Dear Families of Our Lady Star of the Sea,

This past few weeks it has been my absolute pleasure to welcome our 2026 Kindergarten children and their families to Kindergarten Orientation. This marks the beginning of a beautiful journey, not just for the children, but for their families, and for us as a school community.

At Our Lady Star of the Sea, we are guided by the grace of Mary, Star of the Sea. She is our model of compassion, courage, and calm in the face of life’s many journeys. Just as sailors look to the stars for direction, we look to Mary to guide our hearts and actions. Her presence inspires us to nurture a community that is faith-filled, inclusive, and anchored in love. As John says - “Love is not just words, but something real and active”.

We are proud to be part of Sydney Catholic Schools, a vibrant system of schools united in mission and purpose. Together, we share resources, professional learning, and a commitment to excellence in Catholic education. Our system of schools allows us to support each other, grow together, and ensure that every child across our system receives the very best opportunities to thrive.

As parents, you are your child’s first and most important educators. You have laid the foundation for their learning, curiosity, and sense of self. We honour that role deeply. At Our Lady Star of the Sea, we believe that education is a partnership, one built on trust, communication, and shared values. When schools and families work together, children flourish. We are here to walk alongside you, to celebrate your child’s successes, support them through challenges, and nurture their growth in faith, learning, and wellbeing.

In Kindergarten, children will begin to explore the world around them with wonder and joy. They will learn to read, write, count, create, and connect. But more importantly, they will learn what it means to be part of a community, one that values kindness, respect, and the dignity of every person modelled by Jesus Christ.

We kindly remind all families to use our carlines with patience, kindness, and consideration. Our carpark is shared with parishioners of Our Lady Star of the Sea, our school community and Sydney Catholic Early Childcare Services Before and After School Care, so cooperation is essential.

Please note that the driveway on Kiora Road is only wide enough for two cars. Occasionally, visitors unfamiliar with our carline process may misjudge the space. This happened on Thursday during our Kindergarten Orientation, and we understand that mistakes can happen. Please don't get angry when this occurs.

Let’s continue to show understanding and compassion in these moments. A little kindness goes a long way in keeping our community safe and welcoming for everyone.

Get ready for the new social media minimum age

The Australian Government is taking world-leading action to reduce online harms experienced by young Australians by introducing a minimum age to access social media.

From 10 December 2025, a new law will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having a social media account, and deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.

Delaying access to social media accounts until the age of 16 will protect young Australians at a critical stage of their development, giving them 3 more years to build real world connections and online resilience.

This change will reduce access for young people to some of the harmful aspects of social media, such as algorithms that recommend content, infinite scrolling, and other features designed to keep users continuously engaged. The law is intended to capture social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook and YouTube.

But it won’t stop young people from staying in touch with friends online, playing games, learning new things and being entertained. In fact, they will still be able to access messaging apps, online gaming, professional networking and development services, and services that are primarily for the purposes of education and health support.

This delay to social media will give young Australians more time to develop real world connections and digital literacy skills before they join global platforms.

For more information, and tips for helping under 16s prepare for the change, visit the eSafety website.

Platforms that will be age restricted

The law is intended to capture social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Facebook and YouTube. Others will be added and the list may change – it all depends on the platform’s features.

Platforms that will not be age restricted

Individuals under 16 years old will still be able to access messaging, gaming, and services that are primarily for the purposes of education and health support. For example, Google Classroom and YouTube Kids will not be age restricted, and YouTube videos that can be seen without logging in can still be shared by teachers.

What Parents Can Do

Have a conversation about the social media minimum age with your young person. Ask your young person what they think and feel about its benefits and impacts. There are helpful conversation guides on the Headspace website. Include conversations about possible replacement activities.
Encourage your young person to connect with friends and family in other ways, such as in-person or via online games or messaging services.
Let your young person know they can download data, photos, and videos from their social media accounts by following the instructions provided by the major platforms, or they can find links on the eSafety website.
Go through the eSafety’s Social media age restrictions: Get-ready guide for under-16s with your young person.

Visit this eSafety page which details answers to frequently asked questions, how to manage conflict about the change, tools to help you work through it together as a family and links to helpful resources.

Thank you for choosing Our Lady Star of the Sea Miranda for your child or children. May this journey be filled with joy, discovery, and the gentle guidance of Mary, our Star of the Sea.

God Bless,

Mrs Maria Rose

Principal

'Our love is not just words but something real and active'. Jn 3:18

Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Newsletter

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OLSS School Newsletter - Term 4 Week 4 · 07 Nov 2025

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