Good Friday 2nd April - Public Holiday
Easter Monday 5th April - Public Holiday
P&F Meeting Tuesday 6th April 

Dear Families,

Yesterday I announced that our Deputy Principal, Des Henthorn has been offered an Acting Principal role next term at Emmaus School, Woodcroft. This is a wonderful opportunity and though she will be greatly missed, we wish her every success and may the school continue blossom under her leadership. Yesterday, an advertisement was placed for an Expression of Interest for the Acting role here and I am working on a quick process and announcement, within a fortnight. I will inform the community once a decision is made.

You would have heard that there is a lack of timber and steel in South Australia and this is slowing down building works. So far we have only been marginally affected and so our building, Stage 1D goes forward with the final steel work in place next week. All of our carpentry and joinery has been ordered so we are ahead of the shortages here. Thus, I still have the champagne ready for opening end of Term 3 (ever the optimist). We are planning to have our STEM Showcase for our community in the new building early Term 4.

We are still a couple of weeks away from final fix on the toilet and foyer of the gym.

Canteen News
Thankyou for your patience and understanding regarding the canteen app. Like you, Nev and I hate the paper bag ordering, finding change etc. Those parents who have daughters at Kildare would know the QKR app and this is our replacement. We have everything uploaded, just awaiting the go ahead. The great news is that all aspects of school payments can go through QKR including camps, graduation, swimming, fees. So, no more cheques or sending money in an envelope once we are fully operational. (We are starting with the canteen ordering).

3 Way Chat 
It has been great to see so many here this week, I am hearing very positive feedback. I am really pleased that many of you have taken up the option of speaking with the Italian, Music and PE specialist teachers. These curriculum areas are a significant part of your child’s education, so well done!   

Holy Week
Our children are preparing for next week with some time for reflection and prayer. Please make time to invite conversation at home as children will continue to have questions about the tragic events leading to the crucifixion of our Lord. Please also direct them to the overwhelming joy that the Resurrection (Easter Sunday) meant to his disciples and eventually, our world. That through death, new life has been brought to us all.

God Bless you in the weeks ahead.

Fifth Week of Lent

Halima is raising her two children in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, while caring for her mother who has a disability. Widowed at 21, Halima fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, arriving at the camp with nothing.

Caritas Australia, through Caritas Bangladesh, helped Halima with shelter, cooking equipment, hygiene and sanitation training. She took on the role of community trainer herself, organising the cleaning of washrooms, wells and toilets. 

Halima aspired to “Be More” and is proud that she is able to earn a small income, while maintaining the health of her family and the cleanliness of the camp community.

• In the Cox’s Bazar district, women and children make up 78% of the total refugee population where 52% of children are aged 0-17. (UNHCR)

Watch a short film about Halima’s story here.

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

Holy Week

Holy Week begins with ‘Palm Sunday’ (this coming Sunday) when we remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem after spending 40 days in the desert. His friends and the people of Jerusalem rejoiced at his arrival. They waved palm branches, laid their cloaks on the ground for the donkey to give Jesus a smooth path, and sang for joy.

Next week, students and staff will gather to celebrate Holy Week with three prayer services. Our Year Four classes will present the Palm Sunday story on Monday morning. On Wednesday, our Year Two classes will commemorate the Last Supper and on Thursday, our Year Six classes will present the story of Good Friday – the death of Jesus. When we return to school, after Easter, staff and students will gather for Mass to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.

Over the last week, I have walked the Stations of the Cross with many of our classes. The ‘Stations of the Cross’ tell us the story from the time when Jesus was arrested in the garden, until his death and placing of his body in the tomb.  On Good Friday, traditionally we pray the Stations of the Cross. Whilst it is a story of sadness and suffering, it also reminds us how much Jesus loved us by dying on the cross. He died for us all so that one day we will all go to heaven to be with God.

Sacrament Program

Reconciliation – Year 3

Thank you to those families in Year 3 who have completed the registration for their child to participate in the Sacrament Program. I am still awaiting some registrations. If your child is a baptised Catholic and in Year 3 this year, you are welcome to enrol them in the Sacrament Program. The sacrament of Reconciliation will take place in Term 3.

If your child is a baptised Catholic in Years 4-6 and has not already received the sacrament of Reconciliation, you are welcome to come and see me for more information.

Confirmation & First Eucharist – Year 4

A reminder that our Family Information Evening will be held in Saint Pius X Church, Avoca Street, Dernancourt, next Tuesday 30^th March at 6:30pm. Parents and sponsors are invited to attend. Children do not need to attend. If your child made his/her Reconciliation last year, they are able to receive Confirmation and Eucharist this year.

Please note, important information regarding booking a Mass time for your child to receive Confirmation and Eucharist will be given at this meeting. Family workbooks will also be handed out.

The power of teaching students to truly notice as a mathematician!! At St Pius X teachers are on a journey to develop their skills and understandings when teaching Mathematics. We have been encouraged to slow down, explore noticing and explore mathematical language before we dive into pattern, number and other strands. Over the past 3 weeks I have seen Mathematics bring my students great joy! They are learning that being a mathematician is about noticing, discussing, justifying and explaining. Any problem is possible, they just need to think mathematically. It is my job to provide them with opportunities, not to give them the answer or the simple solution.

What a brilliant season we have had this year. In Week 7, 13 swimmers competed in the SAPSASA Adelaide North East District Carnival at the Payneham Pool. It was a warm, sunny day, and our students had a fabulous time, swimming their best.

We were racing against 11 other schools. 8 students were placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in their events and 5 of these students have been selected to represent the ANE District at the Metro SAPSASA Championships on Thursday at the Marion Aquatic Centre on Thursday 25th March.

SAPSASA Carnival Placegetters
Flora-Lily L 5H: 1st 11 Year Girls 50m Breaststroke, 3rd 11 Year Girls 50m Freestyle, 3rd 11 Year Girls 50m Butterfly.
Selected to represent ANE District in 2 events; 11 Year Girls Breaststroke and the 4X50m Freestyle Relay.

Ella F 6M: 2nd Open Girls 100m Freestyle, 2nd 12 Year Girls 50m Breaststroke, 4th 12 Year Girls 50m Freestyle.
Selected to represent ANE District in the 11 Year Girls 4X50m Freestyle Relay.

Megan T 4B: 2nd 10 Year Girls 50m Backstroke, 3rd 10 Year Girls 50m Breaststroke, 4th 10 Year Girls 50m Freestyle.
Selected to represent ANE District in the 10 Year Girls 4X50m Freestyle Relay.

Zac Z 5H: 3rd 11 Year Boys 50m Freestyle.
Selected to represent ANE District in the 11 Year Boys 4X50m Freestyle Relay.

Oliver M 6M: 3rd 12 Year Boys 50m Freestyle.
Selected to represent ANE District in the 12 Year Boys 4X50m Freestyle Relay.

Sophie L 6JT: 2nd 11 Year Girls 50m Backstroke, 4th 11 Year Girls Breaststroke.

Ben B 5R: 2nd 11 Year Boys 50m Backstroke.

Lucas M 4P: 3rd 10 Year Boys 50m Breaststroke.

Well done to all the students who participated in this Carnival and congratulations to those who were placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, receiving a ribbon on the day.

As well as individual students competing for a place in the District Team, the 12 schools were also competing against each other for the Championship School Shield. St Pius X came 3rd overall.  What a fabulous effort swimmers!

Huge congratulations to our SAPSASA ANE District representatives; Flora-Lily 5H, Ella F 6M, Megan T 4B, Zac Z 5H, and Oliver M 6M. We wish you all the very best for Thursday.

Thank you to our Official on the day, Hayley Terrett, and all the parent and grandparent supporters!

Catholic Schools’ Swimming Carnival
On Tuesday 16th March, the St Pius X Swimming Team competed in the Catholic Schools’ Swimming Carnival at the Burnside Pool. We were racing against 6 other schools in Division 2 of the 9 Division Competition. All 22 students were very excited. We witnessed some excellent swimming with 16 students receiving a total of 49 ribbons between them, for placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in an event. There were 88 races throughout the day. This is the first time that Girls and Boys events have been run individually, hence double the amount of races. Our students received 11 1st, 9 2nd, 15 3rd and 14 4th place ribbons. The excitement level remained high all afternoon and the cheering and support of each other was beautiful to witness.

Megan T 4B won the Year 4 Individual Girls Championship and was presented with a medal. Megan won her 3 individual Div A races in Backstroke, Freestyle and Breaststroke as well as the Year 4 Girls 4X50m Freestyle Relay. Outstanding work Megan!

Isabelle G 4A, Aria F 4P and Monique T 4B joined Megan in the Year 4 Girls 4X50m Freestyle Relay, also receiving 1st ribbons.

1st Ribbons were also won by:
Baylee W 3T  Freestyle  Div B and Backstroke Div A
Zac Z 5R  Breaststroke Div A
Ben B 5H.  Breaststroke Div B

2nd Ribbons were won by:
Matthew L 3H  Freestyle Div C
Isabelle G 4A  Backstroke Div C
Flora-lily L 5H  Freestyle Div A and Breaststroke Div A
Zac Z 5R  Backstroke Div B and Butterfly Div A
Ben B 5H  Freestyle Div B
Ella F 6M  Freestyle Div A
Sophie L 6JT  Backstroke Div B

3rd Ribbons were won by:
Matthew L 3H  Backstroke Div C
Ari Roediger 3H  Freestyle Div B and Backstroke Div B
Baylee W 3T  Breaststroke Div B
Aria F 4P  Freestyle Div B
Flora-lily L 5H  Backstroke Div A and Open 4X50m Girls Medley Relay
Ben B 5H  Backstroke Div A
Zac Z 5R  Freestyle Div A
Ella F 6M  Backstroke Div A, Breaststroke Div A,  Open Girls 100m Freestyle and Open 4X50m Girls Medley Relay
Zenia R 6M  Open 4X50m Girls Medley Relay
Sophie L 6JT  Open 4X50m Girls Medley Relay

4th Ribbons were won by:
Grace Greenwood 3H  Backstroke
Isabelle G 4A  Freestyle Div C
Aria F 4P  Breaststroke Div B
Ben B 5H  Open 4X50m Boys Medley Relay
Zac Z 5R  Open 4X50m Boys Medley Relay
Ella F 6M  Butterfly Div A
Zenia R 6M  Backstroke Div C and Breaststroke Div C  
Mitchell R 6M  Breaststroke Div B and Open 4X50m Boys Medley Relay
Oliver M 6M  Freestyle Div B, Breaststroke Div B and Open 4X50m Boys Medley Relay
Sophie L 6JT  Breaststroke Div B

Overall, St Pius X Girls placed 2nd in the school competition while the Boys placed 6th.

Thank you to our parents and grandparents who assisted with time keeping each week at Training. Thanks also to Hadyn Smith for helping out at training when we needed an extra pair of hands. Our 6 Tuesday afternoons at the Payneham Pool were delightful!

Thank you to those parents who helped with transport for both Carnivals and to Hayley Terrett , Philly Lee and David Fitzgerald who volunteered as Officials on the day.  Once again, congratulations to all our swimmers! A great 2021 season was had by all.

See you next year!

Basia Jedrzejczak and Angelo Zamparelli

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