March 23rd 2023

Acknowledgement of Country

Prayer

Loving God,

Help me to live a life of love and service to others. May it flow out into the world and bear much fruit. 

Amen 

Image: Waving Mountain And Flowing River Painting by Xue Mei Sun

A Note from our Principal.

Ngata Families and Friends,

Dear Families,

We are all looking forward to welcoming families into the school on Monday evening. Families are invited to participate in an Amazing Race clue hunt around our school. The first clue is later in the newsletter.

The students have been training hard in PE in preparation for our Athletics Carnival on Tuesday. Thanks to the PnF for their organisation of the canteen. If you are able to support this please fill in your details on the google form later in the newsletter. We're keen to share the load amongst as many people as we can. 

Yesterday some of teachers met with representatives from MacKillop Education to reflect and plan for the further implementation of ReLATE. We are extremely proud of the work that we have done with the guidance of MacKillop of the past 3 years. Hopefully when families visit you'll see our safety plans and hear about some of the other positive impacts on our school and the wellbeing of our community. 

Have a great week.

Kind regards, 

Stacey Atkins 

Open Night

All families are invited to our Open Night on Monday 27th March between 5 and 6pm. This is a great chance to explore our school and meet the teachers through an Amazing Race style event.

In addition, the only remaining wing of the original St Pius X school is due to be refurbished early next term. This building was originally used as the church. Therefore, we would like to extend the invite to other community members who would like one last look at this building to come for a look. The middle pod was the first church on the site. 

2023 Athletics Carnival

The 2023 St Pius X Primary School Athletics Carnival will be held next Tuesday 28^th March, here on our school grounds. As there was uncertainty on the timeframe of the Brauer College Athletics Track being ready for use, the decision was made to push ahead with the Carnival to be held here.

Activities on the day commence at 9.30am. Children are still required to arrive at their usual time.

Parents are welcome to attend and spectate on the day. However, we do request that parents remain in the designated area and DO NOT at any stage, move across the track into the middle field area.  This area will be indicated by coloured flags and easily identifiable. Spectators may enter the school through the gates in between the Junior and Senior Pods and make their way to the oval. Feel free to bring along your fold out chair or picnic blanket. 

Please remember to send along a labelled hat and water bottle and ensure sunscreen is applied.

We look forward to a great day.

Just a note that the Divisional Athletics Carnival will be held on Monday 3^rd April. If your child is successful on making the Inter-School team, they will be provided with information later in the week.

Thanks for your support,

Emma McDonald

Athletics Day Canteen

A sausage sizzle will be held on Athletics Day. Could all order forms please be returned by Friday.

If you are able to assist with the BBQ and canteen at the Athletics carnival on Tuesday 28th March please reply using the form below. 

So far we have 7 helpers. More are needed. 

If you have 1/2 hour to spare on the day please let us know by using the link below. 

2023 School Cross Country

The 2023 School Cross Country will not be held this term and has been rescheduled to Thursday April 27th.

Easter Raffle: Donations needed please!

A big thank you to everyone who has already returned their sold raffle books and to those who have used both sides of the book; please know that your extra donation is most appreciated.  

We need all raffle books returned by 5th April please.

School Photo Day Friday, 31st March

Footy Tipping 2023

46 brave tippers have signed up for our competition this year with 1 very, very brave tipper taking the joker option round 1.

The Joker Rule allows each tipper to select 5 rounds of their choosing to double their points. It's up to you when you use it. Some like to get in early to put on the pressure, others like to hold off for a big finish. Whatever you decide, just don't forget to use them! 

Congratulations to Team Elizabeth N for managing to tip 9 last week and to ESPN Fan, Dusty Norton, White's Family and Alfie Parkinson for tipping 8. 

It might be the only time this year that the Saints on in the top 5, so GO SAINTS! 

Happy tipping and thanks to those who have already paid their money at the school office.

Lions Eye Health Program

Families are asked to please return these forms to the office.

Sacrament of Reconciliation- Date Change

Please note, that the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation has been moved to Wednesday April 5th.

We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.  

St. Vincent De Paul Lenten Appeal

The customary Lenten Appeal organised by the St Pius X Conference will commence on the First Sunday of Lent.  Those who wish to donate are asked to contribute goods which correspond to these weekends in Lent.  Please leave at the school Office or take with you to Mass each weekend.

25-26 March  Tea/coffee.

1-2 April Tinned soup.

Survey for Parents

Parents are invited to participate in the ECSI Survey which will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic identity is expressed in work and practice here at St Pius X. A letter outlining the survey and instructions are attached. 

Each survey response helps us to build an accurate picture of our school and therefore, helps us to keep improving. 

Hot off the Prep Press

Show and Tell… our favourite thing of the week!

Last Friday we had a special show and tell focus where we had to bring something to school that keeps us healthy. We had a range of different things make their way into school bags such as bananas, balls, pop its, sleeping teddies, frisbees, aeroplanes,  flags and sports clothes. Some people even told us stories about things at their house that keeps them healthy but were too big to bring to school. The best part was when we got to play outside with all the cool things that people had brought. Check out Louie, Evie H, Ethan and Harriet with their special things from home. 

Searching for symbols.

We have been looking at different symbols in our world and in our school. We know that there is a special symbol, our school logo, that symbolises that we are all part of the St Pius X School family. Each morning we place a range of different symbols into our prayer space to start our day. Some of these symbols include the bible, a cross, coloured cloth and a candle. Our symbols can change depending on the season of the Church which is currently Lent. Last week we made a visit to the Church to explore and find different symbols and we found heaps! Check out the photos to see what we did find.

Healthy Habits

This week we have launched into our new unit of Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies which looks at how we can be happy and healthy when we are at school. We decided to look at our lunchboxes and everything that was in them. We asked a lot of questions…  Do we have sometimes foods? Do we have everyday foods? Do we have rubbish free foods? Do we have foods we like? Do we have foods that fuel our bodies and our brains? We talked about how having a range of different foods in our lunchboxes is a great way to keep us happy and healthy and how important it is to eat what is in our lunchboxes. Here are some of the happy and healthy lunchboxes!

Mini Vinnies

Today the Mini Vinnies crew welcomed Ann Guns from head office in Melbourne to perform a commissioning pledge for our Mini Vinnies Crew in which they were presented with their badges and certificates.  It was wonderful having Ann here to perform this role and talk to us about the good work that Mini Vinnies groups are doing around our state. 

Hands on Learning and Mens Shed

The year has got off to a great start with ten students attending the Men’s Shed each Wednesday morning. The members of the Men’s Shed  look forward to seeing our students each week and have already made some great connections with them.  The students have  learnt some valuable skills, which has enabled them to make their own tool box and a wooden pencil box with a sliding lid. Students have been able to demonstrate how to competently use a variety of tools and accurately measure which is a vital life skill. 

The year started with fifteen students in our Hands on Learning Program which takes place on Thursday and Friday at school. This week we welcome another six students into the program. Students have been making their own tool boxes, weeded and planted veggie seedlings in the school garden, painted fences and ran a cafe for SP1 and SP2. Already we can see development in the students’ leadership skills, persistence in completing a task and a willingness to complete community projects to help others. Many students have been able to identify that they have talents and skills outside of the classroom.

Library News

Pre-Loved books for FREE!

Outside the office, there are a collection of picture story, fiction and non-fictions texts for FREE! These texts have been removed from the Library to make way for some more new and exciting books. 

Please help yourself and happy reading!

A special message........

Wishing these students are very Happy Birthday for this coming week..................

Brooklynn McArthur, James Turner, Eli Santamaria, Zachery Francis, Peyton Levett & Vonal Wijekoon Mudiyanselage.

Canteen Roster

Roster for next week:

Important Dates

Monday 27th March            School Open Night, 5-6pm

Tuesday 28th March           School Athletics

Friday 31st March                 School Photos

Monday 3rd April                  Track and Field District Sports

                                                        Prep Healthy Moves Excursion

Tuesday 4th April                  School Cross Country (postponed to Term 2)

Wednesday 5th April            Sacrament of Reconciliation

                                                        Lion's Club Eye Screening

Thursday 6th April                Holy Thursday

                                                        Last Day of Term 1, 2.30pm finish

Monday 24th April                 Term 1 begins

Before & After School Care

Second Hand Uniforms

Families seeking low cost uniform items are welcome to contact Angela Verspay (mum to Dylan and Finn) who has stock of many donated uniform items. Ph: 0477660119.

Parish Contact

Sunday Mass 10.00 @ St Pius X Church. School families are always welcome.

The Parish office can be contacted on 5562 2231

Other information and contact details can be found on the Star of the Sea South West Coast website: https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/parish/southwestcoast/ 

FOR SALE!     Personalised Zooper Dooper holders made by William Carey.   They are $5.00 each and come in a range of colours.  Please phone Jodie on 0459 115 004 for more information.

COVID 19 Arrangements

All famililes are asked to familiarise thesmselves with the updated COVID 19 regulations.