From the Principal
St Justin’s Primary School acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia's First People and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which our school stands.
We pay our respects to the Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation, and their elders past and present, and emerging as we continue to proudly live and learn on their land.
St Justin's Primary School - Celebrating over 40 years of Catholic Education
Dear Families and Friends,
Last week I attended the Australian Catholic Education Conference. With the theme ‘hope, anchored in faith’, the conference focused on the strategic vision and mission of Catholic education across three key areas – Faith, Excellence and Access. It featured a broad range of speakers, presentations and workshops focused on Catholic identity, mission and formation; learning and teaching; leadership and governance; parent engagement; parish and community engagement; resourcing and infrastructure; advocacy and marketing; and more.
The Conferenced opened with a beautiful Mass, concelebrated by the Bishop of Cairns, Most Rev Joe Caddy AM; Archbishop of Brisbane, Most Rev Mark Coleridge; Chair of the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education and Archbishop of Sydney, Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, and visiting Bishops and clergy. The Eucharist celebration was also beautifully enriched by a number of musicians and choirs – with over 1400 delegates joining in, it was a very moving experience.
Whilst I had the pleasure of attending a number of keynote addresses, panel discussions and workshops, Dr Steve Constantino’s presentation resonated with me the most. Dr Constantino is a nationally recognised leader, educator, speaker, and best-selling author, known for his ground breaking work in family and community engagement. Dr Constantino reminded us that “Culture doesn’t fall from the sky.” In order to create the best learning environment, we all need to work together – family and community engagement is extremely important.
Important Dates
Whilst we have most dates in the calendar, some dates include:
- Wednesday 3rd September - Fathers Day Stall
- Thursday 4th September - Parents and Friends Meeting (2:30pm-3:30pm)
- Friday 5th September - Father's Day Breakfast
- Friday 5th September - School Production - Full Dress Rehearsal
- Sunday 7th September - Father's Day
Please refer to Dates Ahead for a full list of important dates in Term 3.
Year 6 Hoop Time Basketball Tournament
Last Monday our Year 6 students participated in the Hoop Time Basketball Tournament at the State Basketball Centre, Wantirna. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and teamwork as they represent our school in this exciting event.
Thank you to Mr Johnson for organising the day and to Mrs Lacey, Mrs Braybrook and Riley Snell for coaching and supervising the students.
We hope the Year 6 students enjoyed this great experience!
District Athletics 2025
Yesterday a team of 65 from Years 3-6 represented the school at the District Athletics competition at the newly renovated Knox Athletics Centre. With unpredictable weather conditions, our team didn’t let that phase them with some incredible performances throughout the day.
Out of our 65 athletes, we have 30 students progressing to the next stage of competition which is an amazing effort. The greatest part of the day though was St Justin’s winning the shield for the most points of the day for an incredible 6th District competition in a row which is a testament to the passion and determination from each of our students. We really do have some incredible athletes amongst us at the moment.
I look forward to sharing with you all how our selected students go at the Division competition.
Mr Johnson.
Father's Day Celebrations
Next Friday 5th September, we will celebrate Fathers' Day. All children are welcome to bring along their Dad, Grandfather, or ‘Special Person’. The day will commence from 8:15am - 9:00am in the Undercover Area.
Each Dad (or Special Guest) will receive a complimentary breakfast bag when using the Coupon Code: WELOVEDADS
Link for bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DESCA
Bookings close at 3pm on Monday 1st September.
We look forward to seeing you there!
A Father's Day stall will also be held on Wednesday 3rd September.
Footy Colours Day – Friday 12th September
Every year, more than 950 children and young people in Australia are diagnosed with cancer. With treatment starting instantly, many spend over six months away from their school, friends, and normal routines.
After the success of last year’s event, St Justin’s is proud to once again take part in Fight Cancer Foundation’s Footy Colours Day to help these kids! On Friday 12th September, students are invited to wear their favourite team colours, scarves, and jerseys for a fun-filled day that blends the excitement of sport with a meaningful mission.
Why it matters
- Purpose: Footy Colours Day raises funds to support families and fund vital cancer research.
- Participation: By wearing your team’s colours, you’ll not only show your sporting pride but also help children who are bravely fighting cancer.
Community Spirit: Together, we can make a difference and teach our students the importance of kindness, empathy, and support.
How you can help
All money raised will go directly to the Fight Cancer Foundation, supporting families with accommodation close to hospitals and contributing to life-saving research. Every donation – big or small – counts.
Let’s fill St Justin’s with colour, joy, and team spirit while supporting such an important cause. Together, we can kick goals for kids with cancer!
MACSSIS
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS): Monday 1 September – Friday 19 September 2025
Throughout each year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as effective school communities and is backed by evidence-based research and best practices.
A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys.
I encourage you to read the Letter of Informed Consent
St Justin's 2025 School Production
The countdown is now on!!
Our whole School Production ‘The Down Under Road Trip’ is in full swing. Please take note of all the important information enclosed in this newsletter.
Production Tickets
Please be advised that the St Justin's "The Down Under Road Trip" Production Tickets go on sale at 10am on Monday 1st September.
Trybooking link to purchase tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/DEBMQ
Please note: This link will not be open to purchase tickets until 10.00am Monday.
Term 3 - School Closure Day
Friday 19th September is a School Clousre Day - the day after our school production.
The students last day of Term 3 will be Thursday 18th September.
Fair on the Hill
Whilst our Annual Fair on the Hill is still some time away (Saturday 8th November 11:00am - 4:00pm) there has been an amazing amount of planning going on.
Please refer to the Fair on the Hill page for more information.
School Fees
A reminder that all School Fees are due to be finalised by Thursday 17th September.
There is an expectation that families make progress payments throughout the year and if intending to make payment on the due date we ask that you reach out to the school office to advise us so that we can plan ahead from a cash flow perspective. With families keeping up with payments or keeping in contact with us in regards to fees or if you are requesting assistance this allows us to maintain activities and programs we already have in place at St. Justin's. We would greatly appreciate your support in regards to being on top of your fees.
As is our ongoing practice, should any family’s financial situation have changed, please contact Patrick Torpey or office staff on 9561 7644 or email office@sjwheelershill.catholic.edu.au to discuss your options.
Parking
Please take great care when parking around the school, obeying all signs and restrictions. Many drivers have been observed parking illegally, especially when picking students up after school. Under no circumstances should any driver pull up in the middle of the road and allow their child to enter (or exit) the car – it is safer to drive around the block and wait for a safe park. Please do not park across driveways (neighbours have the right to access their driveways at all times) or on nature strips (it can create tracks, especially when the nature strip is wet). A reminder also that a speed limit of 40 km/h applies outside the school grounds along Whalley Drive - please obey. Your co-operation would not only be appreciated, but expected.
A reminder that we should not be driving into the school grounds to drop off or pick up students (Exemption permit and Before and After School Care excepted). We appreciate your support in this matter.
Enjoy a restful weekend with your families and stay safe!
All the best,
Mr Patrick Torpey
Principal