Parent & Student Matters
Science Club
What's happening in the College?
- Science Club is ON this week
- National Youth Science Forum - applications now open (For Year 11 students)
- Playtime with Our Lady of Dolours students
- The Premier's Reading Challenge
- Census Audit of NCCD Data
- NAPLAN Parental Consent for students with a Disability
- NESA Disability Applications for HSC
- da Vinci Decathlon - Postponed
- Important Information on continuing the Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Senior Maths Drop-In
Science Club
A reminder to students that Science Club is ON this Thursday, 19 March. It is being held in S2 at lunchtime. Please eat your lunch first and we will start at 1.00 pm. Please bring your PLD. All interested students from Years 7 & 8 are welcome to attend.
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
National Youth Science Forum - Applications Open
Year 11 students are invited to apply for the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program, which is being held in January 2021.
The NYSF Year 12 Program is a residential program designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage continued studies in these fields.
Who Should Apply?
Students in Year 11 this year who are interested in and passionate about science and technology.
Dates:
Session A: Canberra. Mon 4 January - Wed 13 January 2021
Session B: Brisbane. Monday 11 January - Wed 20 January 2021
Session C: Canberra. Mon 18 January - Wed 27 January 2021
If you have any questions please contact the NSYF office on (02) 6125 2777 or nysf@nysf.edu.au
Mrs Joanne Schuster - Science Coordinator
Playtime with Our Lady of Dolours students
Last Thursday a joint initiative between the Our Lady Dolours Primary School and Year 9 SPX began. Ten students visited the primary school during lunchtime to interact positively with chosen groups of children from OLD through play activities. The aim of the program is to assist the young primary students to further develop skills in socialising such as taking turns, listening to each other and being respectful. Our Year 9 pioneers thoroughly enjoyed their first experience and although the program has currently been suspended, they are looking forward to the program continuing again soon.
It's always fun to make a few more friends whilst being chased continuously until you lose your breath.
Luca van Vuuren - Year 9 student
The Premier's Reading Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge, or PRC as it’s popularly known, is an opportunity for all boys from Years Five through to Nine to read more and to read more widely. The Challenge is to read 20 books from March to August.
The PRC is an important component of our reading program as it supports our goal to increase literacy through reading skill development. Just like any skill, practice is critical for improvement. Consequently, in every library class providing time to read is a priority.
Clocking up reading mileage in a preferred genre is necessary for many boys before they can read more widely. Library classes this week are supporting this reading predilection by exploring how-to find books like your last favourite book.
All students have received an email from the library with their PRC passwords to help in logging their reading to the PRC website. Please contact me, if you have any questions about your son’s PRC or reading.
Mrs Karen Keighery - Senior Teacher Librarian
Census Audit of NCCD Data
BellChambersBarrett conducted an audit of each of the evidence areas required for the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data of Students with a Disability 2018 -2019.
The continuous review of systems and processes for meeting the needs of students with a physical, social/emotional, cognitive or sensory disabilities resulted in positive findings relating to:
- collaborative planning meetings with students, parents and staff;
- individual learning plans;
- the implementation of learning adjustments in the classroom and exams;
- student progress monitoring and review.
We continue to implement best practices in the support of students with a disability. The following website provides useful information about the NCCD https://www.nccd.edu.au/.
Mrs Annabel Gunns - Learning Support & Enrichment Coordinator
NAPLAN Parental Consent for students with a disability
Parent consent forms will be issued today for return by 1 April. This only applies to students who have a need for a modified paper, a NAPLAN support person, rest breaks or small group supervision in Year 5, 7 or 9.
The NAPLAN tests are pen and paper at St Pius X College in 2020.
In the event that a temporary injury effects your son’s ability to attempt any of the NAPLAN tests, we ask that a withdrawal form be signed prior to the test day.
If you wish to withdraw your son from sitting the NAPLAN tests, please email Annabel Gunns on agunns@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au.
Mrs Annabel Gunns - Learning Support & Enrichment Coordinator
NESA Disability Applications for HSC
Applications close on 10 April, 2020. Please contact Annabel Gunns at agunns@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au should you wish to submit an application. Submissions are being processed very quickly by NESA at the moment.
Mrs Annabel Gunns - Learning Support & Enrichment Coordinator
da Vinci Decathlon
The NSW da Vinci Decathlon will be postponed. This decision has been made because of the recommendation that large gatherings are to be discouraged.
Knox Grammar school is currently investigating holding the event later in the year. Further updates will be forthcoming.
Mrs Annabel Gunns - Learning Support & Enrichment Coordinator
Continuing the Duke of Edinburgh during the COVID-19 health crisis
The following advice has been issued to participants on how to best complete the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the present health crisis.
Please read the notification and follow the advice about alternative ways to maintain the 1 hour weekly commitment during the COVID Crisis. Should you have any further questions, please email Mrs Manga. Kmanga@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Kara Manga - Duke of Edinburgh's Award Coordinator
Duke of Edinburgh's Award with Outward Bound
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is up and running for 2020, with many students in Year 9 seeking forms to join the program. Enrolment forms are available from Mrs Manga or at the Student Office. The enrolment paperwork contains a tick-a-box of all of the paperwork and a guide to help students enrol and map out their planned activities. Initially, the paperwork is a challenge; however, the benefits of involvement in the program are lifelong.
Mr de Silva runs the College Outdoor Education program, which students completing the Duke of Edinburgh program are encouraged to join. Mr de Silva runs Bronze level Practice and Qualifying hikes each year to assist students meet the Adventurous Journey component of the Award requirements.
At times, for personal reasons, some students may not be able to attend the College hikes. Should your son need to make up a hike, or complete a Silver or Gold Hike, there are a number of organisations such as Outward Bound Australia, that offer these opportunities. Opportunities to participate fill fast, so it is important to book in when your child is unable to participate in a College run hike.
Please consider that any involvement in a Hike run externally to the College ones, must be discussed with Mrs Manga and set up and approved on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website, prior to any participation. This is not negotiable and students risk any unendorsed participation not counting towards their Award completion.
For more information on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award with Outward Bound Australia, please click on the link below.
https://mailchi.mp/outwardbound/last-chance-for-bronze?e=4cba4cc0cb
Mrs Kara Manga - Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator
Senior Maths Drop-In
Senior maths drop in sessions run each Tuesday & Thursday morning 7.40 am - 8.40 am in C1.
Come along and be a part of the team.
Mrs Amanda Fileman - Mathematics and English Teacher