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Dear Parents and Carers,
It was so wonderful to welcome you all back on site this week. It was lovely to engage with parents at dismissal and I thank you for your support in adhering to the COVID guidelines. At St Pius X my firm belief is, that if students are to have growth in faith and learning, this is best achieved when there is a strong partnership between home and school. The role of you, as parents, the “first and primary educators” (Vatican II) of your child is recognised and valued here at our school. I sincerely thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate the COVID directives and make decisions in the best interest of the health and safety of the community.
Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of St Joseph and to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, The Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of St Joseph”. What better way than on the Feast Day of St Joseph to acknowledge a loving husband and father, a man who worked with his hands, a man who watched over and cared for his family, and who had a deep faith in God, even when things seemed to be working against him.
Our children will pay tribute to St Joseph, the worker by dressing in mufti as essential workers. Activities throughout the day will examine the wonderful qualities of St. Joseph, a model of justice, honesty and humility.
Yours in faith and learning,
Pauline Chrostowski - Principal
The following students will receive awards for Week 7 and Week 8
Merit Awards
| Week 7 | Week 8 |
|
KB: Karli O, Kai J KR: Jack S, Poppy G, Scarlette D 1B: Logan S, Cael C 1R: Chiara M, Thomas M 2B: Ezekiel B, Sophie C 2R: Riley H, Leni G, Oliver B 3B: Sienna G, Eli R, Bruce T, Esther L 4B: Emma V 4R: Arlie M, Owen S 5B: Kieran P, Gabriel A 5R: Alejandro M, Orlando B 6B: Tristan M, Savannah T 6R: Skye A, Kai W |
KB: Isaiah R, Claire N, Levi L KR: Georgie D, Blake M, Dion D 1B: Scarlett P, Fionn K 1R: Zane H, Courtney M 2B: Annabel N, Harry T 2R: Katie V, Catherine O 3B: Jacob B, David C, Emmanuel G, Bronte C, Charlotte M 4B: Max M 4R: Ava G, William S 5B: Sienna C, Ike M 5R: Jake H, Lucas B, Olivia S 6B: Liana D, Ari K, Sophie T 6R: Shylah F, Daniel M |
When you have 5 Merit Awards, you qualify for a PRINCIPAL AWARD
Principal's Award
Beau W - 1B
Matthew H - 1B
Zia P - 1B
Marcus B - 1B
Claire B - 1R
Tristan G - 1R
Javier M - 2R
Riley H - 2R
Bruce T - 3B
Stella B - 4R
Ronan S - 5B
Kieran P - 5B
Ike M - 5B
Gabriella A - 5R
Zara M - 5R
Estelle L - 5R
Audrey L - 6R
When you have 3 Principal's Awards, you will qualify for a Mackillop Award
Mackillop Award
Gabriella A - 5R
When you have 2 Mackillop Awards, You qualify for a School Medallion
School Medallion
Medallions will be presented later in the year by Mrs Chrostowski.
Congratulations to all of these students.
COVID Updates
Please note that parents and carers are permitted on school sites or offsite events for the following purposes:
- To pick up and drop off their children without needing to sign in as visitors (this is the only exception to visitors signing in).
- Essential parents and carer meetings with teachers and / or school leadership with a scheduled appointment.
- Attending the office for the purpose of picking up your child if they are unwell.
- Parents/spectators may attend school or external venue events in accordance with the event’s COVID-19 Safety Plan.
Please note the Leadership Team will work throughout the year on ways to organise COVID safe events for parents, including afternoon assemblies and these plans will be communicated to you early next term.
Dismissal Times
A reminder that our dismissal times are no longer staggered, as parents can now access the site. Please take note of the following times:
3.05p.m Dismissal of Bus and After School Care Children.
3.10p.m Dismissal of all other children. Kindergarten parents are to collect their children from the cement area, near the back of the Kindergarten rooms. All other children will be brought to the cement area by their teacher for dismissal.
In the event of severe weather children may be collected from their classrooms from 3.00p.m
Farewell Mrs Lindner!
Tomorrow we farewell Mrs Shay Lindner, as she and her husband Nathan prepare for the exciting journey of parenthood. We wish Shay all the very best on her new ventures and are looking forward to the arrival of her precious baby.
Farwell Shay, we will miss you!
Congratulations to Mr Bill Whittle who was successsful in obtaining the role of Middle Leader 2 in Mrs Lindner's absence. Ms Renee Maguire will fulfil the role of Middle Leader 1 and we welcome her back to the Leadership Team.
Technology Update
A limited number of students have sought permission to have a phone at school, for the purpose of safety when walking home. Such devices, like phones and smartwatches are to be turned to modes that will not interrupt the course of learning or playing throughout the school day. Students are directed to keep phones in their bags, if not they will be sent to the office for safe keeping. Thank you for your ongoing support regarding technology.
Sport uniform Reminders
- Plain white, ankle length socks (anklet socks are not permitted)
- Joggers with laces or Velcro (coloured runners are acceptable)
- Please note: The school hat is to be worn before and after school, at breaks, PE and Sport
A royal blue jacket may be worn over the sloppy joe for extra warmth. This also may be worn over the normal summer or winter uniform.
Birthdays
Could we please ask that if you are sending in birthday treats that they are fully sealed and individually wrapped to avoid cross contamination. Teachers are aware of children will allergies and food intolerances and will ensure they receive an appropriate treat.
All birthday treats will be sent home for consumption.
Returning to school with an injury
Any student returning to school with an injury e.g., broken leg is required to have a medical clearance and the school then needs to complete a risk assessment prior to a return to school. This is to ensure we can best support your child.
Staff Professional Development
“ Those who dare to teach, never cease to learn” John Cotton Dana
23/3 Ms Sartor at St Paul’s Albion Park- Leading Literacy Initiatives (Instructional Coach)
24/3 2pm Mr Farrugia attending Learning in Leadership Course
23/3, 24/3 Ms Frew attending Phonics Training
25/3 Mr Farrugia attending Assistant Principal Day
30/3 Ms Frew at Beginning Teachers Professional Development
31/3 St Pius X Leadership Team meeting on site
All teachers will be participating in ongoing Collaborative Planning Meetings with the Instructional Coach Ms Sartor, aimed at improving student outcomes.
Enrolments
We are now taking enrolments for 2022, please phone the office for further information. School Tours may be booked via our website or office.
Please spread the word about our wonderful school!
Stop Look Listen - Road Safety
Project Compassion-Mini Vinnies 2021
Stage 3 have enthusiastically commenced a Mini Vinnies group at St Pius X, Unanderra
This term they are encouraging the students to support Project Compassion. Money raised will be donated to Caritas Australia, who support subsidiarity in Tanzania, Solomon Islands, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
WOW! This Week Year 5B donated the most money, raising $95.15.
The class that raises the most money will receive a prize in Term 2.
So far we have raised well over $1500. If we make it to $2500 this term Caritas will be able to give a Rohingya family of 7, safe temporary housing in a Bangladesh refugee camp.
So keep donating and thank you for your generosity.
Alana Sullivan Pastoral Support Worker
National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that allows parents in Years 3 and 5 to see how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy, against the national standard and compared with their peers throughout Australia. At the classroom level, NAPLAN provides additional information to support teachers’ professional judgement about student progress.
Children in Year 3 and 5 will take part in the coordinated practice test on Thursday 25 March. The purpose of the practice test is to trial the online assessment platform with a large number of users from around Australia. This will provide an opportunity to identify any issues with the online assessment platform that need to be addressed before the NAPLAN tests and to avoid unexpected connectivity issues on the first day of NAPLAN testing in May.
High School Enrolments 2022 and 2023
St Joseph's Catholic High School
St Joseph's Catholic High School, Albion Park, would like to advise parents and prospective students that our enrolments for year 7 2022 and 2023 are closing 1st April.
For those parents and students that missed our tour and information evenings we will be offering more scheduled tours and a parent information session on Tuesday 27th April. Registration is essential.
Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Holy Spirit College
We would like to extend our thanks to all of the families who attended the Holy Spirit College
Open Day last month. It was a pleasure to have you visit our College community.
Please note that enrolment applications for Year 7 2023 close on Thursday 1 April 2021.
Families that would like to submit an application for Year 7 2022 are advised to do so as
soon as possible, as there are a limited number of vacancies for next year.
Please contact the College on 4285 2877 if you have any queries regarding the enrolment process.
Focus on PB4L (Positive Behaviours for Learning)
As we draw towards the end of a fabulous term, the staff are mindful that our students become more tired and can engage more in less desirable behaviours.
Our PB4L Team have recently decided upon a strategy to help assist our students, teachers and families with timely reminders of positive behavioural expectations at school.
We will be looking at using a three weekly focus area, that supports and refreshes our learning of positive ways to behave at school.
For the rest of Term 1 (weeks 8, 9 and 10) our focus is on frustration, physical contact and aggression.
The students will share in daily discussions and a slide show that gives them strategies to use when feeling frustrated in class or on the playground. Strategies such as walking away, having a drink, talking to a teacher, breathing deeply or taking five minutes to myself.
We encourage you to discuss this with your children to once again reinforce the connection between home and school learning.
Youth Liaison Police Visit
On Tuesday 9th March, St Pius X was visited by our local Police Liaison Officer, Senior Constable Jo. Officer Jo spoke to our Stage 2 (Yrs 3 & 4) and Stage 3 (Yrs 5 & 6) students about safe practices to use when gaming and communicating online along with the use of social media. The students were reminded of the age restrictions associated with a lot of the social media sites and the dangers of leaving accounts public. A large emphasis was placed on gaming, where a lot of our students are engaged in communicating with friends as well as strangers.
Officer Jo has made a commitment to work closely with the school on any issues in regards to cybersafety or other youth related concerns.
Sacrament Information Night – FINAL SESSION (Year 3 and 6 students)
Last week the Sacramental Information Nights were held at St Therese and Immaculate Conception parishes. If you were unable to make it there will be ONE make up information session made available in the coming weeks (date to be provided).
If you miss this last opportunity then unfortunately your child may have to join next years sacramental program. If you need to attend this makeup session please inform the school office and Ms Sartor will be in touch with you.
Harmony Day
This Friday 19th March, students will celebrate Harmony Day within their classrooms.
It is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it. Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.
Remember to ask your child/ren about how they commemorated this important day in their classrooms.
Great News!!!!!!!
The Canteen will now be OPEN EVERYDAY!!!!!!!
Thank you so very much to our wonderful Canteen Co-Ordinator Danielle Chapman, for her tireless work and committment to our Canteen.
Thank you also to our invaluable volunteers who have signed up for this year, because of you and our wonderful Greenacres Volunteers who run our Canteen on a Tuesday, we can now have our Canteen up and running every for our students.
Parish News
Dear friends,
This week we will start taking bookings for Holy Week ceremonies (starting with Palm Sunday Masses), which will all be done via the Trybooking website (links in the bulletin attached). Please note – regular registrations will NOT apply for Palm Sunday Masses or Holy Week ceremonies, since we often get many non-regulars attending at those times and we may well reach the new 2 square metre rule capacity for those special ceremonies. Also please do not contact the Parish Offices for bookings unless you are unable to book via the Trybooking website. Bookings via Trybooking will open this Monday 15th March. More details in the bulletin.
Please find attached:
The Parish Bulletin for last Sunday (with thanks to Melissa Bridges)
God’s blessings to you and your loved ones,
Fr Duane Fernandez
Parish Priest
Immaculate Conception and St Therese Parishes