STAFF ABSENCE

I appreciate your ongoing support and understanding as the staff of St Pius X strives to provide the best learning environment for your children. From time to time, you may notice that your child’s classroom teacher is absent. I take this opportunity to explain the reasons for these absences and reassure you about the measures we have in place to ensure continuity of learning.

Teachers may be absent for various professional and personal reasons, including:

• Professional Development: Teachers may be required to attend professional learning opportunities on a school day. These may be held externally or be a part of the valuable collaborative practices that are embedded in our school professional learning plan. Throughout the year, our teachers engage in training and collaborative practices to enhance teaching strategies, analyse student data, and plan for continuous improvement.
• Leave entitlements: Teachers are entitled to sick leave and carers leave to ensure they recover fully before returning to the classroom, and that they are available to support their own families as needed. Long Service Leave is a leave entitlement of teachers and falls under the provision of the Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW) and Long Service Leave Act 1976 (ACT). This is granted to teachers in accordance with the entitlement provision as set out in NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2015.
• Parent Meetings: Teachers are provided release from teaching time in order to meet with parents for collaborative planning meetings when a student has a Personalised Plan. These meetings are scheduled twice per year
• Leadership Release: Members of the Staff Leadership Team may be required at times to have time additional to their allocated one day per week in order to ensure the safe and supportive running of the school as required.

To ensure minimal disruption, we employ casual teachers as required. Wherever possible, we prioritise consistency by engaging regular casual teachers who are familiar with our school and students. However, at times, new casual teachers may be working with our classes for the first time. These teachers receive support from the grade teachers and stage leaders, and a process is in place to maintain consistency in learning.

Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

We appreciate your understanding and support in fostering a positive learning environment for all students.

AFTERNOON PICK UP - LOCAL RESIDENTS

Please be mindful of our lovely neighbours and their need to enter and exit their own homes during our busy morning and afternoon times.

e-Safety

We can help our children safely navigate the online world by taking some basic steps to reduce the risks.

Our support and guidance can give our children the knowledge to make sound decisions online and the confidence to ask for help when they need it. 

Set some rules

• Set rules for devices and online access, with consequences for breaking them. As they grow in online skills and maturity you can review your rules together.
• Get your child’s input — this will help them understand risks.
• Model behaviour that you would like to see. Children will be more likely to follow rules if they see you doing the same.
• Consider creating a family tech agreement (sometimes called a family media plan or family online safety agreement). This is a set of rules about how devices are used in your home as well as what acceptable online behaviour looks like. eSafety has created downloadable templates for families with children under 5 or those with kids aged 5 to 8 years. For families with older children, The Family Online Safety Contract from ThinkUKnow Australia is a good starting point.

IDO Expo: A Networking Opportunity for NDIS Participants 

The Illawarra Disability Options (IDO) Expo provides an opportunity for families of NDIS participants to familiarise themselves with local disability service providers and registered training organisations. This annual event is of particular relevance to students with disability planning post school pathways.

When: Thursday 3 April 2025 11.00 am to 3.00 pm

Where: The Fraternity Club, 11 Bourke Street, Fairy Meadow