Blessing for a new school year

With gratitude for the gift of a fresh new year

We ask for blessing on our whole community –

May every classroom be a place of respect and possibility.

May every staffroom and playground be a place of friendship and laughter.

May every hall and assembly be a place of connection.

May every library be a place of discovery.

May every tree and plant call us to care for creation.

May every snack and lunch remind us of those who are hungry.

May every student grow in confidence and love of life.

May every teacher find daily vision and hope.

May every leader find openness and patience.

May every parent grow in wisdom.

May every name in this school be blessed

Because each person is precious

An only together can we learn and grow.

(Michael McGirr, 2023).

I extend a heartfelt and warm welcome to all members of our College community as we commence the new school year. I would especially like to welcome our incoming Year 7 students and their families, and all new students in Years 8 – 12. In addition, we have a number of new staff who are joining us this year, and I similarly extend a sincere welcome to them.

Regardless of how old we are, a new school and work environment brings with it a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and a certain air of expectation. I must confess to being all of these things as I commence my tenure as the incoming principal of this fine College. What has been so heartening has been the genuine sense of welcome that I have received from staff at St John Paul II College, colleagues in other Catholic schools, and this week, our students.

Our task as teachers at St John Paul II College is a privileged one. We work in partnership with you, their parents and carers, to educate your children in faith and in their learning. We subscribe to a set of ideals about the education we provide that is shared and articulated through our core values of justice, peace, and courage.

One of my chief aims as principal is to ensure our students, your children, are imbued with a desire to make this world a better place, especially for the poor and disadvantaged, and that they strive for excellence and continuous improvement with their learning. My desire is that our College is known in the Gungahlin region and beyond as the school of choice for secondary school students; a place where our school community is actively engaged in the process of growing fine young people and active citizens.

For a community to be vital and vibrant requires that all members of it play their part. It strikes me that other than their home, our students spend the bulk of their waking hours at school. Therefore, when we work together, we act ultimately in the best interest of our students. I do hope that you are regular visitors to the College, whether it be to attend College events, speak with teachers and leaders, or to demonstrate your support of your children in their learning, sporting, and co-curricular activities. Please do not be a stranger to the College. When you do come to visit, I would be delighted to introduce myself to you so that we might get to know each other and help build a thriving sense of community.

We are still a young school. In many ways, both literally and figuratively, we are still growing. Now in our eleventh year of operation, metaphorically we are embarking on the next phase of our story, where we continue to mature and cement our culture, our approach to learning and teaching, and our sense of who we are as a community. I trust you are as keen, excited, and motivated as I am to help us continue to nuance our identity as a College with an enviable and deserved reputation. We are successful when our students (and their families) experience a tangible sense of belonging and who rightly call this place their second home.

I have every reason to believe our students will be extremely successful, not just when they graduate at the end of Year 12, but throughout their time here. As a principal, I hold high expectations and standards, complemented by equally high levels of support and care. I remain hope-filled about the future, and operate out of an abiding belief in the goodness of humanity, the pride our students and families have in our College, and that our loving God will watch over us during this year.

Dr Craig Wattam