Return to School 

The return to school road map endorsed by NSW Health has provided a useful framework for staff to confidently plan for the return of our students. As a staff we are extremely excited to welcome our students back (it has been very quiet!!) and look forward to reintroducing them to the routines of school and the wonderful opportunities that life at school with their friends and teachers has to offer.  

We understand that there may be some anxiety for students returning and please be assured we have strategies in place to support smooth transitions. If you have any individual concerns please do not hesitate to make contact with your child’s teacher. 

Preparing for the staged return to face-to-face learning from Week 3, Term 4 (18 October 2021)

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the delivery of education in NSW and around the world. Our students, educational leaders, teachers, staff and families have shown remarkable resilience and flexibility throughout this period.

While the pandemic has affected everybody differently, there are some clear learnings and common themes emerging from NSW and around the world including the need for students to return to school as soon as it is safe for them to do so, because nothing can replace face-to-face learning with an expert teacher. Being at school with their teachers and peers is also vital for student wellbeing as well as social and emotional development.

Students will return to face-to-face learning in the following order:

Week 3 (18 October 2021): Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12

Week 4 (25 October 2021): Years 2, 6 and 11

Week 5 (1 November 2021): Years 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

To assist with the smooth return to school for our students, we will be requesting that families continue to keep children home until their official return date, unless they absolutely must attend school. Any student who returns before their official return date will be supervised as they complete remote learning.

Students will not participate in face-to-face learning until their staged return date.

In line with the staged return to face-to-face learning, St Pius X staff are required to comply with the Public Health Order requirements from 18 October 2021. This means that no staff member is permitted onsite from 18 October 2021 unless they have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or they have been issued with a medical contraindication certificate.

Parents and Friends Meeting 

You are warmly invited to our Parents and Friends Zoom Meeting to be held on Wednesday 13th October at 7p.m. A link will follow closer to the date.

This meeting will include reports from the Parents and Friends Executive and Principal. It also enables a forum for parent voice and we ask that any agenda items for General Business be sent to the President Danielle Chapman prior to the meeting - nell@daniellechapman.com.au 

NAPLAN 

Parents of students in Year Three and Five would have now received their child's NAPLAN results by post.  Please make contact with your child’s teacher if you have any concerns or questions. As a school we are delighted with our results and to be above the state, nation and diocese average in every domain is an amazing achievement.

Staff Development Day

Next Friday the 15th October will be a pupil free day for Staff Professional Development.

There will be no remote learning platform offered on this day and only minimal supervision on-site. Staff will engage in professional development via three Zoom sessions with a focus on academics and the social and emotional well being of students in preparation for return to face-to-face learning.

Uniform 

As we begin Term Four and we prepare ourselves for the staggered return to school, we are looking to ease some of the pressure on families through flexibility with uniforms. Parents are not expected to buy new uniforms for such a short period of time.

Therefore, students are able to wear either sports or Summer uniforms based on what fits your child and what can be managed throughout the school week.

An expectation of wearing the school uniform with pride and as complete as possible will remain. That is, not wearing parts of the sports uniform with the summer uniform and ensuring correct shoes are worn.

We would also like to remind families to adhere to appropriate haircuts and styles, wearing of jewellery, etc, as per our school uniform policy found on our website.

Let’s make the end of the year as seamless and stress free as possible!

We will return to full school uniform expectations at the beginning of the 2022 school year.

End of Year Events

The end of any year sees events that bring our community together in celebration. Whilst this year’s event will look and feel quite different to those in the past, they are certainly still celebratory. We will communicate details on events such as Book Week and the Christmas Concert as they approach.

The uncertainty of some events going ahead or changing to suit restrictions remains in place. These events mainly affect our Year 6 students and more detailed communication to the parents of these students will follow later this week. 

Kindergarten 2022

SPX is preparing to welcome our enrolled Kindergarten students for 2022. These students would normally have the opportunity to meet each other and staff members face-to-face during Kindergarten Orientations and play groups. However, with current NSW Health protocols, this year’s Orientation will occur via Zoom sessions on Thursday 14th October (One session at 10am and a repeated session at 2pm). 

As a community we are excited and privileged to be a part of their educational, faith and life journey and look forward to watching them flourish here at SPX.