Dear Parents and Carers, 

As we learn to navigate  the impact of COVID  in our daily lives, we have given great thought on how we can plan activities to ensure the safety of our students, whilst maintaining  the rich community and spiritual life that St Pius X is known for. Please find below an outline  of the planned end of year events. Further details of these events will follow in the coming weeks.

I trust that the details I have outlined regarding the end of year events will answer any questions you have. I would also like to acknowledge your overwhelming support, lovely feedback and suggestions during a difficult year. I look forward to making the end of year memorable for all of our students, who have worked tirelessly throughout the term. Finally, I would like to share a special prayer from our Diocesan framework that guides the Leadership Team in our decision making and articulates the essence of St Pius X.

Creator God,

 You are the source of all life and goodness. Be with us as we endeavour to create vibrant Catholic school communities in your name.

 Give us wisdom and courage to be able to support every student to find meaning and purpose in their life through experiencing continual growth in faith and improvement in learning.

 We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord

 Amen

Yours Sincerely

Pauline Chrostowski - Principal

Staff Development Day 

The staff will be participating in a STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY on FRIDAY 20th NOVEMBER, centered around Professional Development.  

Students will not be required to be at school on this day.  

Vinnies Christmas Giving Tree 

It is that time of year again. We are collecting food items to be donated to St Vincent De Paul in December. 

At present many families in our wider community are facing hardship, particularly with COVID 19. Once again this year to support families in need we will be having our annual Hamper Drive. 

Please see below for items to be brought in for each Year group.

Thank you in advance for your kind donations. 

Kinder: Lollies, chips, chocolates 

Year 1: Biscuits, snacks 

Year 2: Drinks, cordial, juice, fizzy drink 

Year 3: Christmas pudding/cake, desserts 

Year 4: tinned fruit, long life custard 

year 5: Breakfast items 

Year 6: Breakfast items

Staff: Tinned Ham, Christmas puddings, long life custard  

The focus of the day was all about "The 3 R's"- Relationships, Resilience and Reflection- and how they can help the students to become empowering leaders.

The activities ranged from Mindfulness to People Bingo and ended with the students receiving a certificate celebrating their ability to participate in activities that are sometimes outside their comfort zones, as well as the achievement of becoming leaders of SPX for 2021!

Congratulations Year 5! 

And a huge thank you to Mr Douglas and Mr Holgate for planning a great day and to Mrs Chapman and the other canteen helpers for making sure the students were nourished throughout the day! 

Contemplating Connections - SPX SPLICED

Congratulations to the following 11 students, who were successful in this years SPLICED unit:

Year 4: Katelyn H, John C, Xavier O and Maximus O

Year 5: Scarlett D and Savannah T

Year 6: Christian Y, Charlotte O, Bronte W, Ellie C and Bethany C.

These students, along with others across the Wollongong Diocese schools, will have their works published on either the SPLICED Website or in the official SPLICED Publication book (available from our school library in 2021).

A huge congratulations to ALL SPX students who participated in this challenging unit, that began in Term 1. Your dedication, persistence and willingness to be challenged out of your comfort zones, are to be commended.

Official certificates and student copies of the publication will be given out to students early December and they will also have the opportunity to watch the SPLICED launch on December 8th at 7pm with their family. 

SPLICED_SPX_1_.pdf

SPLICED_SPX_1 pdf 14.93 MB

Coping with Change

The recently formed COVID-19 Wellbeing Response Group, a joint initiative of Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW ) and CatholicCare, have developed a number of resources for students and parents during this time of disruption and change. This resource is a brief guide to help parents and carers support their child and access support services if required 

Download the Primary "Coping with change" 

 

NAIDOC Week 2020

This week at St Pius X  the students have celebrated NAIDOC Week with an in class Liturgy and a variety of art activities.

The Theme for NAIDOC Week is:

Always Was, Always Will Be.

Always Was, Always Will Be. recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.

 

Representative Sport News

Congratulations to the students who have recently completed in the Diocesan Sporting Trials. 

Kieran P and Ari K trialled in Cricket. Zane K trialled in Tennis and Giorgia T and Addison B trialled in basketball. Well done to these students who represented St Pius X with pride.

Congratulations to Addison who made the Diocese of Wollongong Basketball team. We wish her well at the MacKillop trials next year. 

 

 

Celebrating Writing

Language shapes our understanding of ourselves and our world. It is the primary means by which we relate to others and is central to the intellectual, social and emotional development of all students. From Kindergarten to Year 6, English is the study and use of the English language in its various textual forms. These encompass spoken, written and visual texts of varying complexity through which meaning is shaped, conveyed, interpreted and reflected.

The students at St Pius X have been hard at work during their English block over the course of the year. Along with reading, writing is a major focus for all grades. Writing is taught using a range of guided, modelled and independent activities with peer and teacher feedback at different stages. We use a range of assessments, standardised tests, workbooks and teacher observations to track student learning and growth.

In celebration of all things writing, here are some of the fantastic pieces of work that our students have completed over the past few weeks.  

                                             Chloe R - KB

Catherine O - 1B

Mason Bonham - 3B

Isaac L - 2B

Scarlett D - 5B 

Sacrament of Confirmation 

On the 5th and 6th of November, 34 Year 6 students received the Sacrament of Confirmation after careful preparation by their teachers Mr Farrugia, Mrs Suartama and Mrs Tighe.

Along with the Parish of Immaculate Conception, we extend a special congratulations and may the gift of the Holy Spirit be a guide in strengthening your faith. 

 

Canteen Days  

The Canteen will be closed from FRIDAY 11th December.

Lunch orders are available on Monday and Friday each week. 

Frozen goods ONLY will be available on Wednesdays. 

Please note the canteen will be closed Tuesday and Thursday in Term Four.  

Volunteers for 2021 

If you are interested in volunteewring in the Canteen for 2021 could you please let Danielle Chapman or The Office know your availability please. 

Thank you.

Bulletin 

Dear Friends,

There is no greater gift than our faith - by which we come to know the love of our God who is always with us, and find true meaning and purpose for our lives in following Christ. As you’ll read in the bulletin, it’s that time of year to start thinking and praying about who in our lives we may wish to share this gift of faith with, as we prepare to form the new group for “RCIA” (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

Let’s continue to pray with thanksgiving for our last group who recently received the Sacraments (and had a lot of fun along the way!) - Tiffany, Kayla, Rob, Karene, Jade and Tom.

Read more details about this and also other news in the bulletin attached. Please find attached to this email:

* Church Bulletin (with thanks to Sue Briscoe) 

May God bless you and keep you and all your loved ones safe and well.

Fr Duane Fernandez
Parish Priest
Immaculate Conception and St Therese Parishes
0414 626 357