SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - TERM 2 WEEK 2 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 

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION PROGRAM 2025

ONLINE ENROLMENTS

OPEN MONDAY, 9 JUNE

Families wishing to prepare their children for the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2025 are asked to complete the online enrolment form which will be available from Monday, 9 June, on the ‘Youth Sacraments’ page of our Parish website.

Online enrolments will CLOSE on Friday, 27 June, at 5pm - no late enrolments are able to be accepted.

ALL enquiries must be made through the Parish Office

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 your week.

As Mother's Day approaches, we take the opportunity to celebrate and express our gratitude for all the incredible mothers in our school community.

Our mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers and aunts are special people who fill that nurturing role, with their love, support, and dedication. 

We wish you a very happy and memorable Mother's Day filled with joy and gratitude.

“Mothers hold their children’s hand for a while, but their hearts forever”.

In an acknowledgement of our mums, today we acknowledge our St Justin’s mothers with a morning celebration. Thank you to Mrs Fenato and our staff for their preparation and support in making this morning's celebration such a special one. To the P&F Team we greatly appreciate your work in giving our students the opportunity to purchase precious gifts for their mums through the Mother’s Day stall.

On Friday, St Benedict’s College celebrated the retirement of their former principal Mrs Kerrie Piatek. Several staff members and students represented St Justin’s at this very special and honorable event. We thank Mrs Piatek for her passion, expertise and dedication to Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wollongong and her support of our school community. We wish Mrs Piatek all the very best in her next exciting chapter moving forward.

In the coming weeks we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Justin’s Oran Park.

 The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL link: www.tellthemfromme.com/p73xj

We are excited to announce that the NSW government has employed a School Crossing Supervisor for the crossing on Hollows Drive closest to the intersection of Phillips Avenue. 

The School Crossing Supervisor is employed to assist the school and community in safely crossing the road. Our designated School Crossing Supervisors name is Jo. She will be working 5 days a week both morning and afternoon. We encourage all families to utilise this crossing both patiently and respectfully.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope on May 8, 2025. He has taken the name Leo XIV.  

The first American to serve as Pope, he belongs to the Augustinian Religious order and was born in Chicago. He was the Bishop of Chicago and spent many years working as a missionary in Peru. Pope Francis promoted him to the high rank of Cardinal at the beginning of 2023.

The classic Latin phrase "Habemus Papam!" ("We have a Pope!") to proclaim Pope Leo XIV's appointment was announced from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. 

Pope Leo XIV prayed for peace and harmony in the Church and the world while greeting the masses in Italian and Spanish in his inaugural speech. As Pope Leo XIV spreads a message of compassion, peace, and bridge-building around the world, may God continue to bless him and may we keep him in our prayers.

Have a beautiful Mother’s Day weekend with your family and friends. Enjoy.

Take care

Brad Colquhoun

Principal

Mother's Day Message

"A world that looks to the future without a mother’s gaze is shortsighted." —

Pope Francis, January 2019

This Mother’s Day, we reflect with gratitude and reverence on the unique role that mothers and mother figures play in shaping our lives, our communities, and our world. At a time when we pause to honour them, we also mourn the recent passing of Pope Francis, whose deep reverence for maternal love and wisdom was a hallmark of his papacy. His words continue to echo with urgency and tenderness in a world yearning for compassion, unity, and care.

The mother’s gaze, so deeply attuned, so instinctively compassionate, grounds us. It comforts, challenges, and calls us toward growth. It is offered not only by biological mothers, but also by grandmothers, aunts, adoptive and foster mothers, some fathers, and countless others who embody maternal care in our lives. They say "yes" daily to nurture, to guide, to love unconditionally.

Today’s world presents new complexities: ongoing global conflict, the refugee crisis, economic instability, and environmental uncertainty. Yet in these very challenges, we continue to witness the strength of mothers. We see it in women fleeing war zones with children in their arms; in mothers navigating the demands of work and home; in caregivers advocating fiercely for the vulnerable. Their love is fierce, practical, sacrificial, and unrelenting.

We turn also to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as the model of maternal courage and trust. Mary said "yes" to God, not in comfort, but amid uncertainty. Her journey - across borders, through suffering, and into the unknown - mirrors the path many mothers walk today. Her gaze, full of steadfast love and hope, continues to inspire our own gaze outward toward others, especially the marginalised.

In one of his final reflections, Pope Francis reminded us that maternal tenderness is not a luxury, but a necessity for our collective future. Without it, we risk becoming a society of strangers, rich in things but poor in love. It is mothers and all who love with a mother’s heart, who teach us to see others not as burdens or threats, but as brothers and sisters, children of God.

This Sunday, we honour all those who have mothered us, those who are with us, those who are far, and those we carry in memory. Let us give thanks for their sacrifices, their strength, and their love. Let us reflect on how we too can embody the maternal qualities of patience, compassion, and fierce hope in our daily lives.

Diary Dates

Anzac Day

We had over 70 students, along with many staff members, proudly represented our school in the ANZAC Day march down Camden’s main street. The group joined the wider community to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand soldiers, past and present. The event was a meaningful opportunity for students to reflect on the importance of remembrance and national pride, while demonstrating our school's commitment to community and tradition. We extend our sincere thanks to the parents and families who supported their children in representing our school at this important event!

PB4L - Positive Behaviour

Since making changes to our processes last year we have seen improvement in our student’s behaviour. Our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework, helps us create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. Here are some important points to be aware of:

• Minor Behaviours: Please note that when a student has three minor behaviour incidents recorded within a two-week period, specific follow-up procedures are put in place to support them in making positive choices.

• Major/High Behaviours: For more significant behaviours (defiance/ physical aggression) that impact the safety and well-being of others, our procedures are as follows:
• 1st Incident: Students will undertake Community Service for two break times.
• 2nd Incident: This will result in Community Service for four break times. 
• 3rd Incident: At this stage, the school will engage with parents to ensure our students receive further support, suspension, or in-school withdrawal as necessary.
• Urgent Safety Concerns: Any behaviour that compromises the immediate safety of students or staff requires urgent attention. In such cases, staff will contact parents immediately.

Community Service

Community service offers students a valuable opportunity to reflect on their actions, develop new skills, and connect with their community in a meaningful way. While a consequence for certain behaviours, it also serves as a positive avenue for learning responsibility and contributing to the well-being of others.

We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing positive behaviours and ensuring our school is a place where everyone can thrive. If you have any questions about our PB4L framework, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Kylie Billett

Assistant Principal

Jubilee 2025 - Year of Hope

Jubilee 2025 - Year of Hope. In response to Pope Francis’ call to embrace the historic tradition of pilgrimage, Bishop Brian Mascord has designated the following locations within the Diocese of Wollongong as official Jubilee pilgrimage sites for the Holy Year. Visiting these sacred places provides the faithful with a unique opportunity to participate in the grace of the Jubilee plenary indulgence.

To enhance the pilgrimage experience, the students of St Justin's will receive a Pilgrim Passport, specially designed for Diocese of Wollongong pilgrims. This passport will include:

• Instructions on obtaining the Jubilee indulgence.
• Prayers for pilgrims to deepen their spiritual journey.
• A comprehensive guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• A dedicated space to record and stamp visits at each designated pilgrimage site.

Bishop Brian Mascord will personally visit each pilgrimage site during the Holy Year to impart the papal blessing. Please consider visiting these sites around our local diocese as this is an opportunity for families to connect, pray together, and journey through this year as joyful disciples of Christ. 

For more information about the pilgrimage sites, follow the link attached below.https://www.dow.org.au/media-resources/jubilee-year-of-hope/

Curriculum and Learning

The Premier’s Reading Challenge

This year, St Justin’s has had 109 primary students sign up to complete the challenge individually! What a great response from our students. It is not too late to sign up to the challenge. If your child is interested, please see Mrs Orazi or Mrs Giewald.

A special shout out to these primary students who have completed the challenge over the past fortnight:

Year 3: Massimo D, Alec M

Year 4: Revella A, Joseph S, Zara S, Zoe T, Madison V

Year 5: Alexis C, Christian D, Alexander H, Mila M

We now have 29 students who have completed the challenge! Remember you can keep reading and compete for the in-school prizes!

Literacy Support Has Begun!

St Justin’s extends its sincere gratitude to the following parent and grandparent volunteers who have begun supporting classroom literacy practices in Years 1-3:

At the end of each fortnight your child will come home with a sheet indicating their progress in phonics (Yr1 & Yr2) and fluency (Yr1-Yr3). This indication will communicate with you how your child is going and will include specific information of how you can further support your child at home. If you have any questions regarding these practices, please speak with your child’s teacher, or alternatively please contact Mrs Orazi in the office.

Concert for Compassion - Wrap Up

As Term 1 came to a close, we were filled with gratitude and pride as we reflected on the incredible success of our annual Concert for Compassion.

Over the course of six weeks, we held a staggering 69 auditions, showcasing the amazing talents of our students and staff during our Wednesday lunchtime concerts. From soaring vocals to soulful instrumentals, every performance was a reminder of the creativity and compassion that thrives within our school community.

Thanks to the generosity and support of all who attended, we are thrilled to announce that we raised $547.90 for Project Compassion! A special thank you goes to the Year 5 girls who went above and beyond by making and selling beautiful bracelets. With the support of Mrs Lusik, their efforts made a huge contribution to our fundraising total – well done, girls!

Another big thank you to Chris (6G), Marcel (6G), and Pierre (6B) for their wonderful work behind the scenes as our MCs and photographers throughout the six weeks. Their confidence, organisation, and professionalism helped each concert run smoothly and ensured every special moment was captured.

Our Week 5 performers lit up the stage with memorable acts, including:
Alessia (4W) – How Far I’ll Go
Aoife (2R) – Baby by Justin Bieber
Ivy (5W) – More Hearts Than Mine by Ingrid Andress
Delina (4R) and Sharbella (2W) – A cousin duo singing Die With A Smile
Miracle (6W) – Cups by Anna Kendrick

Week 6 brought more magic to the stage with a dynamic lineup:
Anthony O and Isaac I (4B) – Power Rock, with Anthony on bass guitar and Isaac on keyboard – showing off their Bandemonium skills!
Carmela and Milania (6G) – Call Me Maybe
Landan T (5R) – A wonderful piano performance of Mad World
Mrs Manning – A delightful allegro piece performed on the cello
Erin M (5B) – A powerful rendition of This is Me from The Greatest Showman
Mrs Murphy and Mrs Teale – Closing the show with an ABBA classic, Ring Ring, full of fun and energy!

Thank you to every student and staff member who performed, supported, and donated throughout this initiative. Concert for Compassion not only gave our students a chance to shine, but also reminded us of the power of music to bring people together and make a difference in the world.

We can't wait to see what next year brings!

✍️WriteOn Competition 2025 ✍️

About the competition

The annual WriteOn competition is an exciting opportunity for students to focus on writing. Through the competition, students develop skills in writing to express their ideas and may become published authors. 

Students in years 1-6 who are interested in entering the competition will plan, write and edit their work at home. Their task is to create an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using a provided stimulus.

The new stimulus for WriteOn 2025 is the quote:

“Could they be changing?”

Each year, winners are celebrated at an award ceremony and their entries are published in ‘The Best of WriteOn' anthology. The 2024 version of the anthology is now available for purchase from the NESA Shop.

Entry criteria

• Each school/home school can submit a maximum of 3 entries: one entry from Stage 1, Stage 2, and/or Stage 3.
• Each typed submitted work can be up to 500 words.
• Entries can only be submitted by a teacher in a school or a registered home schooling parent/legal guardian with a valid NESA registration number.
• All entries must be the student’s own work. Some students with disability may require adjustments.
• Only one entry per student can be submitted.

Consent form

All entries require parent/guardian consent. The consent form is included within the entry form. 

Entries for the competition can be emailed to the schools email address: info@sjopdow.catholic.edu.au

Entries close: Thursday 12th June

To find out more information click on this link.

Diverse Learning

Welcome Back to Term 2

Personalised Planning Meetings

Our teachers express what a pleasure it was to meet with all our parents during our Personalised Planning meetings. Thank you to all our parents for making the time to work collaboratively with teachers, devising goals and discussing adjustments which will help support our students achieve academically/socially. Personalised Plans will be uploaded to COMPASS this week. 

Belinda Pace

Leader of Diverse Learning 

Library News

📚 May: A Month to Celebrate Reading 📚

As the weather begins to cool down, May is the perfect time to snuggle up with your children, a cosy blanket, and a stack of great books. There’s something truly special about reading together during the quieter, cooler months—whether it’s sharing a story aloud or reading side by side, it’s a wonderful way to connect, relax, and spark imaginations. May is also an exciting time on the reading calendar, with several celebrations and events that encourage a love of books and stories.

First up, National Family Reading Month, run by Scholastic, invites families across Australia to commit to reading together every day in May. Their 31-Day Reading Challenge encourages families to read for just 10 minutes a day—something simple that can make a big impact. There’s even a fun printable Reading Log to help track your progress and celebrate your reading milestones. Download them here.

You can explore more family reading tips, articles, and activity ideas on the National Family Reading Month website.

Another highlight is National Simultaneous Storytime, taking place on Wednesday 21st May at 12pm. This much-loved annual event sees children across Australia reading the same picture book at the same time. This year’s featured book is the delightful ‘The Truck Cat’ by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell—a warm-hearted story about home, adventure, and finding where you belong.

And let’s not forget the Sydney Writers’ Festival on the 19th-27th May. This festival features author talks, storytelling sessions, and hands-on workshops—great opportunities for children to engage with books and the people who create them.

Whether you're curled up with a bedtime book, heading to a local event, or ticking off days in the reading challenge, May is a fantastic month to celebrate stories and grow a lifelong love of reading. If you would like any help with book recommendations or have any other book related questions please email the library staff on: sjoplibrary@dow.catholic.edu.au

Happy reading!

Mrs Giewald

Library Teacher

Sporting News

St Justin’s Cross Country

In the last week of Term 1 our St Justin’s Cross Country was held at the new venue of the Mt Annan Botanical Gardens.

It was an absolutely stunning day and all of our students competed with resilience and perseverance.. For our Primary aged students, they all had the opportunity of running just one lap of their two lap course and the overwhelming majority ALL ran two laps. It was just incredible! Our Infant runners also competed in a challenging course that had quite an undulating terrain.

A massive thank you to all the wonderful parents who volunteered to be a checkpoint attendant, a finishing line supervisor or a lap marker - your assistance was greatly appreciated.

Also a huge thanks to the teachers who came and helped set up in the morning to make it the best day for our St Justin’s children.

Here is a list of the top from each age group:

The Western Regional Cross Country Carnival was due to be held on 6th May but has been postponed to the 27th May due to bad weather at the Tapitalli grounds. We wish these students the best of luck!

Futsal Regional Championships

On Friday St Justin's competed in a futsal tournament representing our school, at Minto. The senior boys and the junior boys and girls teams had an opportunity to make state futsal level. St Justin's competed against other schools in our region and both senior boys and junior boys came out on top and won their competition.The junior girls played extremely well but lost their semi final game. They may be a wild card entry to the state championships later in the year. 

The crowd had created a great atmosphere for the players, and the experience was amazing for everyone.

Our Senior Girls team are competing on Thursday 8th May. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to hearing all about it.

We also thank Mr Hawkins for training us for this special event.

Written by the senior boys: Sullivan H, Cooper D and Alessandro T

CEDoW GALA DAYS

Selection Process

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) organised Sport Gala Days provide our students with a chance to participate in friendly games as part of a St Justin’s team, competing against other local Catholic Primary Schools. These days are designed to be enjoyable, allowing students to have fun with their peers while applying the skills they've learned in Sports lessons in a fun competitive setting.

Throughout their sports lessons this year, students will be given the opportunity to express interest in participating in the upcoming Gala Days and need to nominate themselves. Mr Hawkins, the sports teacher, will observe all nominated students during their sport lessons to assess their understanding of the game rules and their demonstration of good sportsmanship, which will assist with the team selection process. Preference is given to Year 6 and Year 4 students for teams and if there are additional spots these are then filled by Year 5 and Year 3 students who have expressed their interest in participating. This ensures that students get an opportunity to attend a gala day (should they wish to) every 2 years.

If your child has been invited to participate in a St Justin’s Gala Day Team you will receive a Compass Event Notification for parents’ permission closer to the event date. Please note that students attending these Gala Days will require parental transportation to and from the venue. Additionally, events like these rely on parent volunteers to ensure their success, as without parent help we would be unable to support the number of teams in each day.

Upcoming Gala Days:

Term 2

• CEDOW Netball - Thursday 26th June 2025 (Back up Date 3rd July 2025) - Students are currently putting names down at school expressing interest to attend.

Term 3

• CEDoW Soccer - Thursday 28th August 2025 (Back up Date 4th September 2025)
• CEDoW Basketball Juniors Yrs 3 & Yrs 4 - Thursday 18th September 2025
• CEDoW Basketball Seniors Yrs 5 & 6 - Friday 19th September 2025

St Justin’s are also looking forward to participating in other Gala Day style events this year that are competitive and not organised by our CEDoW. These days ARE competitive and therefore teams for these will be picked on student ability and skill in the sport. Students will be offered the opportunity to nominate themselves to trial for these events and teams will be organised by Mr Hawkins and Ms Young. If your child has been selected in a competitive sporting team, you will receive a Compass Event notification for parental permission closer to the event date. These days will incur a fee, to help cover the cost of the team registration. Parents will also be required to transport their children to and from the venue.

Upcoming Competitive Sporting Days: (Small fees payable)

Term 3

• Futsal State Championships (Qualifying teams)

Term 4

• Oz Tag

St Justin’s School Sporting Events

Upcoming Whole School Sporting Events:

• St Justin’s School Athletics Carnival - Term 2: Wednesday 2nd July 2025 (Back up date 24th July)

Next level competitive pathway for selected students - Mackillop Western Region Friday 8th August

Primary Students Diocesan Representative Sporting Pathways

Students participating in the representative pathway events are highly skilled athletes, selected based on a range of criteria. This includes years of experience in their chosen sport, representative achievements, sporting club affiliations, and notable sporting accomplishments. These trials are not gala days or school-based carnivals. They are not designed for students “to come and try or for the experience” They are designed specifically for elite athletes who have demonstrated exceptional talent and are aiming to progress to the next level of competition; Regional→State→National. These are organised and run outside of our school, we just provide the information for the when and where of the event.

Parents will need to nominate their child for the 2026 year during the nominations period which generally runs from September to November 2025.

Upcoming Diocesan Representative Sporting Trial Dates for 2025

These upcoming trials are for selected students from the 2025 Diocesan Representative Sports Pathway who have already been nominated by their parents in 2024. These nominations are reviewed by CEDoW sport selectors unless St Justin’s have been asked to run an in school trial to gain further insight into nominated student abilities.

If your child has been selected by CEDoW Sport you will receive a Compass Event Notification for parent permissions closer to the event date. Please note these are CEO run events and therefore no St Justin’s staff members attend and students who attend will require parental transportation to and from the venue.

2026 Representative Sport Pathway Trial Nomination Information

Each year primary school children have the opportunity to trial for Wollongong representative teams, for the following summer and winter sports: Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, Touch, Softball, Football (Soccer), Rugby League (11 years and Open), Rugby Union, Hockey, Netball and Australian Rules. This gives students the opportunity to access higher levels of sporting pathways, representation and opportunities to progress into state representation. 

These trials are held annually and provide a pathway for students to the MacKillop selection trials. The selected Wollongong teams’ trial at MacKillop level against the Dioceses of Wagga, Canberra/Goulburn, Sydney and Parramatta. 

The Wollongong Diocese nomination process for 2026 will be open in Term 4 2025. Further information will be released closer to the date. 

If you have any sporting inquires please email sjop_sport@dow.catholic.edu.au

Ms Rochelle Young

Sports Coordinator

Administration and Awards

Welcome!

We welcome Ms Lani Burke to the Administration Team. Lani will work with our Diverse Learning Team as well as follow up medical requirements for students. 

ATTENDANCE

Year to date attendance appears to be quickly dropping below the 90% mark.

It is a whole school goal to reach and maintain a 95% student attendance rate.

PB4L WHITE AWARD CHANGES - 2nd Notice

Our PB4L team has been reviewing the award system and a small change to kindergarten white awards will commence from the next infant assembly.

Kindergarten students will only have their very 1st White Award present to them at the Infants Assembly. All other white awards will then be presented in the classroom as per Yr 1 to Yr 6 award protocols.

Principal Awards and Principal Medallions will still be issued to eligible students at the relevant assembly.

Infants assemblies will go back to a 2:15pm starting Term 2.

We thank you for your support of this process.

PARENT INFORMATION SCHOOL CROSSING

School Crossing Supervisor

We are excited to announce that the NSW government has employed a School Crossing Supervisor for the crossing on Hollows Drive, closest to the intersection of Phillips Avenue.

The School Crossing Supervisor is employed to assist the school and community in safely crossing the road. 

Our designated School Crossing Supervisors name is 'Jo' . She will be working 5 days a week - morning and afternoon. We encourage all families to utilise this crossing and where possible walk to and from school and say 'Hi' to Jo.

Please do not stop on or near a marked pedestrian crossing, this includes queuing across the crossing when waiting to turn left into the school grounds. It is a $544.00 fine and 3 demerit points.

Key points about respecting School Crossing Supervisors:

• Stop when signaled
  When a crossing supervisor holds up a stop sign, drivers must stop and wait for their instructions.
• Adhere to instructions
  Follow their directions regarding when and where pedestrians can cross the road.
• Be patient
  Crossing supervisors are there to help facilitate safe crossings, so be patient and allow them time to guide pedestrians.
• Avoid threatening behavior
  Do not drive aggressively or in a way that could be perceived as threatening to the officer. Do not yell or abuse the officer.
• Give extra space
  Be mindful of pedestrians and allow them plenty of space when approaching a school crossing area.
• Understand their role
  Crossing supervisors are vital to protecting children and pedestrians and should be treated with respect

As always we appreciate your ongoing understanding and cooperation as we ensure student and community safety in and around our school precinct.

PARENT/ TEACHER COMMUNICATION - Reminder

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.

Medallion and Principal Awards

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

Catholic Care School Counsellor

SCREEN TIME 

Screen time is a major concern for many families that I have worked with. Recent research shows that while it’s important to be mindful of how much time our children spend on screens, it's equally crucial to consider how they use them. Here are some simple, research-backed tips to help your child get the most out of screen time without sacrificing healthy development:

1. Make Screen Time Together Time

• Watching shows or playing games together boosts language skills and helps children understand the content better. 
• Ask questions like, "Why did Bluey do that?" to spark conversations and learning.

2. Choose Age-Appropriate Content

• Look for shows that encourage play, creativity, and learning. 
• Avoid violent or mature content that could impact behaviour.

3. Avoid Screen Distractions During Family Time 

• Avoid using your own screen during important moments like during visits with friends, meals or bedtime. 
• Quality interactions are foundational in a child’s emotional and social skills. 

4. Turn Off the TV When Not in Use

• Background TV can distract from learning and play. 
• When not actively watching, turn it off to encourage better focus and more meaningful interactions.

For more information about viewing, please visit: Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families | Common Sense Media

Best wishes,

Miss Amanda

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

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

Community & Parish News