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

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

We hope you had a happy St Pius X Day! I  very much enjoyed yesterdays Mass with Father Mathew and the school community in celebration of our founding Saint. May the spirit of ‘Strength and Gentleness’ be with you.  After the Mass we presented the 2019 St Pius X Community Award for Outstanding Service. You may remember that last year the recipient was our dear Father John who had passed away only weeks before.

This year we presented the Award to a beautiful mother and friend to St Pius X, Sandy McCulloch. It was with great sadness that we only learned of Sandy’s passing a fortnight ago as she finally succumbed to cancer after years of courageous fighting. Fortunately we were able to present the Award to Sandy in her in hospital some weeks ago and I know that she was thrilled and humbled with the acknowledgement.

A staff member who know Sandy very well, recently wrote - 

Whilst Sandy was not on any formal committees at the school she was always involved in everything going on at the school.  Sandy made the involvement in the lives of her boys, her number one priority and that often meant helping with school events.  She helped out on every excursion she could get to, worked on gala day stalls and attended all school functions, especially masses and liturgies.

However Sandy’s everlasting impact was much more to do with the relationships she formed with everyone around her.  Sandy was always warm, happy and affirming with everyone she met.  The huge number of people at her funeral and the large number of St Pius families in particular, are testament of the high esteem in which she was held. 

Sandy had an uncanny knack of making you smile, no matter how you felt.  Even when she was in intense pain, she still made you feel like you were special and appreciated.  Sandy often when out of her way to express her appreciation and gratitude. She was forever buying gifts and tokens of appreciation.  A mum commented that Sandy was still enquiring about the health of her son even in the last days of her own life. 

Sandy was a bright, loving and compassionate person who has a positive impact on everyone around her.  Her courage, resilience and strength in the face of the cruelest form of cancer was an inspiration.  Sandy has left a little piece of herself with everyone who knew her.  She will always be remembered for her joy, love and incredible strength of character.  She indeed epitomized the life Jesus asks us to live and as such is a very worthy recipient of the St Pius X Community Award for Outstanding Service.

On behalf of the school Community, Sandy, God bless you, rest peacefully in God’s eternal love.

Catholic Education Week
Last week hopefully you were aware of Catholic Education Week. To promote the Week St Pius X students were asked some questions about themselves and a video has been distributed state wide with their and other schools students responses - ‘Our students have so many possibilities ahead of them .. Catholic Education SA asked students from 13 schools about their dream jobs… their answers are inspiring and sometimes a little bit funny. This video is available at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRhTOZ7BJUU

Parent Survey
Today you will be receiving information regarding a Parent school-wide Survey. This Survey will give us further information to use in our efforts to track our progress here at school and form educational and community goals for 2020. The Survey is totally confidential and all participants are de-identified.  Analysis of the Surveys will be presented to teachers, staff, and the School Board. I will also complete a report to the community early in Term 4.

As an incentive to participate all children of parents who have completed the Survey will have the chance to be selected as the ‘Principal of the Day’ (the draw will be held in Week 1, Term 4.). Please join in the fun and more importantly, have your say on the future of our school, what we need to keep doing and what do we need to change?

Enroloments -  new students are invited to 5 introductory lessons in Term 4 each year.  Enrolment forms (green) are in the office and should be completed and returned to the office or by email to Lois by Thursday September 26.