IMPORTANT DATES

• DECEMBER 19 - LATE START
• DECEMBER 20 - ND/IU FOOTBALL FAN FRIDAY DDD
• DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 3 - CHRISTMAS BREAK
• JANUARY 6 - REGISTRATION OPENS FOR 2025-2026
• JANUARY 11 - EUCHRE NIGHT
• JANUARY 12 - FROSTY FUN FAMILY ICE SKATING NIGHT
• JANUARY 17 & 18 - WILLY WONKA JR MUSICAL
• JANUARY 20 - NO SCHOOL MLK DAY

With the first-ever 12-team college football playoff game being held in South Bend next week, we have rescheduled our originally scheduled Thursday dress-down day to Friday. Students are encouraged to wear Notre Dame or IU gear or colors on Friday, December 20.

On Tuesday, we will hold a Penance service for students in grades 3-8 in the church from 12:15 to 2:00 p.m. We warmly invite any parents who wish to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation to join us!

In Christ,

Chris Milliron

Please note that Fan Friday will replace the previously scheduled DDD on Thursday. Students are required to wear full uniforms on Thursday, December 19.

Congratulations to our entire 2nd grade for winning this week's Gospel Value Spotting award! They were nominated by their teachers for demonstrating the gospel values of compassion and honesty at their First Reconciliation on Saturday, where they were especially prayerful and reverent. All 2nd graders have earned a dress down day on Monday!

We warmly invite all parents and guardians to join us for school Mass! Here is our schedule for this week:



Wednesday, December 18 - 8:15 am - Prayer Service - Kindergarten

Wednesday, December 18 - 8:45 am - Mass - 1st-8th grades

Doors open at 8:55. Please do not line up prior to 8:50 in any lot. Classes begin at 9:10.

If you drop off in the north lot, please see map for the traffic pattern for delayed starts only. 

  - Please follow the pink arrows on the map

  - Stay off your cell phone

  - Stay close to car in front of you to avoid cars backing up onto Fir Rd

  - Watch for school staff that will be outside helping to direct traffic

  - Have students unload along the green highlighted path to help keep traffic moving

The B100 Morning Show made a special visit to Little Lions Preschool, and it was a day to remember. If you’re not familiar with this popular radio program, they host a monthly Book Club where they visit local schools, share a fantastic story with the students, and give each child their very own copy of the book to take home.

They also came bearing special goodies for our incredible teachers! During their visit, the B100 team recorded a lively video (check it out HERE) and captured an adorable segment featuring our students, which aired on their morning show. The kids had a blast soaking up the spotlight and loved their chance to shine as radio stars!

The second-grade stewardship focus this year is caring for the elderly. We are planning several projects to inspire a sense of gratitude, foster compassion, and encourage students to give back. These activities will include outreach efforts benefiting the elderly in our community through prayer, service, and sacrificial giving.

Our first activity took place this week. During this time, students created Christmas wreaths to be shared with residents at one of the senior residences our parish serves. In addition, they participated in a variety of center activities designed to make the experience meaningful and engaging.

Congratulations to Joan Doyle for being named Saint Pius X Catholic School's 2024-2025 Christ the Teacher Award Winner! Mrs. Doyle has been the music teacher at Saint Pius X since the school first opened in 2008, dedicating 16 years to enriching the lives of students, parents, and coworkers alike. Beloved for her kindness, patience, and unwavering dedication, her peers describe her as “kind, patient, fun, and extremely dedicated,” with one colleague calling her “one of the most selfless and dedicated teachers” they’ve ever worked with, noting her passion for teaching and the lasting impression she leaves on her students. Mrs. Doyle crafts lessons that foster collaboration, teamwork, and engagement, weaving Catholic music and culture seamlessly into her classroom. Her leadership in our middle school musical has been instrumental in building a high-quality drama program, showcasing her hard work, creativity, and commitment to our school community.

As winter approaches and cold and flu season begins, please keep in mind the guidelines from the Indiana Department of Education regarding when a student should be temporarily excluded from school. Students should stay home if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:

• Fever: A temperature of 100°F or higher. The student's temperature must remain below 100°F for at least 24 hours without the use of medication before returning to school.
• Significant head cold: Especially if accompanied by a persistent cough or nasal discharge.
• Sore or inflamed throat: If strep throat is diagnosed, the student must be on medication for at least 24 hours before returning to class.
• Vomiting: The student must not have vomited in the 24 hours prior to coming to school. Additionally, they should be free of diarrhea and related symptoms for at least 24 hours before returning.

These measures are in place to ensure the health and well-being of all students and staff. For more information, please see our student handbook HERE. Thank you for your cooperation!

The Intermediate Band had the opportunity to showcase their hard work by performing a selection of holiday tunes at the SPX Senior Luncheon this week. The students thoroughly enjoyed the chance to perform, and our parishioners were delighted by the festive concert. The performance allowed the students to practice their musical skills in front of an audience and allowed them to connect with the parish community during this special time of year. You can watch a video of the performance HERE.

The ordering window for January lunch is now open! You can order lunches through December 20th.

This service is not possible without volunteers. All volunteers are required to have safe environment training.

Click to volunteer for

December

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

 Thank you for your incredible generosity and embodying the spirit of the season with your coin donations. We collected $1,188.07 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana! We look forward to continuing this tradition and connecting with the story of St. Nicholas as we prepare for the coming of Jesus.

It’s time to sprinkle some extra happiness into the school day for our teachers! Help us bring sweet smiles to their faces with a donut, coffee and bagel station on Wednesday, December 18. 

Glazed, jelly, powdered or cake - whatever you choose to donate - we will gladly take! It’s easy to “dough-nate” - click HERE!

Be sure to check the athletic calendar HERE for those games, updates, changes or cancellations.

Looking to deepen your prayer life with simple, daily steps in the new year? Become a small group leader for our Christmas Parish Book discussion groups! This role involves five meetings held on consecutive weeks, beginning the week of Jan. 12, at a day, time, and location of your choice. You may choose to host a group exclusively for school parents or open it to parishioners at large. The book includes daily five-minute readings, and both Leader and Participant Guides are provided. Contact Lisa Marino at lmarino@stpius.net this week for more information.