September 5th, 2024

Acknowledgement of Country

A Note from our Principal

Ngata families, 

Please see this week's message presented as a video below. 

Kind regards,

Nick Murrell

Principal

Please click this link to RSVP

For full information in writing regarding the Community Conversation see below. 

Community Conversation and Learning Walk

Community Conversation

We are excited to invite you to an upcoming Community Conversation on Thursday September 12th at 6.30pm. This gathering will bring together students, parents, staff, and other key stakeholders to explore what makes St. Pius X such an exceptional place.

Our goal is to identify our core values (what we stand for and want to be known for), celebrate what we do well, and discuss areas where we can improve. Your insights and perspectives are invaluable as we work together to enhance our school environment and ensure we continue to thrive.

Join us for an engaging and constructive dialogue where every voice matters. Your participation will help shape the future of our community and contribute to the ongoing success of St. Pius X.

We look forward to seeing you there and hearing your thoughts!

If you are interested and available to attend - please email Nick principal@spwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au

Learning Walk - Friday September 13th 9.15am-10.15am

What is a Guided Learning Walk for Parents?

It is an invitation to parents to come to the school for a set period of time to be led on a facilitated and structured learning walk of the school/classrooms during the school day. Not to look at the decor - but to learn more about the learning that is happening. The focus of the structured walk is children and their learning as opposed to teachers and the teaching Each learning walk can have a topic or theme. The purpose is more about giving parents an opportunity to witness what the “real” learning looks like. These are also not about a parent sitting in and observing their child...but to learn more about a topic or the school through observing learning in action. Following the Learning Walk, the group would sit down to a more “in depth community conversation” about what they've observed.

Why host Guided Learning Walks?

To create another opportunity to build, improve and strengthen parent engagement in their children’s learning….creating true partners in education and as another step in knocking down the walls that often exist between home and school.

Please RSVP via this link if you would like to attend our upcoming Learning Walk. 

Ready, Set, School! program - Next session TOMORROW, 6th September.

Click below to register for our Ready, Set, School! program

Click here to Register

New Uniform Options!

St Pius X now has new options for uniform! "Yoga" pants with a zip pocket as modelled by Chloe and
bucket hats that turn inside out as modelled by both Chloe and Alfie.

One side of the hat is the school colour and logo and on the inside is the child’s sports colour!  This will make
Sports Day very colourful and bright.  These hats can be tightened with a toggle and are comfortable
for all head sizes.  The hat sizes range from small, medium, large and up to extra large.

The pants are made from Viscose, Nylon and Elastane and are stretchy and comfortable. They have elasticised waists and they range in size from a size 6 up to a women's small (larger sizes can be ordered if needed.)

Both the hats and pants are now available for purchase online (via Flexischools App) and if you need to check sizing please see Bec and Karen in the office.

The hats will be $15.00 and the new pants will be $30.00.

Flexischools App - Update

Thank you to those families who have downloaded and are now using the new Flexischools App.  Approximately 80 percent of our families are now registered.  If you have not yet set up your account with Flexischools, we strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible.  Moving forward, it is proposed that all ordering and payments for canteen lunch orders, special events etc will be handled through Flexischools.

Canteen Ordering:

Footy Tipping

Congratulations to our winners of this years St Pius X footy tipping competition. Can all participants please ensure you visit school ASAP to pay your fees for the year. 

1st Darren Edge 137

2nd Seurens 136

3rd Mr O'Brien 134 (591)

Last The Lack Attack

Conditions outlined at the beginning of the season

Hi St Pius X community Please feel free to join our 2024 school community footy tipping competition. Good luck, happy tipping! Mr Murrell

Prizes

Prize amount will be dependent on number of participants. Cash prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Last.

Entry Fee

$10 per person $20 per family Please pay cash/eftpos at the school office.

Competition Link

https://www.footytips.com.au/comps/St_Pius_X_Footy_Tipping_2024 

Carpark Information

Please see the video below with information about pickup time in our carpark works, and what the yellow lines stand for. 

Overdue Library Books

Dear Parents and Carers,                                                                                                                

Over the past few years, St Pius X students have borrowed books to enjoy at home. The idea of borrowing books from the school library means they can be read at home and then  returned for others to enjoy. 

At the end of this year, we will be conducting a stocktake of all the books within the St Pius X library. This week, your child may or may not have received an 'Overdue Library book' notice. We are hoping that you may be able to find one or all of these books in your own home and have them returned to school. 

We greatly appreciate your support.

Alanna & Isla

St Pius X School Library

SchoolTV

In this edition of SchoolTV - Happiness & Gratitude

Happiness is a term that captures a huge variety of positive emotions such as humour, serenity, optimism, joy, pride, inspiration, love and hope. Happiness means different things, to different people and is essential to your understanding of emotional literacy. Throughout history, philosophers, religious writers and poets have pondered on the meaning of happiness and how it might be achieved. In the last few decades, scientists and psychologists have researched this further by studying a field of science called positive psychology.

The result of this research suggests there is a strong correlation between gratitude and greater happiness. Practising gratitude helps you shift your focus to positive memories or experiences, noticing the good in your life. Over time, this will re-wire your brain to create new neural pathways, increase your state of happiness and overall wellbeing.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents and care-givers will learn how to achieve happiness and the benefits of practising gratitude.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Happiness & Gratitude edition of SchoolTV
https://spwarrnambool.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/happiness-gratitude

Go Aussies!

Jenna Osborne and Louise Brown and their families are currently at the Paris Paralympics cheering on Louise's Son Jaylen as he competes in the Wheelchair Basketball.  The "Rollers" team will play on Saturday against a side yet to be determined and should they win that game, they will play off in the Bronze Medal Match on Sunday.  Good Luck Team!

Check out the fantastic banners that Mrs Battistello and the Grade 5/6's made for Jaylen.  Go the Rollers!

The Foundation Files

Musical Must’s 

We are so busy rehearsing. Everyday is a rehearsal day and we are so eager to improve and do our best. Just another reminder that we need to wear a pastel coloured t-shirt (a variety of colours is what we are looking for as we are a sea of Jellyfish!!!

Your child will also need a pair of thongs or slip on shoes to allow us to move on and off stage in bare feet. They can bring them along to school in a bag and leave them in their bag box for when they are needed. Next week would be a perfect help for our practices. 

If any reading mums were able to help us next Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday from 9:00 - 10:00 we would love you to help with some cutting and stapling. If there are any other family members that would also be available to help at those times please drop into our classroom. The costumes we are hoping to put together are quite simple to construct.

Thanks heaps in advance!!!

Excursion

Yesterday we ventured out in our community as part of our Warrnambool Wonders excursion. We excitedly gathered on the bus and headed off to Logan’s Beach Nursery. After a few false alarms, we accepted the fact that there weren't any whales to see. We read all of the signs about whales and learnt some interesting facts. We had a great time watching the waves roll in and listening to the sounds of nature. Our next stop was The Hopkins Falls. Thanks to the rain that we’ve had over the last week, the Falls were flowing and we were in awe of it’s beauty. Lastly we went to The Botanical Gardens. While we were there, we examined the wonder of God’s creations and discussed ways in which we can care for our environment. We picked up some rubbish that we found and placed it in the bins. After rolling down the hill, climbing trees and playing tag with our friends, it was time to head back to school. We all had a great time and according to the Preps it was “the best day ever!”

Rubbish Around Our School

Yesterday we came back to school after our amazing excursion and we decided to act on our pledge to keep our environment clean. We put on some great sun hats and gloves which were donated to us from Mrs Webster and the National Tree Planting Day and we foraged around our quiet garden, playground and oval to see how much rubbish we could find. Here’s a sample of what we picked up.

• Plastics in all sorts of shapes and sizes
• Polystyrene
• Icy Pole sticks
• Cardboard milk drinks
• Chip packets
• Chocolate wrappers
• Paper

We’d like everyone at school and at home to keep our school RUBBISH FREE. Put your rubbish back in your own lunch box. Don’t use plastic containers. After you’ve enjoyed a canteen treat, put your wrappers and sticks in the bins at school. 

Foundation Physical Education

The foundation students have been working very hard in Physical Education, practicing skills such as balancing, hopping, throwing and catching. Students always have lots of fun, particularly when using the moon hoppers, stilts and tummy board. We have recently added some new equipment to the program. The balance boards, spinning plates and fire sticks are proving to be challenging, but very fun and entertaining.

Special shout out to super-star performers Zola, Jaxon, Alice and Thomas!

Fruit

Just a friendly reminder that we have a fruit break every day at 10am. There have been quite a few children without fruit over the last few weeks and we are happy to help supply some but there is not always enough available and the children don’t like to miss out! Thanks! 

Food bank support - Thank You!

We have had a great response to the launch of our weekly community food bank to support families within our school. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered  to help with this great initiative. 

Please text Lara on 0423 453 334 if you wish to participate or need more information. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

Text Lara on 0423 453 334

Breakfast Club

A friendly reminder that Breakfast Club is running on Wednesday mornings from 8:20am. It is open to ALL students before school to enjoy some yummy toast, yogurt, cereal or a piece of fruit and take part in a morning conversation with others. We look forward to seeing everybody there!

Again, a big thankyou to Foodshare for providing us with breakfast items and Woolies Dennington for providing the fruit! Of course, this wouldn't take place without our amazing parent helpers, so a big thank you to Sarah & Virginia as well!

A special message just to say.............

The following students will be celebrating their birthday this coming week ........

Lilly Nicol & Jordan Brown

Canteen Roster for next week.

Important Dates.

Friday, 6th Sept - Ready, Set, School Program 9.30am to 10.30am

Thursday, 12th September - Community Conversation: Tony Dalton 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Friday, 13th Sept - Assembly 3pm in church

Wednesday, 18th Sept - School Production - Nemo Kids at 7.30pm

Friday, 20th Sept - Last Day of Term 2.30pm finish

Friday, 20th Sept - Ready, Set, School Program 9.30am to 10.30am

Monday, 7th October - Term 4 Commences

Remaining 2024 School Closure Day

Term 4

Note:  Change of Date

Monday, 11th November

Before & After School Care.

Parish Contact.

Sunday Mass 9.00am @ 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/