Parent & Student Matters  

What's happening in the College? 

• Science Club - on this Thursday at lunchtime
• NSW School Of Languages (NSL) Enrolments for 2021
• Saturday School of Community Languages
• Chess
• Debating and Public Speaking
• Football 2020
• Teaching your Learner Driver

Science Club is back on

Science Club is back on this week.  It will be held on Thursday in S2 from 1.00 pm.  All members and Year 7 and 8 students are welcome to come along and join in the fun.

New South Wales School of Languages (NSL) Enrolments for 2021

Subject selection for next year is upcoming in Term 3. NSL offers a limited number of placements to enrol in languages NOT TAUGHT at SPX, for next year. 

NSL offers 13 languages:  EAL/D, Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Modern Greek, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese.

For Stage 5 students (Year 9 and 10) with a background in a language,  Pre-in Context and Pre-Literature courses (Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean) NSL to enrich the curriculum. 

In Stage 6, NSL offer Beginners, Continuers, in Context and Literature (for applicable languages).

The 2021 enrolment applications will go on the NSL website in the middle of Term 3. We encourage any parent of a student considering enrolment to contact Mrs Manga 

Kmanga@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au to submit applications prior to the mid-November deadline.

Mrs Kara Manga, Studies Coordinator LOTE

Saturday School of Community Languages

The following message was received late last week by the Saturday School of Community Languages.

"Following the announcement by the Premier and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning that all students will return to full time on-campus teaching and learning, students in Years 7-12 at the Saturday School of Community Languages will return to face to face lessons from Saturday 23 May. All students are expected to attend school unless they are unwell.

The managed return to school, which began with our Year 12 students on Saturday 16 May, has demonstrated that all our 14 centres are ready for school to go back to full time on-campus teaching and learning, in line with national and NSW Ministry of Health advice. 

Our students have one session to cover the entire week’s curriculum and the opportunity to interact face to face with their teachers is an essential part of achieving the outcomes and completing the planned units of work for their courses.  Therefore, the lessons at Saturday School centres will return to the normal mode of delivery from Saturday 23 May.

The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is our primary concern as we move into this return to school. As such, additional cleaning has been arranged for all classrooms and toilet facilities that are used on Saturdays. Sanitiser gel and spray are also available at each centre. Liquid soap in the bathrooms is available throughout the day. Students and staff members who are unwell or have an illness must remain home.

If you wish to contact or email the centre that your students attend, the phone number and email address of the centre is available on the following link https://saturdaycl-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/contact-us.html

We look forward to seeing all our students back this Saturday 23 May!"

Mrs Kara Manga, Studies Coordinator LOTE

Chess

During March, Chess training at school ceased and was replaced with online lessons. The Sydney Academy of Chess will continue to provide Online Lessons during Term 2 at the NEW start time of 4.30 pm. This is to allow students travel time from school. Please email Ms Ramsey or Ms Dempsey if this creates a problem for you.

Sydney Academy of Chess have also provided extra video lessons that can be accessed via the link below. Students can play them from home any time using a phone, iPad laptop, tablet or home computer. The lesson showcase: https://vimeo.com/showcase/6909866  Password: Term12020

Students should also make use of the ChessSquad website : www.chesssquad.com using their user name and password to play live games, practice drills and solve puzzles online.

We hope all students have continued to enjoy Chess albeit in this new format.

Ms Denise Ramsey and Ms Janelle Dempsey, Senior Chess Convenors

Debating and Public Speaking

There is no information about our 2020 Debating or Public Speaking season.  Once any details arise they will be published in Woodchatta.

Ms Michele Waterson, Debating and Public Speaking Convenor

Football 2020 

Virtual SPX Football Training Sessions on Microsoft Teams

A virtual SPX Football skills and fitness training program is available at the SPX Football Folder on Microsoft Teams to all boys who attended the SPX Senior School Football trials in February 2020.  Huge thanks to Mr Lacey for establishing this SPX Football Development program based on the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) curriculum.  SPX Football boys, please use this program to develop and maintain your football skills.

SPX Football Online Referee Course – Prize Draw & Paid Referee Games at Oxford Falls…

SPX boys are also encouraged to register and complete the online and free preliminary referee course offered by FFA.  See web-link (also at the SPX Football Folder on Microsoft Teams):  https://www.playfootball.com.au/referee/laws-of-the-game?_ga=2.255398154.385912815.1586174178-586563975.1586174178

The SPX Football Supporters Club (FSC) is offering a prize draw for SPX boys who complete the referee course and obtain their preliminary referee certificate.  To enter the prize draw, please send your certificate to the SPX FSC at email:  footballclub@pandf.spx.nsw.edu.au

The prize draw includes football kit items donated by the SPX FSC to be drawn at a SPX Football social event later in 2020.  We are starting to see entries for the prize draw by SPX boys who have completed the referee course.  Please join in.

Your preliminary referee certificate can also be presented to Paul Cummins, SPX Junior School Football Convenor, to join SPX boys referee team for SPX Junior School football games at Oxford Falls on Saturday mornings during future football seasons.

Mrs Cathy Thomson, SPX Football Supporters Club

Teaching your Learner Driver Workshop

Lane Cove and Hunters Hill Councils are offering a free online workshop for those teaching a learner driver.  It is being held on Thursday 4 June from 6.00 pm - 7.15 pm and will be delivered via Zoom. Learner drivers are also able to participate.

To book please visit

 https://teachingyourlearnerdriver.eventbrite.com