Kia ora e te whānau Apologies for the delay in this newsletter.
📢 Newsletter Update – Thank You for Your Patience
We’re sorry we didn’t get a newsletter out last week. We had large-scale internet issues that made it difficult to send information as usual. Thank you for your understanding and a big shout-out to our amazing staff who kept everything running smoothly while we worked through the challenges.
A warm welcome back to Term 3!
We hope you all had a restful break and are ready for an exciting term ahead. I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as we work through the ongoing disruption caused by the construction of our new court. I'm pleased to report that with some good weather, we expect the project to be completed in the next couple of weeks. I truly appreciate your cooperation during this time.
This term, we’re thrilled to welcome new students and staff to our school community! With over 260 students now enrolled, we’ve reached a significant milestone and couldn’t be more excited to see our school continue to grow. A big, warm welcome to all of our new faces—we’re so glad to have you with us!
❓ Quiz Night – Friday 23rd August!
It’s nearly time for one of our most exciting events of the year – Quiz Night! 🧠🎉 Get ready for a fun evening of questions, laughter and raffles!
How you can help:
🛒 Bring a grocery item to school for our raffle hampers. Every item earns house points, so join in and support your team!
🎁 Do you have a connection to a business or a great prize idea? We’re collecting prizes for the quiz night raffles and would love your help!
Thank you for supporting our school community – we can’t wait to see you there!
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Book Week Fun!
A huge congratulations to everyone for their wonderful participation in Book Week! It is always wonderful to see the community embrace our celebrations and fun. A lovely way to celebrate a joy of reading and a love of books. Check out the photos later in the newsletter to see some of the events we had here at school.
Please Be Careful in the Carpark
We now have 261 children at our school. This means more families are picking up children at the same time. Please be extra careful in the carpark. Drive slowly and watch for children.
Here are some important reminders:
🚶♀️ Walking to Dermont Street Our Years 7 and 8 students will keep walking to Dermont Street after school. Younger brothers and sisters will walk with them. If you want your child to join this group and walk to Dermont Street, please tell the school office. We will help them get there safely.
🕒 Come After 2.45pm It is better to come just after 2.45pm at the end of the day. By then, your child will be finished and ready to go. If you come too early, you may take a carpark and have to wait. If everyone comes at the right time, the carpark moves faster, and everyone gets home sooner.
🚸 New Ideas – Can You Help? We are talking to the Council about better ways for children to be picked up and dropped off. One idea is a walking school bus that goes further than Dermont Street. If you are interested in helping with this, please let the office know.
Finally new signs The Council have provided the school with new signs highlighting where to park and a drop off and go area. Please follow the directions of the signs. We have a lot of 'on street parking' available near school if you are happy to walk 5 mins to the Church.
Thank you for helping keep our children safe.
🗓 Parent Interviews – Thursday Next Week
A reminder that parent interviews are next Thursday, and school will close early at 1:00pm for most students.
🍽 Lunchtime will start early at 12:30pm.
🕐 Students can be picked up at 1:00pm.
🇯🇵 Years 7 & 8 students will stay at school to host our special visitors from Japan. School will finish at the usual time for them.
Piwakawaka B will not have interviews but rather a Meet the teacher meeting at 3pm
Thank you for your support in making time to meet with teachers – we look forward to seeing you!
🚶♀️ Walking School Bus – Coming Soon?
We’re exploring the idea of starting a Walking School Bus! This means a group of students would walk home from school together along a set route, supervised by parent volunteers.
Walking together is a fun, healthy, and safe way to get home – and there may even be prizes for students who show dedication to walking regularly!
We’ll be holding an information evening soon for families who are interested in finding out more or who might like to help. Keep an eye out for the date!
Kōrero First with the Classroom Teacher
If there has been a concern or issue at school, we kindly remind all parents and whānau that the first step is always to talk with your child’s classroom teacher. Please do not approach another child or their whānau directly. Our teachers are here to help support positive relationships and will work with you to resolve any concerns in a respectful and safe way. Thank you for helping us keep our school a place where everyone feels cared for and supported.
Altar Servers Wanted – 9am Sunday Mass
We are looking for volunteers to serve as altar servers at the 9am Sunday Mass.
If your child has completed their Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation), they are welcome to take part in this special ministry.
Full training is provided, and parents are more than welcome to get involved too.
📞 For more information, please contact Pauline Maxwell on 022 429 9809.
✨ You’re Invited- Important Date Change
Blessing of Our New School Buildings and Sports Court
We warmly invite you to join us for a special celebration as we bless and open our new learning spaces and sports court at St Pius X School.
🗓 Thursday 7 August ⛪️ Blessing at 10:15am at the new building and court of St Pius X school ☕️ Morning tea to follow
Come and share this joyful moment with us as we give thanks and look forward to the future together.
📍St Pius X School, Melville
Enrolments for Younger Siblings – 2026 & 2027
Our school roll is currently full until Term 2, 2026. We are not able to guarantee a place for any siblings whose birthday falls in the start of Term 1 2026.
If you have younger children due to start school in 2026 or 2027, and they have older siblings already at St. Pius X, please let the office know as soon as possible. This helps us with future planning and ensures a smooth start for your tamariki. Thank you to those families that have already done this.
🏡 Moving On? Please Let Us Know
If your whānau is planning to move away from our school — whether at the end of the year or sooner — please let us know as soon as you can. This helps us with future planning, class placements, and managing our growing waitlist.
We understand that changes happen, and we will fully support you and your child through the transition. Just get in touch with the office or your child’s teacher when you know.
Ngā mihi nui for being such strong partners in your children’s education. Together, we’re creating a positive and focused environment where every learner can thrive.
Lunch Order Options – Supporting Local!
We have a few great lunch options available during the week:
🥙 Tuesdays & Wednesdays – Kebab Stop You can now order lunches from the Kebab Stop on Urlich Ave. Orders can be placed directly at orders.kebabstop.co.nz and will be delivered to the school office in time for lunch. This is a convenient option for families, and a great way to support a local business! 🍕 Friday – Pizza Friday Pizza can be ordered at school on Friday mornings and is delivered in time for lunch. This is a fundraiser to support end-of-year camps and EOTC activities, so every slice helps. Thank you for supporting our tamariki! 🍔 Friday – Tommo’s Lunches Our regular Tommo’s lunch orders will continue on Fridays as usual.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to another fantastic term together.
Ngā mihi nui Erin Clayton (Principal)
Book Week
Note from the Community
Kia ora all! The Green family hopes you have all had a wonderful break. I just wanted to share some incredible news. As you know, Kenley and Emery represented New Zealand at the 2025 Oceania championships. The 11U Kiwi Blacks dominated the competition and took the gold. To top it off, Kenley received the Top Defensive player award of the tournament and Emery received Top Goalie! We are incredibly proud, as Kenley has worked hard to get back after her injury and Emery was the youngest and smallest goalie there. They were 2 of 5 total female players in the entire age grade in both NZ and Australian teams. They will be very excited to show you their medals. Thank you St. Pius for your support of these girls through the school league program and through everyday activities.
Opening Mass for the term blessing our two new Classroom teachers. Mrs Aimee McLeod and Miss Poppy Groves.
School Board Elections
For more information, contact Returning Officer, Maree: info@stpius.school.nz
Our Board of Trustees Elections is now calling for Nominations and these will close at 12noon on the 30th. July 2025. A cover letter and a nomination form will come out to you towards the end of this week (before the school closes for holidays). If you are unable to print off the form or send it back to me, you can come and pick up a paper copy on Tuesday 15th July (as Monday is a Teacher Only Day). I will not be in the office during the holiday break.
SPORTS ROUND-UP FOR THE WEEK
INLINE HOCKEY NEWS
Over the School Holidays, 2 of our St. Pius students will represent New Zealand at the Oceania Inline Hockey Championships. Fortunately the girls will not have to go far as the tournament is happening right here in Hamilton at the Hamilton Inline Rink on Old Farm Road. Kenley Green will serve as Team Captain and younger sister Emery will suit up as a goaltender for the Under 11 New Zealand Kiwiblacks Inline Hockey Team next week right here in Hamilton. "Such a cool opportunity to play right here at home for my country, in front of my friends and to get to do it with my sister is the icing on the cake ! " said Kenley. The sisters would love to invite all their fellow students , faculty and their families to come catch them in action at the rink or on Youtube as they attempt to bring home the gold for New Zealand. Both girls are also in the running to be selected to Team OCEANIA that will be headed to the USA in 2026 to compete.
HOCKEY NEWS
Player of the days over the last 2 weeks:
Molly & Aron
Liam & Rebecca
We have had 2 tough weeks for the Saints United team with 2 very close loses against Berkley & Ngahinapouri. Some great goals scored & also great defending!
Player of the Day - Pypa
BASKETBALL NEWS!
What a Term for the Year 3/4 Basketball Team Blue Beasts!
The Year 3/4 Basketball Team has wrapped up another incredible term — and what a run it's been! They powered through the competition undefeated, showing amazing teamwork, determination, and skill on the court.
To top it all off, they’ve done it again — bringing home the Winners Trophy and making us all proud!
A huge shoutout to our awesome parents for cheering them on each week, and a massive thank you to our dedicated coaches, Coach Gerard and Mrs. Williams, for their guidance and passion every step of the way.
The Blues Beasts have played their first game of term 3, they managed to win 21-15 against a equal opponent. Lots of great plays and amazing defense. Players of the day Pia and Derick.
OUR PEOPLE
At the end of last term we held a Mufti Day to support Caritas and Catholic schools in the Pacific. Well done Whaea Rachel and Kererū class for your effort (pictured above). The whole school raised $264 dollars.
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Welcome to our new starters for Term 3!
SCHOOL INTERVIEWS FOR TERM 3
We are having Parent/Teacher Interviews in Term 3 on Thursday 31st July 2025. You will be able to book your interviews from Tuesday the 15th July through until Monday the 28th July 2025. Please contact the office if you have difficulty booking your interviews.
Friends of the School
🤝 Friends of the School – Upcoming Events & Help Needed!
The Friends of the School have a number of exciting events coming up, and we’d love your support!
🎉 Quiz Night – Saturday 23 August We are now collecting raffle prizes and gift donations to help make this a fun and successful event.
🕺 School Disco – End of Term 3 12th September. Junior time Yr 0-3 5.30-6.30pm Yr 4-8 7.00-8.00pm Always a highlight for the kids — we’ll need helpers to make it a great night!
Why Do We Fundraise?
Kia ora whānau,
At St Pius X School, fundraising helps us give your children the best learning experience possible. The money raised goes towards extra resources like sports gear, classroom supplies, technology, school trips, and fun events for our tamariki.
In New Zealand, schools receive some money from the government, but not everything is covered. Fundraising helps us provide more opportunities and support for our learners.
We know that many families are new to how schools work in New Zealand. Please know that every little bit of support—whether it’s time, donations, or helping at events—makes a big difference.
Junior time 5.30-6.30pm Years 0-3
Senior time 7.00-8.00pm Years 4-8
School Performance For Maori Language week.
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To celebrate Te wiki o te reo maori and our Footsteps learning from the term the school will put on a performance of the story of Ranginui and Papatuanuku
Term 3 Closing Mass
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Sacred Heart Information Evening
All Day
Experience Sacred Heart Day
All Day
Community Notices
Friday lunch orders menu.
The NZTD (travellerdeclaration.govt.nz) is an online system that travellers can use to complete a declaration before they travel into New Zealand. The new digital NZTD was launched in August 2023 and not many people know they can now do it online – replacing the paper card you used to fill out on the plane.
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