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,

“The Down Under Road Trip”

Last night the students of St Justin’s Primary School lit up the stage with their incredible performance of “The Down Under Road Trip”, this year’s much-anticipated school production.

 

From the moment the curtains opened, the audience was taken on a whirlwind adventure across Australia — stopping at iconic locations like the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and the Sydney Opera House. Each class brought their own unique energy and creativity to the stage, with vibrant costumes, catchy songs, and fantastic acting that truly captured the spirit of Australia.

 

The storyline followed a family on a road trip around the country, learning about different cultures, landmarks, and the importance of  family and friendship along the way. It was both educational and entertaining, and the students’ hard work and rehearsals paid off in an unforgettable show.

 

A big thank you goes out to Mrs Riddiford and our amazing teachers and support staff who directed, choreographed, and supported the production every step of the way. Special thanks also to the families who helped with costumes, props, and cheering loudly from the audience!

 

Most of all, congratulations to our students — your enthusiasm, talent, and teamwork made The Down Under Road Trip a huge success. We are so proud of you!

Change to timetable

After consoltation with the School Advisory Council, the School Leadership Team and staff, we would like to inform you about a small change to our school timetable, which will be trialled in the coming weeks. Please note that school start and finish times will remain unchanged. Classroom doors will still open at 8.50am and the learning day will commence at 9.00am.

 

To better support the delivery of our Literacy and Mathematics curriculum and the introduction of the UFLI Phonics Program in Junior School, we will be trialling a revised daily schedule. 

Students are often more settled and attentive in the morning, making it an ideal time for focused learning and engagement. Therefore, as part of this change:

  • Morning Block Learning Session:9.05am to 11.20am
  • Recess Eating Time: 11.20am to 11.30am
  • Recess Playtime: 11.30am to 12.10pm
  • Middle Block Learning Session: 12.10pm to 1.40pm
  • Lunch Eating Time: 1.40pm to 1.50pm
  • Lunch Playtime: 1:50pm to 2.30pm
  • Afternoon Block Learning Session: 2.30pm to 3.30pm (3:15pm on Mondays)
Please note: Students will have a short fruit/brain break mid-morning during class time to help them stay focused and refreshed.

We believe this adjustment will help improve concentration and better align our learning blocks with students’ needs. We will review the impact of this trial and keep you updated. 

 

Thank you for your continued support.

 

Important Dates 

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

 

  • Friday 19th September - School Fees due to be finalised
  • Sunday 5th  October - Daylight Savings Starts
  • Monday 6th October -  Beginning Term 4

 

Please refer to Dates Ahead for a full list of important dates in Term 4

CHESS CHAMPIONS

Congratulations to our Term 3 Chess Champions!

 

  • 1st Place: Best & Fairest- Hakop K
  • 2nd Place: Silver Grasshopper Badge - Thomas H
  • 3rd Place: Bronze Grasshopper Badge - Gianni H

STATE FINALISTS

Congratulations to our State Finalists for the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee!

Unfortunately we didn't make it to Nationals but we are so proud of the students who participated and tried their hardest. Well done!

State Finalists:

  • Anahera P in 5F
  • Hakop K in 4MR
  • Hana P in 3D

Daylight Savings Time Starts Sunday 5th  October

Daylight Savings Starts Sunday 5th October, don't forget to set your clocks forward. (2:00:00 am clocks are turned forward 1 hour)

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. 

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

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 Friday 19th 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