Catch-Up Photo Day - tomorrow Wednesday 28th August.

Student Free Day - next Tuesday, 3rd September - OSHC will be available for those families needing care.

Welcome to Week 4!

This Thursday is the Feast of the Assumption – a holy day of obligation for Catholics. We will have Mass in the hall commencing at 11:30am. Please enter the school through the front office if you are attending this Mass.

Last week, we were saddened to learn of the passing of a former parent, Sandy McCulloch. Sandy was married to Gary, and had two boys, Alexander and William. Sandy was an exceptional woman of strength, faith and character. Her courage in the face of her illness was inspirational and she lived life to the fullest until the very end. We keep Gary, Alexander and William in our thoughts and prayers.

Each year, a member of our community is awarded our Community Award for Outstanding Service. For 2019, we acknowledge Sandy for her voluntary work here at Saint Pius X school as a parent over many years. Sandy assisted in classrooms, listening to reading, attending excursions, helping on Gala Day and other school fundraisers, most of which Sandy did whilst undergoing cancer treatment. We were blessed to have Sandy walk amongst us and are richer for knowing her.

Next Thursday. 21^st August. is the Feast of Saint Pius X. We will have Mass in the hall at 11:30am. After Mass, the children will celebrate with a ‘nude food’ picnic. Please send along food which is unwrapped (eg fruit, vegetables, sandwiches in lunch boxes without wrapping etc). If you have a picnic blanket at home, feel free to send this along too! It will be a wonderful way to celebrate our special saint!

Last week, parents of Year 3 Reconciliation candidates gathered for an information session at the church. If you were not present, please make a time to come and see me so I can pass the information on to you.

I pray the week ahead is filled with many blessings.

The School Board met on Monday 12 August. Five of the six Board Members were present, and this was our first meeting for Term 3. Here are some of the topics discussed at the Board meeting:

Greg Parker’s Principal’s Report

Multi LitLiteracy Program - Greg reported students are progressing well with the new Multi Lit literacy program (Initial Lit, Mini Lit), which is supported by student data. This improvement includes students who started at St Pius X with English as their Second Language.

Lock-in Drill Feedback - Greg advised there was a student incident on Wednesday 7 August. Greg decided to bring forward a lock-in drill planned for Friday to Wednesday, based on early signs the situation was relatively controlled.

Greg indicated the School has captured learnings, including Board feedback requesting earlier communication to Parents in future.

A decision about the next lock-in drill was made at the Board meeting. The School will let parents know about the next lock-in drill, with communication sent to Parents shortly after it occurs. Students will also be informed that a drill will occur on the day of the lock-in drill.

Staff Report - We heard from Year 1 Teacher Rose Marie Gerardis that some students have started the Maths challenge. The challenge is an investigation that the class sets. By focusing on a topic of interest, students get a deeper understanding of Maths.

STEM investigation is occurring across many year levels. Projects range from ‘Leaves leaves...where have you gone?’ to ‘Do cheap batteries represent value’? where the findings of the battery investigation could provide some practical insight for us all.

We have been notified that the St Pius X School Choir will be performing on Opening Night of the Catholic Schools’ Music Festival at Festival Theatre this year. We have been placed in Row 2 on Monday 23^rdSeptember. Congratulations to all 32 members of our Choir. 3 of our students have also been lucky enough to be chosen to attend the Call Back Auditions for singing a solo section in one of the Choir Songs at the Festival. We wish Morgan 6DC, Emmeline 5RD and Charlotte 5BL all the very best this Thursday morning when they attend the Call Back Workshop at St Dominic’s Priory College.

If you would like to attend the Festival for an evening of outstanding performances encompassing a 400 voice choir, instrumental ensembles, vocal groups and remarkable solo artists you can book tickets at Bass - these are the details - Catholic Schools’ Music Festival, Monday 23^rdSeptember 7.30pm, Adelaide Festival Theatre, King William Rd, Adelaide. Tickets went on sale to participating Catholic school families on Monday August 12th.  Call 131 246 or visit www.bass.net.au - A Reserve: $37.00, B Reserve: $30.00, School Card: Any seating at B Reserve. Please note that a compulsory $8.95 processing fee is added to each transaction (not each ticket).  There are no exchanges or refunds on purchased tickets. For groups larger than 10, please book through the BASS groups department on 08 8205 2220. For access requirements or wheelchair seats please contact the box office on131 246 or visit an agency. The Music Festival is a Companion Card affiliate.

Between 17^th and 21^st July, Matthew in Year 6A took part in short course State Swimming Championships in Adelaide. He participated in 7 events in his age group (11 and Under) and won 7 medals - 5 Gold:50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestlye, 50 m Butterfly and 100 m Butterfly, 1 Silver: 100m Backstroke, 1 Bronze: 50 m Backstroke - WOW!!! what an amazing achievement Matt - congratulations! Matthew then went to Melbourne for 3 days on 31^stJuly, where he represented the school and state in 7 Individual events and 1 Relay. The competition was very tough. Matthew achieved some impressive personal best times and came 8^th in the 200m Medley (an event which he won in South Australia) and came 11^th in the 200m Freestyle. His Relay Team came 4^th missing out on a Bronze Medal by just .07 of a second. It was a great experience for Matt and he made lots of new friends.  He now deserves a well-earned rest for a week or two before getting back into the pool to work toward the long course State Championships in January. We are so proud of you Matthew.