St Pius X College Newsletter

Department News

Year 10 students went to Taronga Zoo last week on a Geography excursion

  • Geography
  • History
  • Languages
  • Performing Arts
  • Science
  • Visual Arts

Geography

YEAR 10 AT THE ZOO:  Our Year 10 students and our visiting students from Argentina attended a Geography excursion at Taronga Zoo last Wednesday and Thursday where they were able to identify and observe endangered animals and threatened environments.  Geography is alive at SPX.

Mr M Pawlak - Geography Teacher

History

VISIT TO THE SYDNEY JEWISH MUSEUM:  Last week all Year 10 History students had the privilege of visiting the Sydney Jewish Museum. They participated in the three hour program Understanding the Holocaust, which was divided into three parts:  a very engaging presentation from the Museum Educator; a chance to hear from a Holocaust survivor; and a tour of the Museum under the guidance of volunteers. This was a moving and informative experience for all the boys who have been studying this challenging topic in class this term. Thanks to the Year 10 History teachers who accompanied their classes and to all those at the Sydney Jewish Museum who helped to make this such a worthwhile day.

Mr P Rodgers - History/Legal Studies Coordinator

Languages

CHINESE CLUB REPORT:  The SPX Chinese Club members have been working hard and auditioned to perform as a choir for the ‘Chinese Language Spectacular’. The event, held at the Sydney Town Hall on 24th September,  will be live-streamed online.  The following students are attending the 2018 Chinese Language Spectacular:

  • Year 7 - Christian Moore;
  • Year 8 - Alex Vaccher, Alexandre Birchall, Andrew Guerrera, William Licquorice, Thomas Fong, Marion Tidon, Charlie Dwyer, Andrew McKinnon, Ethan Griffin and  Lachlan Miles;
  • Year 9 - Alec Ramsbottom, Douglas Daniels, James Baldock;
  • Year 10 - Tyson McCallum, Samuel Walters, Austin Lowick.

Several students from Years 7-9 have also worked closely with Ms Ho to create a role-play titled, “Libai and the Palace”. This play was inspired by the theme of this year’s Chinese Language Spectacular – the Mid-Autumn Festival. While the play was not chosen for the Chinese Language Spectacular, these keen students will be performing their act for the Junior School Assembly on Friday afternoon in Week 9.  Parents and Carers are invited to come along and watch this play.

 

 

FRENCH - YEARS 8 TO 10:  

Our French students have been busy learning as much as they can about French culture, through events both at the College and in town at the Alliance Française. Year 8 celebrated the season of Bastille Day – the French National Day - by enjoying a French Breakfast with the delights of cultural entertainment including a French Accordion Player! The idea that many French people enjoy a bowl of Hot Chocolate seemed to impress!

 

The following week our Elective Classes across Years 9 and 10 participated in a Cultural and Language Workshop, followed by a French lunch. The workshop was conducted entirely in French and traversed geography to music and of course the world of French Food! We were impressed by the students’ willingness to have a go, and extend their existing knowledge.

 

YEAR 12 HSC LANGUAGES:  Throughout August and September Year 12 Language students will complete, or in the case of Year 12 French and Chinese may have already completed, the HSC Oral examination. We extend both well wishes and congratulations to these students.

 

Best wishes for Term 3.

The Languages Department:

Mrs K Manga, Ms L Ho, Mrs S McCormack and Ms SJ Grove

Performing Arts

CONCERT AND JAZZ BAND VACANCIES:  Auditions will take place NEXT week for vacancies which will be upcoming in the Senior and Intermediate Concert and Jazz Bands with the departure of Year 12 and then subsequent promotions. Concert Band auditions will occur on Monday 27th August from 1.00 – 3.00pm in the Chamber Room (upstairs in the Band Room) and Jazz Band auditions on Friday 31st August from 1.00 – 3.00pm in Studio 5 (opposite the Uniform Shop). All students who wish to audition MUST see Ms Bates in the Performing Arts Office for an audition time and a Music Pass.

  • Senior Concert Band Vacancies: 1 x percussion
  • Intermediate Concert Band Vacancies: 1 x flute, 1 x alto saxophone, 1 x tenor saxophone, 4 x trumpet, 2 x trombone, 2 x percussion
  • Senior Jazz Band Vacancies: 1 x baritone saxophone, 1 x trumpet, 1 x piano, 1 x bass guitar, 2 x percussion
  • Intermediate Jazz Band vacancies: 1 x alto saxophone, 1 x trumpet, 1 x trombone

 

P&F FATHERS’ DAY BREAKFAST:  The Senior, Intermediate and Junior Guitar Ensembles will be performing at this event on Friday 31st August. All students need to be at school no later than 6.45am to help set-up and then perform. These ensembles will not be performing at the Twilight Concert.

 

SPLINTERS, SPLASHES, SOUND AND STAGE:  This wonderful night which displays the major works of the current HSC students is on Thursday 6th September. The TAS and Art Rooms will be open displaying works from 6.00pm and Music and Drama performances will commence at 6.30pm in the Band Room. The PAPA will also be farewelling and thanking the Year 12 Drama students for their contribution to the College. Light refreshments will be available in the canteen.

 

TWILIGHT CONCERT:  The next Twilight Concert for the year is on Friday 7th September commencing at 5.00pm in the Junior School yard or the College gymnasium if the weather is unfavourable. All major ensembles (with the exception of Guitar ensembles) will be performing and the Year 12 musicians will be farewelled. The PAPA is going to try something different for this Concert and there will NOT be a barbeque. Instead a selection of hot food - pies, sausage rolls, quiches and other savoury items - as well as small cakes and soft drinks will be on sale from the Canteen prior to and during the Concert.

 

PERFORMANCE NIGHTS:  As we come to the second part of the term, Music students are preparing for their final performance assessments. Year 11 will have their Performance Night on Wednesday 12th September and Year 9 on Tuesday 18th September. Both nights commence at 5.00pm in the Band Room. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend to support the boys.

 

YEAR 8 MUSIC: VISIT FROM CARDINAL NEWMAN COLLEGE ARGENTINA:  Thank you to Ms Waters and her Year 8 Music class for welcoming these visitors into their classroom last Friday morning. It was a tight squeeze in Music Room 1 but a good time was had by all as the boys workshopped and then performed Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” on guitars and Orff percussion instruments. It is often said, “the true beauty of music is that it connects people” and this was one of those occasions!

 

BABE SYMPHONY:  The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra will be performing the sound track during a screening of this iconic Australian film on Sunday 2nd September. Further details can be found on the flyer below.

Babe Flyer.pdf

Ms T Bates - Performing Arts Coordinator

Science

SCIENCE WEEK THEME:  ‘Game Changers and Change Makers’

This year our Science Week will focus on AUSTRALIAN SCIENTISTS. It will run from Monday 27th August to Wednesday 29th August.  Events include: Guest speakers – Steve Williams from the Class of 2009 and Michael Currington and Marcus Rossetto from the Class of 2018; Chemistry demonstrations led by Year 11 Chemistry students; Physics demonstrations led by Year 11 Physics students; and a virtual Citizen Science Project led by Year11 Biology students.

 

2018 AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS SCIENCE COMPETITION

786 students from Year 5 to Year 10 entered this competition on 29 May. Students from Year 5 to Year 10 were awarded 3 Certificates of High Distinction, 56 Certificates of Distinction, 146 Certificates of Credit and 581 Certificates of Merit and Participation.

High Distinctions:

MAX LEO (Year 8);  KEEGAN AIKIN and JOHN MCDONALD (Year 10)

Distinctions:

Year 7:  JOSHUA BEWLEY, LUCAS HAMILL, NICHOLAS JOYNSON, JAMIE LEONG, JACK LONERGAN, CAMERON PFEIFFER and HUNTER THORNTON.

Year 8:  ANGUS ANDERSON, RUFUS ASHFORD, RONAN CRISPE, JULIAN GOMEZ, JONAH GONZALES, ETHAN GRIFFEN, RALPH MONTANO, MAZ OSWALD, JUSTIN PARK and WILLIAM ROBINSON.   

Year 9:  EMERSON ANSTED, NATHAN BYRNE, ADAM CARPENTER, AUSTIN CLEARY, RUEBEN CUASAY, JACOB GLASS, JACK HETTLER, JAMES HUNT, JARED LOHTAJA, LUKE MASSA, DOMINIC PANOZZO, CONNOR RYAN and THOMAS VAN DIJK.

Year 10:  OLIVER BOWERS, ZACHARY BULL, CHARLES CULLEN, JONATHAN DELLAGIACOMA, ZACHARY FORSTER, MATTHEW HOGAN, OLIVER LENEHAN, CHARLES MCELVOGUE, ALEXANDER REIDY, SAMUEL WALTERS.

Congratulations to all award winners.  Certificates will be issued to students at assemblies and during Science classes in the coming week.

Ms J Black - Science Coordinator

Visual Arts

SPLINTERS SPLASHES SOUNDS & STAGE:  Year 12 students are preparing to exhibit their works for this year’s show which opens on 6th September at the Chatswood campus. All are welcome to enjoy the works in the creative and technical arts.  A big thanks to the Music Parents who are organising the catering for the evening.

 

 

Paintings by Nick Biviano and Brodie Cullen of Year 12

 

 

 

LIGHTS, CAMERA, PIUS FILM FESTIVAL organisers have announced for entries to be submitted for selection. Students should keep their films to 2 -3 minutes but all entries will be considered. The Festival was scheduled for Friday September 14 but problems with that date have surfaced. Alternative arrangements are being investigated but it will still be good to get films ready. Labelled USB drives should be placed in the box at the Student Office over the next few weeks

 

TALES BY LIGHT:  An exciting opportunity for photography and film enthusiasts to attend the TV series launch of Tales by Light and to hear from the award winning cinematographer Abraham Joffe. The series features photographic adventures and will screen next Monday night at the Orpheum Theatre. Free tickets are still available with a limit of two per family.