From the Acting Principal     

• Prayer:  Indigenous Our Father
• National Reconciliation Week
• EREA Gathering
• Athletics Carnivals

Prayer: Indigenous Our Father

We acknowledge the Cameraygal people, their spirits and ancestors, the traditional inhabitants of the land on which we stand.

Indigenous Our Father

Dear God,

We who have come from every land give thanks for

our country Australia.

This earth that feeds us,

The shores that bind us,

The skies that envelop our freedom,

We give our thanks and praise.

Let us look back with courage;

See the truth and speak it.

Let us look around with compassion;

See the cost and share it.

Let us look forward with hope;

See what can be and create it.

Amen.

National Reconciliation Week

Monday morning saw our College continue in the reconciliation conversation of National Reconciliation Week that runs from 27 May to 3rd June.  National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. At St Pius X College we continue our role as Ambassadors of Reconciliation as we join in and continue the reconciliation conversation as a constant reminder of our role to make a difference.

A special way that St Pius X College has embraced our acknowledgment of our indigenous culture has been through our touring teams and our immersion experience students wearing our  Reconciliation shirts and playing strips which embrace the totems of the Cameraygal people and our own St Pius symbols.  The shirt shows our Indigenous artwork, The Act of Reconciliation, created by Sean Ryan.

We welcomed as our guest speaker Mr David Ella, the Indigenous Education Consultant for the Catholic Schools Office of Broken Bay, who shared his family story, explaining his culture and the history of Indigenous people as well as our role in Reconciliation.

Our Reconciliation Assembly has re-commissioned our students as Ambassadors of Reconciliation to continue to work to support and recognise Indigenous Australians.

EREA Gathering

Last Friday we hosted our Acting EREA Executive Director, Mr Peter Leuenberger, Regional Director, Mr Chris Smith, National Director for Learning, Mr Paul Shannon and all the Deputy Principals of the Eastern region of EREA Schools for a day of meetings but it was also an opportunity to share with them the workings of specific activities within our College. Our  young men welcomed our guests, led them in prayer and shared with them specific aspects of our Pastoral Care Program that we foster and continue to work on.

Our College Captain, Daniel Hall and Vice Captains, Nikita Papastamatis and Jack Moran, joined by the Senior Prefects, spoke of the varying initiative from our Peer Support, Student Leadership and Mentor Programs. This was supported by excellent presentations from Evan Ausling in Year 7 and Christopher Pelle of Year 11 who spoke so knowledgably and confidently to our guests about their specific endeavours.

Our EREA colleagues have sent very warm notes of appreciation such as: “It was wonderful to learn more about the programs at St Pius and the students should be complimented on their confident, welcoming and informative presentations.  They were a credit to the College.”  Congratulations to all our young men who continue to bring great pride to the College.

Athletics Carnivals

The Senior Athletics Carnival will be held next Tuesday 5th June at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush and the Junior School Athletics Carnival will take place on Wednesday 6th June at the Olympic Park Warm-Up Arena.  Parents are welcome to join us for these events.

This is a great day of involvement for everyone and is a compulsory school day for all students. It is an important day that is acknowledged on each student's Report.  Any absences must be accompanied by a Doctor’s Certificate.

Mr Mark Casey - Acting Principal