As I come to the end of my first term as Principal here at the College, I am reminded about the many gifts that have been bestowed upon me. I am grateful mostly for our students – your children – and their genuine friendliness and good nature. It is heartening to walk around the corridors to be greeted by students, who cheerfully wish people a good day. I am always impressed by students who are seriously engaged in their learning, who are curious enough to ask questions, and who are stretching their minds to acquire new knowledge.

I am grateful for our talented and dedicated teachers and leaders who go about their vocation in a professional manner. We have some seriously good practitioners here at St John Paul II College. In an era where finding teachers is becoming a monumentally difficult task, we are blessed to have so many excellent staff here. I am grateful to our executive team for their support of me, and for their commitment to all things JPC. 

I am grateful to professional staff who are most often your first interaction with the College, and who make our College “work”. Without them we would all be sunk!

I am grateful to you, our parents and carers for entrusting us with the education and faith formation of your child. While we only exert so much influence on your child, I am acutely aware that your choice of schooling is one you take very seriously. We try to honour that at the College by working with you in partnership, to help you raise informed, respectful, learned young men and women who will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to take their place in the community, not just when they leave us at the end of Year 12 as graduates, but right now.

While I have much for which I am grateful, I hope that an attitude of gratitude also extends to our student body and that they can appreciate the many people in their lives who gift them with so much.

Students return in Term 2 on Tuesday 30 April. Please note students are to return in full winter uniform. If you are in doubt as to what the winter uniform expectations are they can be found online, and in the student diary. I am a fan of looking the part at school so that all students are readily identifiable as proud members of this community. The wearing of the uniform signals belonging to a group and as the name implies, it is uniformly worn so that we create a sense of one-ness, equity and readiness for a day of learning. When a school uniform is worn well, those who wear it demonstrate a sense of self-worth, pride in themselves and their school. When they look smart, they are our greatest advertisement in the wider community!

Wishing all families a safe, and enjoyable school holiday break.

Dr Craig Wattam
Principal