March 31st 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

The St Pius X Parish School Community acknowledges the Gunditjmara / Marr Nation people who have educated children on these lands for thousands of years.

A Note from our Principal

It is hard to believe that it is nearly the end of Week 10 and that there is only one week of school left until holidays.  It has been an exciting week here at St Pius X, with lots of special activities taking place. 

This week our Preps celebrated the end of their Health and Safety Unit.  The children enjoyed a healthy breakfast down at Breakfast Club and did some Road and Bus Safety activities.

On Wednesday we had our first performance group visit the school in over two years. ‘Let’s Chat About Habitat,’ entertained and engaged our students with their creative way of teaching us about habitats, weather, ecological footprint and extinction.

Today our SRC group and Five/Sixes attended the West Warrnambool Neighbourhood house celebration at West Warrnambool Primary School.   We also had a group of children compete in the Athletics Carnival.

Next week we look forward to our end of term sausage sizzle and the drawing of our Easter Raffle.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Clare Green

Acting Principal

School Photos

School Photos are this Monday the 4th of April.  Orders are due in by tomorrow, Friday the 1st of April.

Easter Raffle

Our Easter raffle will be drawn on Friday 8th of April.  Tickets are due back by Thursday 7th of April.  Thank you to all the generous families who have contributed eggs and Easter treats to make the raffle prizes bigger and better than ever!

Hot Cross Buns Fundraising Drive

A big thank you to our Parents and Friends Committee and our wonderful Administration Staff for organising the Bakers Delight Hot Cross Bun Fundraiser.  Orders close tomorrow, Friday 1st of April and Hot Cross buns will be delivered to school on Wednesday 6th of April. 

$2.50 from each pack stays with the school!   We encourage all families to consider this and place orders at the link below. 

School Advisory Council

Tonight at 7.30pm is the Annual General Meeting of our School Advisory Council (SAC). We have a number of members who will finish their tenure at the end of 2022 and the SAC is seeking expressions of interest from parents who would like to contribute to this group. 

In short, the role of the SAC is to:

• Support the promotion, articulation and strengthening of the school’s vision and mission.
• Provide a stewardship role for the school, assisting with resource management and directional planning.
• Provide advice and support to the Principal and DOBCEL as the governing authority.
• Provide a financial oversight for school management.

The SAC constitution requires us to meet twice a term, usually on the 3rd and 7th Thursday evenings of each term. Agendas are generally circulated about a week prior to meetings. It is intended that meetings be around 90 minutes in length.

There are some places vacant now, with more likely to become vacant at the end of the year. Parents who are interested are asked to contact Anne Kerr. 

Sausage Sizzle

Next Thursday, the 7th of April, there will be a sausage sizzle available for any students who would like this as their lunch option.  Forms will be sent home tonight and it would be appreciated if they could be returned to classroom teachers by Tuesday the 5th of April at the latest, so that orders can be finalised.  We are looking for some volunteers to help cook the BBQ on that day.  Please let us know if you would be able to assist.

Rapid Antigen Test Kits

Next week each child will receive two more boxes of RAT kits.  These are to be used for the first two weeks of Term 2. 

(Note: Tests are not supplied by the Victorian Government for use during the holidays.) 

School Open Evening

A big thank you to all the families who attended our School Open Night on Tuesday night.  After two years of not being able to welcome Parents and families into our school it was wonderful to see so many families in our classroom and playground. Such a great opportunity for parents and carers to meet the teachers and for children to share classroom norms, learning and pieces of work they are proud of.  The night also saw a little bit of friendly competition in the Senior POD with an Amazing Race Challenge. 

Hot off the Prep Press!!

HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY BODY EXCURSION

On Tuesday we were so excited to go on our first ever excursion since starting school. First we went to visit our friend Louise Crispe at the Hoddle Street school crossing. She taught us how to cross the road safely by using the STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, THINK moto. We were all so good at using our safety norm - walking quietly and carefully! Next we went to Breakfast Club in the Function Hall. We sat together and enjoyed cereal, toast, yoghurt and fruit. We were very full by the end. A big thank you to Xavier, Oli and Hamish for their help. We can’t wait to be able to go to Breakfast Club in Term 2 when we come to school on Wednesdays. Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better we got on a bus and travelled to Lake Pertobe. After having a delicious breakfast it was time to burn some energy and exercise. We climbed, we swung, we slid, we ran, we laughed, we played and then we rested. We all had the BEST day together!!

COME ON IN!

After our busy day on our excursion, we were excited to welcome our families into our school and classrooms. It was so lovely to see so many Preps and their families come through our doors and explore the room. We were busy following our checklist and teaching our families about all different things like tug-of-war, making patterns, spelling words with our phoneme ‘o’, safety plans and how we can be happy, safe and learn at school. The children were excited to be the ‘experts’ and boy, didn’t they do an amazing job!

BUDDIES AND BUNNIES

Last Friday we caught up with our Grade 6 Buddies for the last time this term. It was time to get creative and have some fun as we look forward to the Easter holidays. Our buddies helped us to complete a directed drawing of an Easter Bunny. We had to watch a video and follow step by step so that our bunny could match the finished product. There are some fantastic artists in the Prep room. We would like to thank all of our Grade 6 Buddies for all their hard work, support and friendship during Term 1. They have definitely helped us with the transition to school and made us feel happy and safe when we are here. THANK YOU!

West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House

Our SRC group and Five/Sixes attended the West Warrnambool Neighbourhood house celebration day today at West Warrnambool.  

Warrnambool City Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to all the children who represented St Pius X today at the Athletics Carnival.  From all reports the children had a fantastic day, were competitive but most importantly showed great sportsmanship.

Thanks to Mr Alexander, Xavier Mills, Olivia Lindsay and Brenda Balash for supporting the students today.

We will post a report and the results in next week's newsletter.

Carpark Safety

Thanks for a continued focus on safety in our car park. This week we would again like to focus on dogs in the car park after school. It is great to see dogs on leads being brought for a walk. However, could parents could be conscious of dogs waiting right at the entrance of the school building and gate? Not all of our children feel confident around dogs and this can create some anxiety. Waiting off the path or slightly back from where waiting children gather would be appreciated.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club is back up and running for 2022!

Every Wednesday from 8:15 breakfast will be available in the function room for any students that would like to have some breakfast before the school day starts! Everyone is more than welcome to come along, even if they have already had breakfast at home. It is a great initiative supported by FoodShare who provide fruit, yoghurt, cereal and yummy toast. 

Thanks again to our parent volunteers Maddy and Tracey for running the program!

CASEA program (CAMHS and Schools Early Action)

The CASEA program has been designed to assist schools and families to support children with their social, emotional and behavioural development. It has been developed to help children in Foundation to grade 3 to understand and express emotions more effectively and to enhance problem solving and relationship skills.   CASEA is a free program and is not compulsory.  

The CASEA program will be offered at St Pius X Primary School during Term 2, 2022. The program runs over an 8 week period and consists of a weekly children’s group (1.5 hours), a parent/guardian group (1.5 hours) and teacher consultation.    

If you have any questions or would like further information regarding the program please contact: Elli Smith, CASEA Clinician, South West Healthcare CAMHS.  Telephone 5561 9100.   

If you would like your child to be considered for this program, please complete a consent form, available through the school.  (Link below)   

Confirmation Term 2

Next term the preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin in the different communities of the Star of the Sea Parish (Warrnambool, Dennington, Koroit & Port Fairy). The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated by children who have been Baptised in the Catholic faith. At St Pius X this is usually children in Yr 2.

A family meeting for the children and parents of St Pius X will be held in the first week of Term 2 on April 28th at 7pm in the St Pius X Church. At this meeting we will be learning a little about the Sacrament and organising groups for preparation.

The celebration of Confirmation will be held on Monday June 6th at 7.00pm.

Families with a child who will be confirmed are asked to register this at the following link:

https://forms.gle/a5rhWJLB5pV3gnYp6

Families with questions are invited to contact the school office (55622506). Some queries may be redirected to the parish office (55622231)

School Fees and Levies

As we come to the end of Term 1 it would be greatly appreciated if families who have yet to make a payment could please attend to their school fee account.  All diocesan support and CSEF rebates have been credited to the appropriate accounts.

Assembly - Parent Attendance

Our fortnightly assembly is now open again to all families, but all adults must show proof of double vaccination and have a mask to wear.  These requirements are in line with Government approved operating procedures for schools.

ANZAC Badges

We have ANZAC Badges, pens and keyrings available for sale at the Office.

Prices for the items range from $1.00 up to $5.00.

Second Hand Book Sale - Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Warrnambool physically and financially support numerous international, national and local causes. We are holding a SECOND HAND BOOK SALE, at the Warrnambool Club, at 88 Kepler Street on EASTER SATURDAY, 16th APRIL.  

Your contributions would be greatly appreciated, so If you have any old books at home that you are willing to donate to the Rotary Club you can take them to 88 Kepler Street or drop them off at the school office.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Library News

We have lots of books in the library to contact.  If you'd like to help, you can pick up a bag of books and contact at the office.  We really appreciate your help!

Footy Tipping

It is a tight tussle for top of the table!

Thanks to our generous sponsors:

Bojangles Pizzeria Restaurant

61 Liebig St

Warrnambool

5562 0666

Fifth Sunday of Lent

 How does God change our hearts? Certainly not in any magical, mechanical way, like you change a battery in a flashlight or in a remote-control device. It’s much more subtle, more like a dance! God—the Spirit, actually—makes the first move, of course, putting the desire for change in our hearts, that restlessness of heart that St. Augustine famously wrote about. Through the church, the Spirit gives us a time like Lent, a time when we are surrounded by scripture texts and communal practices that call us to change. Gradually, gradually, the Spirit begins to work.

Click here to access Sunday’s Gospel Reading

Parish Contact

Sunday Mass 10.30 @ 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/ 

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.

Student Medical Details

At the end of last year we asked parents to use the Parent Access Module (PAM) to add and adjust medical details. This information is vital to the wellbeing of our students and we ask parents to prioritise the maintenance of this information.

Country buses - Last day of Term

Just a reminder that the country buses will be running from 2.30pm next Friday 8 April being the last day of term.

The Arts

This week in the Arts the grade 5/6’s have been creating Easter collagraphs. Here is a wonderful example of a plate and a print by Kurtis. 

Upcoming Dates

Mar 31  SAC AGM 7.30pm

Apr 4 School Photos

Apr  8 Final day of Term - Early Finish 2.30pm

Apr 15 Good Friday

Apr 17 Easter Sunday

Apr 25 ANZAC Day

Apr 26 Term 2 begins

School Canteen Roster

Covid 19 Arrangements

Managing Suspected or Confirmed Cases

As soon as a student (or staff member) becomes aware of being a suspected case - that is symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste:

1. The suspected case is required to leave the school site, or be isolated on-site until they are able to leave.
2. The suspected case is required to be tested with a rapid antigen test. A positive test result must be reported to the Department of Health using the RA portal and the school (notification on the VicED COVID tool).
3. Positive cases must be isolated for 7 days before returning to school. Another RAT test is not required.

Student and staff who return a positive RAT but who are asymptomatic, and have not been in contact with a confirmed case are now recommended to get a PCR test. If this subsequent test is negative the student or staff member may return to school.

In the event that school receives notification that a staff member or student was infectious while onsite:

1. All staff must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
2. All students must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
3. Close contact staff and students will be strongly encouraged to use rapid antigen tests for the following 5 days if they don’t have symptoms.

Where a positive case is recorded from a staff member or student who has been on site, the school community will be notified. Personal information will not be released in this communication.

Returning to School from a Positive Household

Some families may be in a position where their children have isolated as close contacts for seven days as required,  but have not become positive, even with current positive cases in the home. These children may be in a position to return to school under updated rules, but only if asymptomatic and with negative RAT results.

 If you believe this relates to you, please contact the school for advice.

Adult Entry

Parents visiting the school as volunteers (eg. canteen, classroom helper, P&F)  must:

• Wear a mask
• Show vaccination status (triple vaccinated or exempt)
• Complete school sign in.
• Carry a visitor pass.

Parents visiting to attend an event must:

• Wear a mask if indoors
• Show vaccination status (double vaccinated or exempt)
• Complete school sign in.
• Carry a visitor pass where applicable.

Parents who need to briefly speak with teachers, or pick something up from a classroom before or after school,  can enter classrooms before 9.00am and after 3.30pm, but must:

• Wear a mask.
• Scan QR code at the building door.
• Keep visit brief (5 minutes)

The opportunity for family members to help with reading and other classroom based activities will begin soon, but the above criteria must be adhered to.

Close Contacts

A close contact is now defined as a person who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID 19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility. Students fitting within this definition must access a PCR or RAT test and follow quarantine protocols if the result proves to be positive.

Rapid Antigen Tests

We encourage families to conduct rapid tests on children on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Rapid test kits have been distributed to families. Please contact the office if your family has not received the latest round of kits.

Please note that students who have been confirmed cases should not complete a RAT for 30 days after a positive test as the result will not be accurate.

Face Masks

Face masks for P - 2 students remain optional but are encouraged.

Face masks for Yrs 3 - 6 are required while students are indoors. These masks must be supplied from home and need to be managed by the students themselves.

Students whose physical or mental health will be impacted by wearing a mask may be exempt from this regulation, but we ask parents to contact the school to confirm this. Medical certificates and letters from doctors are not required.

We have listed all students with asthma or known respiratory conditions as exempt. Adults are no longer required to wear masks outdoors.

Masks are required to be worn on buses to and from school also.

Student Illness and Symptoms

Students and staff who are unwell should not attend school.

Students displaying symptoms that are beyond what they normally experience with a known existing condition (ie hayfever) will be sent home.

Assemblies & Liturgies

Special whole school gatherings such as liturgies and assemblies can now be held, however we are still required to maintain separation of class levels. Parents attending must provide evidence of double vaccination.

Visiting Therapists and Allied Health 

Visiting therapists and allied health may continue to visit, but must be triple vaccinated. We have encountered a minority who believe this does not apply to them - they are incorrect.

Canteen

Our canteen is open Tuesday - Friday for lunch orders and also for small items at second recess.

Parent volunteers must be triple vaccinated and follow sign in procedures.

Hand Cleaning

Students will be prompted to sanitise or wash their hands at key times across the day.

We ask that children not use their own hand sanitiser, unless this has been discussed with the school.

Progressive Cleaning

The school will continue to be progressively cleaned throughout the day, with our teaching staff ensuring surfaces are wiped down during school hours, complementing the work of our cleaning contractors after hours.

Sharing Food

Food sharing will continue to be avoided unless individualised portions can be organised (ie. birthday celebrations).

Camps, Excursions, Interschool Sport

Most offsite activities can go ahead, with safety controls in place and some modification.