From the Principal - Ashley Keane
It is hard to believe that we are almost at the half way mark for the year.
I would like to start my final newsletter for the term by thanking all of our parents for the wonderful way in which you have supported the school throughout the first two terms. I am thoroughly enjoying my time at St Pius X and feel privileged to be working with such a wonderful group of staff, a fun-loving and delightful group of children and a supportive parent community. Like all schools, COVID has presented us with some challenges, however I feel that as a community we have worked together to ensure that we have managed these challenges successfully.
I now look forward to what is shaping up to be a very busy and actioned packed second half of the year.
60th Anniversary Celebrations:
I would like to bring to your attention the events and dates will form part of our 60th Anniversary celebrations this year. Parents are invited to be part of all of these events.
Thursday 18th August: 60th Anniversary School Mass – Whole school Mass at 11:30am in the St Eugene DeMazenod Building (School Hall) – further details to follow.
Saturday 27th August: 60th Anniversary School Dinner : Marche Club @ 6:30pm. Three Course Meal, Live Band and some other fun light hearted entertainment. All parents, staff, old scholars (over 18) and community members are invited to attend. Tickets are $60 per head and bookings can be made through the front office. It will be great to see as many members of our community there as possible.
Friday 21st October: 60th Anniversary School Picnic: Parents are invited to join us at Point Malcom Reserve at Semaphore Park as we take all of our children on a Picnic. The Parents and Friends Committee will be holding a sausage sizzle as we have a wonderful day of fun with the entire school community. Keep this date free if you can.
Wednesday 9th November: 60th Anniversary School Concert: 6:30pm at Influencers Church theatre at Paradise. Get prepared for a fun night as the children entertain you. Every child in the school will be involved in the performance as we take you on a trip back through the decades in a singing and dancing spectacular. Keep this date free as it will be an event not to be missed.
Information about the Anniversary Dinner has already been sent home to families and tickets are now on sale. Contact the front office to book your tickets or book a table of 10. Further information about the Mass, Picnic and School Concert will be sent home early next term. Please keep these dates free in your diary.
Sports Day 2022:
Please note that the dates for our Sports Day in 2022 will be on Thursday 22nd September (Reception to Year 2) and Friday 23rd September (Year 3-6). Sports Day will be held at the school and parents are invited to attend.
School Building update:
Over the School Holiday period there will be a number of changes made to the school.
In the second week of the school holiday period, the current toilets will be demolished in readiness for the next stage of the building project. The new building works will commence in Term 3 and will comprise of a two storey building which will contain 2 new Reception classes and toilet block downstairs and a new Music performing space upstairs.
Also during the holiday period the new toilets will be open for student use and new lawn and paving works will be completed in the fenced off area next to the playground. We are hopeful that the existing fencing will be removed around the central courtyard so that this space will be opened up. There will also be a range of electrical work being undertaken over the school holiday period.
On Monday selected students from each year level will be meeting with our landscape architects in order to re-design a new playground and the garden area in the centre of the school. Staff will also meet with the landscape architects after school on Monday. I believe it is really important that the students and staff have a voice in what this space will look like as ultimately we are designing the space for them to use.
Parents and Friends:
Last Friday Cassandra Figg, Jamie Deverson and myself met with a group of parents from our Parents and Friends Committee. At this meeting we discussed some different ways in which we can work together to promote a strong sense of community around the school and to provide extra opportunities for our children. Over the last few years the Parents and Friends committee have raised funds for our school community. The funds raised by the P&F committee in 2020 and 2021 are going to be spent on the children and used to fund the 60th Anniversary School Picnic. The cost of the buses to transport all of the children to this picnic is over $5000 and the P&F group will also host a sausage sizzle for the children on this day. After 2 years of cancelled events and restrictions it is wonderful that our children get the opportunity to spend a fun day together at the Picnic and the parents felt that this was a good way to spend the funds that have been raised by the P&F.
I would like to thank all of the people who responded to the “Just One Thing” letter which I sent out a few weeks ago seeking support for the P&F. If you would like to support the Parents and Friends committee in their work – even if it is helping with "Just One Thing", then please contact Cassandra Figg in the front office. As the saying goes “many hands make for light work”. I am excited by the opportunities that exist moving forward as we start the process of re-introducing community events.
Last Day of Term 2 and Pupil Free Day: Monday 25th of July.
The last day of Term 2 is Friday the 8th of July. School will conclude a normal time on this day.
Just a reminder that the first Monday of Term 3 – Monday the 25th of July will be a pupil free day. Staff will be undertaking professional learning on this day.
Term Three will re-commence for children on Tuesday 26th July.
Enrolments for 2024:
Please be advised that we are now taking enrolments for 2024 and 2025.
If you have a child who is a sibling and who is not yet enrolled for 2024, can I please ask that you complete an enrolment form as soon as possible. Siblings of current students are guaranteed a placement at our school, however I can only ensure this guarantee if parents complete an enrolment form.
Enrolments for 2024 are starting to fill quickly, so please contact the front office so we can ensure that we hold a place for your child. If you know of any family friends or extended family members who are looking to enrol in 2024 then please encourage them to contact the school in order to book a tour or to complete an enrolment form.
I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone for their support throughout the first semester and wish you all a safe and happy holiday break.
God Bless