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Principal's Message
Miss Erin Clayton
Kia ora e te whānau
📬 St Pius X School Newsletter – Week 2, Term 4
Kia ora e te whānau,
Welcome back to Term 4! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful and happy break with their families. It’s wonderful to see all our tamariki back, ready for another busy and exciting term ahead.
Welcome back to Term 4! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful and happy break with their families. It’s wonderful to see all our tamariki back, ready for another busy and exciting term ahead.
This term is full of special events and celebrations, so please take a moment to look through the dates below and pop them in your calendars.
🎭 Footsteps Performance – Friday 10 October
This was a true triumph. We are so proud of our learners and teachers for the way this event came together. Check out Facebook for some highlights of the event.
⛪️ Opening School Mass – Friday 17 October
We will celebrate the Opening of Term 4 with a School Mass on Friday 17 October at 9 am in the Church.
All whānau are warmly invited to join us as we begin the new term in prayer and thanksgiving.
All whānau are warmly invited to join us as we begin the new term in prayer and thanksgiving.
📢 Important Notice: School Closed – Thursday 23 October
Please note that St Pius X School will be closed for instruction on Thursday 23 October due to strike action.
This means there will be no classes or supervision available on that day. We ask that families make alternative arrangements for their tamariki.
Thank you for your understanding and support. School will reopen as usual on Friday 24 October.
Walk or wheels week is coming up on the week of 20th Oct – 24th Oct
Walk or Wheel week encourages the use of active modes of transport to and from
school like walking, scooting, biking, skating and park ‘n stride. If you live far away
from school or have to come by car your parent could drop you on Dermont Street
and you can walk, bike or scoot from there.
Look out for helpers on Wednesday morning. We will be at the school gates in hi-vis
with entry slips to put you in the draw for some awesome prizes for biking, scooting
or walking to school.
We have zoo passes, Waterworld passes, Ninja Valley passes, ice cream vouchers,
drink bottles and umbrellas to be won. We also have two family zoo passes for two
lucky families who are actively travelling to and from school together.
So, get active and out of your cars for WOW week
Look out for our helpers again next Wednesday as they record people coming to school in ways other than a single family car to be in to win a spot prize.
school like walking, scooting, biking, skating and park ‘n stride. If you live far away
from school or have to come by car your parent could drop you on Dermont Street
and you can walk, bike or scoot from there.
Look out for helpers on Wednesday morning. We will be at the school gates in hi-vis
with entry slips to put you in the draw for some awesome prizes for biking, scooting
or walking to school.
We have zoo passes, Waterworld passes, Ninja Valley passes, ice cream vouchers,
drink bottles and umbrellas to be won. We also have two family zoo passes for two
lucky families who are actively travelling to and from school together.
So, get active and out of your cars for WOW week
Look out for our helpers again next Wednesday as they record people coming to school in ways other than a single family car to be in to win a spot prize.
👵🧓 Duffy Grandparents Assembly – Friday 24 October
We warmly invite all grandparents and “grandfriends” to join us for our Duffy Grandparents Assembly on Friday 24 October at 2 pm in the Church.
This is always a special event where we celebrate reading, learning, and the special role grandparents play in our children’s lives.
This is always a special event where we celebrate reading, learning, and the special role grandparents play in our children’s lives.
🎪 Save the Date – Raise the Roof Fete!
Get ready for our “Raise the Roof” Pairsh Fete on Saturday 1 November, 10 am–2 pm!
There’ll be stalls, games, food, entertainment, and fun for the whole family. This will be one of our big community events of the year, raising funds for much-needed upgrades to our church roof.
There’ll be stalls, games, food, entertainment, and fun for the whole family. This will be one of our big community events of the year, raising funds for much-needed upgrades to our church roof.
📦 Donations Drop-Off:
Bring your donated items to the school on Saturday 25 October.
Bring your donated items to the school on Saturday 25 October.
🍛 Butter Chicken Fundraiser:
Support our Butter Chicken Fundraiser to help cover fete costs. Your support makes all the difference — thank you for helping make our day a success!
All Saints Dress up day
On Friday 31st October the school will dress up as a Saint or a figure from the bible bringing a gold coin as a donation for the Raise the roof campaign.
Support our Butter Chicken Fundraiser to help cover fete costs. Your support makes all the difference — thank you for helping make our day a success!
All Saints Dress up day
On Friday 31st October the school will dress up as a Saint or a figure from the bible bringing a gold coin as a donation for the Raise the roof campaign.
🇳🇿 Labour Day – Monday 27 October
Please note that Monday 27 October is Labour Day, a public holiday.
The school will be closed for the day.
The school will be closed for the day.
👀 Looking ahead in Term 4
We are excited about what Term 4 will bring. A few things to note already.
- Athletics Day – a great chance to show our skills and house spirit.
- Year 8 Leavers’ Celebrations – a special time to farewell our senior students as they prepare for the next step in their journey.
- End of Year Mass and Prizegiving – a time to gather as a community and celebrate the learning, growth, and achievements of the year.
- Advent and Christmas preparations – keeping Christ at the heart of our celebrations.
Term 4 always goes by quickly, so please keep an eye on newsletters and school communications for more details as events draw closer.
🚗 Carpark Reminder
Our afternoon initiative of having some students walk to Dermont Street is working really well and helping to ease traffic and congestion – thank you for your support with this.
In the mornings, if you are just dropping off and going, please use the semi-circle drive outside the Church. Children can safely walk along the footpath to reach school.
⚠️ Please do not park in the driveway or on the sidewalk of the carpark to drop children off – this is dangerous.
🌿🚶♀️ We’re taking on the Wednesday Challenge! 🚴♂️🛴
St Pius X School is joining the Wednesday Challenge — a fun way to help ease congestion around our school gates and do something great for our planet! 🌏
Each Wednesday, we’re encouraging our tamariki to get to and from school by any means other than a single-family car. That could mean:
🚶♀️ Walking
🚴♂️ Biking
🛴 Scootering
🚗 Carpooling with friends
🚶♀️ Walking
🚴♂️ Biking
🛴 Scootering
🚗 Carpooling with friends
Our classes are competing against one another, and our school is also competing with five other Hamilton schools to see who can make the biggest difference!
🏆 Champion classes will be announced at each assembly, and there’ll be spot prizes for those taking part.
Let’s get moving, have some fun, and show Hamilton how St Pius X steps up for our environment and community! 💚
#WednesdayChallenge #ActiveTravel #StPiusX #HamiltonSchools #WalkBikeScootCarpool #TeamStPius
📅 Attendance Reminder
The Government is asking all schools to help improve student attendance.
This term we will send emails to families where attendance has dropped.
This term we will send emails to families where attendance has dropped.
✅ We understand winter sickness is common and sometimes we send students home.
✅ Even so, once a child is enrolled, they must be at school every day if they are well enough.
✅ Even so, once a child is enrolled, they must be at school every day if they are well enough.
Being at school every day helps children:
- 📚 Keep up with learning
- 😊 See friends
- 🤝 Be part of our school community
Thank you for helping us support your child’s learning.
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.
Enrolments for Younger Siblings – 2026 & 2027
Our school roll is currently full in 2026. We are not able to guarantee a place for any siblings whose birthdays fall during 2026. We are also filling fast for 2027.
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 – Tommo’s Lunches
Our regular Tommo’s lunch orders will continue on Fridays as usual.
🥙 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 – Tommo’s Lunches
Our regular Tommo’s lunch orders will continue on Fridays as usual.
Walking School Bus information afternoon
As part of our plan to improve traffic and safety around the school gate we are looking to set up a walking school bus for those interested in 2026. The walking bus would be for the end of the day and walk students from school to their home. This will be supported by the Hamilton council. We will hold an information afternoon at 2pm in the staff room on Tuesday 11th of November. All are welcome.
Ngā mihi nui
Erin Clayton (Principal)
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