It is hard to believe we are nearly at the end of Term 3. What a busy term it has been, filled with many exciting events.

Year 4 Camp

Earlier this term, I had the pleasure of attending the Year 4 Camp. Set in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, the camp offered a range of exciting activities that encouraged teamwork, resilience, risk taking and exploration. From soaring through the air on the giant swing and flying fox, to building rafts and racing them across a pool, the children embraced every challenge with enthusiasm. They navigated scavenger hunts using maps, tested their aim in archery, and enjoyed the thrill of playing spotlight at night and finished the evening toasting marshmallow on the bonfire. The behaviour of all students was outstanding, making the experience even more enjoyable for everyone involved. I would like to thank the Year 4 teachers for their wonderful organisation of the camp and all the teachers who attended the camp. Camps provide children with lasting memories and provide them with a great opportunity to develop some independence and develop closer connections with their peers.

Father’s Day Celebration

Our Father’s Day Breakfast and Open Morning was a fantastic celebration, with a wonderful turnout of parents and special guests. It was heartwarming to see how much the children enjoyed having their dads and loved ones visit their classrooms and share in the morning’s activities. A huge thank you to Cassandra Figg her amazing behind the scenes planning of the day; our dedicated staff who arrived early and cooked over 600 bacon and egg sandwiches and the Parents and Friends Group for organising the always-popular Father’s Day Stall. It’s such a joy to see the excitement on the children’s faces as they choose a special gift. A considerable amount of time and effort goes into ordering the items for the Father’s Day stall and then setting up, pricing and making sure that all children have the opportunity to purchase a gift. I really appreciate the wonderful work of the P&F in making this stall possible for our children. We hope all our fathers had a truly memorable Father’s Day!

Well Being Day & AFL Max

Last Friday, our school came alive with laughter, creativity, and connection during our Whole School Wellbeing Day. It was a joyful, technology-free celebration that gave students the chance to unplug and immerse themselves in nature. Children delighted in playing with mud, building cubby houses from sticks, drawing vibrant chalk art on the ground, kicking around oversized soccer balls, and exploring the fun of tents. The day was filled with hands-on experiences that encouraged imagination, teamwork, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors and physical activity. I would like to acknowledge  Ashlee Stanley, Jane Buhagiar & Holli Caputo for their leadership of the wellbeing day. I would also like to thank our incredible Sustainability Leaders and Eco Guardians for their hours of planning and for their assistance with setting up the day. A great day was had by all.

On Friday night, we hosted a family fun evening at AFL Max. We had over 250 people in attendance and the children and parents enjoyed exclusive use of the facility and all of the activities that AFL Max has to offer. I would like to thank AFL Max for hosting the evening. The staff ran competitions and worked hard to ensure that everyone who was there had a great night. It was such a wonderful evening and something that we will be likely to offer again in the future.

Confirmation and Communion

On the 3rd and 4th of September, over 50 Year 3 and 4 students celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Pius X Church, marking a significant milestone in their faith journey. It was a beautiful and reverent occasion, filled with joy and pride as the children embraced this important step in their spiritual growth. A sincere thank you to Rita Campbell and the dedicated Year 3 and 4 teachers for their guidance and preparation in helping the children understand and appreciate the meaning of this sacrament. This coming Sunday, the celebrations continue as the children receive their First Holy Communion—Year 3 students at the 9:30am Mass and Year 4 students at the 2:30pm Mass. All families are warmly invited to attend and support these young members of our faith community. Congratulations to all the children on this special achievement!

School hats:

We are now heading into the warmer weather and in line with our sun protection policy, there will be a No Hat, No Play rule implemented from the beginning of Term 4. Can parents please ensure that their children have their hats and that they are clearly labelled so we can return them to their rightful owner. We don’t like asking children to sit out of play time and I ask for the support of parents in ensuring that their child has a positive start to Term 4, by having a hat with them on the first day of Term.

Notification of Students not returning in 2026.

Just a final reminder that if your child is not returning to St Pius X in 2026, you need to inform the school in writing by Tuesday the 14^th of October, which is the first day for students in Term 4. During the first week back next term we will be starting the process of ordering stationery and ICT resources for the 2026 school year. Parents who do not inform us that their child is leaving the school by the above date will be charged a full term’s fees as we will have already incurred expenses for your child for the 2026 school year. If you are unsure of your intentions for 2026 or want to have a conversation about this, then please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

Class Placement Considerations for 2026.

In the early stages of next Term, we will begin the task of placing children into classes for the 2026 school year. This is a very significant and time consuming task and a lot of time goes into trying to get the best class placements for all children. If there is anything that you would like us to consider for your child as part of the class placement process, then please ensure that you communicate this to me in writing by no later than Friday the 17^th of October. A separate letter about children not returning and the class placement request process was sent home via SZapp about 2 weeks ago.

Whole School Picnic – SAVE THE DATE!

We’re excited to invite all families to our Whole School Picnic at Thorndon Park on Friday, 31st October! It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and enjoy a day filled with fun, laughter, and connection. Permission forms have been sent home, so please ensure they are returned promptly. We look forward to seeing everyone there for a relaxed and enjoyable day with friends and family!

Congratulations and Good Luck!

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Year 5 and 6 Girls netball teams who play in the Saturday competition. Both of these teams have qualified to play in the Grand Final, this coming Saturday. We wish all of the girls the best of luck.

End of Term 2 – Beginning of Term 3

Just a reminder that the last day for students this term is Thursday the 25^th of September. All teaching, admin and ESO staff will be offsite for a retreat on Friday the 26^th of September, so the office will be closed on this day.

Monday the 13^th of October will be a pupil free day, with all teaching staff undertaking professional learning. The first day of Term 4 for the students is Tuesday the 14^th of October.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the students, staff and parents for another wonderful time. I hope you all enjoy the upcoming holiday break.

God Bless

Ashley Keane