Welcome to our website...
Welcome to the St Pius School Community.
St Pius is a Catholic Primary School with boys and girls enrolled from Prep to Year Seven.
Our school is a community school based on a caring Christian environment, through the Catholic tradition, offering quality educational opportunities to the students entrusted to our care.
Click here for Principal's Message
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Community News
Please download the latest newsletter for more photos of the Mothers' Day Breakfast
NAPLAN tests
Today marked the conclusion of NAPLAN testing for another year. Over three days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the students were assessed in Language Conventions (Spelling and Grammar), Writing (Persuasive Text), Reading and finally Numeracy. Well done to each of our students for giving of their best and to our teachers who have worked hard in preparing their students and supporting them. In previous years I have expressed my thoughts on this style of testing. You only need to enter the room when the year three students are being tested to recognise that this is something very foreign to them.
It is very unwise to make assumptions of an individual or school via NAPLAN results. These results need to be considered in context. I share the following story with you to illustrate this point. As most of you would be aware, my 13 yr old son Joe has Down Syndrome. Joe makes us very proud every day and is learning really well at his own pace. However, Joe would not be able to answer one question on a Yr three NAPLAN test without assistance. Joe was classed as 'exempt' for this testing throughout his primary schooling. Many people would not be aware that students who are made 'exempt' from testing are recorded against the school as not having achieved the National Standard. The school that opened its doors and did amazing things to work with and change this little boy's life was effectively 'penalised' for having enrolled him. Similarly all other students who sit the tests and don't reach the national standard or average also have a story. Each dot on the school's scattergram (dot graph of results compared to the National Average) represents a real person. Some of the dots that are below the National Average are students that may be our biggest success stories. It is when we start forgetting that success is much more than achieving a high score and we start judging schools by their collective score that learning becomes results driven instead of student centred.
Pleasingly, NAPLAN is not a hot topic around our community. I have not been asked to explain our results by any of our existing families even though I would be happy to do so. This reassures me that as a community we consider the whole package of what it means to be a learner in a supportive environment.
In 2010 we invited BCE data analyst Mark Snartt to walk us through the minefield of NAPLAN data and have a particular look at our school results. This presentation was very well received. I would be happy to ask Mark to come out and conduct a similar session for new parents if this is something they would value. Please let me know or contact the office to register your interest.
CYBER SAFETY
A reminder that St is Pius is hosting a Cybersmart Outreach-
Internet Safety Awareness presentation, May 23 2012. This
presentation is designed for parents, teachers and students (Yr.
3-7). It is provided by the Australian Communications and Media
Authority (the ACMA) as part of a national program of Cybersmart
initiatives. We highly recommend you attend the
parent seminar at 6pm in the school library on May 23rd. This is
an invaluable presentation for the benefit of your child's future
internet safety.
2012-2013 YEAR OF GRACE
(Extract from the Year of Grace Brisbane Website)
We have all been invited to join the Catholic Bishops of Australia
on a spiritual journey known as the Year
of Grace.
This time of prayer, reflection on God's
Word, celebration of liturgy and rediscovery
of God's graced presence in our everyday
lives begins on Pentecost Sunday (27
May). Its primary purpose is to ask God for
a new and deep grace to forge the future of our Church and
nation.
We do this by taking time 'to contemplate the face of Christ' and
listen to the Holy Spirit.
This website seeks to provide a place of prayer, a source of
connection to others on this journey and a site for resources to
equip us for this spiritual journey.
May you experience the 'grace and peace of the Lord Jesus
Christ' in your life as together we seek 'to start afresh from
Christ.'
Mike Humphrys Archdiocesan Coordinator, Year of Grace 2012
-2013
WOOLWORTHS
With every purchase over $10
you will receive a sticker.
Cards have been sent home
today in which you place the
stickers collected.
Once the card is full place it in
the Woolworths box at the school
office window and we'll send
them in to collect items for the
school.
P&F NEWS
Entertainment Books are available at the school office for $65 each
P&F Meeting -
Date has been changed to
Wednesday 6th June at 7pm
P&F Agenda If you have anything you wish added to the P&F agenda
please email Megan at: memawilson@bne.catholic.edu.au
PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
In accordance with the Archdiocesan Sacramental Policy the Parish is "responsible for and ultimately involved in the Sacramental preparation and presentation of students". The students are properly instructed for sacramental reception through the use of the Religious Education Guidelines here at school. It is the parents' responsibility to enrol their students in the appropriate Parish Sacramental Program. The Banyo Nundah Parish sacramental coordinator is Selina Venier and can be contacted through the Parish Office 3266 1444 or selina12@me.com
