With APEX and Teacher Appreciation Week coinciding, I can confidently say that this week has been filled with excitement! While our students enjoyed APEX awards such as dance parties, pie-throwing at APEX coaches, obstacle courses, and color battles, our staff members participated in a Survivor game filled with challenges. These challenges included dancing down the hallway, performing lyrical dances, creating "awkward" staff photos, participating in the Masked Singer, and crafting funny videos and memes.

Additionally, staff members celebrated our "In Our Teaching Era" theme by dressing up as another staff member, embellishing their Apex shirts with bling, sporting a "wild" look, or simply opting for comfort. If you haven’t seen the photos from our “dress like another staff member challenge,” be sure to check some out below (but many more are on Facebook)! Let’s just say that there were lots of laughs that day!

Most importantly, during Survivor, staff members were tasked with showing appreciation for each other and connecting with colleagues with whom they may not typically spend time. While May can be a challenging month in a school setting, this week provided us with the opportunity to share laughter and alleviate stress together.

I'd like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Katie Chilicki and Ashley Guilfoyle, HSA’s Teacher Appreciation Co-Chairs, and our Home & School Association for their exceptional efforts in showering the staff with love and support! The decorations were perfect and the staff thoroughly enjoyed the special meals and goodies each day. Everyone certainly felt the LOVE, and it was deeply appreciated!

Additionally, I want to express my appreciation to all of YOU who took the time to send a "shout out" for our Teacher Appreciation bulletin board, write a card, or send a gift to a teacher. Believe it or not, these small gestures are very meaningful to our teachers! While our talented teachers make their job seem effortless, managing a classroom successfully requires considerable time and effort. I am incredibly proud of this staff and the experiences and learning they provide for your most precious gifts.

Thank you for supporting our staff and our APEX fundraising efforts this week! It’s hard to believe that we will be wrapping up this year in just 14 days! I hope all of our mothers are celebrated this weekend!

Sincerely,

Lisa Ruth

Tuesday, May 14 All School Mass

Tuesday, May 14 1st & 4th Grade Buddies to Blacklick Woods

Friday, May 17 May Crowning (Church, 1:15 p.m.)

Saturday, May 18 Blue & Gold Banquet for 7th & 8th Grade SPX Athletes

Monday, May 20 Confirmation (Church, 7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday, May 21 All School Mass

Tuesday, May 21 School Board (Library, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, May 22 2nd Grade Catholic Museum

Wednesday, May 22 Band Information Night (Gym, 5:30)

Thursday, May 23 Coffee With the Counselor (Parish Center, 8:00 a.m.)

Thursday, May 23 1st & 2nd Grade Pizza With the Pastor

Thursday, May 23 3rd Grade to Ohio History Connection

Thursday, May 23 Choir/Band Concert for Families (Gym, 6:30 p.m.)

Friday, May 24 Choir/Band Concert for Students

Friday, May 24 K to Legoland

Friday, May 24 Jr. High Breakfast

Friday, May 24 Living Rosary (Church, 1:30)

Friday, May 24 Bi-Monthly Newsletter

Sunday, May 26 Monsignor Funk's 50th Jubilee Reception (Parish Center, 11:00 a.m.)

Monday, May 27 NO SCHOOL-Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 28 K-5 Fun Day

Tuesday, May 28 6th Grade at Chiller

Tuesday, May 28 7th Grade at Urban Air

Tuesday, May 28 8th Grade at Kings Island

Wednesday, May 29 4th Quarter All School Assembly & Talent Show

Wednesday, May 29 8th Grade Basketball Game (Gym, 1:00 p.m.)

Wednesday, May 29 Last Day of School for 8th Graders/Clap Out (2:10)

Wednesday, May 29 8th Grade Graduation (Church, 6:30)

Wednesday, May 29 8th Grade Reception (Gym, 8:00)

Thursday, May 30 Last Day of School Mass & Commissioning Service (Church, 8:30)

Thursday, May 30 Kindergarten Graduation (Gym, 10:30 a.m.)

Thursday, May 30 Report Cards Home

Thursday, May 30 Graeter's Fundraiser (Gather at the Pickerington Graeter's to celebrate!)

Saturday, June 1 CYO Catholic Family Night at the Clippers Game (5:00 p.m.)

Monday, June 3 Mini Hawk Camp - See Registration Below

Link for tickets: https://fevo.me/catholicfamilynight2024

MARK YOU CALENDARS for the St. Pius X Parish & School Feast Day Festival on Saturday, August 24th from 5:00-10:00!

The 2024-2025 scholarship renewals will be awarded in late June or early July. Once the state has awarded the scholarship, you will receive an acceptance form from Cheryl Van Meter to sign and return to the school. If you have not applied for the scholarship for this school year, the state now offers an option to receive the minimum scholarship amount without submitting your income information. It is $650.00 for the 2023-2024 school year or $616.60 for the 2024-2025 school year. The deadline to apply for the 2023-2024 school year is June 1st. If you have any questions about the Ohio EdChoice Scholarship, please contact Cheryl Van Meter at edchoice@spxelementary.com.

The gala committee is excited to announce that this year's event brought in $119,050. A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all the families, grandparents, and generous community members that supported the Gala of Giving through sponsorships, donations, and bids. Thanks to your generosity St. Pius X and the Home & School Association will continue to be able to support our students' educational experience with enrichment tools, activities, and environmental improvements.

As this school year concludes, please prayerfully consider joining the Gala of Giving planning committee for the 2025 event! This amazing event can only take place with the help and support of passionate parent volunteers. The committee is seeking a new Auction Chair for the 2025 event as well as new members to take part in a preliminary planning meeting this summer. Please send an email with your interest to galaofgiving@gmail.com.

APEX Video created by 8th graders Anna Sauer and Carly Kaufman.

Mr. Kehres and Mrs. Angle's classes won the APEX Principal Challenge and earned Chick-fil-A and the opportunity to do the Chicken Dance with Mrs. Ruth dressed as a chicken! Everyone had a lot of fun and it was for a great cause!

Check out the video below to see a small sampling of our Staff Appreciation excitement! As I always say, "If our staff is happy, our students will be happy!"

Please join us for Coffee with the Counselor on Thursday, May 23rd. We will be discussing Summer Strategies including summer routine tips, screen time suggestions, and emotional and behavior regulation. Please click HERE to RSVP. Doors to the Parish Center will open at 7:45a.m. and we will begin at 8 a.m. Coffee and breakfast pastries will be provided. Hope to see you there!

Have you been looking for a way to meet other St. Pius X parents? Are you tired of sitting in Waggoner Road traffic? Do your kids need a way to burn off their springtime energy?

Well, stay and play in May! When I first joined the SPX community my family and I didn't know a soul. After preschool afternoon pickup, my daughter started asking to go play at the "big" playground. I started noticing that many families would do this, and staying to play quickly became a daily ritual. Little did I know that this kid driven play date would become my way of connecting to the larger St. Pius X community of parents. I made friends for a lifetime on that playground and so have my children.

This tradition is something that disappeared with Covid and with it some of the strength that our community was built on. I think it is time to bring it back—with PLAY DAYS IN MAY!

With Mrs. Ruth's blessing, any families that would like to stay and play after pick up slowly pick up in the normal way, make a left out of the pick up line, drive to the back of the parking lot, park, and walk safely to the playground to play. I will be sure to be there with my kids every Friday until the end of the year, but if you are free, please take the time to get out of the Waggoner Road traffic and meet a new family. Help build community for the future of St. Pius X and stay and play in May!

Panther Mom,

Meghan Swails

If you'd like to donate uniforms to our used uniform sale, we will be collecting them in the morning and afternoon loops during the last week of school - May 28, 29, and 30! Eighth grade parents may bring uniforms to the graduation reception.

1. Autism spectrum disorder affects 1 in 36 children.
   
2. Boys are nearly 5 times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ASD. Girls are often underdiagnosed with autism and misdiagnosed with other conditions.
3. Autism spectrum disorder is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the United States. ASD is more common than childhood cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
4. Autism spectrum disorder affects all nationalities, all creeds, all religions, all races and both sexes. It doesn’t differentiate or affect only one group.

Our 8th graders in Mrs. Maloney's classroom have been collecting pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House. This week, they met their goal of collecting enough to fill a string as tall as their tallest student!

Personalized water bottles are now on sale until 5/31/2024. These are AMAZING quality and using code STPIUSX at checkout will provide 30% back to the current 7th grade class for their Washington DC trip. There are tons of water bottle options and St. Pius specific logos have been uploaded for use. To purchase visit http://www.takeyausa.com/ select your product, choose your color and select customization to create your individualized water bottle. You will receive FREE one-sided personalization. Remember, you MUST use code STPIUSX at check in out for our 7th graders to benefit.

We are excited to announce that the HSA has contracted with a new spirit wear company with several new perks!

**For the 24-25 school year, dry-fit uniform shirts will be acceptable for on gym days. The shirts are on sale now.**

• Orders may be placed at any time
• Orders shipped directly to your home
• Faster turnaround times
• More color options

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfrPaiUt0YZ9qGriQuDrGUD56SzLu21ROZvYknwzUp6j4MwRw/viewform?usp=sf_link

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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