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Dear Families,
It was great to see so many last night at the Classroom Information Evening. Thank you to the members of P&F and Staff who helped with the bbq. We had about 95% of families attending the Year 5 and 6 Cyber Safety sessions and the feedback was so positive that I am negotiating with Bully Zero for another session open to all parents and any Year 5 or 6 parents who were unable to attend last night. I am hoping to offer this in the next fortnight and will give plenty of notice.
One of the resources that they offered was an agreement template between parent and child regarding use of technology at home. Cyberbullying, accessing inappropriate sites, over-use of technology, gaming in sites not suitable for school aged children is far more likely in the home setting than the school setting. I have attached the agreement for you to consider. Setting reasonable boundaries is much easier now as your child enters into their teens and High School.
I am looking forward to our Opening School Mass tomorrow. Unfortunately again we cannot allow out parent community to attend. We are working on ways to have smaller celebrations and assemblies so that we can invite you in. Watch this space.
Today I sent out details about the difficulties with our current Canteen App. I am sorry about the inconvenience but this may help us move towards a more comprehensive school app that will allow permissions and payments to be online across a range of school activity.
Kiss 'n' Drop
A reminder to please not park and stay in Kiss 'n' Drop. Once your child has exited/ entered your car safely, please forward out of the zone to allow other cars to enter. Please also no parking near the school crossing illegally and obey all signage on Hillburn Ave. Give yourself an extra 5 minutes to account for delays, or park and walk in. Those parents who have been at other schools would agree with me, we have nothing to complain about here with off street Kiss 'n' Drop, dedicated car park, 10 minute parking on Acton Ave and ample parking within 100 metres of the school.
Building
We are completing the underground services and the steel work is being fabricated and delivery will commence in 2 weeks. I will give notice in case traffic management is required.
God Bless,
Greg
2021 Yearly Fee accounts were sent home by mail on Friday 22nd January 2021. Please note that the due date for the first instalment is the 26th February 2021. A School Fees letter was sent home in Term 4, 2020 notifying parents of the Fee Schedule and the relevant due dates for Fees. 2021 fees are combined into one yearly fee to make fee statements easier to understand.
School Card
Low income families are invited to apply for School Card which if eligible, entitles you to Fee Remission. This remission will be credited to your fee account. If you have taken a 2021 School Card Application Form – (Form A Income Audit) to apply for School Card, please complete it and return it to the school as soon as possible. Cut off date for applications apply. Parents can also apply online.
Income Limits
1 Child Family $60867
2 Child Family $61954
3 Child Family $63041
4 Child Family $64128
If you have any difficulty in paying your school fees account by 26th February 2021, please come in and see me to make other arrangements. Part time agreements can be entered into, by paying on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. You may choose to have your payments taken out of your bank account by direct debit, placed to your merchant facilities, by BPay or pay personally by EFT, cash or cheque. The school offers EFT, Visa and MasterCard facilities for your convenience. WE DO NOT ACCEPT AMEX.
The school also offers a 5% discount, on Tuition Fees only, for families who wish to pay for the entire year’s Fees by the 26th February 2021.
1 Child Family - $100.00 discount
2 Child Family - $180.00 discount
3 Child Family - $240.00 discount
PLEASE NOTE: - If you qualify for Fee Remission you do not receive the 5% discount as well.
Due dates for payment by Term with 3 Installments.
Term 1 - 26th February 2021
Term 2 - 14th May 2021
Term 3 - 30th July 2021
For your convenience fee payments or documents can be dropped into the grey Fees Box (Box 1) in the Student Entry area. This box is securely locked with access given to Finance personnel only.
Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email if you have any queries relating to your fee account.
Email address is - finance@stpiusx.catholic.edu.au
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We have experienced continued frustration with our online ordering system to the extent that as of today we will suspend Zagl.
Therefore, traditional lunch ordering will apply from tomorrow, eg money in paper bag or envelope with your child’s name, class and their lunch order written on the outside and the money inside. Children will take their lunch order bags/envelopes to their classrooms when they arrive at school.
We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. We are currently exploring a school-wide integrated App that will enable parents to order lunches, pay school fees, extra-curricular costs, camps etc online through the App.
The menu is available here - Summer_Menu.pdf
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Please complete and submit this Form as soon as possible - 2021 Student General Consent, Medical and Emergency Information Form
The information is requested annually and is intended to assist the school in the case of any medical emergency involving your child. A copy of this information will be held by the school contact person and the teacher in charge of any excursion or camp.
Consent Forms to attend excursions/camps will be distributed as they occur, however, the above form is also required for attendance at these events.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a literacy engagement program that was introduced by the Premier in 2004 to:
- Encourage students to read more books and enjoy reading
- Improve literacy levels.
The Challenge requires students to read 12 books between the beginning of the school year and early September.
How can you find out about the Challenge?
All information about the Premier’s Reading Challenge can be found at: www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au . Accessing the Challenge guidelines is very useful.
Who can participate?
All students from Reception to Year 12 are encouraged to participate, including South Australian government and non- government school students and students undertaking home education.
Public libraries
Public libraries strongly support the Challenge. Students are encouraged to use public libraries to borrow books they would like to read (including e-books). The Challenge website can be accessed from computers at public libraries.
Students can read a combination of books from the Challenge booklists and books of their own choosing. Students can choose to read books in languages other than English. The booklists are available on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website.
- Reception to Year 6 students select at least 8 books from the booklists on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website and 4 books of their own choice.
- Students are encouraged to keep reading once they have completed 12 books.
Awards - the ‘Olympics of reading’ and beyond...
Students who complete the Challenge receive awards from the Premier for their achievements in a similar fashion to sporting stars! Awards for completing the Challenge are:
Certificate – First Year
Bronze medal – Second Year
Silver medal –Third Year
Gold medal – Fourth Year
Champion medal – Fifth Year
Legend medal – Sixth Year
Hall of Fame medal – Seventh Year
Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassadors
Ambassadors are high profile South Australian identities, who are keen to promote the Challenge and spread the message that reading is ‘cool’. Adelaide United Football Club, Link Lightning, Adelaide Football Club, Port Adelaide Football Club and the Thunderbirds are joint ambassador teams with the Premier’s be active Challenge.
Links with other programs
The Premier’s Reading Challenge complements other school and community literacy initiatives including the Accelerated Literacy Program, the Early Years Literacy Program and The Little Big Book Club.
If students have previously completed a Reading Challenge in another state, this will be acknowledged in South Australia by notifying your school contact person.
Reading success
More than 132, 300 students from over 97% of South Australian schools as well as home education students complete the Challenge. Many students read far more than 12 books.
55 schools with outstanding achievement will be invited to the Premier’s Reception in November each year and will receive books and a certificate for their school from the Premier. Schools that continue their outstanding achievement in future years will be sent a certificate signed by the Premier.
Benefits of taking part in the Challenge
- Raises the profile of reading, libraries and literacy in schools
- Gives students a focus for their reading
- Encourages students to read more books and enjoy reading more - the more you read the better you get at it!
- Encourages boys to participate by being ‘challenged’
- Offers incentives for reluctant readers
- Builds self-esteem and pride, school unity, and a sense of achievement
- Increases the involvement of parents in their child’s reading
- Increases library borrowing
- Contributes to increased literacy levels.
For further information
Contact the Project Manager, Premier’s Reading Challenge, GPO Box 1152 ADELAIDE SA 5001. Telephone: 8226 2006; Education Courier: R11/37A; Email: prc@sa.gov.au
Visit the Challenge website for more information and copies of this brochure, which is also available in 16 languages: www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au
Each Student will receive a School Student Reading Record sheet tonight. Just record the books that your child reads and return this form to the school.
Des Henthorn
St Pius X School - P&F Committee
About the Parents and Friends Committee
The Parents and Friends’ Committee is run by parents in the school community. The Committee organise community events throughout the school year to promote and extend the wonderful community spirit of our school and to raise funds to contribute towards valuable resources for our children.
The Committee currently has the following position holders for 2021:
Co – Chairs: Francine Schiller and Jodie Fitzgerald
Secretary: Nadia Pryzibilla
Treasurer: Tracy Tepe
Being involved in the 'Parents and Friends’ Committee provides a fantastic opportunity to meet other parents and to demonstrate the value of community spirit to our children.
The Committee meet monthly and welcome everyone in our school community to participate. You don’t need to attend every meeting to be part of the Committee. We understand that family life is busy so we are happy to receive your input however best works for you and your family.
2021 Meeting Schedule
Meetings held at 7:00pm in the Staff Room
- Tuesday March 2nd - Term 1, Week 6
- Tuesday April 6th - Term 1, Week 11
- Tuesday May 4th - Term 2, Week 2
- Tuesday June 1st - Term 2, Week 6
- Tuesday August 3rd - Term 3, Week 3
- Tuesday September 7th - Term 3, Week 7
- Tuesday November 2nd - Term 4, Week 4
- December Date to be decided, P&F Committee wrap up Term 4, Week 8
2021 Draft Calendar of Events
At our first meeting in February, the Committee decided on a number of events for the year. With the ongoing challenges posed by COVID for larger gatherings we have decided that in addition to organising some of our usual annual events, we will look to find new ways for members of school community to connect with one another.
- Easter Raffle
- School Disco
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Stall
- Quiz Night
- Festival of Lights / Diwali
In addition to these events we are looking at other events that will be held off the school grounds including; Family Fun at Megacourts, Ten-Pin Bowling and a “Mum’s Night out”.
We would love to hear any other ideas for events that we can organise. If you would like to be involved in helping with any of our events, please let the Committee know!
Fundraising
During the year the Committee organise some fund-raising events. Funds raised are used to enrich the children’s learning environment and curriculum. In recent years we have provided funds for:
- The Footsteps Dance Program, which was enjoyed by all classes in the school
- Tri-skills – a school gymnastics program provided to all classes
- Purchasing resources for the school’s Literacy Program
At the February meeting, the Committee identified that they would like to contribute to further Cyber Safety Awareness programs being run in the school. Further funding ideas will be discussed at the March meeting.
How to contact the Parents and Friends Committee
You can email us with your ideas and feedback at pandf@stpiusx.catholic.edu.au
From the P&F
The latest edition of The Southern Cross