From the Principal

• Reflection
• Welcome Back
• 2023 College Theme
• Welcome to New Staff
• Maintaining and Setting High Standards
• Congratulations to 2022 HSC Students
• Key Dates
• Blue College Calendar
• College App

Reflection

Many if not all great undertakings

Begin in small and often hidden ways.

Seeds need the darkness isolation and cover of the earth

In order to germinate.

Therefore, for something to begin small, hidden, anonymous is an advantage.

It means it can develop away from publicity.

There are no pressures. No burden of expectations.

It can develop at its own pace.  There is no hurry.

Hurry ruins so many things

Hence the importance of beginnings

Of taking care of things in their beginning.

Of the small in the accomplishment of the great.

How did Christ begin his great work, the salvation of the world?

He began simply, quietly, no fanfare, no fireworks.

He began by calling few people, two in fact.

It was as simple as that.

He began with personal contact

And that is how is work developed

It was passed from person to person by word of mouth.

We shouldn’t be surprised at this.

Things which begin with a splash often peter out

Whereas those that begin quietly put down deep roots.

Grow steadily and survive to produce fruits that last.

So if there is something which we want to do.

Let us not hesitate and think too much.

Let us take one step. Let us plant one seed.

Let us trust that if our cause is good

God will support us and it will grow and prosper.

Blessed Edmund Rice - Pray for Us

St Pius X - Pray for Us

Live Jesus in our Hearts - Forever!

Welcome Back

As we commence the academic year for 2023, I wish to offer a very warm welcome to all members of the St Pius X College community. I offer a very special welcome to those families that are joining the College for the first time.  I trust that you and your sons are refreshed, renewed and ready for the challenges that we will experience individually and collectively over the coming school year.

It is important that we consciously remind ourselves that we are a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition.  The four ‘’Touchstones’’ for a school in the Edmund Rice tradition – Gospel Spirituality, Liberating Education, Inclusive Community, Justice and Solidarity – are core to our daily work as an educating community.  These touchstones call us to be witnesses to a spirituality and a story that is ‘’other centred’’ as we individually seek to be the people we are called to be in the image and likeness of Jesus.  A desire for excellence and the motivation to use our gifts and talents to their fullest are a part of being authentic to the mission and vision of the College in the Edmund Rice tradition.

What has impressed me about St Pius X?

Over the past two weeks, I have been impressed by the professionalism of the staff at St Pius X.  Their commitment to the College and to the students is obvious and I am excited to be part of a community which has the individual at the heart of their mission.  Not only has the staff been most welcoming but so have all the students.  The way they have returned to school has demonstrated to me that they have a genuine care to do their very best.  I look forward to working with the College community and continue supporting the formation of our sons.

2023 College Theme

The College Theme ‘Listening to Learn, Learning to Listen’ encourages all members of the St Pius X community to be deep authentic listeners.  It is a truly special quality as it allows an individual to contemplate, to be quiet, to be still. Listening renews us and brings peace. It makes us feel whole again.

Inspired by Luke 11:28 “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and live it”, we are reminded of the importance to listen attentively to the good news so that we can have a positive influence and help build a better world.  I hope that we all listen more deeply so that we can learn more authentically.

Welcome to the New Staff

There are sixteen new staff members who commence their journey as members of this community.  I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new staff to the College and may your time at St Pius X College be rewarding to you professionally, spiritually and personally. All the new staff, including myself, look forward to sharing our talents and abilities with this wonderful community. 

Maintaining and Setting High Standards and Expectations

Over the next two weeks, I am planning to meet with all year groups to deliver my main message of maintaining and setting even higher standards.  I will challenge all students to work together, in partnership with their teachers and parents, to raise the bar so that St Pius X continues to lead the educational landscape of the region.  Students will be posed the question: How can we do this?  Students need to reflect upon the ‘little things’ such as presentation, uniform, individual behaviour and attitudes, completing set tasks, etc … Get these right and then we can tackle the more challenging issues with greater confidence, together.  What I ask of all students is purely to achieve their personal best, always.  With Jesus as our role model may we all be guided to do our best.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

The College congratulates our entire Class of 2022 students for their HSC results.  Our Dux of the College was College Vice Captain, Ben Cullen, who received an ATAR of 99.75.  Their merit list also included 3 All Rounders, 3 Top Achievers and 94 Distinguished Achievers.  We will celebrate their achievements further at our Academic Award Assembly in February.

Pictured - students who received ATARS of 95+ 

and College Dux, Ben Cullen, with Mr Couani.

Key Dates for your Diary

Parent Information Evenings:

Monday 6 February, Years 5, 6 & 7 Evening

Thursday 9 February, Year 9, 10 & 11 Evening

Opening Mass and Academic Awards:

Tuesday 21 February at Oxford Falls

P & F Commencement Mass and Social:

Saturday 25 February 5.30 pm

Swimming Carnivals:

Tuesday 14 February - Senior School Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 15 February - Junior School Swimming Carnival

P & F Meeting - AGM

Monday 6 March

Blue College Calendar

All students should have received a Blue College Calendar when they received their Student Diary.  The Blue College Calendars are for parents so please ensure you ask your son for it.  All of the dates in the blue calendar are in the Student Diary so students do not need to keep these. 

College Communications

The College maintains clear communication with its extended community.  The main channels used to support this include the weekly Woodchatta newsletter, the College App, Social Media channels (Facebook and Instagram), the Portal and email.  To find out more about what is on offer and how to access these please visit the following page on our website: 

https://www.spx.nsw.edu.au/parent-community/communication/.

The College App is essential for the latest announcements and updates including wet weather notices.  Please remember to update your notification preferences with your son's year group and any other groups you wish to receive specific notifications. This can be found under the 'More' button on the App's front screen, then select 'Manage Subscriptions'.

Please also see the 'Upcoming Events' page of this Woodchatta for further information and links.

Live Jesus in our Hearts

Mr Michael Ronchetti - Principal