SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - TERM 1 WEEK 7 2025

Our Parish

Our Parish

Fr Feleki – Parish Priest (Administrator)
C/- 94 Oran Park Drive, Oran Park, NSW 2570PO
Box 889, Narellan, NSW 2567
Ph: 4648 2226    Email: oranpark@dow.org.au
Web:   marymackillopparish.org.au
Facebook:  oranparkparish

Office Hours
Mon to Fri - 9am to 1pm

NB: While the Parish Office is open to visitors, if possible we encourage all enquiries to be directed to the Parish Admin team via email oranpark@dow.org.au or via phone 02 4648 2226

If the parish office is unattended, leave a message on the answering machine or you can send an email: oranpark@dow.org.au 

Parish Mass Times

Weekend Mass Times, Oran Park

• Saturday Vigil 5pm - preceeded by the Sacrament of Reconciliation from 4pm
• Sunday 8am
• Sunday 10am
• Sunday 12 noon - Chaldean Holy Mass
• Sunday 5pm

Week Day Masses, Oran Park

• Tuesday 7pm
• Wednesday 8am
• Thursday 10am - preceeded by Rosary at 9.30am
• Friday 9.30am - 1st Friday of the month will include Anointing of the Sick

Principals Report

Dear Partners in Mission,

Hope that you are well and have enjoyed a sensational couple of weeks.

Lent is a season that invites us to grow closer to God. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, it calls us to a time of prayer, reflection, service, forgiveness, and renewal as we prepare for Easter. A heartfelt thank you to Mrs Fenato and her team for organising a beautiful Liturgy on Wednesday, which marked the beginning of this sacred season.

During Lent, let us find concrete ways to overcome indifference - Pope Francis

The P&F Movie Night

Despicable Me 4 was a tremendous success last Friday evening. We are extremely grateful to Rhys Williams (P&F President), the P&F team, and the St Justin’s staff for their time, energy, and support. It was a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and enjoy a lovely evening together. 

Caritas Project Compassion Launch

On Tuesday, Mrs Fenato, Sr Mary, our School Captains, Hazel S and Hooper S, and I attended the Catholic Education Office (CEDoW) Caritas Project Compassion Launch at St. Francis of Assisi in Warrawong. In alignment with the 2025 Caritas Australia theme, "Unite Against Poverty," it was a wonderful occasion to connect with and celebrate alongside our CEDoW school communities

World’s Greatest Shave

World's Greatest Shave will take place at St Justin’s on Friday 28 March from 2:30pm in supporting the Leukaemia Foundation, Sr Mary and members of staff will be shaving their heads and to raise money for blood cancer. If you would like to donate see the link below. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the Trustees of the Brother Clarence Foundation for Education, which has generously awarded a $375 grant to a St. Justin’s student. This grant will support expenses for activities such as school camps, excursions, and retreats. Since its establishment in November 1991, the Foundation has distributed a total of $133,910 to support 358 families. If any parents are interested in contributing to the Brother Clarence Foundation for Education, they can reach out via email at brotherclarencefoundation@gmail.com. We are deeply thankful and fortunate to have the Foundation’s support in helping students in Catholic education.

Starting Monday, and continuing for the remainder of the term, we invite parents to join us for our Morning Gathering. This is a chance for our students and staff to Acknowledge Country, Prayer, and framing the week starting at 9:00am. Before the gathering, parents are warmly invited to join us for light refreshments and an opportunity to connect from 8:30am in the Hall. Parents can then join students and staff in Cola 2 at 9:00am for the Morning Gathering.

Thank you for your ongoing support, care, and dedication to our school community.

Take care,

Brad Colquhoun

Principal

Love One Another

"Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34

This week we hear about the importance of showing compassion, forgiveness and love to others in our everyday lives, so that we are living like Jesus. We are reminded in Luke’s Gospel to love others (even those who hurt us) like Jesus loved which is often hard for us to comprehend. This is an opportunity and an invitation to grow as we need to continually extend ourselves to love like Jesus.

By actively choosing to show mercy to others, our hearts become open and are changed so that we can feel and make known to others God's unconditional love for us.

Forgiving those who hurt us is not always easy and can take time. We need to remember that God knows us and loves each of us unconditionally, even when our words and actions may cause us to stray. God will always forgive us and invite us back. We need to draw on God’s unconditional love to help us forgive others unconditionally.

Not only do we need to forgive others but we also need to forgive ourselves. Holding onto negativity can cause us to judge others and make incorrect assumptions about them. In the words of Ted Lasso, we need to ‘be curious, not judgemental.’ We need to show compassion to others and ourselves so that we can become a light to others by reflecting the goodness of God in the world around us.

How do I show compassion to others and myself?

What assumptions do I make about others?

Why is forgiveness important for my own peace and wellbeing?

Diary Dates

Other Extracurricular Activities

NAPLAN - Wednesday 12 March 2025 to Monday 24 March 2025

Each year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is sat by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

The NAPLAN window for testing will take place from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March.

NAPLAN is just one part of our school’s learning assessment program. The tests assess literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school, so the best preparation is their everyday classroom learning. Our school will also undertake 
activities to help students become familiar with the types of questions and tools available in the online platform.

The public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assesment/public-demonstration-site) available for you to see the format of the online tests.

Further information about NAPLAN is available on the NESA website 
(https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/naplan)

NAP website
(https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers).

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.

Concert For Compassion Auditions

Concert For Compassion Auditions 

Every Monday, during Lent, until all performance spots are filled.

During Lunch (Music Room).

This is open to all students from K-6. Students may sing or play an instrument, this may be done solo or in small groups.

Please ensure your child is prepared for the audition by practising in front of you prior to their audition performance. A check of the lyrics is also helpful in eliminating any inappropriate song choices.

Successful students will receive a Concert For Compassion 'Golden Ticket' in their office bag stating the date that they will be performing.

Any questions, please contact Mrs Fulko via info@sjopdow.catholic.edu.au

Library News

Diverse Learning News

Personalised Plan Meetings

Personal plan meetings for some students will take place in weeks 8, 9, 10 and 11. This is a great opportunity to collaborate with the classroom teacher and devise learning goals for your child for 2025. If your child has a personal plan you will be able to book a meeting time via the Conferences tab on Compass.  

Allied Health Partnerships

At St Justin’s, we have chosen to employ Allied Health Partnerships to support our staff and students. Allied Health provides Occupational Therapists to work in our classrooms on a part time basis.

Occupational Therapists work with children to develop their hand function - including fine motor skills, handwriting and muscle work. As well as coordination and attention which includes sensory processing, motor planning and gross motor skills. The OT’S main role is to work with our teachers in the whole classroom to support the fine motor, sensory and writing skills of children. 

This Term our Occupational Therapist Harrison Tan has been working closely with our Year One students.

Belinda Pace

Diverse Learning Leader

Sporting News

Western Region Swimming Carnival

Last Thursday 27th February, a select group of St Justin’s students attended the Western Region Swimming Carnival at Bradbury pools. It was an opportunity to swim against the schools in our region, competing for the chance to make it to the Wollongong Mackillop Swim team.  Both the girls Senior Relay Team and Junior Relay Team have made it to the selection trials on 7th March in Corrimal.

Audrey M, Mila M, Oliver C and Auriela W also swam in the top 4 places of various races to independently have the opportunity to trial for spots in the Mackillop swim team.

Further to that, Auriela W was the U11’s girls champion for the carnival and our amazing group of girls from St Justin’s ended the day in 2nd place out of all the schools present. Congratulations!!

Ms Rochelle Young

Sports Coordinator

Administration and Awards

Remember 90% attendance = your child has had at least one day absent in the last 15 days of school.

CENTRALISATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL FEE MANAGEMENT - ADVICE TO FAMILIES

From the commencement of the 2025 school year, the management of certain aspects relating to school fee accounts in Primary Schools has been transferred to the School Fees Liaison Office at the Catholic Education in Wollongong.

What does this mean for families:

Your school’s administration office is your first place for enquiry regarding school fees. School staff will provide information regarding instalments, methods of payment, giving access to an Application for Fee Concession and attend to other general enquiries.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty or need to make an arrangement for payment of your school fee account, please email sflo@dow.catholic.edu.au with your name and the school in which your children are enrolled. The School Fees Liaison Office will then contact you directly to offer assistance.

Please note that each school has a dedicated School Fees Liaison Officer to provide a personalised service to individual families. This Officer will also have a close relationship with your school. If you require further information about this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Ann Holgate | SSSO.

PARENT/ TEACHER COMMUNICATION

A reminder to our parent cohort that the school encourages all communication to teachers from parents to come via info@sjopdow.catholic.edu.au all communication is forwarded on to the relevant staff member the same day so long as it has not been sent outside office hours and the staff member then has the opportunity to respond to your query within a 48hr period.

Communication via Seesaw has now been turned off as this is a tool used by teachers to share your child's work and achievement from the day / week.

We thank you for your support of this process.

INSIGHTS FOR PHOTO PERMISSION AND USE OF TECHNOLOGIES - 2nd Reminder

Just a reminder to our parents that Photo permission and Use of Technology permission needs to be actioned as soon as possible. Parents of students without photo permission or use of technology will be unable to receive images of classroom works via seesaw or be able to use the school internet for classwork. Your earliest action would be greatly appreciated.

The link to your insights cycle is located on your parent profile

Click of here to proceed

You will then be taken to the my cycles. Please click on Use of Technology and then answer the relevant question and submit. Again click on student image and or work and answer the question and submit.

Permissions are then complete.

Insights cycle will be closed by 21st March 2025. All students whose permissions have not been actioned will automatically go to Does Not Have Permission.

2026 ENROLMENTS- 1st Reminder

Enrolments are now open for 2026.

Please visit our school website and click onto the enrol now tab.

https://www.sjopdow.catholic.edu.au/

Enrolments will close Thursday 10th April 2025. Applications received after this date will be marked as late.

Medallion and Principal Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving their Medallion/Principal Award at our last Assembly.

Environmental Awareness

Shrubbies

Welcome back fellow gardeners. Shrubbies has started off strongly this year with an enthusiastic team of Year 6 students signing up. At the end of Term 1, Shrubbies will open up to any students in Year 5 who would like to join.

Upon return from the school holiday break, we were able to harvest some pumpkins, watermelons, silverbeet and tomatoes. The herbs are now very well established and are growing vigorously. The choko/chayote plant has also established itself and is beginning to trellis itself along the garden fence and archway that is at the entrance to the garden.

The 4 Vege Pods that were in the play spaces area have been moved to the back of the Year 5 area near the main vegetable garden. In a few weeks time, the gardens will be topped up with premium garden mix ready for the year’s planting. 

Composting

This year we have purchased 10 in-garden composting bins to be used in the garden beds and Vege Pods. These composting bins are designed to provide continuous nutrients to the plants throughout the growing season. The in-garden composting bins are an improvement to the pots that were being used last year, as they provide more space for the compost and greater nutrient benefit. These will be used to enrich the learning and experiences of the ecological activities by students.

St Justin’s Catholic Primary School Facebook Page:

Don’t miss out on following all our exciting news about events and learning on our St Justin’s School Facebook page:

Social Media Statement

The Catholic Education Office of Wollongong, Social Media Statement will become a permanent fixture as part of the school newsletter in order for Parents of the school community to be aware of the standards expected.

Parent-School Partnership 

Apple Devices - iPad, iPhone or Mac

- Open Books app - sign in using Apple ID if needed

- Tap GET to download the Book

- Access via the Books app Library once downloaded 

You will then have the option to download - Download the book from the Book Store and then read in books.

Android

Click this link to download as an ePub file and open in your favourite eReader app, like Adobe Digital Edition

P&F News

P & F contact email:

pandf@sjopdow.catholic.edu.au

Clothing Pool – Friday 4th April 2025 (Library) from 8.30am to 9am.

Clothing pool dates will be updated in the Diary dates of the newsletter are held on the first Friday of the month.

Cash purchases only, No EFTPOS facilities. Please be kind to our P&F volunteers.

Community & Parish News