Principal Letter

Welcome Back!

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! We are so excited to begin another wonderful year together at St. Pius X School.

Yesterday, it was a pleasure to welcome more than 25 new families at our New Family Welcome where we invited families to Mass and donuts on the playground. God certainly blessed us with a beautiful day! We enjoyed getting to know our newest families, answering some last-minute questions, and giving them a glimpse of the warm and welcoming community that makes St. Pius X so special. A special thank-you goes to our Jr. High students, Olivia Berger and Evan Reeves, who graciously agreed to bring our Panther mascots to life (even though they were melting inside those costumes)! We can’t wait for our new families to experience all that SPX has to offer and to discover firsthand what makes our school community so special.

This summer, our office staff had the opportunity to attend the FACTS Conference in Orlando. In addition to learning new ideas that we are excited to bring back to SPX, we especially appreciated having uninterrupted time together to reflect, plan, and prepare for the year ahead. Of course, we also added a day to our trip to spend some bonding time together exploring different countries in Epcot.

Because Pope Leo has spoken on the importance of friendship and our call to grow in relationship with Christ and one another, we have chosen “I Have Called You Friends” (John 15:15) as our theme for the 2026–2027 school year. Throughout the year, we will encourage our students to think about what it truly means to be a friend, as Jesus calls us to be, which will ultimately strengthen our SPX community.

This Back-to-School Newsletter is packed with important information to help your family have a smooth and successful start to the school year. Please take some time to read it carefully. We also ask that each family thoroughly reviews the SPX Family Handbook before signing the handbook acknowledgment. Taking the time to become familiar with our procedures and expectations helps ensure that we all begin the year on the same page.

This week, our teachers and staff will be busy preparing classrooms, participating in professional development, and getting ready to welcome our Panthers back to school. On Monday, we will join more than 1,400 Catholic school educators from across our diocese at St. Charles for the Diocese of Columbus Educators' Evangelization Day. As we prepare our hearts and minds for the important work ahead, I ask that you please keep our faculty and staff in your prayers. Know that we will be praying for each of our students and families as well, asking God to bless us with a safe, joyful, faith-filled, and successful school year.

Finally, I hope to see many of you at our Welcome Back Mass on Tuesday, August 18 at 8:30 a.m., followed by our Sneak Peek from 9:30-10:30 a.m. It is a wonderful way to reconnect with friends, visit classrooms, meet teachers, and help ease some of those first-day jitters!

We have so much to look forward to, and I am grateful to begin another year together. May God bless our students, families, faculty, and staff as we begin the 2026–2027 school year!

Sincerely,

Lisa Ruth

PreK Families*

Please note that a good portion of the newsletter is typically directed to K-8 families. Items marked with an asterisk* are applicable to PreK families.

Upcoming Calendar Events

Access the Full 2026-2027 Calendar in Your FACTS Family Portal

Tuesday, August 11: Homeroom Teachers Viewable in FACTS Family Portal

**Click on the Directory to view students in the class.**

Tuesday, August 18: Welcome Back Mass for SPX Families & Staff (8:30, Church)

Tuesday, August 18: Sneak Peek (9:30 - 10:30, School)

Wednesday, August 19: Phase-In Day #1 (Kindergarten Parents Attend Orientation at 8:00 a.m.)

Thursday, August 20: Phase-In Day #2 (Kindergarten Parents Attend Orientation at 8:00 a.m.)

Friday, August 21: First Day for All Students *Although there will be no gym classes, all students may wear gym uniforms or regular uniforms.*

Saturday, August 22: New Time for Mass Due to Festival (4:00, Church)

Saturday, August 22: St. Pius X Feast Day Festival (5:00 - 9:00, Campus Parking Lot)

Tuesday, August 25: Latchkey Registration Deadline

Thursday, August 27: Star Reading Testing Grades 2nd - 8th

Thursday, August 27: Meet the Teacher (7:00 p.m., School) **Childcare Offered--Info Below**

Wednesday, September 2: Star Math Testing Grades 2nd - 8th

Thursday, September 3: School Picture Day

Friday, September 4: HSA Candy Bar Forms Due

Monday, September 7: Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, September 9: Home & School Association (HSA) Meeting (6:30, Library)

**All parents are invited to attend!**

Thursday, September 10: Girl Scout Informational Meeting (6:00-6:30, Cafeteria)

Tuesday, September 15: School Advisory Board Meeting (7:00, Library)

Wednesday, September 16: Candy Bars Delivered to School - Volunteers Needed

Thursday, September 17: SPX Blood Drive (12:00-6:00, Parish Center)

Friday, September 18: 5th Grade Friends Across Time

Friday, September 18: Candy Bar Pick-Up

Thursday, September 24: Dress Down Day

Friday, September 25: No School - Administrator Retreat

Monday, September 28: No School - Teacher Professional Development Day

Tuesday, September 29: 8th Grade Boys Visit St. Charles

Tuesday, September 29: Interims Sent Home

Tuesday, September 29: Yearbook Cover Contest Begins (Ends on 10/12)

Calendar at a Glance*

A detailed school calendar is available in your FACTS Family Portal. Simply log in and click the Calendar tab from the "waffle" menu in the upper right-hand corner. We encourage you to refer to it throughout the school year.

Link to FACTS Family Portal Login: https://sis.factsmgt.com/family-portal/en-us/?DistrictCode=spx-oh

Mark Your Calendars Now to Prepare for the Following Dates

Friday, October 16: PreK Conference - No School for PreK Students Only

Thursday, November 19: 1/2 Day and No Lunch Offered for Parent-Teacher Conferences

Fast Pass & Bus Riders will be dismissed at 11:15, followed by car riders.

Latchkey will be available for registered students (with an option of purchasing pizza).

February, 25 & 26: No school for PreK and Kindergarten students due to Kindergarten Screening

Wednesday, May 26: Last Day for 8th Grade Students

Thursday, May 27: Early Dismissal for PreK-7th Graders.

Fast Pass & Bus Riders will be dismissed at 12:45, followed by car riders.

School Hours*

IMPORTANT - Please Note Staggered Start Times

Doors Open for All Students at 7:00 a.m.

Jr. High Tardy Bell 7:50 a.m.

K-6 Tardy Bell 8:00 a.m.

PreK Tardy Bell 8:10 a.m.

We encourage students to arrive at school early to allow time to get organized and prepared for class before the tardy bell. Due to construction, we offer free early drop-off to help ensure that every student can arrive at school on time.

*After 7:55, PreK parents MUST drop their PreK student off at Hohman Hall.

Waggoner Road Construction Update*

Phase 1 is Open - Phase 2 Beginning Soon

Currently, Waggoner Road is open in both directions from Broad Street through Main Street. A new center turn lane has been added in front of SPX, which raises significant safety concerns for our families. When vehicles are stopped in the center lane, it can be difficult for drivers exiting our lot to see northbound traffic. We have also observed vehicles traveling through this area at high speeds, creating an additional safety concern.

Because of these changes, families exiting our lot will no longer be able to safely stop and allow other vehicles to exit ahead of them. We are in the process of sharing our concerns with city officials, and we are hopeful we will be able to agree on solutions that will help ensure the safety of our students and families.

Additionally, we anticipate that the new traffic light at Priestley Drive will cause increased backups. Please plan to allow additional time for drop-off and pick-up, and we ask for your patience as everyone adjusts to these changes.

Here's the latest update from the City of Reynoldsburg:

Waggoner Road Phase 2 (from Priestley to Broad Street) will tentatively begin after Labor Day on September 8th. You may see work being done by AEP, Columbia Gas, and other utilities over the next few weeks as well. The timeline for construction is 550 days from when construction crews are on site.

**Once they begin Phase 2, you will only be able to enter Waggoner from Main Street. From Main to Priestley will be two-way traffic. One-way, northbound only traffic, will begin after Priestley.**

Welcome New Staff Members*

We are excited to welcome so many new staff members to our SPX family! Please be sure to say hello to the following individuals who have recently joined our team or taken on new roles. They look forward to meeting you during our Sneak Peek!

New Staff Members

Lindsey Held, PreK Program Coordinator (Top Left)

Lauren Hughes: 6th Grade Aide & Office Support (Top Middle)

Kimberlee Collura: Office Support (Top Right)

Nadezda Fazakas: PreK & 1st Grade Aide (Bottom Left)

Michelle Gromofsky: PreK Aide (Bottom Middle Left)

Bob McGee: Tutor (Bottom Middle Right)

Annie Powell: PreK Aide (Bottom Right)

Returning Staff Members in New Roles

Laura Leon-Banos: 1st Grade Teacher

Steve Frase: Jr. High Intervention Specialist

Emily Tetreault: Specials Aide

SPX Family Handbook & Acknowledgement Links*

Please Complete the Handbook Acknowledgement Form by Friday, August 28

After a careful review of the SPX Family Handbook, parents are required to complete the SPX Family Handbook Acknowledgement Form: https://forms.gle/ZNFWFYDnccSzAKmg8

Uniform Changes

Please review the Uniform and Dress Code section of the Parent-Student Handbook carefully. Students are expected to arrive at school in full compliance with all uniform and dress code requirements. Demerits will be issued for dress code violations.

Due to ongoing violations and the difficulty of consistently monitoring certain areas of the dress code, the following expectations will be enforced:

Makeup: Makeup is not permitted for any student.
Nail Polish: Nail polish is not permitted for any student.
Earrings: Earrings may be worn by girls only. Earrings must be studs with a maximum of two piercings per ear.
Gym Uniform Shirts: Spirit Wear and athletic apparel are not acceptable substitutes for the required gym uniform shirt.

We appreciate your attention to these expectations and your cooperation in helping us maintain a consistent, professional school uniform standard.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGNp8o6y5M/U1oUD7yih-u1z1CwIJlp4A/view?utm_content=DAGNp8o6y5M&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor#42

Uniform Guide

Regular uniform shorts and gym shorts (on PE days) may be worn until Friday, October 2, since September 30th falls on a Wednesday. More information may be found in the SPX Family Handbook.

Homeroom Teachers Announced*

Mark your calendar for the BIG DAY!

On Tuesday, August 11th, homeroom teachers will be visible in each parent's FACTS Family Portal.

By clicking on the Directory in FACTS, you can check out your child's classmates.

Opening Mass and Sneak Peek*

Check Out the Photos Below from Last Year's Sneak Peek

Please gather your family and join us for our Opening Mass on Tuesday, August 18th. This celebration of the Eucharist is beautiful opportunity to come together as a community and center our hearts on Jesus. Additionally, you will have the pleasure of hearing our own staff members, the Panther Praisers, lead us in song.

After Mass, be sure to stop by the school between 9:30 and 10:30 AM for our Sneak Peek event. This is a perfect time to visit classrooms, drop off school supplies, meet teachers, tour the school, take photos, and enjoy a cookie while catching up with friends.

Phase-In Days*

All families should have received an email on Friday June 26th, detailing your child's Phase-In Day. These days provide an opportunity for teachers to get to know students, review rules and procedures, and administer baseline assessments in small groups. The schedule will follow our typical school hours, but please note the following:

*There will be no specials, so all students should be in regular summer uniforms.

*NO busing offered until Friday, August 21 (Students must be registered with district.)

*Latchkey will be offered (Students must be registered. Please see instructions below.)

*Hot lunch may be purchased during Phase-In Days.

Lunch Menu on Phase-In Days

Chicken Nuggets

Dinner Roll

Green Beans

Baby Carrots

Applesauce

Milk

Staff Lounge Wish List*

We have gathered a list of our teachers' favorite things to stock the lounge. If you are willing to donate, please view the list and you can send through Amazon. We will take any snacks, drinks, or paper products - even if they aren't on the list. We 💙 Diet Coke, (really, any pop or flavored water) and it's often on sale at Kroger for buy 3, get 3 AND you get Kroger points for SPX if you link your shopper card! It's a win-win!!!! 😉

Click this link to shop: https://a.co/041FrApq

Please Connect Your Kroger Plus Card to Support SPX!*

Aftercare Registration*

Click on the link to register for the 26-27 school year.

https://forms.gle/765RYMK4jKf74iKt7

St. Pius X Aftercare offers childcare for our PreK-8 students immediately after school until 6:00 p.m. each day. Four enrollment options are available. Daily activities are planned and provided. These may include arts and crafts, exercise, cooking, scrapbooking, sign language, dance class, time for homework, and free time for individual and group games. A daily snack is included in the fee.

For more information about pricing please click this link: https://www.spxreynoldsburg.com/latchkey

School Picture Day*

School Picture Day is on Thursday, September 3. On this day, students may be out of uniform but must adhere to the Out of Uniform Guidelines outlined in the SPX Family Handbook. Please remember that the entire outfit may be visible in the group photo. Order forms will be sent home during the week of Picture Day.

The former SPX students pictured below loved SPX so much that they became staff members! Can you guess who they are? Answers are below the large photo.

Top: Mrs. (Collura) Dennett, Mrs. (Cyrus) Angle, Mrs. (Held) Saddler

Bottom: Mrs. (Motter) Rogich, Mr. Held, Mrs. (Erwin) Berger

Attention Kindergarten Parents

Kindergarten Orientation

On your child's Phase-In Day, kindergarten parents will be asked to walk your kindergarten child into school to attend Kindergarten Orientation. Parents will be directed where to park and invited into the building by 8:00 a.m. for the orientation in the gymnasium. During this time, kindergarten teachers will share important information and answer questions, while students are escorted to their classrooms by classroom aides and tutors.

Meet the Teacher

Please plan to join us on Thursday, August 27th at 7:00 p.m. for our Meet the Teacher Night.

Parents will begin their evening in the gymnasium with staff introductions and messages from administrators and the Home & School Association. Following our introductions, parents will have the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom to learn about classroom procedures and expectations. There will be two 15 minute classroom sessions offered. (This is an adult-only event.)

Childcare Offered for Meet the Teacher

Childcare will be provided by Mrs. Zeitman, our Latchkey Director, and her team in the Latchkey building during our adults-only Meet the Teacher event on Thursday, August 27. Again this year, families may choose from two childcare options:

Dinner Provided: Students may be dropped off at 6:00 p.m. for a fee of $15.00 per child. *Students who attend latchkey may stay through the child care time for the additional fee.*
Dinner NOT Provided: Hohman Hall doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a fee of $10.00 per child. This option allows parents time to register their children before the 7:00 p.m. presentation in the school gym.

Payment must be made in cash at the time of drop-off.

Please note: Children must be at least 2 years of age. Those who are not potty trained must bring a diaper bag with diapers or Pull-Ups and wipes.

Please register using this link no later than Tuesday, August 25: https://forms.gle/R536cWaSL1JBTbMk6

Cafeteria News

Please Consider Volunteering in Our Cafeteria

Our cafeteria relies on a number of volunteers to allow our students to be fed in a timely manner and to keep costs down. Please email jschorr@spxelementary.com to volunteer.

Gym Day Uniform Schedule

Students may follow the Gym Uniform Guidelines on the following days of the week:

Kindergarten Tuesday, Friday

First Grade Monday, Friday

Second Grade Tuesday, Thursday

Third Grade Monday, Wednesday

4-211 Weber Tuesday, Friday

4-212 Mathys Monday, Friday

5-207 KamererThursday, Friday

5-209 Moriarty Monday, Thursday

Sixth Grade Wednesday

Seventh Grade Wednesday

Eighth Grade Thursday

Reminder: Spirit Wear and SPX Athletics are not acceptable gum uniform shirts.

2-Hour Volunteer Requirement

Volunteer Requirements

As a reminder, all SPX families are required to volunteer at a school or athletic function for at least two hours before May 14, 2027.

If you are a new parent or a new volunteer, please follow these steps to be able to volunteer at St. Pius X next year:

1. Register for a PGC class. https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/reg_0.cfm?theme=0

2. Complete BCI (if you have lived in OH for 5 consecutive years) Code 2151.86

All reports MUST be sent to:

Safe Environment Office

Diocese of Columbus

197 E. Gay Street

Columbus, OH 43215

The school CANNOT receive them, so please do not send them to St. Pius X!

Recording Parent AND Student Volunteer Hours in FACTS

New This Year: Parents May Earn Up to FIVE Dress Down Day Passes for Up to FIVE Volunteer Hours

Please read the Parent Volunteer FAQs below for more information.

All 6th - 8th Graders Are Required to Complete Five Volunteer Hours to Earn the Fun Day Field Trip

Please read the Student Volunteer FAQs below for more information.

All parent and student volunteer hours should be entered by the parent/guardian through the FACTS Family Portal. Please enter your hours promptly after completing your service so that our records remain accurate and up to date.

Step 1: Log In

Log in to the FACTS Family Portal using your FACTS username and password.

Step 2: Click on Family (Home)

Step 3: Above "Service Hours," click the family member who completed the service.

Step 4: Click Add or the + button to enter a new volunteer activity.

Step 5: Complete the requested fields:

Date: Enter the date the volunteer work was completed.
Hours: Enter the actual number of hours volunteered.
Description: Briefly describe the volunteer activity.

Examples:

Classroom Volunteer – Mrs. Smith's Class
Fall Festival – Set-Up
Lunch/Recess Volunteer
Book Fair Volunteer
Athletic Event – Concessions
Field Trip Chaperone
School Event – Clean-Up

Step 5: Save

Review your information to make sure it is accurate, then click Save.

A Few Reminders

Please record only the time you actually volunteered.
Enter hours as soon as possible after completing your service.
Please enter each volunteer activity separately when possible so that hours can be easily verified.
Volunteer hours should be entered under the parent/guardian who performed the service.
If you are unsure whether an activity qualifies for volunteer hours, please contact the school office before entering the hours.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that their volunteer hours are entered accurately and by the required deadline.
The school may review and verify submitted hours.

Bus Transportation

Busing Will Not Begin Until Friday August 21

If you registered for busing with your district, they should communicate your child's route information. If you have additional questions, please contact Natalie Siefert at nsiefert@spxelementary.com.

School Supply Lists

Please use this link to access all grade level school supply lists.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vaCihcLRB_ZwkcIu_pcT2a0rLOleoPQj/view

Water Bottle Policy Reminder

Students who choose to bring a water bottle to school instead of using the water fountain must follow these guidelines:

Must be clear with no colored hues (We must be able to see the water–no other liquids are permitted.)
Must have a lid that opens and closes
Must be less than 25 oz
Designs are acceptable–if we can see the liquid (See examples in the graphic.)

Sacrament Changes

The following information was posted in the SPX Parish Bulletin regarding sacrament changes:

After prayer and study, Bishop Fernandes has advocated for Confirmation in the 4th grade in the Diocese of Columbus. To this end, at St. Pius we will start this fall preparing 6/7/8th graders, to make their Confirmation in the spring of 2027. In the fall of 2027, we will start preparing the 4/5/6th graders for Confirmation in the spring of 2028. By the school year of 2028-29, we will be preparing 4th graders for Confirmation, in accord with Bishop Fernandes's vision. If you have any questions, please reach out to Joe Filous at jfilous@spxreynoldsburg.com.

Changes in Sacramental Preparation

This fall will start a new program to prepare children at St. Pius for Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. Students from the parish and from the school will learn together more closely in preparing for these sacraments. This will include a handful of mandatory days of instruction outside of the normal school hours. Preparation for these sacraments will start formally with Sacrament Sunday on September 20. After the 10am Mass on September 20, children and families (in grades 2, 6, 7, and 8) who anticipate making their sacraments in the spring will meet in the school gym and learn about meeting dates and expectations. Please reach out to Joe Filous at jfilous@spxreynoldsburg.com with any questions.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

From St. Pius X School:

Since we are in the unique position of serving students from many parishes, we have decided to include more sacrament preparation in our curriculum. Students in grades 2/6/7/8 will have additional assignments throughout the year that are an academic requirement, regardless of where students are registered parishioners. More details will be given at Meet the Teacher Night at the end of August.

HSA Spirit Wear Store*

Order Gym Uniforms and a Large Variety of Spirit Wear!

Please go to https://www.stpius.printphase.com/ to order spirit wear and gym uniforms throughout the year! Orders may be placed at any time, they are shipped directly to your home, and turnaround times are fast!

Save the Date: Saturday, March 20, 2027*

Gala of Giving: A Night at the Races

Our first Night at the Races was such a success that our amazing Gala of Giving chairs are bringing it back for another year! Get ready for exciting races, lively betting, delicious food and drinks, and fabulous auction items. You won’t want to miss our largest fundraiser and community event for adults!

St. Pius X Parish Feast Day Festival*

Join the Parish Fun on Saturday, August 22 🎪

A Few Volunteer Opportunities Are Still Available for Parents and Students

The parish festival chairs are looking for volunteers to help make this parish tradition a success. Whether you can give an hour or several, your time and talents will help create a fun, welcoming, and faith-filled day for our entire community.

Sign up today: Scan the QR code or visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C0444A4A62AABFEC61...