IMPORTANT DATES

• AUGUST 20 - K-8 MEET & GREET NIGHT
• AUGUST 20 - PICTURE DAY
• AUGUST 21 - FIRST DAY FOR K-8 STUDENTS
• AUGUST 21-23 - EARLY DISMISSAL - 2pm
• AUGUST 21 - MSGR. HEINTZ INSTALLATION MASS
• AUGUST 22 & 23 - PK MEET & GREET NIGHTS
• AUGUST 24 - FLYIN' LION 5K & FUN RUN
• AUGUST 24 - FEAST OF SAINT PIUS X PICNIC
• AUGUST 26 - FIRST DAY FOR LITTLE LIONS PK
• AUGUST 29 - NO SCHOOL - SCHOOL MISSION DAY
• AUGUST 30 - NO SCHOOL - CURRICULUM DAY
• SEPTEMBER 2 - NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY
• SEPTEMBER 5 - OPEN HOUSE

Hello SPX families! I hope that you are enjoying these final days of summer break. Our teachers and staff have been busy getting ready for the new school year, and we can't wait for the students to arrive Wednesday!  

One of our school goals this year is to provide opportunities for families to grow in their faith at home. We start each day with a prayer during morning announcements, and this prayer changes monthly. This August, I invite your family to join the school in praying the Our Father each day at home. We will keep you updated as these prayers change each month.

In Christ,

Chris Milliron

In our continued effort to streamline communication, we are once again using the Remind app as an additional resource for those who like a gentle reminder of important upcoming events, such as late starts, uniform order deadlines or the last day to place lunch orders. Our goal is to maintain clear communication with you without overwhelming your inbox.

All essential information will still be listed in the Sunday Newsletter. We will use this optional application only to send notifications to you for reminders; no new information will be sent via the app. 

Even if you previously used Remind, you must REGISTER FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR by filling out THIS FORM. Upon submission, you will receive an email link to complete your registration. You can choose to receive notifications from the app or receive updates via text messages using your mobile number.

This year, we’ve once again streamlined the back-to-school process by consolidating all required paperwork into a single Google Form.

Step 1: Please review the Family Handbook to familiarize yourself with the policies and important information.

Step 2: After reading the handbook, complete the Google Form to confirm your acknowledgment of the policies and other necessary details. Completing this form is mandatory for all families.

K-8 students come and meet your teachers and see your classrooms! Teachers will be in their rooms from 5:00pm-6:00pm so students can stop by anytime during that hour. Please do not go to the classroom before 5:00pm.

All of our humanities teachers will be here as well. Students and parents are encouraged to stop in for a quick visit.

Uniform orders can be picked up in the Main Gym. There will also be a table with gently used uniforms available for a small donation.

Preschool Meet & Greets will be held August 22 and 23. If you have not received an email with details from Mrs. Ritten, please contact her at pritten@stpius.net.

School photos will be taken Tuesday, August 20 from 1:00 pm-6:00pm. Please register for a time for your photos. Every student in PK-8 must have their own spot.

1. Pick a time slot HERE. Appointments are in 15 minute increments. You may come within your 15 minute time frame but please do not be late.

2. Please use one child's name per time slot and put their name in the Comments Section. DO NOT put a whole family in one time slot. 

3. The photographers will be taking photos in the PLC rooms on the Church side. Check in at the table in the PLC Lobby.

4. Payment methods- Derby Photography is offering an online payment option - Derby Photo Online Ordering

5. Preschoolers - wear school appropriate school wear. Students K-8 - wear a Saint Pius X Catholic School uniform top and also appropriate dress code requirements for hair accessories! {All hair should be neat, well groomed, a natural color, and worn in a manner that does not cover the eyes of the student. Boys’ hair should not touch their collars. Any hair ornaments should be small in nature, and all headbands should be flat against the head. No color clip in hair extensions are permitted. Boys should be clean shaven.} Derby will not take the picture without the proper uniform top.

6.HASA is looking for volunteers to assist with Picture Day.

Please feel free to sign up for more than one slot and/or for a slot that encompasses the time your children will be getting their pictures done. 

Meet and Greet does not start until 5:00 pm. Please do not go to the classrooms before this time.

During our first week back at school, we ask that parents park and enter school to sign their children out of their classrooms. Please arrive between 2-2:30 pm. Afternoon carline will begin the week of August 26. Morning drop off information, maps and line assignments will be sent out soon.

Did you move recently? Get a new cell number? Get rid of your home landline? Make sure you let us know so we can reach you! Email us at attendance@stpius.net.

Saint Pius X requires all volunteers to go through Safe Environment Training before they can spend time with our students. Although this training is fairly straightforward, the paperwork does take time, and it can be stressful to complete in a time crunch. The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to complete this training, so that any parents or family members who want to volunteer in classrooms, chaperone on field trips, etc., are able to sign up to do so.

Safe Environment must be updated every two years and background checks are done every four years. Contact Julianne Dougall by email jdougall@stpius.net or phone 574-272-8462 to begin training or to check on your current status.

Students in grades 6-8 are now allowed to bring water bottles with them to class, provided the bottles meet the following criteria:

• Water bottles must be clear plastic, with a sealed top (no straws).
• Student name must be clearly labeled.
• Only water is allowed in water bottles.
• Students can refill water bottles during passing periods (not during class).

Thank you to our 2023-24 student council for their help in crafting this policy.

K-5 students should follow their teacher's classroom rules.

Attention Middle School Students! 

Get ready to embark on a magical adventure with Willy Wonka, Jr.! We’re excited to announce that auditions for the show will be held soon, with performances scheduled for January 17 & 18.

Interested in joining the fun? Visit our website HERE for more details on how to sign up, audition dates, and rehearsal information. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this sweet experience!

Lunch ordering for August and September is now open!

The Saint Pius X Lunch Program is offered to grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. The cost of a lunch for the 2024-2025 school year will be $5.00. An extra entree is $2.80. Milk can be purchased for $0.50 for white and chocolate or $0.60 for white or chocolate soy milk. An application for free and reduced lunch can be found HERE.

Please bring a lunch from home for the first week of school. Hot lunch will be served starting Monday, August 26.

Deadline to order lunches for August and September is Tuesday, August 20 by 11:59pm. The menu is above or can be found HERE.

HOW TO ORDER (full instructions):

 Order Boonli Lunch Here

 Boonli Account:

     Login with username and password. 

     Update the profile with your child’s 2024-2025 school grade

Create a Boonli Account:

     Contact Doreen, dsandroni@stpius.net, before creating a new account.

     Log In and scroll down

     Create an Account

     Password: Pius221

     Sign in and follow prompts

Make sure to order for both August and September lunches. 

HERE is a Lunch Instruction Guide for directions. If you have any questions contact Doreen Sandroni dsandroni@stpius.net.

This year, we are piloting a new lunchroom volunteer sign-up process that will help us to fill the volunteer schedule in advance. Please take a minute to fill out this easy sign-up form if you are interested in volunteering. Thank you so much to all who help to make our lunchroom a success!

Please CLICK HERE to fill out the form.

You can find all of the HASA events and sign-ups HERE on our website!

We are excited to kick off Treat Fairy Tuesday this year with snacks for the teachers’ first day again! You can sign up HERE. 

There will be many opportunities to treat our teachers and staff this year - keep your eyes on HASA Happenings and please participate where you can. 

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

HASA Teacher & Staff Appreciation 

Make friends from across the Michiana region, develop musical and singing skills, learn sacred songs in a safe and supportive environment at NO COST to families! 

The Notre Dame Children's Choir invites children ages 5 to 17 to register for the 2023-24 season. Entering its 12th year in the South Bend community, this free after-school program offers high-quality music education through sacred choral music in a safe and supportive environment, taught by trained musicians and educators. The Choirs rehearse in South Bend on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons beginning in September and perform 4-8 times/year, including a Farmer’s Market concert in October, Lessons and Carols in December, and a Community Festival in the spring.

Placement auditions will be held by appointment for singers ages 9+, younger registrants will be added as space allows in our younger choirs. Sign up at NotreDameCC.choirgenius.com in the Store by creating an account for your child and a parent/guardian. NO experience is necessary.

ALL are welcome to register for this Christian singing program. For more information, visit the Sacred Music Academy website at SMA.ND.EDU.