy Hike Expedition 2019 Parent Information Night
- Debating Information
- From the Science Department:
- - FREE Sydney Science Festival Talks at Chatswood Library
- - 'CREATE IT' Competition
- - STEM Outreach Program for Students
- 'Teaching Learner Drivers' - Free Workshop Wednesday 21 August
Bastille Day Assembly
Our French students from Years 11 and 12, supported by some Year 10 Drama students and other helpers, made a presentation about Bastille Day at the College Assembly on our first day back for Term 3. The Assembly started with a re-enactment of the ‘Storming of the Bastille’ on the 14th of July 1789. Year 12 then gave an informative speech, in both French and English, about the causes and significance of the French Revolution, the meaning of the National Anthem and the symbolism that is carried through to modern day celebrations each year in the French community.
Year 11 gave a prayer, again spoken in both French and English, reflecting on the themes of justice and solidarity, democracy, peace and an inclusive community. Below are some reflections from some of our Year 12 French students.
“The Bastille Day assembly was a great opportunity to practise our speaking skills for our upcoming HSC exam. It also served as a chance to have some fun with our fellow French students in the younger years and share our cultural knowledge with the rest of the school.” Jacob Hassan, Year 12
“The storming the podium was very interactive and caught the attention of the school. Although some of us find it difficult to speak publicly, it was a rewarding challenge that was overcome by many on the day. It was a great way to advertise French at the College, whilst sharing the historical context of Bastille Day.” Jonathan Galarce, Year 12
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Outward Bound Australia - Upcoming Program Dates and Itineraries
Keen to continue your Duke of Edinburgh's Award? Complete your Adventurous Journey before the year's end by grabbing a spot on one of the upcoming Adventurous Journeys.
Click on the link below for details.
https://mailchi.mp/outwardbound/complete-adventurous-journey-2019?e=4cba4cc0cb
Mrs Kara Manga
Snowy Hike Expedition 2019 Parent Information Night
Wednesday 7 August 2019 from 6.00 - 7.00pm in the Sarto Centre
- Expedition Dates: 3 - 9 December 2019 (last week of the school calendar year)
- Who can attend: Any student who is currently in Year 11 at the College
- School Contact: Mr Paul de Silva (pdesilva@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au)
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. Parking in the College will be limited due to another activity at this time.
Mr Paul de Silva - Outdoor Education Coordinator
Debating
Information from Mrs Waterson can be found in the document below.
Mrs Michele Waterson - Debating and Public Speaking Convener
FREE Sydney Science Festival Talks at Chatswood Library
Students and teachers are invited to the following talks to be held in Chatswood Library during the Sydney Science Festival on Wednesday 7 August 2019.
- Urban ecology explained
About the presenter: Dr Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez joined the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow working on the “Which Plant Where” project, funded by the Hort Frontiers Green Cities Fund. The “Which Plant Where” project aims to find out which plant species are unlikely to thrive in the increasingly extreme weather of Australian cities, and to find opportunities for new species and varieties. Manuel did his doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His project assessed vulnerability to climate change in the cloud forest in Mexico. His research mainly focused on plant ecophysiological responses to climate change; but he also assessed the socio-economic vulnerability in the region. He works in the areas of plant ecology, urban ecology, vulnerability, environmental awareness, climate change, and climatology.
Date & Time: Wednesday, 7 August 2019 12:00pm - 1.30pm
Tickets available: <https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/EventDetails.aspx?PageID=1892&eventid=6378>
- The story seashells share
Have you ever picked up a seashell and wondered what story it can tell? Learn how seashells can be used to tell us about big-picture biology, and how recently extinct animals can tell us a lot about modern conservation issues. Matt Kerr is a PhD student in the conservation palaeobiology laboratory at Macquarie University, researching variation in beach shells and how they respond to the environment.
Date & Time: Wednesday 7 August 2019 6:00 - 7.00pm
Tickets Available: <https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/EventDetails.aspx?PageID=1892&eventid=6376>
- The other side of cannabis
Increasingly, cannabis is viewed as much more than a recreational drug. Join Michael Udoh, a molecular pharmacology PhD candidate at Macquarie University, to discover another side of cannabis.Find out medicinal purposes for cannabis and how its chemicals might affect areas of the body to combat chronic health conditions like epilepsy.
Michael Udoh is a pharmacist and drug discovery scientist. He currently researches how individual chemicals in cannabis affect different parts of the body. His discoveries have been presented at different conferences including the International Cannabinoid Research Conference and he aims to develop a cannabis-based formulation for pain therapeutics.
Date & Time: Wednesday 7 August 2019 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tickets Available: <https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/EventDetails.aspx?PageID=1892&eventid=6377>
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
From the Science Department:
CREATE IT Competition
If anything is possible and you had unlimited time, money, help and skill, what would you engineer?
Entries close 30 September 2019.
Please click on the link for details: https://100yearsea.com.au/create-it-comp/
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
STEM Outreach Program for Students
Please click on the flyer below for details or see Mrs Schuster for further information.
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
'Teaching Learner Drivers' - Free Workshop
Lane Cove and Hunters Hill Council are hosting a free workshop on Wednesday 21 August 2019 for parents and supervisors of learner drivers. This workshop will outline simple steps on how to teach a learner driver to drive safely. Details are in the flyer below.