Ms Renee Maounis
Parents' and Friends' Association
President

Positive Recognition Update

Ms Amanda Kenneally (Leader of Pastoral Care), Mr Pat McAuley (Leader of Chisholm House), Ms Hannah Gleeson (Leader of Davis House), Ms Alicia Lockyer (Leader of Deane House), Ms Courtney Tyler(Leader of Ingham House), Mr Daniel Iacono (Leader of Year 10), Ms Ami Harries (Leader of Year 11) and Ms Ellen Setter (Leader of Year 12).

With the HSC Trial Examinations commencing next week, we wanted to ensure you have all the necessary information to support your Year 12 student during this important period.

The Trial Exams are scheduled from Monday, 4 August to Monday, 18 August (Weeks 3-5). This is a crucial time for our students to consolidate their learning, experience exam conditions, and identify areas for further focus before the final HSC examinations.

Attached is the full timetable, which includes all the essential details regarding dates, times, and exam locations. Please take some time to review it with your child to help them plan their study and attendance.

Your support at home can make a significant difference. Encouraging a balanced routine, ensuring they get adequate rest, and providing a conducive environment for study will be incredibly beneficial.

If you or your child have any questions or concerns as the trials approach, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We appreciate your continued partnership in their education.

Dr Aidan Johnson
Leader of Learning and Teaching

Post-School Pathways: Zoom Session for NDIS Families

Families of students with NDIS plans are invited to attend an upcoming Zoom session focused on post-school options for young people with disability. The session will explore transition planning, further education, employment supports, and community engagement opportunities.

Date:     Wednesday 21 August 2025
Time:      6:30–7:30 pm
Location: Online

Scan the QR code on the flyer to register 

Ms Annie Farrugia
Leader of Diverse Learning

Reducing Screen Time: It’s More than Self-Control

At Corpus Christi, we recognise that digital tools are now integral to learning and everyday life. As such, we're committed to fostering strong digital literacy in our students; equipping them not just to use technology, but to understand, evaluate, and engage with it responsibly. We are working to prepare students for a future where digital literacy is a core skill, and true digital literacy also involves understanding the importance of balance. 

Constant connectivity and the expectation of notifications can impact our focus, well-being, and even our ability to think deeply. This is where the concept of "unplugging" becomes vital. It's about intentionally stepping away from screens, allowing time for reflection, face-to-face interactions, and uninterrupted creative thought. Encouraging students to manage their notifications and create tech-free zones helps them develop crucial self-regulation skills. However, this self-control is a lot to ask of students (and adults!) when the technology has been specifically developed to maintain maximum engagement. 

There are a number of tools available to students to limit their distractions on both their laptop and phones, including apps such as ‘Screen Time’ on iPhones, or ‘Digital Wellbeing’ on Android devices. On our school Mac laptops we can set ‘modes’ in System Settings that allow us to turn off certain notifications.  We know though, that our students have mastered many ‘work arounds’ to these self-imposed limits within their phones. This year I have been trialling a physical device for my own iPhone, called ‘Brick Device’. It is a physical tool available for iPhones that I ‘tap on’ and ‘off’ to turn my smartphone into an old-fashioned ‘Brick’ (an Android model is in development). 

The Brick aims to reduce digital distractions by blocking notifications and limiting access to distracting apps on your iPhone. Users can create dedicated categories for concentration, sleep time, or simply being present without constant digital interruptions. For example, students can ‘tap on’ in the morning and leave for school with a phone that can send and receive text messages or phone calls, but not access any site or App that provides a distraction. They are unable to bypass these limits until they are reunited with the physical ‘Brick’ to ‘tap off’. For me personally, I have seen a 70% reduction in my screentime since using the ‘Brick.’  Each household only needs one ‘Brick’ as it can be used across multiple phones. While the ‘Brick’ does have a high initial cost (around $90 + postage), there are discounts for buying multiple devices so if you’re interested, you could pair up with another family and reduce the overall cost. 

This is by no means an endorsement of the product, nor a suggestion that families need to buy one but rather a call for families to investigate options to help support their family’s safe and purposeful screen use. Our shared goal is to empower students in developing their digital literacy so they become discerning digital citizens. This means teaching them to harness the power of technology for learning, while also developing the wisdom to know when to step back, critically evaluate digital information, and protect times where screens are not necessary or beneficial. 

Ms Emily Patterson
Digital Literacy Coach

Ms Rosemary Abdelmessih
Ms Belinda Elliss
LRC Support Staff

A reminder to parents about double-parking and blocking traffic flow before and after school. This INCLUDES ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.  Cars are to keep moving through the kiss and drop area. If there are no spots available.  Please do not stop and block the traffic flow.

Please be aware that hefty fines apply for these offences and consideration of the local businesses and the safety of students is paramount.

Senior students and families are reminded to follow the rules when parking near and around the school grounds and to be considerate of the neighbours.

A reminder to families that if your child is returning to school with an injury you need to contact the school before their return to arrange a return to school with injury meeting.  This will enable us to put any measures in place to assist with this return.

Students who are required to use the lift must have a medical reentry meeting and can only use the lift once a 'Lift License' has been issued to them.

Visit ranier.com.au. Registration requires the exact student name and student number to be entered.  The school password (corpchris2529) is also required to register. Email Ranier at custservice@ranier.com.au for any problems registering.  Uniforms ordered online will need to be collected from the Uniform Shop during opening hours.

Uniform Pool

If you require second-hand uniforms there is a Corpus Christi Oak Flats Uniform Pool page on Facebook.  This is not run by the school but feel free to check it out for any uniform needs.

Ms Jennifer Niduaza
Ranier Design Group

We would like to give our amazing students the opportunity to showcase and celebrate their talents in the world-renowned ICAS competition again this year.

 What is ICAS?  

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee, and Digital Technologies.  Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year.

To learn more about this year’s ICAS competition, visit: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)

How to Participate in ICAS  

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:  

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)  
2. Go to the Parent Portal to sign up to chosen subject areas here: (shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)  
3. Enter our school’s access code –KHN997  
4. Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment.  

ICAS Results and Certificates

All assessments will be conducted online, at school. We will notify you of the date(s) that we will run ICAS assessments, and when your child’s ICAS results are ready. Your child’s ICAS certificates will be delivered to school. Once we have received them, we will present them to your child to bring home. The back of the certificate will show your child’s ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”. - Use these to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent. 

We are excited to be offering ICAS to our students this year and look forward to celebrating their achievements. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have any questions.  

Ms Fiona Croft
Leader of Gifted and Talented

We have an increasing number of students presenting to the office to sign out with no note in Compass for them to leave. If you require your child to leave early for a planned appointment or other reason this should be entered in Compass before the departure day and time. If there is a note in Compass the student can come down and sign out through the office.

If you are unable to access Compass a parent or nominated emergency contact will need to come in and sign your child out.  

Unwell Students

Student ID Cards

Please remind your child to have their Student ID Card at school everyday.  

Regards
Office Administration Team

Online Orders are available as per the instructions below.

There are a few important points such as:

• Cut off time for online orders is 9:00am
• Orders are for recess and lunch
• Please include your student’s Year Group eg. Year 7, 8 etc on the order NOT the class

Please see details below on how to create an account via the website https://myschoolconnect.com.au

To obtain your Student Id Number you will need to log into Compass which is located under your child's profile.

To improve the efficiency of our communication, please be advised that starting from this term, the Corpus Christi newsletter will only be available via Compass, Facebook, and the school website. It will no longer be sent out via email from Schoolzine.

Ms Katja Spitzer
SSSO

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel like you need some more support with parenting?

CatholicCare Wollongong offer professional counselling services to support you through life's challenges. Their counsellors provide a listening and independent ear and will equip you with strategies and tools for coping with stress and major life changes.

Counselling is available in-person in Nowra, Wollongong and Campbelltown or via phone or online.

Visit our website to learn more: https://catholiccare.dow.org.au/services-and-programs/family/family-care/counselling/

Due to safety concerns, students are not to exit the school grounds in the afternoon through the glass foyer. All students are required to use the walking path around to the drop-off bay or Moore Street exit.  The only exceptions are any disabled students or students with an injury.