St Justin’s Primary School Newsletter

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,

Father's Day

Today at St Justin's we celebrated Father's Day. The day started with a breakfast and activities, followed by a classroom prayer. It was great to see so many turn up and I'm sure the children enjoyed spending quality time with others.

 

Thanks to all those who helped out, especially the Parents and Friends for supplying the breakfast, the El Samad family for the fruit, those who helped serve, Laura W for the activities and everyone for coming - it was

a great way to celebrate!

 

We wish all of our Dad's, Grandads and Special Persons a very special day on Sunday.

A Prayer for Fathers

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the gift of our fathers and all the men who are like fathers to us.

We ask you to bless them with peace, patience, and a kind heart. Help them to guide us with gentleness and to be a loving presence in our lives.

We pray for the fathers who are no longer with us, and we ask that you welcome them into your heavenly home.

May we always be grateful for the love and care they give us.

Amen.

Father's Day Stall

Yesterday the children had the opportunity to purchase that special gift for their dads or grandads. A special thanks to all those who helped out. These things don’t just happen - they are the result of much planning and preparing well in advance. As always, we are extremely grateful for all those who do so much to help our community.   Thank you.

Soccer State Finals

What an achievement! Our Year 6 boys’ soccer team played their hearts out, finishing 3rd place out of 2,000 schools across Victoria – losing only one game out of 21 in the entire tournament. 

 

The boys showed incredible determination, courage and the true St Justin’s spirit every step of the way.  

 

A huge thank you to Tim Dakis for the volunteering his time and knowledge and to all the parents and Mrs D’Angelo for coming down to cheer the team on. 

 

This is truly one for the history books – the first time our school and region have reached this milestone 

Important Dates 

Whilst we have most dates in the calendar, some dates include: 

  • Sunday 7th September - Father's Day
  • Wednesday 10th September  - Maths Olympiad Competition
  • Thursday 11th September  - R U OK? Day
  • Thursday 11th September - Yr3 Camp Toolangi Excursion
  • Thursday 11th - Friday 12th September - Year 4 Camp 
  • Friday 12th September -  Footy Colours Day

Please refer to Dates Ahead for a full list of important dates in Term 3.

Love your child to poverty!

Is it possible to "love your child to poverty"? This was a question asked at the ACEC Conference which I attended a few weeks ago.

 

The idea of "loving your child to poverty" by denying them the opportunity to experience failure is a powerful metaphor for the negative impacts of helicopter parenting. While a parent's instinct is to protect their child from pain and struggle, constantly shielding them from failure can unintentionally harm their long-term development.

 

The Downside of Preventing Failure

When parents consistently swoop in to fix their children's problems, they are, in effect, preventing them from developing crucial life skills. This overprotection can lead to a host of negative outcomes:

  • Undeveloped Coping Skills: If a child never experiences disappointment or loss, they won't know how to handle these feelings as an adult. They might not learn how to regulate their emotions, deal with frustration, or find healthy ways to bounce back from setbacks.
  • Lack of Resilience: The ability to persevere and bounce back from adversity is built through experience. By removing obstacles, parents rob their children of the chance to build the grit and determination needed for a successful and fulfilling life.
  • Low Self-Confidence: When a parent constantly intervenes, the implicit message they send is, "I don't trust you to handle this on your own." This can lead to a lack of self-confidence and an overreliance on others, making it difficult for the child to become an independent adult.
  • Poor Problem-Solving Skills: Children who are not allowed to solve their own problems, whether it's a social conflict or a difficult homework assignment, don't learn how to think critically and come up with solutions. They enter adulthood without the essential skills to navigate real-world challenges.

 

Fostering a Healthy Mindset

Instead of being a "snowplow" parent who clears every obstacle, a more effective approach is to be a supportive guide. This involves a shift in perspective, where failure is not a disaster to be avoided, but a valuable learning opportunity.

Here are some ways to encourage this healthy mindset:

  • Encourage a Growth Mindset: Teach your child that abilities aren't fixed. Emphasize that effort and learning from mistakes are what lead to growth. When they fail, focus the conversation on what they learned and what they could do differently next time.
  • Model Vulnerability: Share your own failures and how you overcame them. This shows your child that it's normal to make mistakes and that even adults don't have all the answers.
  • Offer Support, Not Solutions: When your child faces a challenge, resist the urge to fix it. Instead, ask them what they've already tried and what they think they should do next. This helps them take ownership of the problem and develop their own solutions.
  • Let Them Feel the Consequences: If your child forgets their homework, let them face the natural consequence of a lower grade or a conversation with the teacher. While it's hard to watch, this experience teaches responsibility and accountability far more effectively than a parent rescuing them.

 

By allowing children to experience and learn from failure, parents equip them with the resilience, confidence, and problem-solving skills they need to navigate the complexities of adulthood.

St Justin's Trivia Night 

On Saturday 25th October we have our annual Trivia Night and whilst it's designed to raise some funds, more importantly, it's designed to bring the community together and have some fun. A huge amount of work has gone into preparing for the night (thanks Carolyn and team). 

To book a table or a spot on a table, please access trybooking  

 

Looking forward to catching up with you there. 

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.

 

👉 Link to Donate

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

School Production - ‘The Down Under Road Trip’ 

With only two weeks left, our whole School Production is in full swing. We're very much looking forward to the big show on Thursday 18th September. 

 

Please take note of all the important information enclosed in this newsletter. 

 

Again a special thank you to our Performing Arts Teacher Mrs Christy Riddiford, and the Production team for their work in putting our Production together for our students. 

Term 3 - School Closure Day

The end of term is quickly approaching and we remind you that school will conclude on Thursday 18th September, following our School Production. There will be no school on Friday for students. Staff will be invovled in a Professional Learning Day.

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.

 

 

Enjoy a restful weekend with your families and stay safe!

 

All the best,

 

Mr  Patrick Torpey

Principal