Finance Meeting - Monday 15th March 6:00pm

School Board AGM and March Meeting -  Monday 15th March 7:00pm

Dear Parents,

Next week is our Annual General Meeting. Please find below an excerpt of my report detailing 2020 at St Pius X School.

We commenced the school year on January 28^th, full of hope and promise for another outstanding year at St Pius X School.

We welcomed new teachers Ashlee Stanley, Jess Jenkins and returning teacher, Deb Madgen. We also welcomed just over 75 new students, some existing families and many new to the school.

Our optimism for the year ahead was quickly dashed. In my very first Newsletter (29^th January)  I wrote “We share the great concern of the outbreak of Coronavirus that has now spread across several continents, including Australia.” Regardless of how we interpret 2020, it will always be tainted by the global epidemic that was COVID-19. The outbreak spread interstate initially and towards the end of Term 1, South Australia was instructed to shut down all schools for all except children of essential services. Teachers, in a matter of days, created online learning for their class allowing the curriculum to continue remotely, or as we referred to, ‘Connected Learning.’

Amongst all of the restrictions and complications, some positives emerged. We found new ways of communicating with families as the whole school embraced Seesaw. Our children showed incredible resilience and found ways of staying connected to the teachers and classmates. Our youngest children learnt independence beyond their years. We found ways, however simple, to enjoy celebrations  including Confirmation and First Eucharist, the Year 6 Graduation ceremony and end of Year Mass.

We managed to celebrate Mother’s Day with a drive-past and Father’s Day with a walk of honour around the oval. Children in the Catholic Music Festival practiced and performed magnificently to camera so that parents could enjoy their talent and hard work. We even managed to compete very strongly in a range of Sporting Carnivals across our System and State.

We managed a Year 5 and a Year 6 camp and many excursions, all within the guidelines and recommendations. The children competed earnestly in our Term 4 Sports Day, albeit without our families as spectators but that did not dampen our children’s spirits.

In 2020 we introduced  the new ‘Active Wear’ uniform which very quickly became very popular and in demand. I thank Des Henthorn and the Uniform Committee for their outstanding work in 2019 in securing this initiative.

Our building program was only affected by a few days due to restrictions from COVID-19. Over the year we managed to complete the Senior Nature Playground, erect the new sheds, complete the carpark upgrade and of course Stage 1C, 8 new classrooms and 2 breakout areas. We moved into these spaces in September 2020, all within budget, allowing us to proceed with the next stage. We also were successful in approval of a $1 million Commonwealth Grant to go towards Stage 1 D in 2021.

A highlight was the opening of the new building to parents at the STEM showcase. Finally,  we had a space that highlighted the talent and hard work of our young scientists, mathematicians and engineers.

It is often said that difficult times brings out the best in people. That was certainly true of 2020, thanks to my staff, our parents and families and 472 courageous, determined and inspirational children.

May God bless you all.

NAPLAN Online 2021

In Week 3 of Term 2 our Year 3 and 5 students will sit the 2021 NAPLAN test.  Clicking on the link will take you to NAPLAN Online – information for parents and caregivers https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources/naplan-online-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf

It is a requirement that we share the Privacy Collection Notice provided by the Test Administration Authority with the parents of all NAPLAN students.  For your convenience this information is provided below.

NAPLAN – privacy collection notice 

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) takes place each year for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 and has been an everyday part of the school calendar since 2008. 

NAPLAN helps parents, carers and educators to see if children are meeting important numeracy and literacy standards.

Collection of Personal Information 

Schools are required by law to collect personal information about you and your child, irrespective of whether your child participates in NAPLAN testing. 

The purpose of this notice is to advise parents and carers of how your child’s personal information will be used for NAPLAN testing (both online and paper tests) in 2021 and, as part of NAPLAN Online, readiness activities scheduled at various times leading up to the test in May 2021 and May 2022. 

Paper-Based NAPLAN Testing

Since its introduction in 2008, NAPLAN testing has been conducted using paper-based tests for students in all year levels. NAPLAN paper tests are administered every year across a 3 day test window in the second full week of May.  

Most schools in South Australia will conduct NAPLAN testing online in 2021. However, some schools will conduct paper-based testing in 2021.

Moving to NAPLAN Online in 2021 or 2022

In July 2013, Australian education ministers agreed to guiding principles for national online assessment. The move to NAPLAN Online started in 2018. Moving online means NAPLAN is transitioning from paper-based tests to computer-based assessments.  

Online testing brings many benefits and opportunities including providing better assessment, more precise results and faster turnaround of information. 

More information on NAPLAN Online is available at: www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support/.

Readiness testing activities

A critical step in preparing for NAPLAN Online is schools’ participation in readiness testing activities.

The purpose of readiness testing activities is to ensure your child is familiar with their device and the online test environment, as well as to test school and national infrastructure systems and processes.

Readiness testing is not another NAPLAN and will not formally assess students who participate in the test. Any reports generated will be used for testing purposes only. Readiness testing activities may involve students who are participating in NAPLAN in 2021 or who will participate in 2022.

Disclosure of Personal Information

For every student participating in NAPLAN Online testing readiness activities, personal information will be uploaded by the Department for Education, as the Test Administration Authority (TAA), to the NAPLAN Online Assessment Platform (‘assessment platform’). This information is listed over the page. 

NAPLAN privacy collection notice – updated January 2021

The information marked with an asterisk (*) is also provided by the department, as the TAA, to Fuji Xerox Business Force Pty Ltd for the purposes of printing paper test materials and reporting student results, and uploading to the Student Participation System which includes the Student Participation Website (SPW). The SPW is used by schools undertaking paper-based tests.

• Student name*                                         
• Jurisdictional and local school student identifiers*
• School name, class and year level*                
• Gender*
• Date of birth*                                                                
• Disability adjustments (where applicable)*
• Country of birth - Language background other than English
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status - Parents’ occupation, education and language background

The personal information for students who are exempted, absent or withdrawn from NAPLAN testing is collected and used for reporting purposes. Data security

Security and privacy are key requirements for the delivery of national testing. 

NAPLAN Online

The online assessment platform has been designed to comply with relevant national data security policies and guidelines, as well as data encryption standards. 

The assessment platform is managed by Education Services Australia (ESA). ESA is a not-for-profit company jointly owned by the Australian education ministers. ESA is subject to rigorous information privacy and data security obligations under its contract with the Department for Education.

ESA only has access to personal information from a relevant school, TAA or the Australian schools list for the primary purpose of fulfilling ESA’s role in supporting the operation of the assessment platform.            

ESA’s privacy policy can be found at: www.esa.edu.au/contact-us/privacy .

Student Participation System

The Student Participation System is managed by Fuji Xerox Business Force Pty Ltd.  Fuji Xerox Business Force

Pty Ltd is subject to rigorous information privacy and data security obligations under its contract with the Department for Education and is only permitted access to personal information from a relevant school for the purposes of providing the contracted services.

Fuji Xerox Business Force Pty Ltd’s privacy policy can be found at: https://www.fujixerox.com.au/en/privacy-policy

Access and Correction

To request access or correction to personal information collected for NAPLAN and held by schools, please contact your school principal in the first instance. Any concerns about a breach of privacy by a school should be directed in writing to the school principal.

More Information

Speak with your school principal in the first instance if you have any questions about this information.

NAPLAN privacy collection notice – updated January 2021

We will continue to share more information with you as we get closer to sitting NAPLAN Online 2021.

Third Week of Lent                                                                                         

We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion story of Oliva, a 22-year-old woman from Tanzania. She did not have the opportunity to go to school and was embarrassed that she was unable to read, write or count. As an adult, her business was losing money because she couldn’t add up her money and give the right change to customers.

Then Oliva enrolled in Caritas Australia’s literacy and numeracy classes. She also set up a home classroom to teach her neighbours, for free, because they were too shy to attend larger classes.

Oliva has now graduated, attendance at her classes are growing, her kiosk is thriving and she is helping her children with their homework. She aims to become a pastor and run for leadership in the next local election - to help her community to ‘Be More.’

• Approximately 260 million children don’t have the chance to go to school (org)

Watch a short film about Oliva’s story here.

 “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

If you have a child born between 1st November 2017 and 31st October 2018 and would like them to attend Reception at St Pius X School in 2023 and have not already submitted an Application for Enrolment please contact Susan Trimboli on 8266 9400 as soon as possible.

Three-Way Learning Conversations – 22^nd - 26^th March

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

You are invited to attend a Three-Way Learning Conversation (parent, child and teacher), which is an opportunity for you to discuss your child’s learning with their teacher(s).  You are also welcome to meet with one of our Specialist Teachers – Angelo Zamparelli (Physical Education), Basia Jedrzejczak (Music) and Laura Villani (Italian). The ‘School Interviews’ programme is used to coordinate the bookings for these Conversations.

Please see below for ‘how to’ instructions - bookings close on 18^th March at 4:00pm. 

There will be two formal written Reports this year - one at the end of this Semester and another at the end of Semester 2.  Optional interviews will be available after these Reports are distributed. 

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Greg Parker - Principal

Go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au and follow these simple instructions -

• Enter the code (pu6kh) and press "Go".
• Enter your details, select the teachers you wish to see.
• Select the appointment times that suit your family best.

When you click FINISH, your interview timetable will be emailed to you automatically. If you do not receive your email immediately – check your junk mail folder and make sure you have spelled your email address correctly.  You can return to www.schoolinterviews.com.au at any time and change your appointment(s) - until bookings close on 18^th March at 4:00pm.

Please visit the link - scholastic.com.au/Loop OR download the app to place your book orders and make payments. Please do not return any order forms or money to the school.  All orders must now be completed online. Book orders will be electronically linked to the rest of the schools order.
We thank you for your co-operation.

Thank you

Firstly, a big thank you to our teachers and Year 5 & 6 students for supervising and monitoring the school crossing on Windsor Grove. We really appreciate your efforts in getting to school early and leaving a little later when you are rostered on. 

Sadly, there have been reports of unsafe driving around the school.

We draw your attention to the following:

Speed Limits

The speed limit around our school is clearly sign posted and is 25km when children are present. The crossing has flashing orange lights which are a clear reminder that all vehicles must slow down and observe the speed limit. 

Parking and stopping of vehicles

Please do not park/stop on yellow lines OR stop your vehicle over our neighbour’s driveways. 

Vehicles continue to stop over our neighbour’s driveways near the school crossing on Windsor Grove and are dropping children off.

Vehicles continue to park on yellow lines, close to the corner of Hillburn Avenue and Windsor Grove. Not only does this create a traffic hazard, it is also illegal to park in these places. SAPOL and local council regularly patrol the area and issue fines. 

Reporting

Registration plates are recorded and reported to SAPOL if we observe:

-vehicles speeding through the crossing 

-parking/stopping on yellow lines

-parking over driveways near the crossing on Windsor Grove and dropping children off.

Please help us by following these road rules to keep our children and community safe. 

Mathematics and Numeracy in the 21^st Century

Numeracy has never been more important. The rapidly evolving nature of knowledge, work and technology, demands stronger understanding, reasoning, strategic and problem-solving skills.

(https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/maths/Pages/evidence-and-research.aspx)

Mathematics learning and teaching at St Pius X being is being assisted by Lisa-Jane O’Connor to further strengthen our students’ mathematical abilities, to build their identity as mathematicians. And to recognise that they are powerful learners and users of Mathematics.

Mathematics is the science of patterns, rules and relationships.

For most of Term 1 Mathematics classes have spent time investigating patterns and the regularity of the unit of repeat. Importantly for the Early Years classes a substantial part of their time has been in ‘noticing’. Noticing mathematical attributes, to be precise. Those attributes being size, spatial and quantity. Before children can use pattern, they need other important skills, such as the ability to notice the attributes of objects, spaces and people around them. These skills provide the basis of their later investigations into different families of patterns generally classified as linear, growing, cyclic and symmetrical.

As students develop their knowledge and expertise in pattern and algebra, students in the primary years students will begin to explore growing patterns that have arithmetic (+ -) and geometric (x ¸) sequences.

 A geometric pattern might look like this:

1 ,2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64

The ‘rule’, ‘unit of repeat’ or ‘constant’ is that each term is found by doubling (x2) the previous number.

Eventually students will become proficient in creating, describing, representing and generalising all pattern families (linear, growing, cyclic and symmetrical). The basis of this focussed work on patterning and algebra will mean that all students at St Pius X will have developed strong, efficient mathematical skills and understanding to explore and find pattern in the other mathematical areas, Measurement, Geometry, Data and Number, which they will undertake throughout the year.

2009 Exploring Pattern and Algebra, PMA Pattern Resource

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