Pastoral Care

• National Reconciliation Week
• Return to School
• Year 7 at Oxford Falls
• Year 11 Leadership Transition

Aboriginal Well-being Anecdotes 

On knowledge and learning:  

"The more you know, the less you need."

"Traveller, there may be no paths.  Paths are made by walking."

National Reconciliation Week at St Pius X College 

2020 Theme:  “In this together”

Our National Reconciliation acknowledgement was led by College Vice Captain, Tyson McCallum who reflected on his role as a student leader on the College's 2019 Red Dirt Expedition. Tyson was joined by Luke McManus, Matthew Starr, Ashley Johnson, Ben Cullen and Ronan Crispe who produced a video which recounted our immersion to the remote communities around the Warrumbungles, Coonabarabran, Baradine, Dandry Gorge, Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke. The group reflected on the people and cultural sites we visited, and the great knowledge, spirituality and hospitality shared with us.

In the spirit of reconciliation, those experiences form the cornerstone of our College’s ongoing Narragunnawali Reconciliation Action Plan. Our Staff and Student Action Plan Committee meet this week to consider our strategies for continuing our process of walking with our First Nations People and inclusively with all people and cultures of Australia as we right some of the wrongs of the past and build and even better future in this timeless land.

In that spirit I commend to you the following 17 minute interview in which Edmund Rice Centre Director, Mr Phil Glendenning, and Aboriginal man and Australian Senator, Pat Dodson, address EREA students: https://youtu.be/CTZHsxl-U5o

This week we have our student leader created Aboriginal Touchstone banners proudly on display at the College along with our National, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and Commissioned College themed painting from Aboriginal Artist Sean Ryan on display in the foyer.

We commend to you the Touchstone symbols on the cover of the Student Diary Planner and the Acknowledgement of Cammeraygal Country on Page 3. This was written last year by our Student Reconciliation Action Plan Team of Caleb Hanrahan (Year 9), Ben Cullen (10), Cavan Ryan (9), Conor Ryan (11), Ronan Crispe (10) and Ashley Johnson (11).

In our mission of continuing reconciliation and acknowledging the contribution of First Nations people, I was delighted to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from Mr Harry Allie, Chairman of the NSW Indigenous Veterans Committee, recognising the poster developed for ANZAC Day by Year 9 student Ben Cutbill.  

With due respect to our First Nations People: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Return to School

The return to school for all Year Groups this week has been a relatively smooth one and I thank the students, staff and Year Coordinators in particular for their positive contributions in this respect. Students and parents are encouraged to be pro active with helping us maintain the accuracy of class rolls by communicating any anomalies quickly to staff and emailing studentmanagement@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au as appropriate. As traffic conditions and congestion restrictions continue to evolve over the coming weeks please allow plenty of travel time and above all observe the protocols to keep you safe. Students are not to move, travel or loiter in large groups and need to follow the directions of transport workers, traffic marshals, and police.

If you have any concerns please communicate them so that we can support our students to stay safe and move smoothly to and from school, as well as throughout the day. In this climate our students are expected to maintain the highest standards of cooperation and respect for everyone supporting their return to school and face to face to learning. There are many concerned people around and we need to do our bit to maintain a calm and considerate environment.    

Year 7 Oxford Falls

It was encouraging to see Year 7 return to the normality of PDHPE at Oxford Falls on Tuesday and again under the leadership of Mr Virgona.  It was pleasing to see the highest order of conduct and behaviour from our students. Certainly the grounds were in great condition despite the recent heavy weather and the students extended a vote of thanks to our Groundsmen Mr Noort and Mr Williams along with our Caretaker Mr Willoughby.

Our House Vice Captains are reminded that over the coming weeks they will have to do their bit to creatively lead the 2020 House Cup activities and report their progress to College Vice Captains Michael Fakhoury and Tyson McCallum as well as Mr Brannan. 

Year 11 Leadership Transition

Year 11 students this week begin their formal transition to leadership of the College. Our Year 12 students will soon direct their focus towards steady preparations for the upcoming Trial and HSC exams and we look to our Year 11s to take up the mantle of Senior Leaders. As such all Year 11 students are asked to nominate those who might best lead the various Leadership Portfolio Teams of Mission and Identity, Cultural, Well Being or Learning. From these teams, over the coming months we (students and staff), will select our Prefect body, Sports Captains, College Vice Captains and College Captain. In the tradition of Edmund Rice, leadership is a role of service over privilege and our aim is to produce an environment in which students have the opportunity to thrive. If we prepare the soil well, “the good seed will grow”. Students need to keep some perspective in this process and remember not everyone reaches their leadership potential in school. Some of us need to be patient and contribute positively to the team as leaders in action as well as title.  

Fide et Labore

Mr Sean Brannan, Assistant Principal Pastoral Care and Well being