Senior School Sport  & Extra-Curricula Activities 

• CSDA Debating
• Senior Football
• Senior Rugby
• ISA Tennis
• Senior Cricket
• Senior Basketball
• NSTA Tennis
• Athletics
• Winter Squash

CSDA Debating

URGENT YEAR 7 – 11 DEBATERS:   WE WILL BE HAVING A QUICK MEETING THIS FRIDAY MORNING AT 8.15 AM AT THE FRONT STEPS TO THE FOYER FOR A PHOTO SHOOT.

ALSO:  WE WILL MEET QUICKLY AFTER ASSEMBLY TO CATCH ALL DEBATERS WHO MISSED THE EARLIER PHOTO SHOOT.

Last Friday evening the 12B team travelled to OLMC Parramatta to debate the Loreto, Normanhurst A team. At this level of the competition the teams are very closely matched, and the result comes down to small specifics in each team's debate. The Loreto team had an ‘A Game’ night and won the CSDA Debating Competition Finals. Congratulations Loreto! 

Debating is not like a ball sport where wins are counted by balls into nets. We know that once we enter the Finals of this competition that the adjudicators are pressed to identify a winning team and they do this by focussing on specific, nuanced skill sets that each team is able to display on the night.  On another night, with another panel of adjudicators the result could be different, and we take this knowledge with us through our wins and through our losses. Our Year 12’s debaters can only ooze pride at their accomplishment in presenting an intelligent and considered Affirmative argument on the tricky topic:  “That patriotism hurts the society that it supports” - a very difficult topic to argue in the Affirmative.

Well done to the brilliant SPX Year 12 team for achieving outstanding results and thank you to Mr Ryan Balboa for his dedication to Year 12 this year. 

Our ‘debating family’ will be meeting for lunch in the Gym in Week 6 (details will follow in Woodchatta) to celebrate all of the teams who moved through to Eliminations and beyond: Year’s 7,9,10,11 and 12. 

Mrs Michele Waterson - Debating & Public Speaking Convener

Senior Football

The finals are upon us and congratulations to the teams who have made it. Specific rules for the finals are that matches are 2 x 25 mins with the exception of the 1st XI (2 x 40 mins), 2nd XI (2 x 35 mins) and 16A’s (2 x 30 mins). If at the conclusion of full time, scores are level then extra time will occur (2 x 5 mins) followed by penalties if required.

Training will continue next week for all teams who successfully make the Grand Finals which will be held at Western Sydney Wanderers ground Rooty Hill.

Good luck to all teams.

Football Results 6 August

Football Semi Finals

Field Locations:

Hermann Field: Old Northern Rd, Castle Hill

SPC 2: Franics St, Strathfield

Mason Park: Underwood Rd, Homebush

Mr Simon Yue - Senior Football Convenor

From the SPX Football Supporters' Club

On Saturday, the SPX Football Supporters' Club thanked our wonderful 1st XI coach, Mr Steve Quilty, on behalf of our whole SPX Football Supporters' Community. On Saturday, Mr Quilty coached his last home game at Oxford Falls after a quarter of a century of coaching our SPX 1st XI teams and being a valued member of the SPX Football Community for 26 seasons. 

Thank you to Mr Couani, Mr Yue and the 1st XI players and supporters, for inviting us to join them in the Falls Room to thank Mr Quilty and present him with a gift from our football supporter families. It was wonderful to also see Old Boys return and families and players from younger teams coming together to celebrate our wonderful Mr Quilty’s contribution to SPX football.

Mrs Lorna Hammond - SPX Football Supporters' Club President

Senior Rugby 

Saturday 6 August Results

Fixtures - Saturday 13 August

Bathurst Bus for students 

A bus will be available for those students who cannot make their own way to Bathurst which will depart Anderson Street Chatswood at 6.15 am and return at the conclusion of the 1st XV match. A cost of $40 will be added to your school fees to cover some cost of the bus. A link to the form has been emailed to registered players parents and is below. The form will be closed at 8.00 pm TONIGHT.  https://forms.office.com/r/j1xRKA0Qn5

Monster Raffle tickets

Most students from Year 9 and below were distributed raffle tickets.  A reminder that once tickets are sold, students should bring in the money and ticket stubs in the envelope provided for the Rugby Raffle to the Finance Office by next Tuesday, 16 August. If you are unable to sell the tickets the stubs are still required to be returned. If you have lost the tickets or the tickets are unaccounted for, a statutory declaration is required.

Dates for the diary

• Saturday 13 August – ISA Round 6 vs Stannies – AWAY - Bathurst
• Saturday 20 August - ISA Round 7 vs St Augustine's - HOME - Supporters round - please stay and watch the 1st XV.

Mr Martin Gillogly - Senior Rugby Convenor

ISA Tennis 

Congratulations on a great season of ISA Tennis! Overall, we had great success this year, building well upon the progress from previous years. All SPX players again embodied sportsmanship, camaraderie, and enthusiasm and all deserve to be commended. Our squad has done well, with one team making it to the Finals.

A special shot out to Division 1 last week, who brought in the win by one game point last week! A tremendous way for our Year 12 Students Tom and Jamie to finish their season. 

Congratulations to the following players who have made it through the Finals to be played this Saturday 13 August at our Home courts at Talus St, St Leonards. The games will be played from 8.30 am - 12.30 pm. 

Team 9: Samuel Hernandez Martinez, Elijah De-Fina, Isaac Birchall-Molloy, Owen Calleia, Jayden Arapoc & Matthew Sissons.

Please see the rankings for the ISA Tennis Divisions below:  

Team 1 – 4th 

Team 2 – 6th 

Team 3 – 5th 

Team 4 – 5th 

Team 5 – 6th 

Team 6 – 4th 

Team 7 – 5th 

Team 8 – 4th 

Team 9 – 2nd

Team 10 – 6th 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a fantastic season.

Mrs Veronica Bamber - ISA Tennis Convenor

Senior Cricket

Welcome to the 2022/23 Cricket Season!  As in prior years, boys in the U12-U17 age groups will play in the Manly Warringah Junior Cricket Association (MWJCA) competition.

For those interested in trialling for 1st and 2nd XI to play in the ISA competition, there will be a meeting at lunch in C4 on Thursday 18 August.

Please see the attached document for further information on registering for the MWJCA competition.

Mr David Reay - Cricket Convenor

Basketball

The ISA 2022/2023 Season is fast approaching.

Students intending to play for SPX in the ISA Competition must complete this Registration Form by 24 August so that we can enter teams, appoint coaches and begin the trial process.

Important considerations:

• Students must be available to play Saturday matches in Term 4, 2022 and Term 1, 2023.
• Students must be available to train 1-2 days per week depending on their team, either at Oxford Falls or Chatswood campus.  
• The season will cost approx. $150 including, coaching, matches, bus transport and extras.

Key Season Dates:

• Week 9, Term 3 (from Mon 12 September) – structured training commences
• Sat 17 September – Trials v St Aloysius or internal trials
• Thurs & Fri 6 & 7 Oct – Sydney Schools Shoot-out (1st and 2nd V only)
• Sat 15 October – ISA Senior Pre-season Tournament - 1st V only
• Sat 22 October – ISA Rd 1

A/B Team trials: 

Students hoping to gain selection in a top team (A/B) will need to attend pre-season trials so that we can grade accordingly. Trials take place in the School Gym from 7.00 am with our professional coaches as per the schedule below.

1st V Trials have been running for the last 3 weeks and continue next Wednesday morning before school in the Gym.

Mr Greg Virgona - Basketball Convenor

NSTA Tennis

This is the last week for enrolments to be taken for the TERM 4, 2022 – TERM 1, 2023 NSTA Tennis season. If you would like to play, please complete the attached form and email it to me: siwatani@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au by 12 AUGUST. 

No late enrolments will be taken. 

This year we will be having a TRIAL DAY on Saturday 20 August  that is COMPULSORY if you wish to play in the NSTA competition. 

Please note the matches are played every Saturday from 8.00 am - 12.00 pm, you will be allocated to a 2 hour timeslot during those times, depending on your ability level. All ability levels are invited to join.

This enrolment form is only for boys in the Senior School, the Junior School enrolments have been done separately.

Mrs Sam Iwatani - NSTA Convenor

Athletics

Carnivals

Our Athletics Invitational Carnivals run as per the schedule below. These are open to all aspiring athletes from Yrs 7-12 (NB. The Junior School has a separate pathway and different carnivals).

Registration for invitational carnivals: This will take place at a meeting at school. Students can still turn up and compete on the day if they miss the school registration meeting.

A short meeting for all athletes will take place at Recess on Thursday 11 August in the Gym.

Program: Attached is the track and field program. Students need only turn up 30 mins prior to their first event for a warm-up (please find a staff member to sign-in) and can depart when they have finished competing (after recording their time/distance with a St Pius X staff member).

Clashes: Whilst there is some overlap with the final 2 rounds of the winter sport season, I would encourage boys at attend part of the carnival around their winter sport commitments if possible. Winter Sport takes priority over athletics.

Carnival dates (Yr 7-12):

• Sat 13 August – Warm-up Carnival – SOPAC
• Sat 20 August – Warm-up Carnival - SOPAC
• Sat 27 August – Warm-up Carnival - SOPAC
• Sat 3 September – Warm-up Carnival - SOPAC
• Sat 10 September – Warm-up Carnival – ES Marks
• ISA Representative Carnival – Tuesday 13 September – SOPAC

* SOPAC – Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre – Homebush

* ES Marks - Boronia St, Kensington (next to Moore Park)

Training 

Training continues in the carnival season as follows:

Where: Rotary War Memorial Athletic Track – Mowbray Rd West, Lane Cove

Time: Session runs from 3.50 pm - 5.00 pm. Bus.

Transport: Bus provided to and from Chatswood Campus departing Anderson St at 3.20 pm.

Who: Yrs 5-12 (All aspiring Senior School students welcome to attend)

What: Students train in disciplines with professional coaches (Throws, Jumps, Sprints and Distance)

Selection: ISA Selection will be based on a combination of House Carnival performance, Warm-Up Carnival performance and attendance at trainings/carnivals.

School Records: These have been attached for your interest.

Mr Greg Virgona - Athletics Convenor

Winter Squash

The winter squash concluded with the Grand Finals played in each division last Saturday 6 August at Thornleigh Squash.

SPX 2 played Knox 9 in the Grand Final of Division 4 and won convincingly in a clean sweep, with all three players victorious. Congratulations to Lachlan Giang (W 3-1); Michael Krizan (W 3-1) and Max Spurr (W 3-2).    

SPX 1 finished third in Division 3, just missing out on their Grand Finals. 

The winter squash season was successful with some Year 7’s playing their first competitive matches and others building on previous experience. Our Year 12 team played well and enjoyed the exercise as a break from study. 

Squash is played all year round at St Pius X with the winter season played in Terms 2 & 3 and summer in Terms 4 &1. Students from Year 7 – 12 are encouraged to represent the school in one or both seasons!

There are some great opportunities (attached) for winter players to maintain their momentum or summer players to start brushing up on their skills for next season. These opportunities are recommended for any St Pius X students to be introduced to squash and improve their skills.

Mr Justin Varjavandi - Winter Squash Convenor