Newsletter Term 1 Week 3, 2025
Acknowledgement of Country
In the Spirit of Reconciliation, the St. Pius X school community recognizes the ongoing role of the traditional custodians of this land, the Tubba-Gah peoples of the Wiradjuri nation. It is on their ancestral lands that we continue our learning journey together.
We extend that respect to Elders, past, present and emerging. Furthermore, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within our school community. Acknowledging their presence and spiritual connection to Country.
In the light of faith, we work towards a more accepting and humble school environment for all.
Principal's Address
Dear Parents and Caregivers
A busy week ahead with some very important events, please read the newsletter carefully and remember the link provided for the school calendar. For those who regularly read the newsletter, we thank you. It is amazing how many emails and calls we receive asking questions about events; which are already detailed in the weekly newsletter.
Parent Information Night
Tuesday 18th February, we invite you all to our class Information Sessions.
Infants classes (K,1,2) will commence their sessions at 5.00pm, followed by the Primary classes (3,4,5,6) at 5.30pm. All children are encouraged to attend. During the sessions we will be providing supervision on the playground for all children.
After you have the chance to meet your child’s/ren's teacher, please join us for a sausage sizzle at 6.00pm. While you are here, why not join the Parents and Friends AGM at 6.30pm.
St Pius X has always had a strong link with our families and community and many friendship groups credit St Pius X for creating this link. One way to meet people is volunteering and here is a great opportunity.
Many hands make light work!
Class Parent/s
At our class information sessions, teachers will be asking for someone (can be more than one) to nominate as the class parent. This simply entails organising a few social outings during the year; with or without the children.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” ~ Elizabeth Andrew
School Photos
School Photos are schduled for the 2nd of April, envolopes will go home today so you are able to place your orders. If you wish to order sibling photos, order envolopes are available at the office. Please ensure you have made your order by the 26th of March.
Opening School Mass
We thank so many of you for joining us for our opening school Mass. Thank you Miss Kristy Isbester for her preparation in organising and conducting a beautiful Opening Mass. Thanks also to Lauren Hannam for leading their parents in the promise.
Road Safety Message
Kindergarten to Year Two
- Hold a grown up’s hand when: - you cross the road - you’re on the footpath - you’re in a car park
Years 3 to 6
- Hold an adult’s hand when you cross the road (until at least 10)
- Use a safe place to cross the road
- Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time you cross the road and keep checking until safely across.
Hopefully we’ll see you all on Tuesday evening and of course on Wednesday for our Swimming Carnical, where the Teachers’ will go back to back against the Parents and Students in the relay!
Greg Cant
School Principal
Assistant Principal's Address
Naplan
This March, our Year 3 & 5 students will undertake the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN is about assessing learning progress and is not about passing or failing, it is used to monitor and report on student achievement in a comparable and consistent way. NAPLAN tests skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling and numeracy
These assessments are now all online (apart from the Year Three writing) and are automatically tailored to the student. The assessments are undertaken nationwide, every year in March.
NAPLAN is made up of tests in the four areas of:
- Writing
- Reading
- Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
- Numeracy
NAPLAN tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time, through the school curriculum.
If your child would like to have a practice they are available at:
https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
Assessments | Year Three and Five |
Writing | 12th March |
Reading | 13th March |
Language Conventions | 14th March |
Numeracy | 17th March |
School Uniform - This Week’s Focus
This week, we are focusing on socks! Our School Uniform Policy clearly states:
Girls: white turnover sock
Boys: grey turnover socks
Sports Boys & Girls: white turnover socks
Jo Taylor
Assistant Principal
RE News
Opening School Mass
Thank you to our school community for their involvement in our Opening School Mass. It was a lovely way to start our new school year together and focus on our theme of ‘Hope’ the year ahead.
Thank you to those who took on a special role in the Mass. A special thanks to Lauren Hannam, our P&F Representative for leading our Parents' Promise.
Congratulations to our 2025 Leadership Team who were presented with their leadership badge at the Mass.
Sacramental Information Sessions
Last week, students in Year 2, Year 3 & Year 6 received a letter about Sacraments from Fr Greg and our Parish.
If you wish for your child to receive a sacrament this year be sure to attend one of the information sessions. There will be information sessions for all parents of children who will be making a sacrament this year. The dates of the sessions are:
- Sunday 23rd February 10am, St Brigid’s
- Tuesday 25th February 6:30pm, St Brigid’s
- Sunday 2nd March 10am, St Brigid’s
You only need to attend one of these sessions.
Term 1 Dates to Remember
- Sacramental Parent Meeting - 23rd Feb or 25th Feb or 2nd Mar
- Ash Wednesday Mass - 5th March
Kristy Isbester
Acting Religious Education Coordinator St Pius X
Sports News
SPX School Swimming Carnival
The school swimming carnival is being held Wednesday 19th February. The carnival will commence at 9.00 a.m. but we ask that students be dropped off by 8.45am and report straight to their respective teachers to be marked off the roll. Teachers will write their age division and house on their arm on Tuesday afternoon. The carnival will conclude at about 2.30 p.m.
The pool entry fee for students is covered in our school fees, just inform the person on the gate you are a student of St. Pius X.
Children will NOT be nominating for events prior to the day but on the day of the carnival. The announcer will call for children wanting to go to events, these students will need to report to the marshals; the marshals will then place the competitors into a lane. Please see link below for the order of events on the day. Please note this may change slightly on the day.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10OQGHy2gWmAEXfRCoKSUMXkmGmlDeKwE4vhriD8w8Gw/edit?usp=sharing
It will be important to discuss with your child/children which events they are capable of entering.
A team will be selected from our carnival to represent St. Pius X at the Western Region Carnival. The regional carnival will be held on the 27th February in Wellington and the Diocesan Swimming Carnival in Dubbo on 11th March. The Regional and Diocesan carnivals enforce the rules of swimming so it would be unfair to take students to the next level who do not adhere to the rules. The rules of swimming are set out below and these will be enforced at our carnival by our judge.
Freestyle
- As the stroke implies, there are no rules regarding stroke form.
Backstroke
- The entire race must be swum on the back. Rolling onto the stomach will bring disqualification.
Breaststroke
- Must be done with a breaststroke kick, feet pointing out.
- Swimmer cannot drop a foot or leg at any time, during kicking motion.
- Feet cannot break the water.
- Children are not allowed to “double pull” during the dive.
- Children must touch the end of the pool with two hands at the same time.
Butterfly
- Arms must clear the water at all times.
- Butterfly kick only (dolphin type kick).
It is important that all swimmers put in 100% as there are no finals; the places will be decided by the times. Ribbons will only go to the three fastest times, not heat winners.
No medleys will be swam on the day, but if you are interested in competing in the individual medley at the regional carnival it is important to compete in the four individual strokes on the day and discuss with Mr Cant or Mrs Taylor your interest in the IM for the regional carnival.
Thanks to those who have already shown interest in helping on the day. If you would like to help please see the table on arrival. The carnival cannot proceed without your help.
ALL SPX Students (Kindergarten to Six) are to go to the pool and NOT school. Kindergarten and Year One will finish their activities at 12.00pm.
Please ensure your child wears a hat and sunscreen and all clothing is clearly named.
Recess will be from about 10.30 till 10.50
Lunch will be from about 12.15 to 12.45
These times are only estimates.
A few rules for the day:
- Canteen will only be at recess and lunch – no visits through the day
- Children may wear a T Shirt the colour of their house, otherwise full sports uniform, we appreciate your support in this matter, it is NOT a mufti clothes day.
Please be prompt with dropping off and picking your children up.
Admin News
Tracey Watts our Fees Liaison Officer has advised there may be delays with some New Direct Debit payments this week. This is due to processing issues in Bathurst which will be rectified by the next payment date. Thankyou for your understanding.
Library News
Due to timetable challenges, for this week and next, Wednesday Library classes will be held on TUESDAYS. This will affect Years 1, 2, 4, 5 and Kindergarten. So these classes will need to bring their Library Bags in tomorrow please.
Kind Regards,
David Schwager
P&F News
2025 St Pius P&F NRL Tipping Competition
Competition Infromation
The tipping competition is being run through the website www.itipfooty.com.au
Registration forms to be completed and returned to the school office or emailed to stpiuspandf@gmail.com
Payment of $10 per tipper can be made in cash on return of the registration form to the office, or direct deposit to St Pius X P&F BSB 066-781 Account number 100013706. Please use your tipping name as reference.
Once payment and registration form is received, you will be issued the competition code and password.
Your tipping name can be anything you like, as long as it is not offensive. Illegitimate accounts will be disqualified.
The email address and account name must be the same as what is on the registration form. This is so the winners can be correctly identified.
Competition Rules
1 point for each correct tip.
Perfect round will receive a bonus 2 points (exc split rounds)
Tips must be entered 5 minutes before the start of each game
State of Origin will be included in tipping.
Finals will be included in tipping
Non submission of tips/late joiners will be allocated away games.
Each class can enter the competition and the winning class receives a pizza party at the end of the competition.
St Pius X Dubbo P&F NRL Footy Tipping Registration Form Full Name: ………………………………………………………
Tipping Name: ………………………………………………………
Email: ………………………………………………………
Phone number: ………………………………………………………
Payment Type: CASH / DIRECT DEPOSIT BSB 066-781 ACC 100013706
Kind Regards,
St Pius P&F
Community News
2025 MOORAMBILLA Skills Development Workshop for PRIMARY & SECONDARY STUDENTS Years 3-12 |
Wednesday 5 March 2025 - 3.45pm-5.00pm
Macquarie Conservatorium cnr Darling and Bultje Sts Dubbo
FREE for students attending school years 3-12 who love to sing and dance
- All children attending must register in advance.
- Children MUST be in Year 3 or higher to attend.
- This registration form must be completed by the parent/carer of the child.
- Please provide the following details so you can be contacted if your child is offered a place in the Moorambilla Voices program.
- If you have more than one child attending, please complete a separate form for each child - go back to the link, click on it and start a new form.
Merit Awards
Year 1 - Nova, Sateki, Freya, Riley, James, Henry
Year 2 - Jet, Tyler, Rosie, Jack, Vince
Year 3 - William, Evie, Rori, Amelia, Milly
Year 4 - Princess Miles, Kinley, Clara, Evie, Lachlan, Matilda
Year 5 - Amity, Charlie, Timmy, Darci, Addison
Year 6 - Ali, Camden, Holly
Happy Birthday !
Sateki 11th
Desyrae 13th
Amelia 13th
Kimberly 14th
Lucy 15th