Cardijn Connect - a source of news and information for the Cardijn community. The blog will be published every Thursday during the school term with past editions always accessible from the menu.

On Tuesday, Junior Primary classes gathered for a liturgy marking the start of Advent.

At Galilee, we begin Advent a little early so students have time to learn about its meaning and traditions.

Ms Jonas’ Year 2 students led the celebration, explained Advent, and helped light the first candle—the Candle of Hope. Students shared prayers and finished by singing the 2025 theme song, "Pilgrims of Hope."

A wonderful start to this season of anticipation and light!

Our Mid-Year Reception students had a wonderful time on our strawberry picking excursion last Thursday.

They picked strawberries, learned about how fruit grows, and saw the process firsthand.

This excursion supported our classroom learning and was a highlight of the semester!

Congratulations to Year 10 Marcellin student Ockie for securing an Apprenticeship with Construction Solutions SA!

Ockie will be working towards his Certificate III in Carpentry. He is pictured here with business owner Roger and his mum, Simone.

This morning, our Year 12 students returned to campus to rehearse their graduation dance ahead of tomorrow night's ceremony, and to participate in the final stage of the Marist Heart tradition.

After our students practise together in the gym, College Captain Astrid and Mission Captain Laylah completed the tradition by pouring the dissolved name scrolls into the Joseph Cardijn Welcome Garden; a meaningful gesture symbolising that the Class of 2025 will always remain part of our story.

For a recap from last term: Marist Heart Tradition

Looking for the perfect Christmas cards this year? Our Marist Gems Christmas Cards are a thoughtful, affordable, and meaningful way to share the spirit of the season!

Each pack designed by our talented Marist Centre students includes five cards, randomly selected to showcase a variety of delightful designs, perfect for spreading holiday cheer.

And the best part?
100% of profits are donated to a charity chosen by our students.

🎄 $5 per pack (5 cards included)
🎄 Designed by the talented students in our Marist Centre
🎄 Orders close: Monday 24 November

Order your pack today and support a project driven by Marist values.

Year 10 Art students participated in a loose acrylic painting workshop led by local artist Cat Leonard.

They created impressive still life artworks while exploring colour mixing, drawing with paint, and building layers with acrylics.

Our Year 8, 9, and 10 Basketball Academy students have had the privilege of working with the team from Transition Sports Shoot HQ throughout Terms 3 and 4. The Transition Sports coaches bring elite-level expertise to every session, giving our students valuable opportunities to refine their skills and deepen their understanding of the game.

Congratulations to Leni, Lucas, and Tommy from Year 8, as well as Cyruss and Blake from Year 9, who each won a free session after hitting impressive half-court shots!

Our students have engaged enthusiastically and gained a great deal from the program. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Shoot HQ next year to further enhance the experience for our Basketball Academy students.

As part of our end-of-year celebrations, Year 6 students enjoyed a special Italian lunch at the authentic Italian restaurant Trittico.

This experience gave students the opportunity to explore Italian culture, taste traditional dishes, and use some of the language skills they had been learning in class.

It also marked an exciting milestone as students prepared to transition into Year 7 next year.

Join us at Marian Campus on Monday, 24 November from 5:30pm - 6:30pm to explore the upcoming changes to social media access for young people, set to take effect from 10 December 2025.

Parents and carers will gain insight into what these new age limits mean, how platforms are expected to respond, and what families can do to support safe and informed online engagement.

Presented by Catholic School Parents SA, the session aims to equip attendees with practical knowledge and tools to navigate the evolving digital landscape with confidence.

Registrations are essential: Parent Engagement Evening - The Delay: Understanding Australia’s New Social Media Age Restrictions

Supporting Your Child Through Australia’s New Social Media Age Rules

From 10 December 2025, social media companies in Australia will be required to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. While the responsibility for enforcing these rules sits with the platforms—not parents—this change naturally raises questions for families about how to guide young people through their online lives.

For many students, social media has been a way to stay connected, be creative, and feel part of a community. For others, it can be overwhelming or affect well-being. These new age limits create a useful moment for parents and carers to pause and check in with their children about how they’re feeling and what they need.

The eSafety Commissioner offers several practical recommendations to guide these conversations at home:

Start early and stay curious.

Choose a calm moment to ask open, non-judgmental questions about your child’s online experiences. What do they enjoy? What feels stressful? This sets the tone for honest, ongoing dialogue.

Explain the “why”.

Reassure your child that the new age rules are about protection, not punishment. They’re designed to give younger teens a break from features that can encourage constant scrolling or expose them to harmful content.

Build a “get-ready” plan together.

eSafety’s guides include tools to help families plan alternatives for connection — from group chats on safer platforms to offline social activities. You can also talk about what responsible social media use might look like when they turn 16.

Keep communication open.

Let your child know they can always come to you if something online feels uncomfortable. Point them toward trusted supports if needed, including school staff or youth wellbeing services.

At Cardijn, we are committed to continuing to support families and invite you to Parent Engagement Evening - The Delay: Understanding Australia’s New Social Media Age Restrictions next week.

As always, we value our partnership with parents and carers, and we’re here to help you guide your children safely through these evolving digital spaces.

Kate Bawden
Deputy Principal