SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - TERM 3 WEEK 8 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
Tuesday to Friday - 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,

Hoping that you are well and that you have enjoyed your week.

Over the past couple of weeks, we've had the pleasure of acknowledging and celebrating a number of special events and achievements within our school community.

Father’s Day was a truly memorable occasion, thanks to the wonderful turnout of our Dads and Granddads, and the outstanding support of our SJOP staff. A special thank you to our amazing P&F team — Mrs Fenato, Mrs Tannous, Mr Ross Tyson — and all our dedicated staff who helped make the morning so special. We sincerely hope that all our SJOP Dads had a joyful and memorable day. Congratulations to  Derrick Skupien, father of Roman KW, who won the Bunnings Father’s Day Raffle. Well done Derrick.

Last week, we also celebrated our School Support Officers (SSOs) in recognition of their collective efforts and remarkable contributions to our school. We are incredibly grateful for their tireless work, dedication, teamwork, care, and ever-present sense of humour — all of which enrich the daily life of our school. To our SSOs, we say a heartfelt THANK YOU. Please refer to our wonderful SJOP SSO’s in the photos below in Diverse Learning.

 SJGT Book Cover -  Artist Brielle S 4G

Our St Justin’s Got Talent (SJGT) showcase last Friday was a resounding success, with both the matinee and evening performances highlighting an outstanding range of talent. Students wowed the audience with acts in dance, music, comedy, and magic, while also showcasing creative artworks inspired by themes such as Space & Travel, Bold Buildings, Futuristic Spacecraft, and Greek Pottery.

A huge thank you to Mrs Fulko and Mrs Zaborski for their exceptional leadership in organising this event and for their commitment to fostering creativity and expression through the arts. We also extend our gratitude to the many staff who supported and attended the evening, celebrating the incredible gifts of our students. Congratulations once again to all our performers and artists — you were the true stars of the show.

This week, we also mark National Child Protection Week 2025, with the theme “Every Conversation Matters.” This important initiative emphasises the role of open, honest, and supportive communication in protecting children and young people. It reminds us all — families, communities, educators, and professionals — that by listening and engaging meaningfully, we can create safer environments and help prevent harm. Every conversation truly can make a lasting difference in a child’s life.
Learn more here: National Child Protection Week – NAPCAN

Yesterday, Mrs Fenato, along with Vice-Captains - Sophia S and Noah M, attended the Catholic Mission launch at Magdalene Catholic College, Smeaton Grange. This year’s theme, “Kick Goals for Good,” focuses on supporting Catholic Mission initiatives in Zambia. Socktober will be our school system’s fundraising campaign to contribute to Catholic Mission’s inspiring project, Reach Out, Give Life.

Today, our Year 6 students and staff are participating in their Confirmation Spirituality Day. Throughout the day, students and staff engaged in a series of meaningful activities and events to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. We extend our sincere thanks to Mrs. Fenato, Mrs. Pickett, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Cartwright, and Mr. Russo for their energy, organisation, leadership in activities, and culinary skills demonstrated during the Year 6 sausage sizzle lunch, all of which contributed to a successful day of learning and reflection. We also express our gratitude to Mr. Turner and the students of St Benedict’s Catholic College for their ongoing support and for generously providing access to their excellent facilities. We wish all our candidates every blessing as they receive this beautiful Sacrament of Initiation that is Confirmation on Saturday 20 September.

As we move into the final weeks of Term 3, we remain committed to growing in Faith, Learning, and Wellbeing together.

Wishing you all a sensational weekend.

Take care,
Brad Colquhoun
Principal

Echoes of Divine Fatherhood

Father's Day, often marked by gatherings and expressions of gratitude with gifts from school stalls and child-made breaky in bed, offers a profound opportunity for spiritual reflection within our Catholic tradition. Beyond the commercial celebrations, it invites us to consider the sacred role of fatherhood, drawing our gaze towards the ultimate Father, God Himself, and to the earthly figures who, in various ways, mirror His divine love and providence.

The very concept of God as Father is central to our faith. It speaks of a relationship of deep love, unwavering guidance, and boundless mercy. As children of God, we are invited into an intimate relationship with the One who knows us perfectly, provides for our needs, and calls us to holiness. Earthly fathers, in their best expressions, become living icons of this divine paternity. They are called to protect, to instruct, to nurture, and to lead their families in faith, hope, and love. This is a demanding, yet infinitely rewarding, vocation.

Consider the quiet strength and unwavering dedication of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He was a man of integrity, obedience, and profound faith, who selflessly embraced his role as protector and provider for the Holy Family. Joseph's fatherhood was not defined by biological ties, but by his loving presence, his steadfast commitment, and his willingness to sacrifice for the well-being of those entrusted to his care. He teaches us that true fatherhood is less about power or status and more about humble service, less about affirmations and more about consistent, loving action.

In a world that often struggles with the true meaning of masculinity and fatherhood, the Catholic understanding of fatherhood offers a counter-cultural vision. It emphasises responsibility, unconditional love, vulnerability, self-giving, and the cultivation of virtue. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, urges fathers, "And fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

This scripture calls fathers (and mothers alike) to be pillars of moral strength, guiding their children not just by word, but by the compelling example of a life lived in accordance with God's will. They are to be the first catechists, imparting the faith through daily living, prayer, participation in the sacraments, and service.

As we honour fathers on this special day, we are invited to reflect:

How can we better appreciate and emulate the virtues of true fatherhood—both human and divine—in our own lives?

May we each strive to create environments of love, security, and spiritual growth, echoing the heart of our Heavenly Father in all we do.

Religious Literacy Assessment

Congratulations to our Year 4 cohort for their results in the 2025 Religious Literacy Assessment. The students have demonstrated tremendous knowledge about the Catholic faith and how that knowledge applies to their personal lives as disciples of Jesus. A big thank you to our Year 4 teachers who have provided rich learning opportunities to their students throughout the year, and the Year 3 teachers who support the learning in Stage 2. Well done! 

PB4L Update

Why the Zones of Regulation?

At school, student success is not only about learning academics—it also depends on how well students can manage their emotions and responses in different situations. The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum designed to support students in developing these important self-regulation skills.

Using a cognitive behaviour approach, our students will engage in learning activities that help them:

• Recognise and name their feelings and levels of alertness.
  
  
• Identify which “Zone” they are in (each Zone is represented by a colour).
  
  
• Build a personal “toolbox” of strategies to manage their emotions and behaviour.

Over the coming weeks, we will be explicitly teaching students how to identify their Zone and use strategies that help them feel in control and ready to learn.

We encourage parents and carers to talk with their children about the Zones and use this shared language at home—it can be a powerful way to support consistency between home and school.

Diary Dates

Curriculum And Learning

Father's Day Celebration

We hope all members of our St Justin’s family were able to celebrate the important men in their lives on the 7^th of September. Father’s Day is a time when we are reminded to show our appreciation for the fathers, grandfathers, carers, uncles, foster dads, and all paternal figures who tirelessly support and love us. 

We celebrated these men on Thursday Week 7, with a Bunnings-style sausage sizzle, outdoor activities and a prayer reflection that focused on the many fathers throughout the Scriptures. 

It was fantastic to see so many members of our community coming together to celebrate the important role the father-figures play in the lives of our students. Many hands make light work; so many people volunteered their time to make the morning a success. Thank you to Mrs Tannous, Ross and the P&F for organising the catering and refreshments, and to the staff members from St Justin’s who volunteered their morning to work alongside the P&F, ensuring everyone was fed, photos were snapped, and the games were set up for the enjoyment of all. Please continue to scroll to see some photos below.

Later that day, the P&F ran the annual Father’s Day Stall, providing excited students with the opportunity to purchase a gift for the father-figure in their lives. Thank you to the parent volunteers who gave up their time to organise and run the stalls. It is hoped the glasses, fishing kits, shaving packs, and other thoughtful gifts will be put to good use over the coming weeks.

St Justin's Got Talent - A Night to Remember

What an incredible success St Justin’s Got Talent 2025 was! With over 340 parents and families filling the hall for the evening performance, the atmosphere was electric as our students took to the stage. A wonderful new addition this year was the Art Show, which added a creative and inspiring dimension to the night and was enjoyed by all.

Our MCs, Callie P and Erin M, were nothing short of amazing – bringing both professionalism and energy to the stage, keeping the show flowing seamlessly.

A huge congratulations to every performer – your courage, talent, and enthusiasm shone brightly and made us all proud.

🏆 Results:

Performer Section:
1st place – Rafael D
Highly Commended – Penelope M

Musician Section:
1st place – Lilly M
Highly Commended – Jacob C

Artist Section:
1st place – Enajra T
Highly Commended – Kristian P

A huge thank you to the SJGT Team for their hard work in making the event possible, and to the many St Justin’s staff who generously gave their time to assist on Friday evening. It truly was a night of talent, creativity, and community spirit.

Library News

Fresh Ways to Boost Your Child’s Reading

Sometimes children can read words smoothly but still find it tricky to understand what they’re reading. Here are some fresh ways you can help at home to build not just reading skills, but true comprehension and confidence.

Play with Word Parts

When children learn to “see inside words,” they realise big words aren’t as scary as they look.

• Look for prefixes (like un- in unhappy = not happy) or suffixes (like -er in farmer = a person who farms).
• Notice compound words (like sunflower = sun + flower).
• Make it fun: play “Word Builders” where you try adding new beginnings or endings to a base (play → played, player, replay).

Why it helps: Understanding these patterns gives children tools to tackle new words on their own and deepens their grasp of meaning.

Notice How Texts are Built

Every text has a hidden “skeleton” that makes it easier to understand once you see it.

• Stories often follow a pattern: orientation → problem → solution → resolution and ending.
• Information texts are usually organised (compare/contrast, steps, cause/effect).
• Try asking: “Is this a story or a fact book? How can we tell?” or “What kind of pattern is the author using here?”

Why it helps: Recognising patterns helps children hold onto information and remember it later.

Dive Into Nonfiction Features

Nonfiction books are more than words. Photographs, charts, captions, maps, and diagrams all carry important information.

• Pause on a page and ask: “What is this photograph showing us?”
• Look at headings, subheadings and captions together and link them back to the main text.
• With diagrams, help your child match labels to what they see.

Why it helps: Kids learn that meaning comes from text and visuals, and they build skills to handle Nonfiction texts and electronic texts.

Think Aloud Together

Children benefit from hearing how adults “fix” tricky moments while reading.

• Model your thinking: “Hmm, that sentence didn’t make sense. I’ll slow down and reread.”
• Predict as you go: “I think this character will hide because the dog is coming closer.”
• Admit when you don’t know something and show how you look for clues to figure it out.

Why it helps: Children realise good readers don’t get everything instantly—we question, predict, reread, and problem-solve.

Build Background Knowledge

Understanding often depends on what we already know. The more children learn about the world, the easier new reading becomes.

• Read across topics: animals, space, sports, recipes, history, inventions.
• Link experiences: after reading about burrows, go outside and look for holes dug by animals or insects.
• Watch a documentary clip or visit a museum and then read a related book. Students in years 4-6 can use their login details to access ClickView.

Why it helps: When children connect reading to real life, they hold onto new words and ideas more firmly.

September Dates to Read About

This month brings some great opportunities to connect special days with reading:

• Season of Creation (1 Sept – 4 Oct) – Read books about caring for the earth, recycling, or protecting our planet.
• Roald Dahl Day (13 Sept) – Pick up a classic like Matilda or The BFG and enjoy the humour, wordplay, and wild imagination.
• R U OK? Day (11 Sept) – Share books that open conversations about feelings, friendships, and kindness.
• Save the Koala Month – Explore Australian animal stories or fact books about wildlife conservation.

A friendly reminder: The Premier’s Reading Challenge closes on 19th September. Make sure your child logs their final books and celebrates the wonderful reading they’ve done!

Reading isn’t just sounding out words—it’s about making sense of them and connecting them to the world around us. September is the perfect month to link books to real-life conversations and celebrations.

Mrs Giewald

Library Teacher

Diverse Learning News

School Support Staff Appreciation Week!

Throughout week 7, the St Justin’s community celebrated our amazing SSO staff with a beautiful Morning Tea. We appreciate their tireless efforts, support, dedication, teamwork, care and ongoing sense of humour that is evident day in, day out. Thank you to our wonderful Office SSO’s Mrs Holgate, Mrs Pech, Mrs Malcaus, Mrs Tannous, Ms Burke and our excellent Classroom SSO’s Mrs Comis, Ms Perry, Mrs Manahan, Mrs Randell, Mrs Liew, Mrs Tedesco, Mrs Cox, Mrs Mangan, Ms Holland, Mrs Bindley, Mrs Lauricella, Mrs Jones, Mrs Calautti, Mrs Legovich, Mrs Murray, Mrs Bartolic, Mrs Teale, Mrs Davies, Mrs Turner, Mrs Hooper, Mrs Stolk. The staff and students appreciate you all. 

Personalised Planning Meetings for many of our students will continue during weeks 8, 9 and 10. Please refer to Compass for your meeting time. 

Belinda Pace 

Leader of Diverse Learning

Jubilee Year of Hope - A Conference for Parents and Carers

On 25 October 2025, the Council for Catholic School Parents (CCSP) is hosting a special anniversary celebration conference for all NSW/ACT parents and carers with children in Catholic schools! It’s going to be a value-packed day of connection and collaboration where their expert presenters will provide specialist advice on parenting in a modern world.

Dr Justin Coulson: co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance and the founder of happyfamilies.com.au 

Michelle Mitchell: sought-after author and speaker on parenting tweens and teens

Daniel Principe: a passionate youth advocate and educator, and nominee for Australian of the Year.

This conference will cover areas such as managing technology with young people, consent and respectful relationships, cybersafety, building your child’s resilience, sleep, managing anxiety, screens and brain development, supporting your child’s learning at home and at school and more!

Date: Saturday 25 October 2025

Time: 8.30 am – 3.30 pm (doors open at 8.00 am)

Location: Novotel, 350 Church Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150

Parking is available at the venue, Novotel Parramatta, for a day rate. Please contact the hotel for more information: (02) 9630 4999. Other options include Eat Street Parking. Novotel Parramatta is offering special rates for conference guests. Please call the reservations team on 02 9890 0850 or email novotel@nmsp.com.au to book and advise them that you are attending the conference. Valid until 9 October 2025, subject to availability at the time of confirmation.

Find out more information here.

Buy a ticket here: Supporting Families: Working Together in a Modern World Registration.

Sporting News

Inspire Arts Dance Challenge 

Our school's dance teams had an incredible day at the Inspire Dance competition in Penrith on September 1st! A huge congratulations to the 61 students who competed. Led by their talented teacher and choreographer, Mrs. Imbruglia, our students shined on stage.

Their hard work and dedication paid off, as they spent countless lunch and recess breaks practising throughout the year. The competition was tough, but our teams performed amazingly:

• Year 3 Team: 3rd Place
• Year 4 Team: Highly Commended
• Senior Team (Years 5 & 6): 1st Place

We are so proud of all our dancers for their outstanding performances!

Athletic Age Champions

At a recent Monday morning gathering we announced and celebrated our age champions from our Athletics carnival at the beginning of the term. Here are the age champions for each category:

Representative Sport Pathway Trial Nomination Information 

Diocese of Wollongong 

Throughout 2026, your child will be provided with multiple sporting opportunities within the school environment. These include school sport carnivals such as swimming, athletics, cross country; participation in gala days including netball, soccer, basketball and cricket. These events are opportunities for all students to participate and be involved in, to develop their skills, enjoyment, be part of a team, improve wellbeing and contribute to a positive school culture. 

Through the Diocese of Wollongong Sports Council, some students are provided with the opportunity to trial for Wollongong representative teams, which give students the opportunity to access higher levels of sporting pathways, representation and opportunities to progress into state representation. 

We write to you today to inform you that the nomination form for these 2026 representative pathway selection trials are open and available for you to nominate your child through the given link by

• Cricket - 18th October 
• All other sports - 1st  November 

Some of these trials for 2026 teams commence in Term 4 2025, therefore it is important that nominations are completed now. 

Criteria for representative sport pathway nominations: 

Please see the reserve side of this document for more information regarding the trials and specific nomination criteria for each sport. In general the representative sport pathway trials are for students who are;

• Skilled and talented players and will be in Year 5 & 6 in 2026 (recommended)
• Experienced in the given sport and may have some high level representative experience or playing at a high grade
• competing at a high level, regular experience  and a background in this high level of competition, with a strong skill based and understanding of the game

Nomination Process and Information for parents: 

If you acknowledge that your child meets the criteria for a  given sport, you are asked to complete a nomination form using the following link: 2026 Nomination Form 

or SCAN the provided QR code. 

Please note this process is NOMINATION ONLY, once nominations are received and close on 1st November  all individual sports trial nominations will be: 

1. Reviewed and approved by the School Principal and/or delegate 
2. Reviewed by the sports convenor and selection committee based on criteria (students must meet the criteria of the given sport to be eligible)
3. Required in some cases to host a school based trial to determine most suitable athletes to attend the Wollongong representative trials. 
4. After this review, school sport coordinators will be notified of successful nominations, and these students will be provided with a trial information letter by the school and be permitted to attend the 2026 trial date. 

If you have any questions regarding this process please do not hesitate to contact the school sport coordinator and or Principal for further information regarding the representative sport pathway trial and opportunities. 

OVERVIEW OF INDIVIDUAL TRIAL NOMINATION SPORTS & PROCESS FOR PARENTS/CARERS 

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 3

• 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 4

• Oz Tag - 31st October 2025 (Camden)
  

St Justin’s School Sporting Events

Upcoming School Sporting Events:

• Next level competitive pathway for selected students 

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 opens from 2nd 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. 

Parents will need to nominate their child for the 2026 year during the nominations period which opens from 2nd September to November 2025.

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

Ms Rochelle Young

Sports Coordinator

Administration and Awards

Attendance

Thank you to all our amazing parents who along with their children continue to strive to hit 95% attendance mark. Even with colds and flus I do not believe that we have fallen under the 90th percentile for Term 3!

Keep up the wonderful effort everyone.

2026 Class Placement Requests - Final Notice

Staff will commence working on class groups early Term 4 for the 2026 school year. 

It is our desire for everybody within the community to get along, however, this is not always possible. It is Mr. Colquhoun’s practice, to attempt to accommodate requests from parents for children who may need to be separated from each other to help contribute to their learning. 

Please note that it is a requirement that a new request is made each year, as we do not store previous requests. We ask that you ensure your child’s teacher is aware of any circumstances that would warrant a separation from another individual as soon as possible.

Such requests need to be made to Mr. Colquhoun no later than Friday 19th September by sending an email to info@sjopdow.catholic.edu.au

Parent Contact Request - School Protocol

Just a reminder to our parent community that all teacher contact requests need to come via our secretaries email info@sjopdow.catholic.edu.au

All emails are forwarded onto the relevant staff member for their review / investigation / action. It also enables the office to include leadership if necessary. We ask that you allow staff a 24hour response time.

Please do not send emails directly to a staff member or via Seesaw as they may not respond in a timely fashion.

Transition to Summer Uniform

Students will be able to commence transitioning into their summer uniform from Week 8 of this term, with the expectation of them wearing their full summer uniform from Week 9 of Term 3.

Please remember that while in the transition week uniforms should be weather dependent and either be full summer uniform or full winter uniform and not a mix.

First Notice

The Council of Catholic School Parents, in partnership with Beyond, is offering a free webinar for parents and carers of students in Years 3–6.

Prepared for parents of Years 3–6 primary school, the webinar empowers parents to recognise and nurture their child’s unique strengths and talents, guiding them toward greater confidence, motivation, and resilience.

Nurturing Strengths – Primary Parent Webinar
Date: Wednesday 10 September 2025
Time: 12.30 pm – 1.15 pm

Click here to register.

On 25 October 2025, the Council for Catholic School Parents (CCSP) is hosting a special anniversary celebration conference for all NSW/ACT parents and carers with children in Catholic schools! It’s going to be a value-packed day of connection and collaboration where their expert presenters will provide specialist advice on parenting in a modern world.

Dr Justin Coulson: co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance and the founder of happyfamilies.com.au 

Michelle Mitchell: sought-after author and speaker on parenting tweens and teens

Daniel Principe: a passionate youth advocate and educator, and nominee for Australian of the Year.

This conference will cover areas such as managing technology with young people, consent and respectful relationships, cybersafety, building your child’s resilience, sleep, managing anxiety, screens and brain development, supporting your child’s learning at home and at school and more!

Date: Saturday 25 October 2025

Time: 8.30 am – 3.30 pm (doors open at 8.00 am)

Location: Novotel, 350 Church Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150

Parking is available at the venue, Novotel Parramatta, for a day rate. Please contact the hotel for more information: (02) 9630 4999. Other options include Eat Street Parking. Novotel Parramatta is offering special rates for conference guests. Please call the reservations team on 02 9890 0850 or email novotel@nmsp.com.au to book and advise them that you are attending the conference. Valid until 9 October 2025, subject to availability at the time of confirmation.

Find out more information here.

Buy a ticket here: Supporting Families: Working Together in a Modern World Registration.

Thank you for your support.

Mrs Ann Holgate | SSSO

Awards System Update

Celebrating Our Students

We’re proud to see so many students earning Blue Merit Awards, a testament to their positive behaviour and effort.

With the increasing number of awards, we are updating how certificates are distributed:

• Blue Merit Award certificates will now be sent digitally via parent email notification. You are welcome to print them at home.
• Special Awards will be presented in the classroom, except for Kindergarten students receiving their 1st Special Award, which will be presented at the Infants Assembly.
• Principal Awards and the Principal Medallion will be presented at school assemblies.

You can view your child’s award progress anytime via Compass Chronicle. We appreciate your continued support in recognising and celebrating the efforts and achievements of our students.

You can view your child’s awards tally using an iPad or laptop (the mobile app has limited features):

How to View Awards on Compass Chronicle

1. Open Compass
2. Click on your child’s profile
3. The Chronicle home page will open
4. Click on the “Categories” tab Select “Awards and Merits”
5. Change the date range from “This Year” to “All” (top right corner)
6. This will now show you all awards received and your child’s total merit points tally.

Award Points System Breakdown 

Every 1 Blue Merit Award = 1 Point
Students accumulate points to earn Special Awards, Principal Awards, and eventually the Principal Medallion.

School Counsellor 

This child protection week, our focus is on child safety. Please feel free to reach out for any support you may need. 

 Talking to Your Child About Safety

Having open and age-appropriate conversations with your child can make a big difference. Here are a few tips:

• Use correct names for body parts – this helps children communicate clearly if something is wrong

• Teach the concept of “safe” and “unsafe” touch

• Reassure children they can always talk to a trusted adult

• Listen without judgment – children need to feel heard and believed

 What You Can Do

• Know who your child’s trusted adults are (both at home and at school)

• Encourage confidence, independence, and communication

• Model respectful relationships in your own interactions

• Get involved in school safety programs and initiatives

 Useful Resources for Parents

• National Child Protection Week – www.napcan.org.au

• eSafety Commissioner – www.esafety.gov.au (online safety tools for parents)

• Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 | www.kidshelpline.com.au

• Parentline – Support and advice for parents (check your state’s service)

Wishing you all of the best.

Amanda Heather

School Counsellor

www.catholiccare.dow.org.au

Catholic Care Link

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

Hi St Justin’s Oran Park,

I wanted to share with you that Dads Speak will be holding our upcoming Charity Day on Saturday, 27th September, from 1–4 pm at Shine Shed South West, Campbelltown.

As you know, our focus is on supporting fathers and families raising children with additional needs, and this free family event will be a great opportunity for local families to come together, connect, and enjoy a day of BBQ, music, activities and more.

Please find attached two versions of our flyer for the Charity Day, feel free to use whichever one works best for sharing with your families.

UPDATED Bus Timetable for St Justin's Oran Park

Camden Council in partnership with WayAhead Smalls Steps are proud to host an information evening for parents and carers supporting children preparing to transition to high school. This event aims to provide parent and carers with practical strategies, build support networks and provide early intervention as a key indicate of improved outcomes for children. Parents and carers have the opportunity to ask questions about supporting their child during this transition.

When: Tuesday 23 September 2025, 6-7:30pm

Where: Julia Reserve Community Centre, Oran Park

Who: Parents and carers of children in years 5 and 6

Bookings Bookable