New Family Resources

Once your non-refundable deposit is processed, each family new to St. Pius X will receive an email with their SPX parent/family email and PowerSchool login credentials* starting on April 15.  These will be sent to the same email address as used for your Ravenna user account. ALL future communication will be sent to this assigned SPX parent email address. We are a G-Suite (Google) school, so you will log in using your complete (@spxstudent.org) SPX email address at www.gmail.com.

This SPX Parent Email address is the ONLY email address that will be kept on file at St. Pius. We encourage parents to forward these emails to a personal account to ensure nothing gets missed. Here are instructions to do just that: Forwarding Your SPX Email to a Personal Account. 

*Current families will not receive new parent credentials but will be sent student credentials for their incoming student.

You will use your SPX parent credentials to log in to the PowerSchool parent portal to complete the online Enrollment Forms. There is a series of nine forms, and all must be completed by Tuesday, April 23, in order for your student to be considered enrolled and eligible for course registration.

Forms and instructions will be available after the mandatory parent meeting on April 16.

Department Chairs review each student’s application file to aid in the course placement process. Teacher evaluations, prior grades and coursework, as well as standardized test scores are considered in order to assign a course level.

Incoming students may be required to complete placement tests in certain core subjects and have the option to complete testing in others.  Below is a summary of what is required for each department. Students who are required by a department to take a placement test will be notified shortly after enrollment via their SPX email. No level changes will be made without placement testing.

Placement Review forms will be available after course recommendations are visible.

The World Language Test-In form will be available after the parent meeting on April 16.

English
No testing. Complete the Placement Review Request Form if you would like a file review.

Math

May be REQUIRED for: Students enrolling from a public school or other program with which we are not familiar OR students who scored poorly on the quantitative section of the SSAT​; testing must happen before placement can occur.

Is an OPTION for: Students who feel they should have been placed in a higher level in math; it is an opportunity to “test in”; testing will happen after placements are published.

Science

Is an OPTION for: Students who feel they should have been placed at a higher level in science; it is an opportunity to “test in”. Testing will happen after placements are published April 25. Complete the Placement Test RSVP Form if you would like to test. NOTE: Poor performance on the placement test will not lower your course level recommendation.

World Languages

Is REQUIRED for:

• Students who took a core language at one of the following schools and wish to take level II of that same language in grade 9 here at St. Pius: Arbor Montessori, Atlanta Classical Academy, Cliff Valley, Heritage Prep, Holy Redeemer, Holy Spirit, Notre Dame Academy, SMES, The Friends School, Public School, Homeschool
• All transfer students (grades 10,11,12) who plan to take a language AND native speakers who plan to take their native language.

Is an OPTION for:

• Students interested in continuing the language they have been studying in middle school and who want priority in the class placement process; taking the placement exam demonstrates your commitment to that language. 

Students who do not take a placement test will be assigned to a language course as space allows.

Social Studies

No testing. (Typically, freshman do not take a Social Studies course their freshman year. Do not be alarmed! Watch this video from Kristin Kramer, our Social Studies Department Chair, to learn why!)

• Student Physicals (required for ALL incoming students, regardless of athletic participation and must be dated AFTER 4/1/24)
  • Detailed information and required form
• Immunization Policy – Form must be submitted to Mrs. Owens in the clinic no later than July 1, 2024.
  • St. Pius does not recognize  an immunization  exemption based upon matters of conscience/ religion convictions or serology testing.
• Substance Abuse Policy

AS NEEDED: 

The forms below require signature and must be updated each school year your child is at St. Pius X. The forms and medications are due in the Clinic by Monday, August 5, 2024. Any questions? Contact Nurse Owens (dowens@spx.org).

• Medication Permit
• Asthma Action Plan

Regarding asthma rescue medications:

Students diagnosed with Asthma must have a completed  Asthma Action Plan and rescue inhaler with spacer in the Clinic. St Pius does allow students to carry their inhaler on their person after completing additional paperwork.

Nebulizers are not allowed in school.

• Cardiovascular Action Plan
• Food Allergy Action Plan
• Migraine Action Plan
• Seizure Action Plan

Regarding seizure rescue medications: According to the Archdiocese of Atlanta, students who have been diagnosed with a  seizure disorder must have a completed seizure action plan and seizure rescue medications on file in the Clinic. In accordance with the ruling of the  Office of Catholic Schools,  St. Pius will only accept nasal seizure rescue medication like Nayzilam or Valtoco. Any rectal seizure rescue medication, like Diastat, is not allowed in the school.

• Type 1 Diabetes Action Plan
• Sickle Cell Action Plan

Auditions and More Department Information

Click here to visit the New Students & Auditions page within our Fine Arts department site.

Online Summer Course

For students interested in applying for the online summer Intro to Digital Technology (formerly Computer Applications) course, applications will be emailed to the SPX student emails on April 16 and are due April 22. Learn more about this required course and the advantages of taking it over the summer by watching this video!

NOTE: There is a $325.00 fee, which will be charged to your FACTS account, for students taking the summer IDT course.

Exemption Test

There is also an option to test out of the class. Students who successfully pass the exemption test are not required to take the course during the school year or summer; instead they must take one other course in the Business/Computer Science department (at any point during their time at SPX) to fulfill the graduation requirement. Freshmen who exempt the IDT course may register for electives that have IDT as a pre-requisite.

The exemption test link will be sent out at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, April 17. It will close at 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 18. This test is optional. For those who wish to take it, the test must be taken on a computer with a webcam (no phones or tablets), and screens will be recorded.

The Lion Leader program is designed to facilitate each new student’s transition into the St. Pius X community. As a Pius “Cub” students will be placed in Homerooms with junior and senior leaders who will introduce them to our campus and answer questions they may have as they begin their journey toward academic, social and personal success as a Golden Lion. Transfer students will also be placed in Homerooms to meet Lion Leaders. Here is a line up of available events to get your Golden Lion involved from the start!

• Tuesday, April 16, at 6:30 pm:  Ice Cream Social (students will be with Lion Leaders as a parent attends the Enrollment Kick-Off Meeting)
• Friday, June 7, or Friday, July 12, from 12:00-1:30 pm:   Lion Lunch– Students can pick a date over the summer to take a tour of campus and try out their locker combination! This is a BYOL event, but the Lion Leaders will have treats to share with their cubs.
• Monday, August 5, from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm:  New Student Orientation (mandatory)
• Saturday, August 10, from 5:00 – 7:30 pm:  Camp Golden Lion- More to come; just know you will not want to miss!

Some considerations for students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade:

Transcripts

Please make sure to request that your student’s current school share official transcripts with St. Pius X at the conclusion of this school year. Course placement is tentative until we receive the student’s final transcript. We will send a reminder of this requirement over the summer as well.

Athletics

Please direct any questions regarding eligibility to play at the varsity level towards our Athletic Director, Todd Mooney (tmooney@spx.org). The Georgia High School Association regulates eligibility of transfer students seeking to play varsity sports.

Welcome to St. Pius X, parents! We invite you to join us for the New Parent Social on May 1, 2024.

• Summer Enrichment Courses are OPEN!
• Sports Summer Camps
• Summer Reading – this information is published in May!

Click to view the 2024-2025 One Page Calendar.

School Supplies & Textbooks

There is no supply list for St. Pius. Teachers will inform students of course-specific supplies during the first days of school. All required materials (ebooks and print) are purchased by the families through EdTech.

• EdTech Bookstore Instructions (read first)
• EdTech Bookstore & Shelf (spx.shelfit.com)

Uniforms

• Uniform Requirements
• Uniform Provider

Every student must bring a device, which meets the specifications below, to his/her classes each day. All minimum requirements must be met in order for the device to be approved. 

Information Sheet: BYOD Program

St. Pius X does not have a carpool pick up system like you might have experienced at your grade school. Parents and students are on their own to meet up for pick up in the afternoon once school has dismissed.

Information Sheet: Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Information can be found starting at page 110 in the Student Handbook.

Students are required to complete at least five (5) Works of Mercy Projects in the academic school year. Incoming students may count occasions of service completed over the summer. Specifics will be communicated to all families in May.

All employees and volunteers working with children and/or vulnerable individuals must attend a VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children training before they begin paid or volunteer work for any entity of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. This training is a three hour live training session offered at locations around Atlanta. Please understand that no one will be eligible to volunteer or work in any capacity at St. Pius X Catholic High School until the following is completed:

1. Complete Volunteer paperwork which includes: a Volunteer Application, a consent form to run a background check, and a Safe Environment Acknowledgment form.
2. A clear and complete background check
3. A completed “Virtus, Protecting God’s Children” Training Session

Paperwork, registration information, and instructions will be available to new families beginning in June. 

1. This webpage — from now through summer this page will be updated with information you need to know and answers to frequently asked questions as we approach the first day of school. Please check back often.

2. Your SPX email — this is the official means of communication from the school and teachers. You will be added to the appropriate parent and school-wide distribution lists.

3. eSpiritus — a weekly newsletter emailed each Monday with the events and information you need to know for the coming week.

4. PowerSchool Parent Portal — this is the site for student schedules, grades/report cards, attendance, discipline, course registration, and enrollment. You can also configure your account to email progress reports to you on a regular schedule.

5. Canvas — once school starts you will have access to your student’s individual class websites as well as the online school directory and other campus organizations such as the Library, Campus Life, Academics and more.

6. SPX Social Media

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spxatl/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/stpiusxatlanta
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StPiusXAtlanta

7. The St. Pius X website — has important reminders, upcoming events, quick links to system logins and parent organizations, and the school calendar.

8. The Golden Lines — the online student news site of St. Pius X Catholic High School