Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that we are halfway through May. I hope all of our families had an enjoyable school holiday break and it been great to see the children settling back into school routines.

A new leader for our Catholic Church

On Easter Monday the 21^st of April, The Catholic Church and the world mourned the passing of Pope Francis, who died peacefully at the age of 88 in Vatican City.

Throughout his twelve-years as the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis became a symbol of pastoral leadership. He had a strong focus on caring for those who were poor and marginalised. He repeatedly called for mercy over judgment and had an unwavering commitment to caring for the environment. He was man of compassion and humility whose leadership of the Catholic Church was respected by many. May he rest in peace.

Last Friday the 9^th of May, 133 Cardinals elected a new Pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267^th Pope. Taking the name of Leo the XIV, Robert Prevost is 69 years of age and was born in Chicago. He is the first American to become the Pope. We offer our prayers for Pope Leo XIV as he embarks on a very important mission of leading and uniting a Catholic Church which is built around a spirit of love, faith and hope. 

Sports Day

At the end of last term we had an amazing Sports Day event at Bridgestone Arena. It was a very warm day, however despite the warmer weather, the school community gathered together for a wonderful celebration of teamwork, light hearted competition, school spirit and fun. 

A special congratulations to our amazing Year 6 student leaders, who did a fantastic job preparing the chants and leading their teams with passion and pride. The chants they prepared for the day and the way in which they all led their teams was outstanding. Their enthusiasm helped set the tone for a day filled with encouragement, healthy competition, and fun.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff whose tireless efforts made the day run so smoothly. I would like to especially acknowledge Angelo Zamparelli and Cassandra Figg for the enormous amount of work that they put in behind the scenes in order to make sure that the day was a great success.

Congratulations to St Mary the blue team, who were awarded the Cooperation Shield, a true testament to their teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship throughout the day.

And a big round of applause for St Brigid the green team who took home the Sports Day Trophy! Their outstanding performances and spirited participation earned them the top spot for the 3^rd time in the last 4 years.

Thank you to everyone who came along to Sports Day and made the day such a wonderful community event. Thank you also to those parents who participated in the hamstring handicap. I know the children get a real kick out of parents joining in on the day. 

Thank you to our Wonderful Parent & Friends Committee

Over the last couple of weeks our Parents and Friends group have been very active in supporting our school community. On Saturday the 3^rd of May a group of dedicated parents gave up their time to prepare and host a sausage sizzle at the school’s election polling booth. This event was a fundraiser for our school’s wellbeing program and the money raised will go towards resources and games that the children can use in our school library at recess and lunch time.

Last Friday we had a number of volunteers who helped at the P&F Mother’s Day stall. The children all had the opportunity to purchase for their mums, grandmothers and other special people in their lives. The volunteer work of the P&F make these events possible and benefits all of the children in the school. I would like to offer a sincere and heart felt thank you to all of the volunteers who supported the P&F with both of these events.

Building Update

If you were at our Mother’s Day breakfast, you may have had the opportunity to look through our new Library and Inclusive Education spaces. These spaces are now in full operation and we only have a few minor touch ups to complete. We are now looking at fixing up the area outside the new staffroom which was used as the builders entrance whilst the building project was taking place and making this a usable space again.

We are well advanced with our planning for our next building project which is the erection of a shelter over the basketball courts and the re-surfacing of the court space. We had hoped that this project would already have started, however we are still working with the council to finalise the approval process. Once approved, we will make a start on this project and it is my hope that we will have this completed by the end of this year. I will keep you updated on proceedings. 

Mother’s Day

Last Friday we celebrated Mother’s Day with a special breakfast and open morning. It was wonderful to see so many mums and special visitors attend this breakfast. I know that the children really enjoy having their mums visit the classrooms. I would like to thank all of those people who were able to attend the breakfast and I hope you enjoyed the morning. I would also like to acknowledge all of the staff who supported the event. Many staff were here early in the morning setting up for the event or cooking the breakfast and it was the combined effort of the staff that makes the Mother’s Day breakfast possible.

Disco

On Friday the 13^th of June the P&F are hosting a school disco in the Hall. The Junior Primary disco will commence at 5:30pm and the Year 3-6 disco will commence at 7:00pm. Further information about this event will be sent out in the coming weeks.

Dates for Diary

Thursday 22^nd May: School Assembly @ 9am hosted by Year 4.

Friday 6^th June: Pupil Free Day

Monday 9^th June: Public Holiday – King’s Birthday

Friday 13^th June: School Disco

Thursday 19^th June: School Assembly @ 9am hosted by Year

Friday 27^th June: Year 3-6 Netball Carnival at Priceline Stadium.

Friday 4^th July: Last Day of Term 2 – School finishes at 3:00pm. 

Monday 21^st July: First day of Term 3 – Students return.

Monday 21^st – Wednesday 23rd July: Reception swimming program @ Arc – 3 days.

Monday 21^st – Friday 25^th July: Year 1 swimming program @ Arc – 5 days.

Friday 1^st August: Whole School Italian Day.

Jokes for the week

Excuse me sir, is your fridge still running?

Then you better go and chase it.

By Bella in Room 3.

What is a dentist’s favourite time of the day?

Tooth-hurty (2:30)

God Bless

Ashley Keane

Reporting Absences

If your child is absent from school please notify us through SZapp.  Use the 'Absences' tab.  If you notify your child's class teacher via Seesaw or email you are still required to notify the office. 

If your child/ren will be absent for 5 days or more please complete an Exemption from School Attendance ED175 Form C - https://stpiusx.schoolzineplus.com/form/389

Change of clothes

Please have spare pants and socks in your child's bag incase of wet or dirty clothes.  Junior primary parents please ensure there is always change of clothes in your child's bag. 

Labelling reminder

Lots of unnamed lost property is being handed into the office.

Please ensure ALL your children's belongings (all clothing items, lunchboxes - lids and containers, drinkbottles, pencil cases etc.) are CLEARLY LABELLED with your child's name.

Labelled property can be easily returned to their owner.

Registered Volunteers

Would you like to help out on excursions or listen to reading in your child's/grandchild's class ? You need to be a registered volunteer. To become a registered volunteer please click here https://www.stpiusx.catholic.edu.au/community/volunteers or contact the school office on 8266 9400.

School Photos

Was your child absent on School photo day? That's okay we have a make up photo day next Tuesday 20th May.

P & F Disco 

Wellbeing Day

Friday 20th June more details to come....... Lots of fun coming our way!!

2025 Cross Country Carnival

We had 9 runners participate in the SAPSASA District Cross Country on May 9th.

Well done to all of our students on their participation.

Samuel M, Giorgio M and Ben L have all made it through to State Championships on Thursday June 5th.

Athletics and Cross Country Training 

Catholic Schools Netball Carnival 

Netball participation carnival for children in Year 3 - 6

We have had lots of children register for the Catholic Schools Netball Carnival to be held on Friday June 27th 2025.

Every child who has registered will have a team place.  There may be some availability in some (not all) teams. If your child is interested in participating please email cfigg@stpiusx.catholic.edu.au and we will place them on our team waitlist.

In the coming weeks we will be allocating teams, confirming coaches (thank you to the many parents who offered) and advise how to pay.

Please keep a look out for the information by the end of week 5.

2025 After School Sport 

Our Saturday Soccer and Netball competitions have started.

We would like to say a huge thankyou to Mike, Jake, Kirsty, Sarah, Lisa & Daisy for  coaching our teams.

Soccer team pics coming soon............................

Music Tuition 2025 Enrolments

There are some vacancies with some Music Tutors.

If you would like your child to learn an instrument please complete the enrolment form 

2025 Music Tuition Singing with Virginia

2025 Music Tuition Piano with Jen

2025 Music Tuition Piano with Lucy

2025 Music Tuition - Guitar with David

2025 Music Tuition with Julian

 2025 Tuition - Speech and Drama

? Eco Guardians in Action

Our Eco Guardians have been hard at work, making meaningful contributions to our school’s sustainability efforts and inspiring others to do the same.

♻️ Recycling Awareness at Assembly

At our most recent assembly, students viewed a powerful video presentation demonstrating the correct use of our recycling bins. This served as an important reminder that every small action matters when it comes to protecting our environment.

? Seaside Safari: Coastal Discoveries

A group of adventurous students recently took part in a Seaside Safari, exploring our stunning coastline while learning about the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. This hands-on experience sparked great curiosity and deepened their understanding of environmental stewardship.

? Podcast Spotlight – Tiny Planet, Big Hearts

Our new podcast, Tiny Planet, Big Hearts, has launched with great success! Featuring engaging discussions with special guests, recent episodes have explored topics like Antarctic exploration, book reviews, expert interviews on frogs, and school excursions. The podcast highlights how even the smallest actions can make a big difference in caring for our planet.

? Exciting Projects Ahead!

There’s lots to look forward to!

• A group of Eco Guardians will be heading to the Adelaide Hills to attend a full-day student conference focused on technology and the environment. They’ll be presenting their podcasting journey and even recording a live podcast on-site!
• Meanwhile, another team will be taking part in “A River Ramble,” an outdoor learning experience along the River Torrens, where they’ll explore the local river ecosystem and its importance to our environment.

Stay tuned for more updates from our amazing Eco Guardians as they continue to lead the way in sustainability and environmental awareness!

Tiny Planet Big Hearts

We have just launched our brand new podcast channel "Tiny Planet Big Hearts".  Join our students as they explore current ecological challenges and discover practical solutions for a sustainable future. Together, we're proving that even small actions can make a big difference for our planet. Listen, learn, and be part of our journey to protect our planet. In episode 1, join hosts George and Milana as they chat with Bessy and Emma from the School's Eco Guardians. Discover their innovative projects aimed at reducing ocean pollution and pick up some practical tips to make a difference in your local waters. Additionally, Marine Biologist Anton Rocconi shares fascinating insights from his research in Antarctica aboard the RSV Nuyina. 

Channel Page

Episode 1

Jane Buhagiar

Key Sustainability Teacher

P&F Meetings
On Friday June 20th @ 1:30pm  we will be holding our next P & F meeting in the meeting room. We would love to see some new faces and welcome back some famiiar ones. If you would like to come and see what its all about come along no need to let us know beforehand.. It's a fantastic chance to meet other parents, share ideas, and see how you can get involved in supporting our students and the SPX community. We have some exciting events planned for 2025, and we need your help to make them happen! 

Want some great entertainment offers while supporting our school ?

Click here to sign up - https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/162x804

Mothers Day Stall

Thank you to all everyone who volunteered at our Mother's Day Stall last Friday. (some of our volunteers missed our photo)

Election Day BBQ

What a great success - raising money to support our Wellbeing Wednesdays in the School Library. 

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to support our Election Day Sausage Sizzle.

P & F Disco

Families are invited to attend our school assemblies.

Please find the latest edition of The Southern Cross - The Southern Cross May 2025