SPX Newsletter April 21, 2023

While I don't know how it's possible, we only have 28 days left in the school year! As you'll notice in the calendar below, we have a lot of incredible events packed into the last five weeks of school! Although we have many fun activities planned, our teachers still have a lot of important standards to cover. Please be sure to keep routines for homework, reading, and studying in place each night so your child(ren) can have the best possible finish to the school year.

For the next two weeks, the Apex team will move into our school to provide an exciting fundraising experience in combination with character building lessons for our students. With this year's funds, we hope to purchase a Book Vending Machine, two basketball hoops and a P6 game (see photo) for the playground, updates for the school, and items for teachers and classrooms. In the past, we've had great success because our parents have shared the links via emails and social media which enables family and friends in other states (and even other countries) to support SPX. The teachers and students look forward to this fundraiser each year, and we are incredibly appreciative of the support of our families. Please see the flyers below for more information!

Saturday, April 22 First Communion at SPX (10:00) and Seton (1:00)

Monday, April 24 Honor Choir Performance (ODU, 6:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, April 25 All School Mass

Tuesday, April 25 Apex Pep Rally

Wednesday, April 26 Dress Down Day

Thursday, April 27 SPX Band Performance (Hartley, 7:00 p.m.)

Friday, April 28 Grade 5 Friends Across Time

Friday, April 28 Grade 4 Science Fair

Saturday, April 29 First Communion at SPX (10:00 a.m.)

Monday, May 1 First Day for Summer Uniforms (Please see Family Handbook)

Tuesday, May 2 All School Mass

Thursday, May 4 K-6 Apex Fun Run (K-6th)

Friday, May 5 Apex Color Powder Games (Jr. High)

Saturday, May 6 Walk for Eli (Foundation Park, 9:00-11:00)

Monday, May 8 Staff Appreciation

Monday, May 8 SOS Children's Hospital Program for 6th-8th Grades

Monday, May 9 SOS Children's Hospital Program for 6th-8th Grades

Wednesday, May 10 Home & School Meeting (Library, 6:30)

Friday, May 12 Living Rosary (Church, 1:30)

Saturday, May 13 Blue/Gold 7th & 8th Athletic Banquet (Parish Center, 6:00)

Tuesday, May 16 Coffee With the Counselor (Parish Center, 8:00 a.m.)

Tuesday, May 16 All School Mass

Tuesday, May 16 School Board (Library, 7:00)

Thursday, May 18 Choir/Band Concert (Gym, 6:30)

Friday, May 19 May Crowning (Church, 1:15)

Friday, May 19 Newsletter

Monday, May 22 Confirmation (Church, 7:00)

Tuesday, May 23 All School Mass

Wednesday, May 24 COSI (3rd grade)

Tuesday, May 30 Choir/Band Concert

Tuesday, May 30 4th Quarter All School Assembly

Wednesday May 31 Fun Day K-5

Wednesday May 31 Get Air (6th grade)

Wednesday, May 31 Play CBus (7th grade)

Wednesday, May 31 Kings Island (8th grade)

Thursday, June 1 All School Mass

Thursday, June 1 Commissioning Service (Church, 9:15)

Thursday, June 1 Kindergarten Graduation (Gym, 10:30)

Thursday, June 1 8th Grade Basketball Game (Gym, 1:00)

Thursday, June 1 8th Grade Clap Out (2:10)

Thursday, June 1 8th Grade Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation (Church, 6:30)

Thursday, June 1 Report Cards Home

*June 19 - 23 Vacation Bible School (See past newsletter for more information.)

*July 1 Last Day to Order School Supply Kits

Sadly, next year, Mrs. Marchi will be leaving (for retirement) and Mrs. Angle will be moving to first grade, which opened up a kindergarten position. We'd like to congratulate Mrs. Bernay, our Intervention Coordinator, on being named our new kindergarten teacher! If you know strong candidates for the positions below, please share our openings!

"When I applied for my first teaching position several years ago, there was a teacher surplus and all the candidates accepted jobs, regardless of the school, if they were lucky enough to get an offer. Last summer, as I relocated back to Columbus, I knew the situation was reversed and I would have the opportunity to apply to many schools and hopefully have my pick of where I wanted to teach. Walking into St. Pius, I knew immediately that this was the school I would pick. From the first staff day in the summer, I felt like a welcome part of the school. The staff is friendly and helpful and the administrators are supportive and caring. Everyone is a family and works together to accomplish our goal. The students know and love God and are committed to learning. The families are partners in their students' education and support teachers inside and outside of the classroom. I feel lucky to fulfill my calling to this vocation at SPX. I couldn’t imagine a better fit for my teaching philosophy than this school."

Sarah Meyer, 6th Grade Teacher

As always, Mrs. Louiso didn't disappoint with her "Blast Off to Reading" Book Fair--complete with a rocket ship and out of this world creatures! She is always goes to "infinity and beyond" to make sure our students have the best experience, and we appreciate the countless hours she gives to SPX!

SOS teaches students and school staff to recognize the signs and symptoms of suicide and depression in themselves and others, and to follow the ACT process:

• Acknowledge there is a serious concern
• Show the person you Care
• Tell a trusted adult

The SOS program also encourages conversation around mental health issues, including depression and suicide, between school staff, families, and students. In randomized controlled studies, the SOS program showed a decrease of 40-64% in self-reported suicide attempts by students.

After teacher-led lessons from the program, students will be assessed through a self-survey, and then have an opportunity to meet with trusted adults on staff. If students present with great concerns, Children's Hospital will have two staff members available at SPX to meet with students in crisis.

We are grateful to be able to implement this program and provide our students with awareness and support, while offering our parents resources in collaboration with a trusted organization such as Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Join us for Coffee with the Counselor on Tuesday, May 16th as we discuss strategies for supporting your child's social, emotional, and academic growth during the summer months. Coffee and assorted pastries will be provided. Doors to the Monsignor Funk Center will open at 7:45 a.m. and the presentation will begin at 8 a.m. We will finish no later than 8:30 a.m. so please consider joining us for the All School Mass afterwards. If interested, please RSVP here. Hope to see you there!

Check out the slideshow below to see what a visual masterpiece was created by our production of Alice and Wonderland! We'd like to thank Mrs. Smith (director/music), Mrs. Trainer (director/sets), Mrs. Schwab (costumes), Mrs. Yokum (props), Mr. Kerr (role development), and Mr. & Mrs. Kline (sets) for ALL of the time and talents they shared to provide our students with an extraordinary experience! Our student actors and actresses did a phenomenal job entertaining the audiences!

Our 8th graders returned yesterday from three exciting days of irresistible learning in Washington, D.C. Our students had the opportunity to visit the monuments, memorials, and the Smithsonians; they visited Arlington Cemetery and four of our students presented a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; they celebrated Mass and toured the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and they finished their trip with a tour of the National Museum of the United States Army. The photos are evidence they had a phenomenal experience! We are beyond thankful for our Jr. High teachers and Mrs. Silone for giving up their personal time to provide such an enriching experience for our students!

We are thankful for HSA for funding this wonderful authentic learning experience!

Dear SPX Families,

April is Autism Awareness month. Throughout the month our SPX students participate in autism awareness education to promote awareness and understanding. On April 2nd the St. Pius X Church mass bulletin contained a petition from one of our own parish families, the Andres Family, seeking our community’s support to raise money for an autism service dog for their young son, Eli.

To help the family reach their goal, SPX 7th graders Addison Harsh and Gianna Lomonico have partnered with Pataskala Parks and Rec to host a family walk on Saturday, May 6th from 9-11am at Thomas J. Evans Foundation Park to benefit the Andres Family’s “4 Paws for Eli” fundraiser with 4 Paws for Ability, Inc.

Foundation Park hosts two trails, a 1.4 mile perimeter trail around the soccer fields and park, and a 1-mile woodland trail that follows the South Fork Licking River. The cost to walk is $5 per person or $20 for a family. To register, please complete this Google Form and remit payment to the school or via Venmo: https://forms.gle/H5r6fKpAaqmybrgXA

• Cash (please include names of walker on the envelope)
• Checks made payable to “Abigail or Matthew Andres” (please include the names of walkers on the envelope)
• Payments can also be made via VEMNO to @Jennifer-PackHarsh (include names of walkers)

Family walk details:

• Arrive at Foundation Park between 8:45-9:00am **Children must be supervised.**
• Directions from Broad St: Turn on to Oak Meadow Drive (BP Gas station is on the corner). Make a left on Bent Tree Lane. Park in the parking lots by the softball/baseball fields. You can also enter the park from John Reese Pkwy (The Settlement neighborhood). See map.
• The walk will begin at the trail entrance off the parking lot at 9:00am.
• Families are welcome to walk (or jog) the perimeter trail, take a detour onto the scenic wooded trail, or do both.

Questions? Please contact AddisonHarsh415@gmail.com or lisalomonico@gmail.com

*This is not an SPX sponsored event*

Nine of our Blue Choir members will be participating in the Diocesan Honor Choir event on Monday, April 24th. Twelve elementary schools from all over the Columbus Diocese will spend the afternoon rehearsing a selection of songs to perform under the direction of Sheila Cafmeyer, Director of Choirs at ODU. The concert will be held at Matesich Theatre on Ohio Domican's Campus Monday night at 6:30pm. All are welcome to attend!

Music and PE are going to combine classes for Cardio Drumming, but they are in need of large exercise balls (see photo). If you have an exercise ball you are willing to donate or lend to the school, please send it to Mrs. Hennessey's attention. If you'd like it returned to you when they finish the unit, please label the with your last name.

SAVE THE DATE for our First Annual SPX Flea Market on Saturday, June 10 from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. with all proceeds benefiting the SPX Latchkey program.

If interested in renting a space, the fee is $30 for two parking spaces. One space for your car and one space for what you are going to sell. This fee includes one table for your use, additional tables are $5, or you can bring your own. If you feel one parking spot is not enough for what you have to sell, for an additional $20, you can get another two parking spaces, one for another car (if needed) and one (or two) for the items you are selling. Paper and online registrations will open May 1. More details to come next weekend. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Patricia Zeitman at pzeitman@spxreynoldsburg.com.

We are excited to partner with 1st Day School Supplies again this year. They are going to save us up to 30% over shopping at big box stores like Target, Walmart, and Amazon. Better yet, they are the undisputed leader in custom kitting school supplies. Providing us with only brand names you trust and respect like Ticonderoga, Crayola, Elmer’s and Clorox. So, what are you waiting for? Buy early and save!

Order Now>> 1stDaySchoolSupplies.com

*Please note - students in K-5 will be incidental billed for a few items that could not be provided within the packaged kits (planners, communication folders, and/or flashcards).

Email: stpiusx@cdeducation.org
Website: https://www.spxelementary.com/

Location: 1061 Waggoner Road, Reynoldsburg, OH, USA
Phone: 614-866-6050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SPXSchoolReynoldsburg