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Term 1 concludes on Friday 12th April at 3:00pm.
Monday 29th April is a Pupil Free Day - OSHC will be available for those families needing care.
Term 2 commences on Tuesday 30th April at 8:45am.
This year's Sports Day will be held at SA Athletics Stadium, Mile End on Friday 18th October (Week 1, Term 4).
From the Deputy Principal - Des Henthorn
Dear Families
Wasn’t it lovely to see the rain earlier this week? On Monday afternoon our Well-Being Team ran a wonderful Assembly highlighting the ways in which we can all enhance our well-being. I really enjoyed the reference to the “green light”. Such a simple way to have children explain how they are feeling. Here is the link to the video shared at Assembly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om3INBWfoxY
Also on Monday I had the opportunity to meet some prospective families during our Principal's Tour and I was very proud of our Year 5 tour guides. Your children are so respectful and keen to demonstrate their leadership skills. I can honestly say that every parent who returned from a Tour made a point of telling me how impressed they were by the students.
Congratulations
A big congratulations to our swimming team. I know Mrs Jedrzejczak and Miss McManus have included a separate item in this Newsletter, but I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate our swimmers and our staff for their support of the students and the parents and volunteers who make these wonderful events possible. I also heard again that other adults on the day were particularly impressed by our students behaviour and how they represented our school.
School Uniform Update
Distributed today is a letter concerning an update of our School Uniform. I’d like to thank our School Board for their participation in this process. As the letter will explain it is a decision that required lots of discussion and discernment. We will be inviting community members to become part of the Uniform Committee in the coming weeks so we can move forward with our planning and implementation of the Smart Play Uniform.
Welcome
This week we welcomed new staff to our St Pius X Community - Miss DiGiovanni in Reception D, replacing Vanessa Dibbens one day a week, Miss D’Angelo replacing Chris Hyde in 6H/C and Mrs Amanda Fisher replacing Tracy Mifsud whilst she recovers from surgery.
Finally we continue to hold the people of Christchurch in our hearts. We pray for unity, tolerance and understanding amongst all people that we may live together in peace celebrating our diversity and enjoying the gifts we all share.
Have a great week.
On Monday evening, the families of children who will be celebrating Confirmation and Eucharist met in the church for a Sacrament Information Meeting. I thank them for their attendance at this important meeting. On Saturday, 25thMay, our Year 4 children will receive Confirmation. They are journeying towards this important Sacrament and I thank their teachers for leading them on their faith journey. These children will then begin preparing to receive Eucharist for the first time during regular Sunday Masses at St Pius X Church on 23rdand 30thJune. This is a busy time of preparation for our Year 4 classes and I acknowledge the support of families in preparing their children for this important step in their journey of faith.
Last week our Caritas focus was on Peter from the Solomon Islands. This week, we look a little closer to home, and are learning about Michaela from the central desert of Australia who runs a dialysis centre for people suffering from kidney disease. This is her story:
Twenty-one year-old Michaela is helping to build a social enterprise for people with chronic illnesses at The Purple House in Alice Springs. Featured in Project Compassion 2014, the First Australian-run Wellbeing Program, uses its profits to connect and care for dialysis patients who are far from home.
As a Purple House trainee, Michaela completed a Certificate IV in business management. She was also recently promoted from administration trainee to permanent employee, working on The Wellbeing Program.
The young Alywarr woman cares for patients as they receive dialysis and helps them to feel at home and remain hopeful during treatment. Patients in turn pass on traditional knowledge to Michaela.
The program is run by the Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation, with support from Caritas Australia.
First Australians are twice as likely to experience chronic kidney disease, and four times more likely to die from it than other Australians*.
With the help of staff like Michaela, the Aboriginal-controlled service gives patients the opportunity to stay connected with their culture. They do this through traditional healing practices and income-generating activities, such as making bush balms and soaps.
Profits are invested back into supporting patients receiving remote care and help to get people on dialysis back on country.
In addition to completing her studies, Michaela has obtained a driver’s licence, is building her leadership skills running workshops solo.
“Hope means having something to look forward to. I enjoy building relationships with the patients and learning from them. If we keep our culture alive we can feel strong.”
Please visit the link for information about this year's Earth Hour which will be held on 30th March - https://www.earthhour.org.au
P&F Committee - Daytime Meeting Reminder
Monday, 1st April at 9.00am in the Activity Room. Children are welcome as we will be in a great space for them to play - we hope to see you there!
Swimming Team News and Results -Basia Jedrzejczak and Caitlin McManus
SAPSASA Carnival
What a brilliant season we have had this year. In Week 6, 15 swimmers competed in the SAPSASA Adelaide North East District Carnival at the Norwood Pool. It was a blistering hot day, but that did not deter our students from having a fabulous time and swimming their best. We were racing against 11 other schools. 5 students were placed 1st, 2ndor 3rd in their events and 3 of these students have been selected to represent the ANE District at the Metro SAPSASA Championships on Thursday at the Marion Aquatic Centre.
SAPSASA Carnival Placegetters
Matthew 6A: 1st Open 100m Freestyle, 1st 12 Yr Boys 50m Freestyle, 1st 12 Yr Boys 50m Fly. Selected to represent ANE District in all 3 events and the 4X50m Freestyle Relay.
John 5BL: 1st 10 Yr Boys 50m Freestyle, 1st 10 Yr Boys 50m Backstroke, 3rd 10 Yr Boys 50m Breaststroke. Selected to represent ANE District in Freestyle, Backstroke and the 4X50m Freestyle Relay.
Bella 5RD: 2nd 11 Yr Girls 50m Freestyle, 2nd 11 Yr Girls 50m Fly. Selected to represent ANE District in the 4X50m Freestyle Relay.
Namhun 6HC: 2nd 12 Yr Boys 50m Backstroke
April 5BL: 3rd 11 Yr Girls 50m Breaststroke
Congratulations to the students who participated in this Carnival. All 15 were presented with their place/participation ribbons and certificates at Monday’s assembly.
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 2ndto Endeavour College by only 3 points. What a fabulous effort swimmers!
Congratulations to our SAPSASA representatives; Matthew 6A, John 5BL and Bella 5RD. 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 Monday 18th March, the St Pius X Swimming Team competed in the Catholic Schools’ Swimming Carnival at the Burnside Pool. We were racing against 5 other schools in the Division 2 Competition and all 19 students were very excited. We witnessed some excellent swimming with 15 students receiving ribbons for placing 1st2nd3rdor 4thin an event. The excitement level remained high all afternoon and the cheering and support of each other was beautiful to witness. Our Year 3 Team (Zac 3BF, Caitlin 3BF, Flora-lily 3BF and Ben 3BF) won the Year 3 Championship Pennant. Zac won the Year 3 Individual Championship and Matthew6A won the Year 6 Individual Championship. Both boys were presented with medals. Outstanding work! Overall, St Pius X placed 3rd in the school competition.
As this is the first year that Yr 7 students are not at Primary School, the Age Levels divisions were changed to Year Levels. This means that all swimming records previously held have been set anew as of 2019. We have just been notified that Matthew and Zac have set new records which will be printed in all the 2020 Swimming Carnival Programs next year. Wow! A special congratulations to Zac, who has set the record for the Year 3 50m Breaststroke and Matthew who has set 4 records; the Open 100m Freestyle, the Year 6 50m Freestyle, the Year 6 50m Backstroke and the Year 6 50m Butterfly. We are all on Cloud 9!
Thank you to our parents and grandparents who assisted with time keeping each week at Training. Our 6 Tuesday afternoons at the Payneham Pool were delightful! Thank you to those who helped with transport and to Hayley Terrett and Arosha Salgadu who volunteered as Officials on the day.
While the Year 4 Team did not place in their events, they all swam their best and enjoyed the fierce competition. Ella 4SZ and Olivia 4SZ were joined by 2 Year 3 girls; Tanishka 3T and Tenuli 3T, as there were not enough Yr 4s to make up a team. All these girls received Participation Ribbons at Monday’s assembly.
Outstanding swims came from:
Year 3 Team
Zac 3BF: 1st 50m Freestyle Div A, 1st50m Breaststroke Div A, 1st50m Backstroke Div A, 1st4X50m Freestyle Relay. Yr 3 Age Champion. Record holder for the Year 3 50m Breaststroke.
Caitlin 3BF: 1st 50m Freestyle Div B, 1st 50m Breaststroke Div B, 1st 50m Backstroke Div B, 1st4X50m Freestyle Relay.
Flora-lily3BF: 1st 50m Freestyle Div C, 1st 50m Backstroke Div C, 1st 4X50m Freestyle Relay.
Ben 3BF: 1st 4X50m Freestyle Relay, 2nd 50m Breaststroke Div C.
Year 5 Team
John 5BL: 1st 4X50m Freestyle Relay, 3rd 50m Backstroke Div A, 3rd Open 4X50m Medley
Bella 5RD: 1st 50m Freestyle Div A, 1st 4X50m Freestyle Relay, 2nd Yr 5 50m Butterfly, 3rd 50m Breaststroke Div B, 3rd Open 4X50m Medley.
April 5BL: 1st 4X50m Freestyle Relay, 3rd 50m Breaststroke Div B, 3rd Open 4X50m Medley
Jake 5RD: 1st 4X50m Freestyle Relay
Lara 5RD: 1st 50m Breaststroke Div C
Sophie 5BL: 2nd 50m Backstroke Div C
Year 6 Team
Matthew 6A: 1st Open 100m Freestyle, 1st 50m Freestyle Div A, 1st 50m Backstroke Div A, 1st 50m Breaststroke Div A, 1st Yr 6 50m Butterfly, 3rd 4X50m Freestyle Relay, 3rd Open 4X50m Medley. Yr 6 Age Champion. Record holder for the Open 100m Freestyle, the Year 6 50m Freestyle, the Year 6 50m Backstroke and the Year 6 50m Butterfly.
Troy 6A: 2nd50m Breaststroke Div C
Danielle 6HC: 3rd4X50m Freestyle Relay
Namhun 6HC: 3rd4X50m Freestyle Relay
Indiana 6A: 3rd4X50m Freestyle Relay
Congratulations to all our swimmers and thanks to all involved - a great 2019 season was had by all.
See you next year!
Speech and Drama News - Lois Brimblecombe
Tahlia in Year 4M on her A grade result in the recent AMEB ‘Singing for Leisure’ Grade 2 exam, great work!’
Virginia Rawlinson