SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - TERM 3 WEEK 4 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,

Hope that you are well and have enjoyed an outstanding  few weeks.

The Feast of the Assumption is a special celebration we observed today, 15th August. On this day, we remember an important moment in the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, her being taken body and soul into Heaven. This feast reminds us of God's promise that there is a place in Heaven for all who love him and follow his ways, just as Mary did. Today, we honor Mary’s faith and devotion, and we ask for her prayers as we strive to live faithful lives.

On Tuesday, the annual Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord was held at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Eagle Vale. This Mass celebrates Catholic education in the Macarthur region, highlighting our strong sense of community and providing Year 6 students and staff with the opportunity to come together, connect, and live out our faith. Our Year 6 students were outstanding representatives of our school community. They were active in the Mass, sung and responded with a sense of joy and pride, and presented a wonderful gospel re-enactment. Thank you to Mrs Fenato, Sr Mary and the Year 6 teachers for their positive influence and support. 

Campbelltown Catholic Club Communion Mass was held on Sunday 10th August at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church Campbelltown. Thank you to our School Captains Hazel S and Sullivan H along with their families for representing our school community. It was a great opportunity to be part of this celebration with our CEDoW Macarthur Catholic schools community coming together to celebrate our faith.

Congratulations to our Athletics Team for their outstanding efforts and wonderful results at last week’s Western Region Athletics Carnival. Our SJOP Athletics Team finished in 2nd overall. Some individual highlights from the carnival included Harrison C 11yrs Boys Age Champion,  Sullivan H Senior Boys Age Champion and Zoey C 3rd overall Senior Girls Age Champion. Moving to the Diocesan Athletics Time Trials next week in Wollongong, 15 of our students along with 3 out of our 4 relay teams will be competing for a position in the Diocesan Athletics Team. Thank you to our many parents for the support of our team. To Ms Young, Mrs Middleton, Mrs Ellul and Mrs Sidgreaves, we greatly appreciate your organisation, enthusiasm and care of our students throughout the day.

We are pleased to announce that the NSW government has appointed an additional School Crossing Supervisor for the crossing on Hollows Drive, situated between St Benedict's and St Justin's.

School Crossing Supervisors play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our students and the wider community. We kindly remind all drivers to never stop on or near a marked pedestrian crossing, including avoiding queuing across the crossing when waiting to turn left into the school grounds.

Please be aware that stopping or queuing on a pedestrian crossing carries a penalty of a $544 fine and 3 demerit points. Thank you for helping keep our students safe.

Wishing you a fantastic Friday and a super weekend.

Take care,
Brad Colquhoun
Principal

Diary Dates

Curriculum And Learning

100 days of Kindergarten

Our amazing Kindy students celebrated 100 days of school last week! We can’t believe how much they've grown and learned in that time. It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming them through the gates for the very first time.

To mark this incredible achievement, we had a day packed with fun, laughter, and lots of learning. Our students proudly marched in a vibrant parade, enjoyed a lively game of bingo, and put their counting skills to the test by finding and tallying 100 different items! We also shared a story time, where tales of big numbers and exciting adventures filled the air. And of course, no 100-day celebration would be complete without their fantastic, handmade 100-day crowns – they looked absolutely adorable! We recorded the day through drawing and writing, allowing the students to capture all their memorable moments. Come and see our Kindy notice board to see our fun photos and all our reasons why we love school. We're so proud of each and every one of them!

Chess Club - Term 3 and Term 4

Chess Club has been an amazing success with our students. Please see our Term 3 dates 23rd July to 25th September and Term 4 dates 15th October to 17th December and classes below.

If you wish for your child to join the Chess Club please see flyer below and you can enrol and pay directly to the Sydney Academy of Chess through the link with payment for each term. 

Year 1 and Year 2 - Use Code: W3YK9H7PP (Every Wednesday from 8am)

Years 3 to 6 - Use Code: W1B3HVBD8C (Every Thursday from 8am) 

** PLEASE NOTE: Year 3 to 6 will have chess on Wednesday 24th July, Wednesday 27th July and Wednesday 3rd September as make up lessons - NO LESSONS ON THURSDAY'S of these weeks.**

The Premier's Reading Challenge

This year, St Justin’s has had 113 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: Eleanor F, Kenai W

Year 4: Samuel M

We now have 45 students who have completed the challenge! Remember you can keep reading and compete for the in-school prizes!

St Justin's Got Talent - Audition Dates

St Justin's Got Talent Audition Dates have been finalised!

• The following grades will be auditioning on Friday 15th August
  - Year 5, Year 4, Year 1
• The following grades will be auditioning Friday 22nd August
  - Year 6, Year 3, Year 2, Kinder
  
  
• All singing acts must perform to a backing track
  
  
• Students will bring their own instruments (piano/keyboard supplied).
  
  
• Students must bring their song on a USB or email a link to the track directly to Mrs Fulko at fulkom01@dow.catholic.edu.au
  
  
• Costumes are optional, but students must be able to dress and re-dress independently. Costumes must also be appropriate e.g. no midriffs.
  
  
• Auditions will be cut at 3 minutes, however, successful acts will be able to perform their full act (maximum of 5 minutes) at the main event.
  
  
• Only students and teachers will be attending the auditions.
  
  
• Due to tight scheduling, missed auditions are unable to be made up.

St Justin’s Got Talent - 5th September 6pm, in the School Hall

Library News

Book Week 2025 – Book an Adventure!

This year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book Week will be held from 16–22 August, with the theme: Book an Adventure. While we won’t be holding a book parade at school this year, there are so many ways families can still join in the fun at home. After all, an adventure can begin the moment you open the pages of a book.

Celebrate Book Week at Home

Here are some ways to create your own reading adventures together:

• Create a cosy reading spot by setting up a ‘campfire’ scene using cushions and blankets, storing books in an old suitcase, adding maps, magnifying glasses or lanterns to inspire exploration and adventure.
• Dress up as a favourite book character or make costumes or props such as masks together at home from everyday items.
• Act out favourite scenes or imagine a new adventure for familiar characters.
• Build a miniature setting from a favourite book using Lego blocks or use an old box to make a diorama with paper and collage items found outside or around the house.
• Create a mini escape room with puzzles and clues from a book.
• Organise a book swap with friends or family.
• Invite a grandparent, relative, or friend to be a “guest reader” over video call or in person.
• Encourage your child to write their own story, comic strip, or picture book.
• Research an author or a genre and present your findings to the family.
• Draw a map of a fictional place from your favourite story.
  

CBCA 2025 Shortlist

Book Week is also when we celebrate the CBCA Book of the Year Awards — and this year marks the 80th anniversary of the CBCA!

The shortlist recognises the best in Australian children’s literature across six categories. You can view the full shortlist and find books to borrow from your library here: CBCA Shortlist 2025. Many of the titles can be found on SORA or on the StoryBoxHub (username: wollong16, password: SBL2494).

Book Week is a perfect opportunity to celebrate reading in all its forms. Whether you’re reading under a blanket fort, swapping books with friends, or acting out your favourite chapter, you’re building lifelong memories and a love of stories.

This year, why not “book” your next adventure from the comfort of your own home — all it takes is a great story to get started!

Happy Reading!
Mrs Jennifer Giewald

Library Teacher

Sporting News

Western Region Athletics Carnival Results

We are delighted to share the outstanding achievements of our students at the Western Region Athletics Carnival held on Friday, August 8th at the Campbelltown Athletics Centre.

A total of 33 students represented our school with incredible enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and support for their teammates and competitors. We are so proud of, and thank them for, the way they conducted themselves throughout the day.

Our students achieved some truly fantastic results, with 20 of our athletes advancing to the Wollongong Diocesan Athletics Selection Trials on Tuesday, August 19th, at the Kerry McCann (Beaton Park) Athletics Track. As a result of their success, our school secured second place in the overall point score, with our boys winning the overall point score for the day. Our girls also contributed to a most successful day placing third overall in the girls point score.

A special mention goes to our students who were named Age Champions and to those who set new records:

• 11-Years Boys Age Champion: Harrison C
• Senior Boys Age Champion: Sullivan H
• 3rd place in 12-Years Girls Age Championship: Zoey C

A massive congratulations to Harrison C, who set two new Western Region Athletics records for High Jump and Long Jump. This is a monumental achievement, as it is extremely rare for more than one record to be broken at a single meet, let alone two by the same athlete.

Additionally, three of our four relay teams will be moving on to the selection trials. This is a testament to the hard work and teamwork of all our athletes.

Please note that all students who have been selected to trial for the Diocesan Team will receive further information through Compass Events.

Congratulations to all those who competed on Friday and good luck to our team moving forward next Tuesday.

Ms Rochelle Young

St Justin’s Sport Coordinator

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 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 - 31st October 2025 (Camden)
  

St Justin’s School Sporting Events

Upcoming School Sporting Events:

• 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 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. 

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

Ms Rochelle Young

Sports Coordinator

Shrubbies Update

We have some fantastic news for our budding gardeners!

A brand new artisan timber fence has been installed around our vegetable pods, and it looks amazing! The beautiful new fence will help keep our growing vegetables safe from any stray balls or little feet that might accidentally wander into the garden. It's a wonderful addition to our school grounds and makes our garden area look even more special. Our students can now continue to nurture their plants in a protected and secure space.

Administration and Awards

The start of Term 3 is showing attendance sitting between 90% - 93.5%. The warmer weather will be with us soon so hopefully the winter colds and flus are behind us all.

We are still aiming to reach our whole school goal of 95%

2026 Class Placement Requests

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

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.

Medallion and Principal Awards

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

Catholic Care Link

School Counsellor 

As your school counsellor, I am here to support every student in feeling safe, heard, and valued. Whether it's helping with worries about schoolwork, friendships, or family changes, I offer individual counselling sessions tailored to each child's needs. I also run small group programs that focus on building resilience, confidence, and social skills in a fun and supportive setting. My role extends beyond just talking; I work closely with teachers and families to ensure a holistic approach to each student's wellbeing. If needed, I can assist in connecting families with additional services to provide comprehensive support. Above all, I am committed to creating an inclusive environment where every student feels respected and empowered to thrive.

Best wishes,

Amanda Heather

School Counsellor

www.catholiccare.dow.org.au

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

Dear St Justin’s Oran Park,

I hope this message finds you well.

My name is Atilio Brito, and I’m reaching out on behalf of Dads Speak, now officially recognised as a registered charity supporting fathers and families of children with special needs across Western Sydney.

We’d love your support in sharing details about our upcoming event designed to build meaningful connection and support for dads navigating this unique journey.
(We’ll also be soon announcing a special Family with the launch of our charity, which is on the Saturday, 27th September, Flyer to be sent out soon.)

 Wrestling Through Fatherhood: The Other Side of the Medal

Guest Speaker: Jayden Lawrence (Olympian)
 Saturday, 16th August
 6:00pm – 8:00pm
 Shine Shed South West Sydney
 Dinner Provided |  Dads-Only Event |  Free Entry

Jayden is an Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist who famously tore his ACL two matches before clinching bronze at the 2022 Games — pushing through pain with incredible mental resilience.

But it’s his journey off the mat that makes this night truly special. Jayden is a father to a child with special needs, and will share his personal experiences — the highs, the challenges, and the reality many fathers silently walk through.

This night is about:

 Encouraging dads to connect and feel seen
 Hearing a relatable and inspiring story
 Sitting down for a free meal in a warm, judgement-free environment
 Reducing isolation and improving wellbeing for dads who often carry unseen pressures

We’d be grateful if you could share the attached flyer with the dads in your school community who may benefit from this event. Spaces are limited, and registration can be completed via the QR code on the flyer or our socials.

Thank you for your continued support of families, and for helping us create space where dads feel connected and supported.