Pastoral Care 

• Athletics Carnival
• Peer Mentoring Rock Climbing Afternoon
• Year 11 Pastoral Care
• Year 12 Pastoral Care
• School Photographs - Friday 11 June
• Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
• Sad News
• Year 7 & 8 Study Skills Evening
• CIS Football Semi-Final
• Travelling Directly to and from School
• Red Dirt Expedition
• Student Business Services Placements
• Year 10 and 11 Students volunteering for lunch distribution
• Watkins Family
• Old Boys' News

Athletics Carnvial

On Tuesday 8 June we came together after a two year break due to poor weather and COVID for our annual Senior Athletics Carnival. 

The boys should be commended for their wonderful spirit - cheering on all competitors and participating fully in all events. Thank you to Mr Stearn for organising and running such a great event and to all the staff who supported him on the day. 

Peer Mentoring Rock-Climbing afternoon 

Thanks to Mr Russo and a number of supporting staff, our peer Mentors were given an opportunity to engage with their younger charges for an afternoon's rock-climbing at Climbfit St Leonards last Friday afternoon.  This is part of a yearly program of activities, held once per term. Many thanks to all the staff involved with this valuable program for our boys.

Year 11 Pastoral Care

On 3 June our  Year 11 students had a guest presenter from the UTS Kidman Centre. Their mission is to “understand, prevent and reduce mental health problems in young people aged 5 to 25, so that they can thrive through their formative years”. The presentation addressed how to balance school/family/life commitments in a healthy and manageable way.

Year 12 Pastoral Care

On Thursday this week we have Melissa McGuinness coming in to present to our young men on “You Choose” driver safety. This is an especially timely and important presentation as many of our Year 12 students are beginning to independently drive. Many of the mistakes that people make when driving cannot be reversed, and the consequences of a flippant attitude can be devastating. Please have a discussion with your son about this presentation and driver safety in general. As always the boys need to be conscious of the obvious things that impact driver safety like drugs and alcohol, speeding, and phone usage. It is also very important that the students are aware they they are in control of a lethal weapon on the roads and they need to reflect on the gravity and responsibility it is to be sharing the road as a driver. Our Year 10 and 11 cohorts will also be attending a future full day program for more driver education.

Friday 11 June – School Photographs

Order forms for photographs have been issued. Thank you for your co-operation with the following requirements;

• Students need to bring the form on the day and give directly to the photographers.
• Students are to be well presented, and in full College Winter Uniform.
• Please ensure hair is cut appropriately for the school photographs.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

Recently you were sent an email from the Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning Mr Alex Damo about parent/teacher interviews: Parent/Teachers/Student meetings for Years 7 to 10 will be conducted ONLINE on:

• Thursday         17 June         1.30 pm   to   5.30 pm
• Friday              18 June          8.00 am   to   5.30 pm

This is a very important opportunity to discuss areas of growth and improvement with your sons' teachers.

Mr Paul Ticli - Acting Assistant Principal, Pastoral Care

Sad News   

The College was deeply saddened over the weekend to learn of the tragic passing of a Year 12, St Joseph’s Hunters Hill student, Nicholas Munsie, whose family are from the Armidale District of northern NSW. Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are extended to the grieving communities of Joeys and Armidale district, through this timely reminder that we need to be mindful of looking after each other, those around us, and all our students as we navigate the journey of learning and life. May perpetual light shine upon Nick, and in their sadness and sense of loss, his family and friends take comfort in our faith and belief that we are part of a greater good and united through God. Even as we struggle to understand and lament the sadness of loss which we are sometimes unable to prevent. Please be mindful of students and members of our community who may be affected by Nick's passing and seek help, support or referral through our friends, College Pastoral Care, Year Coordinators and Counselling staff in the first instance.

Year 7 – 8 Study Skills evening Monday 7 June

Thank you to all those who were able to attend this presentation by Dr Prue Salter on Monday evening, in what is a very important formative step in our students' learning journey through the College. Year 7 and 8 students were encouraged to take the initiative to organise their learning and study patterns each day using the College Diary, Study Skills website, Personal Learning Devices (PLDs) and other technology and support resources.

In support of students' study patterns and from questions raised at from Monday night's presentation, the Assessment Handbooks for Year 7 or 8 can best be accessed by students and parents in the Year Tab (at the top of the page) after they log into their own Portal page.

Parents are encouraged to review the slides and handout from the session with students and discuss the main areas identified where changes need to be made: Year 7/8 Slides, password is achieve.  Parents can also find extra study skills tips on the following website: http://studyskillstoptipsparents.com/. 

All secondary students at our school also have access to a great study skills website to help students develop their skills. Go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and enter the username: spx and the password:  25success and start improving your results today!

CIS Football Semi-Final

Combined Independent Football Semi Final has been confirmed for a 6.15 pm kick off next Wednesday, 16 June, at Valentine Park, Glenwood.

We will play against Moriah College, who are great and highly respected friends of our College. In maintaining the highest standards of representation and support for our College and 1st XI Football Team, any student wishing to attend must travel on our supporter bus departing Chatswood at 4.30 pm from the College playground in full winter uniform and good order under the direction of our Year 12 Student Leaders and staff. No student is to make his own way to the ground or attend except with the College support contingent in Full Winter Uniform.

Registrations to attend will be recorded this Friday after Sports Assembly. 

Security will be provided to maintain good order at Valentine Park, and anyone who has not followed our protocols and standards for attendance and behaviour will be required to leave the venue, safely quietly and immediately.

See Mr Brannan if you have any further questions as we look forward to a positive, vocal and supportive student group to cheer on Mr Quilty and Mr Yue’s 1st XI squad in the best way possible to represent the school proudly.

Travelling directly to and from School

Students and parents are reminded of the need to travel straight to and from school and not loiter or enter the shopping or council precincts or anywhere out of bounds. These rules are important to safeguard our students and ensure that we are able to protect each other and maintain the high regard and reputation of the College for all in the community. Please see Mr Brannan if you have any questions or seek permission through Year Coordinators if you need an exit or permission pass which can be noted in the College Student Diary. Year 12 students have certain privileges but only by maintaining the highest standards of uniform and behaviour.

Red Dirt Expedition

Preparations continue for the Red Dirt Expedition and the cold weather brings both challenges and some optimism that the mice plague might be lessening. The School and Aboriginal communities we are visiting have communicated that they will welcome any donations of sports balls, equipment or reading, writing, stationery and colouring materials so any contributions are gratefully accepted.

The expedition party will have briefings this Thursday and next Tuesday in C3.

Student Business Services Student Placements

Congratulations to our Year 12 Business Services students who are conducting work placements currently, over recent weeks and throughout the Winter break. Glowing reports have been received regarding students including Ethan Lush, James Regan, Luca Sella and Ciaran Lynch.

Year 11 and 10 Students Volunteering for Canteen Lunch Distribution

In great service of the students and College, a group of our Year 10 and 11 students have this term been supporting our Canteen Staff on Thursdays and Fridays when the number of lunch orders are overwhelming our volunteers. These student leaders organise an orderly distribution of Year 7 – 12 lunches from the Gym Stage at the beginning of lunch, ensuring that students are able to access their lunch orders quickly before moving off to the priorities of handball games, Beauchamp lunch etc. Thank you to the students and staff involved, including Ms Janes, Mr Pawlak, Mrs Arena and Mrs Coombes. It is another great example of generosity of spirit and service to the benefit of our community.

Watkins Family

St Pius College celebrated its longstanding connection with the Watkins family on Saturday when Acting Deputy, Mr Sean Brannan, presented Finn Watkins of Oakhill College 1st XV with an Old Boys Rugby tie. Finn’s dad Peter played SPX 1st XV Rugby in very strong 1981-82 sides before playing Brothers / CBOBs Old Boys Rugby through the 1990s. His Grandparents Julie and Pierre were heavily involved with the school. Uncles Alan, Michael, John and David, and Aunt Barbara are highly celebrated alumni with stellar careers including Education, Law Enforcement and Politics. Michael and David were instrumental in rejuvenating the SPX Old Boys Association as their sons attended. The Oxford Falls Watkins Oval is named in honour of this great family of the College and their contribution over a great many years.

We wish Finn well in his HSC year and the extended Watkins family our best.

Old Boy News

The College was proud to hear about Old Boy, John Adam: Class of 1973. John was the College Captain of First XI Cricket and a representative Rugby player, who was regarded by his peers as an excellent student, often Dux in semester exams. A prominent lawyer and great sportsman, he captained the North Sydney Bears Rugby League in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. He also toured with NSW U21 Cricket side in 1976. 

Last Sunday, 6 June, John was inducted as a Life Member of Norths Rugby League. He was supported by family and friends at North Sydney Oval for the event.

Fide et Labore

St Pius X College acknowledges our First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and particularly the Cammeraygal people, 

whose interconnection with this land sustained and 

fulfilled them mentally, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually, 

over thousands of years. 

May we learn from their wisdom.

Mr Sean Brannan - Acting Deputy Principal