Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the 2025 school year! I hope you all had a wonderful, restful break over the summer holidays and that you are as eager to return to school as we are. I would like to take this opportunity, in the first newsletter of the year, to extend a very warm welcome to all our students and their families as we begin the new school year. A special welcome to the families who are new to our school community – we are thrilled to have you join us!

I would also like to introduce some new faces to our staff this year:

• Mrs Tyson, our new Principal, who brings with her a passion for supporting children and a strong commitment to our school’s vision: “With faith as our guide, we nurture hearts and empower minds.” I look forward to working alongside her throughout the year.
• Mrs Burrows, Miss Vezinias and Miss McDougall, our new teachers, who are excited to work with our students and support their growth throughout the year. I know you will all join me in welcoming them to our school.
• Mrs Tibbs, our new pastoral care worker, who is eager to support our students through her extensive knowledge and experience. 

As your Assistant Principal, I’m eager to work alongside you to make this year a positive and successful one. At St Pius X, we believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for student success. This year, we will continue to nurture this relationship by working together to support our students, guided by the Catholic Education - Diocese of Wollongong Parent Partnership Framework. This framework emphasises the importance of open communication, shared responsibility, and active engagement between families and the school to ensure the best outcomes for our students.

I look forward to working closely with you all to make 2025 a year full of growth, learning, and meaningful experiences for every student.

Kind regards,

Christine Nunes

Assistant Principal

Safer Internet Day 2025: Promoting Online Safety

This year, we will be celebrating Safer Internet Day 2025 on Tuesday, 11 February. Throughout the week, students at St Pius X will revisit ways to stay safe online and engage in activities that emphasise the importance of protecting themselves in the digital world, whilst learning how to navigate the internet safely.

The theme for this year is "Too Good to Be True? Protecting Yourself and Others from Scams Online." During these lessons, teachers will guide students in understanding the responsible use of technology and set clear expectations for technology use at St Pius X, in line with our school agreements. Additionally, all students will complete Safer Internet modules provided by the eSafety Commissioner before using iPads for learning in Week 3.

For parents, the eSafety Commissioner offers a range of resources, videos and  free webinars designed to help you protect your child online. These sessions cover important topics such as privacy settings, identifying online risks, and how to have open, supportive conversations about your child’s internet use.

For more details on webinars and resources, visit the eSafety website: esafety.gov.au.