St. Pius X Catholic School – A to Z
A Topical Overview of Student Life at SPX School

Advent Prayer Services
Prayer services held on Monday mornings during Advent to focus student attention on preparations for the birth of Jesus.  Readings and hymns remind students of how they should watch for Jesus.  The candles on the Advent Wreath are also lit.

Art Show
An evening which the school corridors are transformed into an “Art Gallery” for viewing students artistic creations.

Athletic Committee
Group of parent representatives who oversee the CYO athletic activities for the parish.

Attendance Hotline
Separate voice mail line on which parents must leave a message each day that a student is ill or missing from school for any reason.

Baby Shower for Jesus
On the last day of school before Christmas vacation, students bring items needed by babies.  Gifts should be wrapped and labeled for size and gender.  Students present these at the altar as a “Shower gift to Mary for Jesus”.  These necessities are given to Birthline for distribution to those who need them.

Back To School Night
An opportunity for parents to begin the school year by coming together for introductions and meeting teachers.  School is open for visitation.

Book Fair
An opportunity to purchase a variety of literature and literary items.  This event is sponsored by the PTO.  Profits are used to enhance the library.

Canned Food Drive
An opportunity for students to help the less fortunate by collecting and donating non-perishable food items.  These drives are held a couple of times per year.

Catholic Schools Week
A week held near the end of January dedicated to celebrating Catholic school values, Catholic school success stories, and Catholic school commitment to educating children in all areas, both spiritual and educational.

Christmas Play
3rd Grade production centered on a Christmas theme culminating in the Nativity story.  2nd Grade performs as a chorus in this event.

Counselor
Professional counselor contracted through Catholic Social Services to work with students and families who are referred by teachers, or who request conferences.

El Salvador Fundraisers
SPX students hold fundraisers to help raise money for the school at our sister parish in Portillo, El Salvador.

Everybody Counts
A program presented by the PTO to expose SPX students to a variety of disabilities experienced by children and adults with the hope that by understanding these disabilities, the children will live and work in a more Christian manner.  Grade-appropriate topics are presented. 

Explore Classes
Required classes held in addition to the core curriculum.  These classes include Art, Health, Music Study Skills, and Physical Education.

Extended Care
Program run by teachers to provide after-school care for students who cannot be picked up by 3:00 PM.  Available for students on a daily or periodic basis.  There is a charge for this service.

Fall Break
This break does not always occur at the same time each year.  It is usually in late October.

Field Day
End-of-the-year activity for the school.  Students play games outdoors, have a special lunch and celebrate a successful year.

Field Trips
Educational activities away from the school building.

Foreign Language
Spanish is offered three days per week for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.  Students in grades 1-5 take Spanish once per week.

Gospel Values
Monthly Gospel themes emphasized during morning prayers, mass and classroom religious instruction.

Graduation
Ceremony including Mass and recognition of accomplishments for 8th grade students as they leave SPX.  Usually followed by a celebration as planned by the graduates and their families.  7th Grade parents decorate and work this event so that 8th grade parents may celebrate with their graduates.

Grandparents Day
1st Grade event honoring grandparents.  Students’ grandparents or other special friends come to school and share the afternoon with the students.

High School Open House
Events sponsored by private and parochial high schools to introduce students to their respective programs.

Hobby Show
Event sponsored by the CYO and coordinated by parents.  It is an opportunity for students to showcase their hobbies and special interests.  This display takes place during Catholic School Week.

I-STEP+
Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress.  Standardized Test given in the spring to students in Grades 3-8.  This test is aligned to state standards in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  Results are used to assess student progress in meeting these state standards.

Kindergarten Sing
Event held in February of the kindergarten year at which the students display some of the things they have learned during the course of the year.  Parents are invited to see how much their children have grown and learned.

Learning Resource Program
Special resource help for students with identified learning disabilities.  Students receive extra tutoring and instruction from resource specialists. 

Liaisons
Parent volunteers assigned to each teacher to provide assistance in a number of ways.  This might include organizing field trips, working with small groups, preparing bulletin board materials, etc.

Living Way of the Cross
Production in which the Stations of the Cross are depicted by the 8th Grade class in freeze frame.  Presented during Holy Week for the parish community.

Morning Drop Off
School day begins at 8:00 AM.  Building is open beginning at 7:30 AM for student arrival with supervision for students in the gyms.

Mother’s Mass
Mass held on the Friday before Mother’s Day to honor the Blessed Virgin and our own mothers.  Mothers of 8th grade students are specially honored on this occasion.

Native American Day
Kindergarten activity held prior to Thanksgiving after students have studied Native Americans.

Nativity Pageant
Presentation of the story of Jesus’ birth by the 1st Grade Class.  Held in conjunction with the Baby Shower for Jesus.

Open House
A day during which families interested in learning more about enrollment at St. Pius X Catholic School may visit SPX, tour the school and meet the teachers.

PTO
Parent Teacher Organization; our parent-teacher group.  Membership occurs with purchase of a school directory.  Officers and committee chairs plan and organize various educational and social activities for the parents and students.  Funds are used to provide the school with extras that cannot be funded through our parochial school budget.

Parent-Teacher Conference
Formal opportunity for parents and teachers to meet and discuss student progress.   Held after the first grading period.  Informal conferences may be requested at any time.

Progress Reports
Reports uploaded to Edline midway through each grading period to give a general idea of how students are doing in their classes.  This is a formal communication tool through which teachers can keep parents informed of student progress.

Professional Day
A day set aside for teacher professional development opportunities.  Students have no classes on these days.

Purple & Gold Rush
School newsletter that is published electronically on Mondays.

Registration Packet
Materials sent home in the spring for enrolling current SPX students for the following year.  Must be returned promptly, accompanied by payment of registrations deposit to ensure a spot in the next year’s class.

Report Cards
Formal notification to parents of student progress.  Uploaded to Edline quarterly for grades 3 – 8.

Room Parent
Volunteer who is available to help teachers throughout the school year in various ways such as planning school parties and fun activities.  Also helps in gathering materials for School Carnival.

Sacramental Preparation
Special instructions for students preparing to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for the first time.

School Cancellation
In the event of inclement weather or mechanical problems, the school may be closed.  This will be broadcast on local TV stations and through our One Call Now System. 

School Carnival
PTO-sponsored carnival fund raiser.  Games and activities for students and parents. Refreshments available.  Volunteer service opportunities for parents and middle school students.

School Commission
A commission of the Parish Council that works with the Principal to coordinate the school program and the parish ministry as a whole.  Membership is determined by discernment.

School Handbook
Booklet containing all of the information needed by parents of SPX students.  School schedule, rules, uniform guidelines, discipline policy, etc. are printed so that everything may be found in one source.

School Liturgies
Celebration of the Eucharist held each Wednesday at 8:15 AM during the school year.  The whole school community joins to worship together.  Classes take turns planning the readings and music. 

School Lunch Program
Lunches brought in from various restaurants or prepared by St. Pius Moms.  Students may purchase these lunches on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday in lieu of bringing a sack lunch.

School Pictures
Professional photographs taken of individual students in the fall and of each class in the spring.  Pictures are available for purchase if desired.

School Yearbook
Each year a school yearbook is compiled to highlight the activities of the students throughout the year.  This soft-cover retrospective is available for purchase in the spring.

Scrip
Certificates that may be purchased from the PTO.  They are used as cash at various merchants around town with a percentage of what you pay going back to the school.

Sign-in, Visitors
Parents, visitors, and all volunteers must sign in at the school office and pick up a visitor’s badge to be worn while in the building.  This is required by the School Safety Plan.

Spirit Day
An out-of-uniform day set aside for the students to celebrate the “Spirit of St. Pius X” by wearing spirit wear to school.  Held on Teacher Fridays.  Spirit wear is available from PTO a couple of times per year through an order form.

Spring Break
A week, usually the last week of March or the first week of April (depending on when Easter falls) when school is closed for some time of rest and relaxation after the long winter.

Stewardship
Gospel value which instructs God’s people to share their time, talents, and treasure from the first fruits of their labor.  SPX students and families are encouraged to live by this value, and to allow it to direct all of the actions.

Teacher Friday
Students have an early dismissal (1:00/1:15 PM) to allow teachers time for professional development and interdisciplinary planning.

Take Home Envelope
Envelope distributed to the youngest child in each family.  Inside will be found any important correspondence, etc.

8th Grade Retreat
Two day trip taken by the 8th grade class and teachers during which they discuss leadership qualities that they will need during the year.  This spiritual interlude is held at St. Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana, and it is a highlight of the 8th Grade year.

St. Pius X Catholic School - 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis, IN. 46240, - Phone: 317-466-3361