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, as we continue to proudly live and learn on their land.

Dear Families and Friends,  

Beginning of the School Year and Welcoming Mass

Today we held our Beginning of the School Year Mass, where we officially commissioned all our new Leaders and Staff for 2024. Thanks to all who were able to attend.

Congratulations to our School Leaders for 2024. Whilst we acknowledge our official leaders for this year, we are reminded that we are all leaders, evidenced by our words and actions. Our school leaders, including class SRC members and Mini Vinnies.

 2024 School Leaders

Ash Wednesday

Next Wednesday we celebrate Ash Wednesday. Years 5 and 6 will have a liturgy on camp, Years 3 and 4 will attend our 9:15 am Parish Mass and Years 1 and 2 will participate in a liturgy in their classrooms.

 On Ash Wednesday we receive the cross, made by ashes on our forehead as a sign to remind us to live as Jesus would want. Lent is a special time when God invites us to go without so that others may have a fair share of the gifts of Creation. This special season within the Christian tradition is about changing ourselves and thinking of others.

At St Justin’s, during Lent, the teachers will refer to the Caritas Australia website. Information from the site will help the children gain a greater insight into how the Catholic Church is living out its Lenten season through the many charitable works that strive to bring about change for those living in unjust and impoverished situations.

Children are also encouraged to give up some of their pocket money and put it in the Project Compassion boxes in each of the classrooms. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful gesture, if by the end of Lent, we had a healthy amount of money to forward on to Caritas Australia? Please encourage your children to be generous and think of others less fortunate than themselves. Part of the nightly prayer before the family meal during Lent could be a quiet moment of reflection on this theme. 

Year 5 / 6 Camp

Next week our Year 5 and 6 students will attend camp at Phillip Island. The camp provides our students with the opportunity to further their learning and social skills development in a non-school setting. We wish them all the best and trust that our Year 4 students will confidently lead our school in their absence.

Parent Information Night

Thanks to those who were able to attend our Parent Information Sessions last week. Next week we look forward to catching up with Year 3/4 on Monday night at 7:00pm and 

Year 1/2 on Tuesday night at 7:00pm.

New Policies

Please note that over the last few weeks, we have implemented and/or amended some of our policies and procedures. The lists below shows the new/amended policies which are located on our school website or the new practices which have been adapted by the school.

Website:

Anaphylaxis Policy

Excursions, Camps and Travel Policy

Camps Procedures

School Excursions Procedures

International Travel Procedures

Supervision Policy

Supervision Procedures

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Child Safety and Wellbeing Procedures

Child Safety Code of Conduct

PROTECT: Identifying and Responding to Abuse – Reporting Obligations Policy

PROTECT Procedure – Informing staff of reporting obligations

PROTECT Procedure – Police of DFFH Child Protection interviews at school

PROTECT Procedure – Responding to Police and Child Protection requests for further information

PROTECT Procedure – Responding to offences under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic.)

PROTECT Procedure – Responding to all forms of child abuse

PROTECT Procedure – Responding to student sexual offending

Adapted:

Anaphylaxis Management Procedures for MACS Schools

Individual Anaphylaxis Management Plan

School Camps Checklist

School Excursions Checklist

International Travel Checklist

International Students – Standard (CRICOS) – Tuition and Non-tuition Fees 2024

International Students – Temporary – Fee Schedule 2024

International Students – Dependant – Fee Schedule 2024

Dependant and Temporary Full Fee Paying Overseas Students – Application Form

Full Fee Paying Overseas Students – Extreme Financial Hardship Procedure and Application Form

Drop Off and Pick Up

In the morning, there are at least two teachers on yard duty in the school grounds from 8:40am. If you wish to drop your child off before 8:40 am, please use the Before School Care service provided by Camp Australia - we would hate for your child to arrive at school and no-one be here to care for them. Whilst there is usually someone here from 8:00am, it’s important to remember that staff are busy preparing for the day ahead or involved in meetings. 

After school, a teacher is on playground duty until 3:45 pm (3:30pm on Monday). After this time students who are yet to be picked up will be taken to the office.  We will attempt to ring their parents to make sure everything is ok. If for any reason, you are running late, just give the office a ring and let us know. 

Please note that students should not be dropped off or picked up in the staff car park. In the morning and at the end of the day, the car park becomes a busy place with people walking in all directions.

Please ensure you follow all parking restrictions, including the 2 minute parking zones. We also ask that those families entering the school from Whalley Drive, use the pedestrian paths provided, we really want all pedestrians off the roads.

2024 - Student Information

Once again we ask that all families please consider if you have any new or updated  changes in your personal details - phone numbers, address, emergency contact, medications for students etc. Please take the time to update these details on Operoo so that we always have the most up to date information for your child. All students also received a Students Information Checklist, can we please as these be completed and returned to the office by the end of the school year.  We also ask that you have all Medical forms and Medical Authority forms filled out and up to date. This is especially needed in cases of emergency. Thank you!

Camps Sports and Excursions Fund

Uniform

Today we spoke to all students about School Uniform. A uniform is a powerful symbol that helps connect us together, a symbol that we belong. Wearing the uniform correctly and proudly in any organisation is important. Likewise, our school uniform at St Justin’s is compulsory and all requirements are available from Academy Uniforms. Whilst students have a Summer uniform (Term 1 and 4) and a Winter uniform (Term 2 and 3), Melbourne’s weather doesn’t always fit nicely into the seasons and/or terms - it may be necessary to wear a summer or winter uniform outside of the assigned times. Students also wear a sports uniform on the day that is designated as their classroom sports day.  

Summer:

Option 1: blue short sleeve shirt, grey shorts, grey socks, black shoes, 

school bomber, jacket, school hat

Option 2: school dress, white socks, black shoes, school bomber jacket, school hat

Winter:

Option 1: grey pants, school jumper, bomber jacket, grey socks, blue shirt (long 

sleeve or short sleeve), black shoes 

Option 2: winter tunic / grey pants, blue shirt (L/S or S/S), school jumper, bomber 

jacket, grey socks/grey tights, black shoes

P.E. Uniform

St Justin’s polo, St Justin’s sport shorts / track pants, white sports socks, runners

Optional: Bomber Jacket / School Jumper / Rugby Top

Hair ties are to be in school colours of maroon, light blue or white.  All long hair must be tied back. 

Uniform Shop

Uniforms are supplied by Academy Uniforms located at 2/810-818 Princes Highway, Springvale. Their hours of operation are Tuesday to Thursday 9.00am-5.00pm and Saturday 9.00am-12.00pm.  

Parents can visit the store and buy directly from Academy Uniforms or parents can order uniform items online:

1. Go to www.academyuniforms.com.au
2. Select ‘order online’
3. Choose St Justin’s from the drop down list
4. Enter the password ‘Wheelers Hill’

Uniforms ordered online can be delivered directly to your home which will incur a delivery fee, collected directly from the store, or delivered directly to the school (free of charge) on a Thursday and these uniform items will be sent home using the classroom bucket system. 

If at any stage your child can not be in full school uniform, please don’t hesitate to send a note to the classroom teacher.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support.

Sun Smart

A reminder that St Justin’s Primary School is a Sun Smart School and as a result, all students are to wear their school hat that protects the face, neck and ears during breaks or lessons, throughout September to the end of April. Sun screen should also be applied at home before coming to school.

Over exposure to the sun presents a serious health risk. Students must, therefore, be educated regarding healthy UV exposure balance to help with Vitamin D and suitable sun protection, in order to be protected from overexposure to the sun whilst at school.

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Students and teachers are encouraged to protect themselves from the harmful effects of the sun through strategies which use a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV Index levels reach 3 and above.

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Sun protection should be used whenever UV levels are 3 or higher, especially between the months of mid-August to the end of April. During this time, parents should send appropriate sun screen to school and ensure that their child has a suitable hat.

Please refer to our website for more information.

Year 6 Bomber Jackets

Due to some delays the Year 6 Bomber Jackets be issued later in Term 1. They will look amazing and be distributed  as soon as they are received. 

New Phone System

We thank you for your patience regarding the school phone issues. This issue has been rectified and the new phone system is in the implementation stage. We can now take calls between the hours of 8:30am - 4:00pm, unfortunately the voice mail option is not active. If you need to contact us outside of these hours please email: office@sjwheelershill.catholic.edu.au

Once again we apologise for any inconvenience. 

Crossing not covered for next week

Due to an ongoing shortage of School Crossing Supervisors, there will be no supervisor available to cover the following dates & times:

12-02-2024 15:20-16:00 - Corner Jells Road & Grandview Road Wheelers Hill 

13-02-2024 15:20-16:00 - Corner Jells Road & Grandview Road Wheelers Hill 

14-02-2024 15:20-16:00- Corner Jells Road & Grandview Road Wheelers Hill 

15-02-2024 15:20-16:00 - Corner Jells Road & Grandview Road Wheelers Hill 

16-02-2024 08:20-09:00 - Corner Jells Road & Grandview Road Wheelers Hill 

16-02-2024 15:20-16:00 - Corner Jells Road & Grandview Road Wheelers Hill 

Where's  Mr T

Can you find Mr T? He's hiding somewhere in the newsletter.

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

Mr Patrick Torpey

Principal