Newsletter Term 4 Week 6 2024

Welcome to 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

Leadership Speeches for 2025

On Wednesday at 11.40am in the Hall, our Year 5 students will deliver their Leadership Speeches for 2025. Following these wonderful and persuasive speeches, students from Year 2 to Year 5 will vote for our School Captains for 2025.

Please join us to see our amazing future leaders in action.

Pick Up Procedure

Pick up - North Street

Thank you to all our families who have adjusted well to the new pick up rules in North Street.  The rules are below as a reminder to ensure the flow of traffic. If you do not have a sign for your visor, please ring the office and we will organise enough signs for all the people who collect your child/children.  Not displaying your name is a disruption to the flow of traffic.

• Display family name sign on passenger visor. This helps us have your child ready at the gate.
• Move up to the end of the driveway if you are in the front car.
• Do not get out of your car.
• Three cars loaded consecutively only.
• Pull out in order (don’t not overtake), please be patient.
• Do not pull up in the bus zone, if there is no room you need to go around the block. Children are not allowed to exit from the Bus (bottom) gate. If you pull up in the bus zone, Police will book you.
• If your child needs help with their seatbelt, you need to park and collect your child.
• If your child is not ready to be collected, you will be asked to go around the block.
• This zone is for quick, easy collection of your child/children. Not following the guidelines above holds everyone up and creates a traffic issue!

Pick Up - Young Street

• You need to get out of your car to collect your child from this zone.
• You are welcome to enter the school grounds before the bell to collect your child.
• If your child is not picked up within 15 minutes, they will be taken to the front pick up zone.

NRMA Road Safety Day

On Friday, the NRMA will be holding workshops with all of our students on Road Safety. As part of this wonderful initiative, students are asked to bring in the bike helmet to be correctly fitted (Please ensure the bike helmet is clearly labelled).

Semester Two Reports

Teacher’s are in the process of compiling Semester Two reports for all children. These reports are based on formal and informal assessment of your child’s skills, knowledge and understanding of the content that has been taught and how this is demonstrated in class on a daily basis.

The Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst has created our school reports to make them an effective reporting tool that allows schools to inform parents of their child’s educational progress.

You will see this explicitly in your child’s Religious Education, English and Mathematics report with learning reported using the sub-headings Learning Strengths and Learning Goals. This is in response to the findings that state the need for clear, objective reporting on student achievement and goals rather than “soft language”). The Learning Strengths will provide an overview of student achievement, what students can do, in line with syllabus outcomes. The Learning Goals section will provide 1-3 key areas that students can work on in order to move their learning forward.

It is also important to understand that your child’s the Grade Descriptors and Effort and Application Descriptors. When a child receives a Grade of C (sound) - they are reaching the expected outcomes in that area of learning at this stage of their schooling. An Effort and Application descriptor of Satisfactory indicates that the child displays satisfactory levels of effort and achievement.

Please see the table below for all Descriptors.

Katrina Isbester 

Principal

Assistant Principal's Address

NRMA Science and Road Safety Day

This Friday 22nd November we have a special day involving the entire school. NRMA is hosting a Science and Road Safety day.

• Kindergarten: 9.10 to 10.10am
• Year One and Two: 10.20am to 11.00am
• Year Three and Four: 11.40am to 12.30pm
• Years Five and Six: 12.40 to 1.40pm

All parents are invited to attend.

The students are asked (if possible) to bring along a bike helmet to be used as part of the presentation.

Summer Sports Trails

Last week we had eight Year Four & Five students trial for Diocesan sporting teams. Nate H, Keidan, Lace, Ali, Almirah and Amity all trialled for touch; Harry R for Tennis and Amahlii for basketball. Congratulations to all for making it to the Diocesan trials and representing yourself and St Pius X with such pride.

Special congratulations to Amahlii for being selected in the Diocesan girls basketball team. She will now travel to the Polding Trials in Tamworth early next year.

Annual Primary Handball Competition

The annual Primary Handball Competition is starting in Week Ten and we hope for record participation.

We run the competition with charity in mind, with money raised from the competition going to the term four St. Vincent de Paul Christmas hamper appeal.

The competition schedule will be as follows:

It will be a $2 enter fee with this money due to each child’s teacher no later than the Friday before their competition commences. Year Three any day this week.

Normal school uniform is to be worn for the event (unless a special mufti day etc); anyone not wearing correct uniform may be forced to forfeit their matches.

The competition will run during lunchtime with no interruption to class time. If a child happens to be away we are unable to reschedule matches and matches are forfeited.

It is very important for children to have money in on time; it is a fun activity for a very worthwhile cause.

NO PSSA this week

Greg Cant

Assistant Principal

RE News

Reconciliation

Congratulations to our children who made their Reconciliation last week.  The services were beautiful and very reverent.  The children are now looking forward to their next sacrament, First Holy Communion.

Advent

We will be entering the season of Advent soon.  During this time we are preparing for the birth of the Son of God, Jesus.  As we celebrate Advent, we reflect on hope, peace, love and joy. 

Term 4 Dates to Remember…

Jo Taylor

Religious Education Coordinator St Pius X

Wellbeing News

St Pius Movember Day!

This Wednesday 20^th November, we are going to have a simple fun(d)raising day to support the important work Movember does to help with men’s mental health and cancer.

There are 3 ways students can join in on the day:

• Wear a moustache to school for a gold coin donation. There will be Pez Prizes for the most creative or cool!
• Draw a comical picture of Movember’s Mr Schwager and/or Mr Jones for a gold coin donation. Prizes awarded. Drawings can be completed at home or at school but must be handed in by Wednesday please.
• Bring in any coins ( silver very welcome) to see if we can fill the Giant Moustache Poster we will have on the school playground!

Parents, don’t forget to check out our Movember Page using the link below. You can leave a supportive message or maybe donate to this very worthy cause.  

https://movember.com/m/15246828?mc=1

Wishing everyone a good week,

Mr Schwager and Mr Jones (St Pius Mo Bros 2024)

Merit Awards

Kinder - Elsie, Bo, Emerson, Jack, Ziggy

Year 1 - Harrison, Jesse, Dougie, Harry, Paytyn, Noah

Year 2 - Charli, Gerry, Evie, Milly

Year 3 - Cydi, Aurora, Lachlan, Riley, Travis, Harley 

Year  4 - Philomena, Nate, Darci, Lawson, Mia

Year 5 - Holly, Stella, James, Katelynn, Claudia, Mason 

Year 6 - Olivia, Amelia, Hendix, Jayley, Braithyn, Matisse 

Happy Birthday !

Gurjais - 16th 

Declan  - 17th