From the Principal

• Prayer
• Return of Year 12
• Return of Years 5 - 11
• 2021 House Cup Presented
• Year 11 Snowy Hike
• Pius In Profile - Spring Edition 2021
• EREA Turns 14
• P&F AGM - 7.00 pm Monday 25 October

Prayer 

We pray for Liam Vinci and his family.   

Fr David Ranson will hold a Prayer Vigil for Liam at Our Lady of Dolours Church on Friday 22 October, commencing at 5.00 pm.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, bookings must be made to attend the vigil.  If you would like to book a place for this vigil, please use the following Trybooking link:

Eternal Rest grant unto Liam O Lord, 

and let perpetual light shine upon him.  

May he rest in peace.  

Following is a video from Fr David Ranson from Our Lady of Dolours Church which gives us some peace at this sad time.

My friends

Yesterday began with such a sense of excitement: it was a lift, even for me, to see students in the street going to school and to see the joy on people’s faces as they reconnected again in person with friends and the college community. And yet, the day brought the tragic news of the death on Monday morning of Liam Vinci. Anticipation gives way to shock; happiness surrenders to grief. We cannot imagine what his family are experiencing today, and our hearts go out to Liam's mother Heide and his father Rob and to his brother, Alec and his sisters Emma and Nina.

For the second time almost in as many months we are faced with such a tragic loss of a young life so full of promise and potential. It is bewildering. Again, we are faced with this extraordinary reality that bad things can happen to good people. The question of why leaves us feeling numb and very uncertain. We recognise just how precious life is – our life, the life of our family, the life of our friends. So often we can take people for granted almost. Understandably, we don’t think that they will not be there with us and for us. And yet events such as Liam’s death – and Tom’s some weeks ago – bring home to us that the life of one another is precious. And because it is precious it is fragile, so very fragile. Today, look at each other in a new way, treasure those we see. Never let us take one another for granted.

I am thinking of you all through today, and praying that even as we recognise the fragility of life, we also understand the importance of being together. May Christ the Risen Lord whisper deep within our hearts the strength and peace that come from knowing we are together.

Rev Dr David Ranson PP VG

Return of Year 12

The school grounds were alive again on Monday morning with the return of our Year 12 students.  The boys were all so very pleased to be back at school and to see their friends again.  It was back to hard work again for them as they complete the final weeks of lessons before the HSC commences.  We will be maintaining a bubble for our Year 12 students over the coming weeks to ensure they remain apart from the rest of the school community. 

Return of Years 5 - 11 - Monday 25 October

We look forward to the return of the rest of the College students on Monday, 25 October.

As advised in last week's Woodchatta, the College has developed a very clear set of protocols for the return to face to face teaching for all students according to Level 3 restrictions from the NSW Health Department.

I reiterate the following protocols for your information.

• Students should not attend school if they have any flu like symptoms.
• Masks are mandatory for all students in Years 5-12 and all staff in the classroom.
• Masks are mandatory on public transport.
• Masks are no longer mandatory in the playground.
• Sanitise and maintain hand hygiene. Wipes are also available throughout the school.
• It is not necessary for students to register with the QR Reader when they arrive. This is only for adults, and all staff, who must register using the QR Reader.
• No visitors are permitted at the College, only essential visitors by exemption from the Principal.
• There is a day cleaner who cleans all touch points all day as well as the toilets three (3) times per day.
• The ventilation of all classrooms has been audited. Where further ventilation is required, purifiers have been purchased and placed in rooms.
• Staff are vaccinated.
• Lunch times for Junior and Senior school are staggered.
• No full school assemblies.
• Year 12 will be in an “Oxford Falls bubble” for their HSC.

2021 House Cup Presented

At Monday's online School Assembly we presented the House Cup for 2021.  Despite the many cancellations of events this year, we were able to collate points from various activities such as the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals for both the Junior and Senior School, Cross Country, Junior School Dance Competition and other co-curricular events. Treacy House won the cup this year and the Treacy Captain, Dom Panozzo, dedicated the win to Tom Van Dijk who was a proud Treacy House member.

Year 11 Snowy Hike

It is with regret that the College has to take the decision that the Snowy Hike will not proceed this year. Even though this was set down for early in December, the inability for the school to adequately prepare the hiking party has contributed to this final decision. I recognise that this is the second year that we have had to cancel this significant event and I am hoping that 2022 will provide a greater opportunity to conduct this hike. I thank Mr Paul de Silva for his continued leadership of our Outdoor Education program.

The final day for Year 11 will remain as per the College calendar - Thursday 2 December.

Pius In Profile - Spring Edition 2021

The 2021 Spring Edition of Pius In Profile has now been released.  Due to COVID-19 lockdown and issues with postage, we have released this edition as a digital version.  A hard copy is available on request.  Please use the link to email your request for a hard copy.  In your email please put your name and your son's name and homeroom.

This edition contains details on the events that have shaped our lives this year as well as the achievements of many in our community.

It can be viewed online using the following link:  

EREA Turns 14!  Happy Birthday

P & F AGM Meeting - Online - Monday 25 October at 7.00 pm

Please join us for our P&F AGM next Monday night via Zoom.  The meeting will commence at 7.00 pm.  If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please contact Sarah Gillard, our P&F President - president@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au

The Agenda is in the P&F Page of this week's Woodchatta and is also found on the College App.  The link for the meeting will be forwarded out in the coming days.

Mr John Couani - Principal