Pastoral Care

• 2020 Wellbeing Priority Theme:  Respectful Relationships
• Student Diary Planners
• School Attendance Patterns of Recording
• Attendance Records
• Year 7 Induction Day:  Friday 7 February
• Rural Fire Service
• Welcome from Counselling Team
• Individual Mentoring for our younger students:  Years 5, 6 and 7
• Boxercise
• Pre-loved Lego collection
• After-school study

Student Wellbeing Anecdotes from the Diary

“If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you"

Fred Devito

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention"  

Oscar Wilde

2020 Wellbeing Priority Theme:  Respectful Relationships

Welcome back to the 2020 school year to all St Pius X College families and community members. Already the College’s proud culture and tradition as an inclusive community has been evident as our Senior students, led by College Captain Lachlan Mathie, and staff have been on hand to welcome new students and staff. The spirit of the Student Leadership Team’s theme of “Strength Through Support” encourages our students to pursue their passions in learning and events so far this school year have reinforced this message.

Student Diary Planners

The new student diary planners articulate the Pastoral Care and Gospel Spirituality themes for each year group. It identifies our Student Leadership Team by their portfolios, and gives voice to the Student Reconciliation Action Team’s Acknowledgement of Country on pg5.

In Pastoral Care and Planning time students should use the positive educational psychology, growth mindset and wellbeing resources integrated throughout the diary to underpin their learning. The Dr Martin Seligman inspired PERMAH+ mental and physical wellbeing model on page 25ff explores connection, meaning and purpose with learning. While the Values in Attitude (VIA) Character Strengths exercise pg 32 provide a useful tool for positive self-reflection.

As a minimum, students should be listing each lesson and noting one learning outcome, homework instruction or question for further learning beside each class in their diary.

The weekly signing of the diary by parents and pastoral care staff consolidates the concept that learning and growth can occur as a team effort led by each student supported by their teachers, parents and support network.

School Attendance Patterns of Recording

We strongly urge all students to maintain as high an attendance rate as possible and participate as fully in learning, class and co-curricular activities as they possibly can.  Year 12 students should be focused on maintaining as near perfect attendance patterns as they can, working diligently with their teachers to maximise their learning time.

Whole school events such as Tuesday’s swimming carnival, learning assemblies and performances are compulsory school community events for students.

Attendance Records

Attendance Rolls are marked in morning administration or assembly time 8.42 – 8.57am.

Students are marked absent or present by their Homeroom Pastoral Care Teachers on the iWISE timetable. Subsequently an email to the nominated parent’s address is generated if the absence has not been explained by mid-morning.

Parents should therefore contact the College to explain any student absence, at their earliest opportunity, and preferably before roll call, by:

1. Ringing and leaving a message on the attendance line:  9414 4377
2. Emailing The Attendance Roll Manager: studentmanagement@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or
3. Using the portal to explain an absence: http://iwise.stpiusx.nsw.edu.au/igloo/portal   

Subsequently it maybe appropriate to provide a written/printed note explaining the absence on the next available opportunity.

Please address the communication appropriately to the College staff and include the student’s full name, date/s of absence, year and class group, reason for absence, likely return date, your relationship to the student, and return contact details.

If a student is absent for more than two consecutive days, or a pattern of concern arises, Pastoral Care staff may make contact with parents.

Year 7 Induction Day:  Friday 7 February

As outlined at the Year 7 Parent Information Night on Monday, parents and students of Year 7 are reminded to wear sports uniform and bring their own recess and lunch on Friday as we will be at Oxford Falls partaking in an Induction Day, departing Chatswood immediately following Sports Assembly and returning for normal dismissal time.

Our Year 7 Touchstone Induction Day sessions on Friday:

1. Forming a community and making new friends across the Year 7 cohort.
2. Social Justice outreach, Indigenous awareness: First Australians, custodians of the land.
3. Edmund Rice Education Globally: What it means to be an E R Student at St Pius X College.
4. “Be You” games oriented at facilitating positive interaction between members of the cohort.

Rural Fire Service

In the wake of the summer bush fires the St Pius X College Old Boys Association is calling for a roll of names of ex students currently serving / volunteering in the RFS or who served their communities this Summer. So far we have identified the individuals below but would like to put out a call for other members. Please email Mr Sean Brannan with details if you are able to add to this list:

• Tom Loricco, Class of 2016,  Duffys Forest RFS Unit
• Sam Loricco, Class of 1986, Duffys Forest RFS Unit
• Anthony Bradstreet, Class of 2014, newly recruited RFS Media Office
• John Davie, Class of 2016, Davidson RFS Unit
• Mr Terrance Paterson (Honourary OBA member) mentioned for protecting lives / property in the NSW Alpine town of Talbingo

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan

Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care and Wellbeing

Counselling Team Welcome

A very warm welcome back to the new school year to all our SPX families.  Once again, we look forward to providing confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family throughout this year.  Let me introduce our College counselling team and relevant contact information for your safe-keeping.

Mr Rick Russo

Counsellor (Full time Monday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.

Email:  rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone:  9414-4359

School Mobile (in case of emergency):  0418-438-325

Mrs Joe McCarthy

Psychologist (2 days per week:  Tuesday and Thursday) working with students across all year groups.

Email:  jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone:  9414-4322

Mrs Judy Gill

Psychologist (2 days per week:  Monday and Wednesday) working with student across all year groups.

Email:  jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au

Direct Phone:  9414-4315

Throughout 2020 the Counselling Team, together with the Learning Support Team, look forward to providing CONFIDENTIAL support to assist your son to build his SELF CONFIDENCE / SELF ESTEEM AND RESILIENCE within a caring, supportive Catholic school community.  Please do not hesitate to make contact with any of the above team should the need arise.

Individual Mentoring for our younger students:

Years 5, 6, and 7.

The Well-being of ALL of our students at St Pius X College is at the heart of our Pastoral Care program and our voluntary mentoring program is an integral part of this. Senior students who have all been trained in the peer support program, voluntarily elect to become a peer mentor to provide additional support and care to our newer and younger students in Years 5, 6, and 7. In brief, mentoring is an additional, one to one, non-judgemental relationship formed between a Senior student and a younger student during school hours to provide support and encouragement to our younger students. At St Pius X College, we implement the “Peer Mentor” program to build upon the concept of “creating connections” amongst students in an effort to promote “school spirit” and a caring “Christian community.”

Last year, over 80 students across several year groups (Years 5, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12) participated in this program which is supported by our generous Parents and Friends’ Association who provide financial support to some of the activities which complement the individual one on one meetings between individual students. These are activities are held on a Friday afternoon after school and involve the generous time and assistance of several teaching staff. These group activities include rock climbing, bush walking, kayaking, beach walking and paddle boarding.

First preference is given to students most in need of support in Years 5, 6 and 7. This is usually nominated from a member of the Counselling team, though parents can make direct contact with one of the counsellors to confidentially put forward their son’s name for inclusion. Students who benefit most are those who do not have a regular male role model in their lives, and those who have been affected through death/divorce or low self-esteem/resilience issues.

Please feel free to contact Mr Rick Russo on 9414-4359 rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au  or Mrs Judy Gill on 9414-4315 jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au / Mrs Joe McCarthy 9414-4322 jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au to discuss the possible inclusion of your son in the well-being program.

The SPX Counselling team

Judy Gill, Joe McCarthy and Rick Russo

Boxercise

St Pius X College has a BOXERCISE program that runs every Thursday and Friday mornings from 7.30 am till 8.10 am in the College Junior School playground and School Gym. This program is voluntary and free to all students across all year groups. Students can attend one or both days, and are welcome to use the boxing gloves and mitts that have been supplied over the years by the generous support of the SPX Parents and Friends Association and the College Well-being budget. This program, now in its 14th year of operation at the College, is focussed totally on the students’ enhanced fitness levels, strength and general sense of well-being. The sessions are supervised by staff, but are run by Senior students (Years 10, 11 and 12) who have been involved in the program over many years. This year’s senior leader is Harrison Clayton, an outstanding, caring, and very fit young man who collectively leads the 30+ boys who turn up every Thursday and Friday to join in the fun. His leadership and unfailing attendance at every session is typical of the high quality students who have benefitted from regular and a consistent exercise program.

This unique well-being program commenced in 2007 after the sudden and unexpected death of one of our senior Year 12 students a year earlier, and ever since Boxercise has assisted and improved upon students’ sense of self-worth and confidence. Students are encouraged to come along and have a punch and enjoy the sense of camaraderie from being involved in this activity: “Hit to get Fit!”

Further details and information can be obtained from Mr Rick Russo on rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au or 9414-4359.

Pre-Loved Lego collection

The College is collecting donations of pre-loved Lego for the purposes of establishing a social ‘build club’ within the College. In the interests of sustainability we are choosing to resource this club with used Lego as a preference to buying new blocks. All donations will be gratefully received in the front office.

After School Study

After school study resumes in Week 3, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons in E1, from 3.15 - 4.30 pm for Years 5 to 10 students.  All welcome.