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Dear Parents

It is hard to believe that we are only three weeks away from the end of the school year and what a busy last couple of weeks it is going to be.

Congratulations to our Athletics Team
On Thursday 31^st October about 70 children represented our School at the Catholic School’s Athletics Carnival which was held at SANTOS Stadium. Our school is in Division One for this carnival which means that we compete against the larger schools and colleges within CESA. A Parish Primary School, competing in division one of the Athletics Carnival is big achievement in itself and is a testament to the wonderful sporting program which is offered by our PE teacher, Angelo Zamparelli.

I am thrilled to announce that our Girls were this year’s Champions of Division One Athletics Carnival and our boys team finished in second place. These are absolutely amazing results. We had a large number of children who obtained personal best results in their track and field events and we also had a large number of children who broke long standing association records. More detailed results of children who broke records can be found later in this newsletter.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Angelo Zamparelli for his dedicated work in helping our children to perform so well at this carnival. Angelo is a very dedicated teacher who gives up hours of his own time to ensure that our children have wonderful sporting opportunities at the school. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated PE teacher and I am very grateful for all the work that Angelo does.

Many children have been coming to school at 8am each morning and staying after school until 4pm each night to train for the carnival for the last couple of months. I would like to thank all of the children, staff and parents who were involved in making the athletics carnival a great success.

Year 3 Camp to AFL Max
On Thursday 7^th November our Year 3 children had the opportunity to attend an overnight camp experience at AFL Max at West Beach. As part of this experience the children had full access to the AFL Max facilities and were led by the AFL Max staff as they learned about healthy bodies, healthy minds, healthy eating and healthy relationships. The children had the opportunity to challenge themselves on the rock climbing wall, engage in team activities, bounce on the trampolines, race around the inflatable obstacles and most of all they had a lot of fun. This was the first time that we have taken our Year 3 children on camp, and I am pleased to say that the experience was a great success. I would like to thank Susie Boksem, Jacky Walters, Rosanna Perrotta, Oliver Parker, Nigel Armstrong, Daisy Figg and Jamie Deverson who attended the camp with the children. It was a fantastic experience and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time at AFL Max with our Year 3 children.

Year 6 Bike Ride
Last Friday the Year 6 classes re-introduced the tradition of the Annual Bike Ride. This was once an annual tradition at St Pius X for years, however it stopped during the COVID times. This year the students rode along the Linear Park bike trail.

As part of the day a number of parents, teachers and students undertook a 20km ride along the Linear trail, with a few stops along the way. The children all stopped for a BBQ lunch at Paradise Recreation Plaza before riding back to school. This was a wonderful event for our Year 6 students and a great way for parents, teachers and students to spend time together as we near the end of the school year.

I would like to thank Nigel Armstrong and Angelo Zamparelli who spent times on the weekend riding around and marking out the track for the students and for all their organisation of the event.

I would also like to thank Chris Hyde, Antony Scarfo, Domenic Fiorentini Jenny Mittiga, Rachel Bond, Basia Jedrzejczak, Cassandra Figg, Daisy Figg, Jamie Deverson and Thanh Pham for being part of the day and ensuring that the day ran smoothly.

I would also like to thank our numerous parent helpers who either rode with the children, acted as marshalls throughout the day so children did not get lost or who supported with cooking the sausage sizzle lunch. It was a wonderful day which showcased the children’s resilience and wonderful relationships that they have formed during their time at St Pius X. This event is something that we will look bring back onto our yearly calendar. 

Classes for 2025
On Friday 6^th December the children will have the opportunity to meet their teachers for 2025 and will spend 45 minutes visiting their new classrooms in 2025. Class placement letters and school reports will be sent home to parents on this day.

At the beginning of next year all parents will have the opportunity to book a 15 minute chat with their child’s teacher for 2025. The purpose of this chat is to give you and your child a chance to meet your child’s teacher and also allow the teacher to get to know more about your child. Our teachers see these chats as very valuable and we encourage all families to book a chat if they are able to do so.

The date for this is Thursday 23^rd January. Information and a booking link to book a chat will be included in the class placement letter.

Staffing
As we prepare for the 2025 school year, there will be some staffing changes.

I would like announce that after 25 years of service to our school community, Tokuyo Sneddon will be retiring at the end of this year. Tokuyo has fulfilled a number of roles across our school and over the last couple of years she has been wonderful in sharing her artistic skills with the students and staff. I would like to thank Tokuyo for her service to our school community and wish her all the best as she embarks on the next stage of her life.

Annette Rowe has made the decision to retire from full time teaching in order to devote some more time supporting her family. Annette has been a teacher at St Pius X for over 20 years. During this time, Annette has made a wonderful contribution to the teaching and learning outcomes of many students and has been a great support for staff with her extensive knowledge of evidence based literacy practices.  I would like to thank Annette for her contribution to the St Pius X School community and I wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

I can also announce that Natasha Petrone has accepted a teaching position at St Francis of Assisi at Newton for the 2025 school year. Natasha has been at our school for a number of years, firstly as an ESO and in the past few years has been teaching in Year One. I am sure Natasha will be an asset to the St Francis School community and I wish her all the best as she starts at her new school.

I would like to congratulate Hadyn Smith, Alaina Basso, Antony Scarfo and Stephanie Ellul who have all been appointed to ongoing permanent teaching positions at St Pius X School. All of these staff members add great value to our school community and I look forward to their continuing work as part of our school community for many years to come.

I would also like to announce that I have appointed Mr Isaac Hay to a permanent position at St Pius X School. Isaac is currently a Junior Primary teacher at Christian Brother’s College for the last 4 years. Isaac comes to us very highly recommended and we look forward to having him join our staff team in 2025.

I am also pleased to announce the appointments of a few new contract teachers to our school in 2025. Sofia Zito who started with us part way through this year will be continuing as part of our Middle Primary teaching team in 2025. Joanne Gagliardi, Ashlee Thomas, Lauren Borg and Nat Tsgaris will be joining our staff in various roles in 2025.

All of these staff members have undertaken work at St Pius X in 2024 and I have no doubt that they will be wonderful additions to our school staff.

I will send out further information about all of the staffing changes later this term.

Diary Dates
Please take note of some of the important dates for your diary which pertain to the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025.

Thursday 28^th November – Sports Presentation Assembly @ 1:45pm.

Friday 29^th November – Wellbeing and Casual Clothes day.

Thursday 5^th December: Whole School end of year Mass @ 11:50am.

Friday 6^th December: Meet the teacher – children gathering in 2025 class groups. Class Placement letters and School Reports sent home.

Tuesday 10^th December: End of Year Assembly @ 9:00am - Year 6 Graduation Mass and Dinner @ 5:30pm.

Wednesday 11^th December: School finishes for students @ 3:00pm.

Thursday 23^rd January: Book a chat with the teacher.

Monday 27^th January: Australia Day Public Holiday.

Tuesday 28^th January: School commences for students.

Friday 7^th March: Pupil Free Day (Public Holiday Monday 10^th March).

Vinnies Christmas Appeal 
Our Christmas Appeal has started.  The St Vincent de Paul conference of Dernancourt will be creating food hampers and distributing Christmas gifts to families in need at Christmas time. This year the list of donations is:

• tinned vegetables: carrots, peas, green beans, beetroot
• tinned fruit
• reduced cream
• long life custard
• long life milk
• rice, noodles
• cordial, Christmas lollies, jellies
• biscuits: savoury and sweet
• mince pies, bon bons
• spreads: honey and jam
• tea, coffee and milo

Any gifts donated for children aged between 4 years and 15 years would be very much appreciated.

Parish Christmas Mass Times
St Pius X Church, Avoca St Dernancourt

Tuesday 24^th December
8:00pm - Christmas Carols
8:30pm - Christmas Eve Mass

Wednesday 25^th December
9:30am - Christmas Day Mass

Sacramental Program 2025
A change to the Parish Program means that Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 2, Week 9 (end of June) and the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Holy Communion will be celebrated in Term 3, sometime in August.  All dates will be confirmed at the beginning of the 2025 school year.  Thankyou for your patience.

Kind Regards

Rita Campbell

Dear Families,

Just a friendly reminder that school fees are due to be paid in full by 30th November 2024. Thank you to those that have finalised your account or those in the process, this is very much appreciated.  If you need to check your account balance or to discuss your fees please contact Sue Dixon on 8266 9400 or email finance@stpiusx.catholic.edu.au 

Catholic School Athletics Carnival
On Thursday 31^st October we took 75 children to the Catholic School Athletics Carnival to compete in a variety of track and field events. We thank all our Volunteers, ESOs, teachers and especially Mr Zamparelli and Cassandra for making this day possible. We are super proud of the results our students achieved, and we would like to make a few special mentions to some certain children. 

Association Record Holders
In High Jump, Samuel M jumped a new PB and broke the Association Record of 1.45 metres.

Lillian C jumped a new PB and broke the Association Record of 1.32 metres. 

In Long Jump, Ava W jumped a new PB and broke the Association Record of 4.64 metres and won the Open Pentathlon Champion. 

In the Year 6 Girls Relay, they broke the Association Record of 57.64 seconds.   

Marco Z was awarded the Individual Age Champion.

Our Year 5 boys were the overall Age Champions and the boys overall as a collective came second. Overall, the girls came first!

Personal Best
In High Jump, Sophie F jumped a new PB of 1.37 metres.

Ben L jumped a new PB of 1.42 metres.

Eddie R jumped a new PB of 1.21 metres.

Ariella G jumped a new PB of 1.11 metres. 

Milana G jumped a new PB of 2.98 metres.

In shot put, Nicola A put a new PB of 7.03 metres. 

In the 100-metre Sprint, Marco Z ran a new PB of 13.49 seconds and in the 400-metre sprint, he ran a new PB of 1 minute 7 seconds. In Long Jump, he jumped a new PB of 4.22 metres.

The Australian All Schools Athletics Championships
Congratulations and best of luck to Ava W who will be representing South Australia in the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships later this term.

Congratulations to Grace G for successfully completing her A.M.E.B classical guitar exam, preliminary level. receiving a B+ result, excellent work Grace.

Regards

David 

Instrumental Program 2025
Enrolments for 2025 Music Tuition will open from 4:00pm on Friday 6th December. Please look out for the link on the SZapp.

2025 Choir
Families of 2025 Choir members, you would have recevied a letter from Mrs J, please return your reply slips before the end of this week.

You will receive an email and SZapp notification before the end of this term with details about next year's choir.

Congratulations
Some exciting news of Singing Students' exam results:

I'm pleased to let you know that your school is one of the top Book Club performers in South Australia. This is no small achievement, and you should take great pride in what Tania and the school have accomplished.

Please find attached a slide with a breakdown of the funds raised through parental support. Congratulations on making this such a successful year. 

Angie Farrier
Territory Manager - SA