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Dear Parents and Carers of St Pius X,
It was a wonderful privilege to attend the annual Year Six Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord at St Therese West Wollongong, alongside the senior students from St Pius X and other local Diocesan schools. I was so proud to witness our Year Six leaders participate reverently in the Mass and take pride in the way that they presented themselves on the day. The students as a group spoke to me about the many opportunities they were given in their senior years and the importance of faith in action, that is living out the message of Jesus through their words and actions.
I was also delighted to read and analyse the 2023 NAPLAN results for our Year Three and Year Five students. The school was well above the average in all areas of literacy and numeracy and this certainly emphasises our commitment to high quality learning and teaching. Whilst parents in Year Three and Five have received individual reports, we will take time over the coming months to provide a thorough school analysis of our data for parents.
It was a fun but noisy way to spend a Friday night, watching our SPX children bounce at Illawarra Inflatable Play Centre. A big thank you to our very capable Parents and Friends executive led by Jane Brejniak for coordinating this night, alongside our Year Six students. Also to Marija and Maurice Scaglia, parents of Rocco and Orlando and owners of Inflatable Play Centre who supported this wonderful community initiative.
I look forward to feedback on my Principalship at my appraisal on Friday 18th August. Can I please encourage you, if you have not already filled out the survey sent to you via email, to complete this at your earliest convenience. Your thoughts on my leadership will allow for my future professional growth as a Principal.
Finally, it was wonderful to welcome our special G Day visitors yesterday. Our Grandparents, God-Parents and Good friends. This event coincided with the feast of Jesus’ Grandparents Joachim and Anne. Their love for one another and for Mary and Jesus is an example to us of how God calls us to live. They also remind us to honor our own grandparents and to thank them for the blessings they have passed down to us in love. We were delighted by the strong turnout of people....over three hundred and loved welcoming you to our beautiful school. A big thank you to Ms Lousie Sartor and Mrs Karen Harley for coordinating this event.
Yours Sincerely,
Pauline Chrostowski - Principal
Sacrament of Reconciliation - Registered participants only
Please keep an eye out in your emails (and junk folders) over the weekend for the Trybooking links to secure your child’s spot for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Important update - ALL CEREMONIES will be taking place at St Therese Church due to the internal painting of Immaculate Conception Church.
Religious Literacy Assessment - Year 4
On Monday 31st July all Year 4 students across the Wollongong Diocese will sit the Religious Literacy Assessment. This is an assessment of religious literacy which focuses on student knowledge and understanding of the key concepts that are being addressed in the Religious Education program from K - 4. The assessment also aims to ascertain student ability to communicate with their religious tradition. We wish all of our Year 4 students the very best.
Prayer to St Joachim & Anne - Feast Day 26th July
SAVE THE DATE - Father’s Day Feast Fun!
Friday 1st September we will be celebrating our wonderful Fathers and Father-Figures with a scrumptious breakfast for Father’s Day. This will coincide with a day full of fun and festivities to mark the feast day of our school's patron saint, St Pius X. Please be sure to mark this date in your calendar and keep an out for further details to come!
At St Pius X, we are committed to continuously improving our school environment and fostering positive experiences for our students. A new playground roster is one of the many ways we seek to provide a vibrant and inclusive learning space for all students.
New Playground Roster: More Choice, More Fun!
Starting this term, children will have the opportunity to choose which playground they would like to play on during each break time. This means that they will no longer be restricted to their grade levels and will have the chance to interact and play with peers from different classes. This new roster hopes to foster a greater sense of community, encourage new friendships, and provide diverse play experiences for our students.
Evaluating the Trial Period: Your Feedback Matters!
We want to ensure that this new approach to the playground roster is working effectively for our students. Therefore, we are treating this as a trial period. Our teachers will closely monitor the playground activities and interactions and collect valuable playground data over the next few weeks. After the trial period, we will reevaluate the impact of the new setup based on this data and, importantly, the feedback from students and parents.
PB4L at St Pius X
The first few weeks of term find classrooms at St Pius X revisiting our school rules and expectations, discussing routines on the playground and in classrooms as part of our PB4L processes. This is especially important as we are trialing a new approach to our playground set up.
Positive Behavior for Learning (PB4L) is an evidence-based framework aimed at promoting positive behaviors and improving the overall well-being of students, teachers, and the school community. It is an essential part of our school's commitment to the development of the whole child. At its core, PB4L focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors rather than solely reacting to negative behaviors.
Key Aspects of PB4L:
- Preventative Approach: PB4L emphasizes a proactive approach to behavior management. Instead of waiting for challenging behaviors to arise, our school community actively works to create an environment that fosters positive behavior and social-emotional growth. These are addressed through class base units of work and reminders at whole school assemblies.
- Teaching Behavior Expectations: Clear behavior expectations are established and taught throughout the school. Students learn what positive behaviors look like in various settings, such as the classroom, playground, library, and more. The whole school are involved in this especially at the beginning of each term.
- Recognition and Reinforcement: We believe in celebrating and reinforcing positive behaviors. Students receive recognition, praise, and rewards when they demonstrate the desired behaviors, encouraging a cycle of continuous improvement. Children at St Pius X receive house tokens for recognition of positive behaviours and twice a term receive a whole house colour reward.
- Intervention and Support: For students who may need additional support, our PB4L program provides targeted interventions to address their specific needs. These interventions are designed to be proactive and help students develop the skills to make positive choices. These are in line with our tiered approach to learning and children may receive support whole class, small group or individually depending on need.
- Collaboration with Parents and Community: Parents play a vital role in PB4L's success and we encourage open communication between home and school via newsletter, Compass and parent teacher meetings.
How Parents Can Support PB4L at St Pius X:
- Reinforce positive behavior at home by acknowledging and praising your child when they display positive actions and attitudes or when you hear about positive behaviours happening at St Pius X.
- Communicate openly with teachers about your child's strengths, challenges, and any factors that may affect their behavior.
- Encourage and model positive behavior at home, reinforcing the same values your child learns at school.
Christine Nunes
Assistant Principal
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TERM THREE 17th JULY - 22 SEPTEMBER |
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| AUGUST | |
| Monday 14th |
PUPIL FREE DAY - Staff Spirituality Day |
| Wednesday 23rd |
First Reconciliation:5pm-7.30pm Immaculate Conception Parish Church |
| Friday 25th |
Book Week Parade commencing 9.30am (See Flyer) |
| SEPTEMBER |
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| Friday 1st |
8.00am: Father’s Day Breakfast and SPX Fun day (further details to follow) CANTEEN CLOSED |
| Saturday 9th |
SPX GALA Night at Kembla Grange |
| Friday 15th |
Year Three Assembly in the hall at 2.30pm All welcome! |
| Friday 22nd |
Last Day Term Three |
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TERM FOUR 9th OCTOBER - 15th DECEMBER |
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| OCTOBER |
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| Monday 9th |
First day Term Four |
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| NOVEMBER |
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| Saturday 11th |
Sacrament of First Holy Communion Ceremonies 11.30am or 2pm Immaculate Conception Parish |
| Monday 13th-Wednesday 15th |
Year 6 Camp |
| DECEMBER |
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| Thursday 8th |
Christmas Celebration Day - Further details to follow |
| Monday 11th |
Year Six Graduation WESTS |
| Friday 15th |
Last Day for students Year Six Final Assembly and rining of the bell 2.30pm |
| Monday 18th |
PUPIL FREE DAY |
| Tuesday 19th |
PUPIL FREE DAY |
BOOK WEEK
Our annual Book Week Celebrations will be held on Friday 25th August 2023. Children across Kindergarten to Year Six are invited to dress as their favourite book character on this day or alternatively dress to reflect the Children's Book Council of Australia 2023 theme of "Read, Grow, Inspire."
Medical Clearance - Injury Return to School
Members of staff annually update their first aid skills and CPR certification, with some members holding Senior First Aid Certificates.
When a student sustains an injury (at home or school) that will have an impact on their ability to engage in learning and play at school, we need to create a safety plan. The injury could include fractures, sprains etc. In order to create a plan we need a medical clearance from a doctor stating any restrictions your child may have. We require this prior to them attending school following an injury. Some of the adjustments we may need to consider are:
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Ability to participate in sport
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Ability to write/use their iPad
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Ability to use the toilet independently
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Ability to carry school bag or other items
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Ability to move around the playground or classroom
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Entry and exit into the classroom
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Location of desk in the classroom
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Risk or further injury while at school
ICAS (International Competition and Assessment for Schools) 2023
The University of New South Wales is offering children in Years Three to Six the opportunity to participate in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). This year, the majority of assessments will be online. ICAS is an independent, quality skills-based assessment program, which rewards and recognises outstanding achievement. ICAS gives you broad insights into your child’s performance across English, Mathematics, Science, and Spelling. Please note participation in these tests is voluntary. The English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies, Spelling assessments are $19.25 each to participate.
How to participate in ICAS If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:
- read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas)
- read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2023-ICAS-Assessme nts-Parents-PPS-TsCs_final.pdf)
- go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here: (shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)
- enter our school’s access code –JJO257
- enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
Please note that the ICAS tests shown for selection are at the school’s discretion. After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.
PLEASE NOTE NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED - registration closes Monday 31st July.
Testing Dates:
Digital Technologies- between 7- 11th August
English between 14-18th August
Science & Spelling between 21-25th August
Mathematics between 28-1st September
Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Shay Lindner, Middle Leader 2, Gifted Education
PRINCIPAL AWARDS
Karli Oliphant - 2B
Adon Dolphin - 3B
Maria Herve - 3B
Thomas Morath - 3R
Claudia Davis - 4R
Zachary O'Brien - 4R
Rafael Specogna - 4R
Marlee Minns - 5R
Thomas Klein - 6R
MACKILLOP AWARDS
Adon Doliphin - 3B
Maria Herve - 3B
Thomas Morath - 3R
Thomas Klein - 6R
SCHOOL MEDALLIONS
Thomas Klein - 6R
Medallions will be presented in Term 4 by Mrs Chrostowski.
Congratulations to all of these students.
SPORTS NEWS
Soccer Gala Day - Friday 28th July: Seniors (Years 5 & 6) Unanderra Oval
Juniors (Year 3 & 4) Woonona
Please check the Compass post for event details. Have fun tomorrow and remember that no point scores will be kept as this is a FUN DAY, NOT A SERIOUS COMPETITION!
Congratulations to Rocco Scaglia for gaining selection into the Mackillop team for Cross Country and competing at NSWPSSA Eastern Creek on Friday 21st July.
Upcoming Gala days:
Basketball Juniors (boys and girls) 14th September
Seniors (boys and girls) 15th September
Cricket Seniors only (boys and girls) 12th October
Please see flyer regarding MacKillop Golf selections:
GLITZ and GLAMOUR GALA NIGHT
The St Pius X Unanderra P&F present the Inaugural ‘GLITZ AND GLAMOUR’ 2023 GALA NIGHT.
️️️️️️️️Join us for a wonderful night celebrating our school community!
To be held at the stunning Grange Function Centre in Kembla Grange.
SATURDAY 9th SEPTEMBER
6.00pm for 6.30pm start, to finish 11.30pm.
Tickets $120 per person all inclusive of a delicious 3 course meal, all drinks and live entertainment by the amazing Alex Specogna.
Raffles, silent auction, live auction, fun games and dancing all on offer. Wear your best to bring the glitz and glamour of our Hollywood stars to the event!
Purchase Tickets ONLINE NOW to join in this wonderful event. Link available in the comments below.
The tables are named after Hollywood actors, so tell your friends what table you book on.
ALL WELCOME so bring your friends and family too!
We are also looking for sponsors or donations of prizes for the event so if you or your business is able to help support in some way, we would be most grateful. All sponsors and donations will be acknowledged on the night, in the school newsletter and on our social media pages.
Any enquiries please contact the Gala Committee on 0450 059 498 or email SPXPandF@gmail.com.
Looking forward to a wonderful event raising much needed funds for the school whilst building long term friendships with our parents.
Message from Fr Duane
Dear Parishioners,
Please find attached this week's bulletin.
Fr Duane Fernandez
Parish Priest
Immaculate Conception and St Therese Parishes