Dear Parents

Welcome to Term Three. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable holiday break and are refreshed and ready for the term ahead.

Welcome to our New Receptions

This term we welcomed 29 new Reception children and their families to our school community. Starting Reception is a big milestone, and we are so excited to begin this journey with you.

To our Reception students, we are so happy to have you as part of our school community and we can’t wait to see your smiles, hear your stories, and watch you grow throughout your schooling at St Pius.

To our families—thank you for entrusting us with this special chapter in your child’s life. We look forward to working in partnership with you to create a nurturing and inspiring environment for your child to thrive.

 Italian Day Celebration – A Bellissimo Experience!

On August 1st, our school came alive with the sights, sounds, and flavours of Italy as we celebrated Italian Day. What a wonderful day it was. Italian is the language that we teach at St Pius X and the children have a lesson per week practising the art of learning a second language and learning about the Italian culture.

It was fantastic to see so many children dressed in the vibrant colours of the Italian flag, embracing the spirit of the day with enthusiasm and joy. There were some very creative costume ideas, and it was evident that some children and families put a lot of time and energy into dressing up for the day.

The highlight of the morning was a lively performance by the Spettacolare Spettacolo Theatre Company, which brought Italian language and culture to life through singing, dancing, and interactive storytelling.

Students had the opportunity to order delicious Italian treats, including cannoli and zeppole, adding a sweet touch to the celebration. Our Year 5 and 6 students had a hands-on experience making fresh pasta, thanks to the generous support of volunteer family members and grandparents—grazie mille

Throughout the day, students made tambourines, gladiator masks, and Carnevale masks, exploring Italian traditions through art and craft

A heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who helped make the day so special. Your time and energy are deeply appreciated. A special thank you also goes to our Italian teacher, Laura Villani, whose dedication and countless hours of preparation brought this event to life for our students

We’re excited to announce that Italian Day will become a biennial event, giving us all something to look forward to every second year

Grazie to everyone who made this day a special one for the children.

Enrolments for 2027

I would like to kindly remind families who have not yet submitted an enrolment application for 2027 to do so as soon as possible. Our policy is that siblings of current students are guaranteed enrolment, providing they have submitted an enrolment form in a timely manner.

We have already filled three quarters of places for 2027 Reception, and we have a number of tours booked in throughout the remainder of this term with families who are interested in enrolling their children.

If your child is due to start school in either Term 3 2026 or Term 1 2027, then please ensure you have submitted an enrolment form as matter of urgency. If you know of any family members or friends who are interested in a 2027 enrolment, please encourage them to contact the school as soon as possible.

Principal for the Day and Living, Leading, Learning Surveys.

Once again Catholic Education have partnered with Curtain University to develop a survey for parents called the Living, Leading, Learning survey. This survey provides parents with an opportunity to anonymously complete a short survey about school operations.

We value your voice and your insights! The Living, Leading, Learning Survey has been sent out via a link on SZapp, and we encourage all families to take a few minutes to complete it.

Your feedback helps us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. It’s a vital part of shaping the future of our school and ensuring we continue to provide the best possible learning environment for every student.

This year we will once again be running our Principal for the day competition. If your child or children are fortunate enough to win this competition, they will have a chance to experience leadership, make a few announcements and enjoy some special privileges.

The survey can be completed online www.NSIPartnerships.com.au  using our school code SPXLLLP . After completing the survey, you can visit this link to enter the draw for– Principal for a Day–2025.

Canteen Survey

I would like to thank all of the families that took the time to complete our canteen survey last term. We received some wonderful feedback and some suggestions for new ideas. You may have already noticed that there have been some changes to the canteen menu. These changes have come about as a result of the survey feedback. We are always open to trialling some new ideas and looking at ways to improve our service.

I would like to thank Neville Nichols and Robyn McMahon for their wonderful management and operation of the canteen. They both do a fantastic job and the school is very lucky to have them leading our canteen.

Upcoming Community Events

We’re excited to invite all families to be part of our upcoming school community events.

Book Week Dress-Up Parade & Grandparents Day
Friday, 15th August
Come dressed as your favourite book character and celebrate the joy of reading! We also warmly welcome grandparents to join us for a special morning of connection and classroom visits

Father’s Day Breakfast & Classroom Visits
Friday, 5th September
Dads and father figures—start your day with a delicious breakfast and spend some time in the classroom with your child. It’s a great way to share in their learning and celebrate the important role you play.

AFL Max Family Fun Night
Friday, 12th September
Join us for an action-packed evening at AFL Max! This family-friendly event promises fun, games, and plenty of energy. A fantastic way to wrap up the term with laughter and community spirit

We encourage all families to come along and be part of these special moments. Your presence makes a big difference, and we can’t wait to see you there. Details about our events can be found on SZapp.

God Bless

Ashley Keane

Feast of St Pius X Mass

Please join us on Tuesday August 26^th for Mass at 11:50am

We will meet in the hall with Fr John as celebrant.  Together we will acknowledge our patron saint and learn more about his work and time as Bishop of Rome.

Sacramental Program – all events at St Pius X church, Dernancourt

Please complete the online Confirmation form sent via seesaw as it is important for enrolment purposes. https://stpiusx.schoolzineplus.com/form/620

Year 3 and 4

Sponsor and Candidate night - August 28^th at 7pm

Year 3

Confirmation – Sept 3^rd at 6:30pm

First Holy Communion – Sept 21^st at 9:30am

PLEASE make sure that all shields are decorated and returned to school by August 27^th

Year 4

Confirmation – Sept 4^th at 6:30pm

First Holy Communion - Sept 21^st at 2:30pm

Pilgrimage and Mass with Archbishop O’Regan – Jubilee Year of Hope

Archbishop O’Regan will be offering a special Mass at pilgrimage sites on the following dates:

• Saturday, August 23 – St Joseph’s Church, Penola, 4.30pm, with Reconciliation from 3.30pm
• Saturday, October 11 – St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Adelaide, 11.30am with Reconciliation from 10am. Bookings for the Penola Mass on August 23 are now open. Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DASOP.

We look forward to celebrating this special journey of faith together.

Jubilee of Youth

To celebrate the Year of Jubilee, a million youth and young adults were in Rome for the international celebration of Young People. During the week, they gathered from around the world for a pilgrimage experience of a lifetime. Pope Leo XVI called out to the visitors, “You are the living hope of the church.” This worldwide expression of faith is a visible sign to the people of our planet of hope for a fractured, divided world, especially when young adults are its heralds. Let us journey on together!

World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly Parish Mass

Thankyou also to our School Student Leaders who attended a SPX Parish Mass on Sunday June 27^th to acknowledge the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly.  They ministered as Readers and in the Offertory Procession.  The leaders also distributed gifts to the parishioners. A great connection with our parish.

Kind Regards

Rita Campbell

Reporting Absences

If your child is absent from school please notify us through SZapp.  Use the 'Absences' tab.  If you notify your child's class teacher via Seesaw or email you are still required to notify the office. 

If your child/ren will be absent for 5 days or more please complete an Exemption from School Attendance ED175 Form C - https://stpiusx.schoolzineplus.com/form/389

Change of clothes

Please have spare pants and socks in your child's bag incase of wet or dirty clothes.  Junior primary parents please ensure there is always change of clothes in your child's bag. 

Labelling reminder

Lots of unnamed lost property is being handed into the office.

Please ensure ALL your children's belongings (all clothing items, lunchboxes - lids and containers, drinkbottles, pencil cases etc.) are CLEARLY LABELLED with your child's name.

Labelled property can be easily returned to their owner.

Community Portal 

A reminder to all families to ensure you are registered for the St Pius X Community Portal. This portal is an integral access point for important school information, including your school fee statements.

All current statements have now been uploaded to the portal. We ask that all families log in and check their statement to ensure payments are up to date.

Please note that all fees must be paid in full by 30 November 2025.

If you are not yet registered for the portal, please do so as soon as possible.

Should you require assistance with fees or have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the Business Manager at finance@stpiusx.catholic.edu.au.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and your continued support.

Book Week Parade & Grandparents Day

This year our Book Week Parade and Grandparents Day will be combined on Friday August 15th. We would love you to join us on the oval from 9am for the parade followed by open classrooms !  Our grandparents are then invited to join their grandchildren in the De Mazenod Hall for morning tea.

Grandparents who did not RSVP but still wish to join us please email pandf@stpiusx.catholic.edu.au before 10am Monday 11th August

AFL Max family event

Tickets are on sale now !! 

head to Qkr! > School Payments > Activities > select tickets you wish to purchase.

Father's Day Breakfast 

Our annual Father's Day Breakfast is back this year!!

Keep a look out for details/ order form next week.

Whole School Picnic

Save the Date !!!!!   We would love to see as many families there as possible.

We’re excited to share that we’ve recently introduced a series of new small world play areas around the school to inspire creativity, imagination, and storytelling during playtime.

Small world play involves using miniature toys, figurines, animals, vehicles, or buildings to create imagined environments and tell stories. It’s a wonderful way for children to explore ideas, engage in role-play, and develop social and language skills – all while having fun!

You may have noticed tyres (and one wheelbarrow!) placed around the garden beds. These have been filled with mulch and transformed into imaginative play zones. Each tyre provides a base for a different small world theme, such as:

- Fairy gardens
- Dinosaur lands
- Construction sites
- Car tracks

-Pirate adventures 

To help keep these spaces tidy and ready for everyone to enjoy, each year level has StARs leaders who will support students in packing away materials and reminding peers of the expectations at the end of each play session. 

We’re looking forward to seeing the wonderful stories and adventures our students create in these new play areas!

Athletics Training 

Adelaide North East Sapsasa

Please click to read and register.

AFL girls - Open to all students interested.

Girls_AFL_Adelaide_North_East_trial_form

Tennis - Open to students who play yellow ball only.

Adelaide_North_East_Tennis

Cricket - If your child would like to be considered for Cricket please speak to Mr Zamparelli before registering.

Catholic Schools Music Festival 

St Pius X School Choir will be performing at The annual Catholic School's Music Festival at 7:30pm - 9:15pm on Wednesday, the 24th of September 2025. 

Ticket Sales:

Families purchase tickets directly from Ticketek from August 12. More information may be found on the Music Festival website at https://www.musicfestival.cesa.catholic.edu.au/news-events/ticket-sales

Music Tuition 2025 Enrolments

There are some vacancies with some Music Tutors.

If you would like your child to learn an instrument please complete the enrolment form

2025 Music Tuition Singing with Megan 

2025 Music Tuition Drums with Daniel

2025 Music Tuition Piano with Jen

2025 Music Tuition Piano with Lucy

2025 Music Tuition - Guitar with David

2025 Music Tuition with Julian

 2025 Tuition - Speech and Drama

 St Pius X – Leading the Way in Environmental Sustainability

We’re thrilled to share that St Pius X School has been featured in Green Adelaide’s Sustainability eNews! The article celebrates our student-led Eco Guardians and their inspiring podcast, Tiny Planet, Big Heart, which explores environmental issues through the eyes of young changemakers.

You can read the full article here:
Tiny Planet, Big Heart – Green Adelaide Feature

Upcoming Environmental Sustainability and Wellbeing Day

As part of our ongoing commitment to care for creation, we are excited to announce Environmental Wellbeing Day in Week 8 – Friday, 12th September.

This day will focus on:
Appreciating and giving thanks for our planet and natural environment
Engaging with the outdoor environment
Making personal commitments to look after our planet
Connecting without the use of technology

Activities will include:

• Liturgy giving thanks for the Earth
• Loose parts, junk and mud play
• Tent City quiet play
• Indoor low- or no-tech hands-on experiences

Students are encouraged to wear old clothes, bring waterproof boots, and pack a change of clothes for the day.

Donations Welcome!

To support the activities, we are looking for donations of:

• Old sheets
• Rope
• Tarpaulins
• Wooden pallets
• Old crates
• Pots, pans, spatulas, and scoops

If you have any of these items to spare, please drop them off at Room 20.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students develop a deep appreciation and care for the environment.

Let’s work together to nurture hearts that love, hands that serve, and minds that think sustainably! 

Jane Buhagiar

Key Sustainability Teacher

P&F Meetings
On Friday September 12th @ 2pm we will be holding our next P & F meeting in the meeting room. We would love to see some new faces and welcome back some familiar ones. If you would like to come and see what its all about come along, no need to let us know beforehand. It's a fantastic chance to meet other parents, share ideas, and see how you can get involved in supporting our students and the SPX community. We are ready to start our planning for 2026, and we need your help to make it happen! 

Want some great entertainment offers while supporting our school ?

Click here to sign up - https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/162x804

Families are invited to attend our school assemblies.

Please find the latest edition of The Southern Cross - The Southern Cross August 2025.