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,

 

We thank you for another busy and rewarding term. I wish to thank all staff for their commitment and tireless efforts on behalf of your children. I’d also like to thank all those who do so much to help our community to thrive – very much appreciated. We wish you all an enjoyable and relaxing break with your families. Stay safe.

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal

Thanks again to all those who supported our Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal - we've had a great response. Our donations gathered today from our Silly Sock Day  will also be added to the appeal. Your support will certainly help many families. Over the coming weeks, stay warm, stay safe and please keep those in need in your prayers.

Vision for Engagement

Last week I wrote about the official launch of MACS Vision for Engagement. Vision for Engagement is a companion document to Vision for Instruction (MACS 2024), forming the basis of the Flourishing Learners strategic program, a key element of the MACS 2030 strategic plan.

Together, these two visions reflect a unified approach where high-quality teaching drives meaningful student engagement, and recognises that the impact of such teaching cannot be truly realised unless students are fully engaged.

Vision for Engagement builds on the strong foundation laid by Vision for Instruction. These two position statements are intentionally interdependent. They reflect a unified approach that places high-quality teaching and meaningful student engagement at the very heart of learning (Dr Mary Oski, Director Education Excellence at MACS).

Why Vision for Engagement?

Students today face many challenges, including declining mental health, rising anxiety and social isolation (MACS 2025a, p. 4). Vision for Engagement partners with schools and families to address these issues by promoting environments where calm and respectful behaviour is taught and practiced, and where every student feels safe and supported.

MACS aims to become the benchmark for excellence in teaching and learning by providing access to a coherently integrated and academically competitive education for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances (MACS 2023, p. 10).

 

What is Vision for Engagement?

The Vision for Engagement is an evidence-informed and authentically Catholic commitment to nurturing calm, respectful and inclusive classrooms where every student can thrive academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually (p. v).

It is deeply rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, which calls us to recognise that true human flourishing requires an integrated understanding of the whole person. It is a perspective that honours the material, the social, the educational, the spiritual, and the emotional held together with compassion and care (Bernadette Cronin, Chief of Student Services, MACS).

Vision for Engagement describes high-impact practices derived from research on how students learn and thrive, and studies of the most successful teachers. These practices are designed to ensure that every student at a MACS school can flourish.

At its core are two overarching implementation expectations:

  • a whole-school approach

  • tiered system of supports.

These expectations are applied across the following six engagement practices:

  • teaching respectful behaviour

  • fostering belonging

  • focusing on attendance

  • promoting mental health and wellbeing

  • enabling motivation

  • targeting individual learning needs.

Student Wellbeing 

Throughout their childhood, children experience a variety of illnesses, bugs and viruses. Whilst it is impossible to protect our children from them all, there are certain things we can do to help:

  • Make regular checks and take appropriate action for ‘nasties’ – headlice, coughs and colds, worms, etc.
  • Inform the school if any ‘nasties’ are found
  • Talk to your child about good hygienic practices.

The holidays can be a good time to check on these things.

Important Dates 

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

  • Monday 21st July - Beginning of Term 3
  • Tuesday 22nd July - Fair on the Hill Meeting
  • Wednesday 23rd  July - Parent Helper Session
  • Thursday 24th July - Year 4 and 5 Avila and Mazenod Musical
  • Friday 25th July - AFL 9s Girls Division Finals
  • Friday 25th July - Year 5 and 6 Excusion to the Melbourne Zoo
  • Sat 26th / Sun 27th July - Confirmation Commitment Masses

Please refer to Dates Ahead for a full list of important dates in Term 2.

NAIDOC Week: 6 -13 July

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  It is held each year during the first week of July and is an important annual event where everyone is invited to join in the celebrations. 

Each year NAIDOC will choose a theme to build the celebrations around.  2025 is the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week, and the theme this year is ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’, which celebrates the achievements of the past and a bright future ahead. 

 

NAIDOC Week is a chance for everyone, not just First Nations people, to celebrate all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

Staff Changes

Next sememster, we need to make a slight change to our staffing. Mrs Jess Wickens has been allocated an extra day (Tuesday) to take on the positions of Learning and Teaching Leader. This positions was left vacant when Miss Laura Leung took Maternity Leave, and whilst the Leadership Team has tried to fill the void, this has not been possible, due mainly to the MACS initiative of Vision for Instruction and now, Vision for Engagment. As a result, Mrs Jen McGrath will now teach in Year 3MW Tuesday - Friday and Mrs Wickens will teach on Monday. Mrs Wickens will continue with her role as Literacy Leader on Wedensday and Thursday, which fits nicely into the Learning and Teachng Leadership role.

 

We are very fortuante to have such strong leadership within our community - something we should never take for granted.

 

We are also pleased to announce that Mrs Jackie Ciro will be joining us in the Library, while Mrs Cedro is on Long Service Leave. Mrs Ciro (Dante and Eva's mum) has previously voluntered in the Library on a regular basis over the last few years and is very familiar with it's weekly operations. We warmly welcome Jackie to our team.

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. 

 

Once again, we are inviting families to be involved and whilst at a later date, we will be calling for volunteers, early next term we will be outlining ways in whcih families can be involved. So far there is an amazing vibre, but as we know, a vibre won't get the job done - it's the community working together.  Please keep an eye out for the invitation.

 

Likewise, again next term we will be offering the students from Years 3-6 the opportunity to run their own stalls. On the day (depending of how many student stalls we have) we plan to run these from:

  • Group 1: 11:00am - 12:00pm then
  • Group 2: 1:00pm - 2:00pm

The holidays are a good time to think about possible stall options. More details will be available next term.

 

Our School Choir, Guitar Ensemble, Drumming Beats and the St Justin's Aerobics Team will also perform  - a timetable will be sent home next term to help parents plan their volunteering options. We also welcome performances from outside the school - contact Mr T for further enquiries.

 

As always, we still welcome any new ideas (although many things have had to be locked in already) and we would love any extra support.

Cubby House Construction

At STEAM on Wednesday, the Prep students, along with some help of our Year 6 students and parent helpers, made cubby houses. They worked with the NÜDLE Karts to create a cubby house that they could sit in. This was the first time the Preps had worked on this project with the NÜDLE Karts.  The NÜDLE Kart project helps enhance the children's creativity and 3D art skills, which are valuable skills to have in the future. The Preps were like a bunch of bees in a beehive, buzzing around with excitement, and the cubby houses were truly impressive. The NÜDLE Karts were purchased using funds from the P&F. Here are the outcomes of some of these:

By Cristian, Jack and Harrison

Chickens

Thanks to all those who have offered to help look after the chickens during the school holidays - your support is greatly appreciated.

 

Our roster is now full and has been emailed to our volunteer families. Our chickens are very much looking forward to everyone's visits, love and care.

Art Supplies

The Art Supplies are slowly diminshing. Most our local kindergartens and nursing homes have now gratefully taken what they think they could use. Over the holidays, we will have more schools arriving to take what they think they can use. Whilst the boxes have become a little damp, most of the contents are individually wrapped and are still in good condition.

 

Camps Sports and Excursions Fund

CSEF Applications close 04/07/2025

Professional Learning - School Closure Days

Ongoing professional learning is essential for St Justin's to keep abreast of the latest in education. Please note there will be no school for students on these days.

 

Term 3 Monday 11th August - School Closure Day - Staff Professional Learning Day Focus: UFLI  Phonics 

 

Please note that these days are not taken lightly - they are essential for us to continue supporting our students at St Justin's. 

Use of Photographs

Please remember that if at any stage you take a group photo of students, it should not be published online unless permission has been granted.

 

Have a great two weeks and we'll see you next term.

 

All the best,

 

Pat

 

Mr Patrick Torpey

Principal