To the community of St John Paul II College.

Today, Tuesday 28 August, the church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Monica.

Saint Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, is an inspiring figure, known for her unwavering commitment to her son's conversion and spiritual growth. Her life serves as a powerful example for our school community, encouraging us to support one another in our own journeys of faith and personal development.

Saint Monica,

Though you had a difficult life, you continually turned your difficulties over to God.

You prayed, grew in virtue, and had a profound impact on your whole family.

Please pray for me, that I will never lose hope for those who have gone astray but will remain faithful in prayer for them, trusting in God’s divine mercy.

Saint Monica, pray for me.

Jesus, I trust in You.

Whole College Assembly

Last week, we gathered for our College Assembly, where we had the privilege of a number of wonderful presentations. This included students entering to piano music from the talented Zac L (Yr 8 MA), a performance from our Wakakkiri Dance troup and a science presentation from Mrs Tually, Zac M (Yr 12, VT) and Adam S (Yr 12, DR). As always, our Principal’s Address by Dr Wattam was a highlight and included a thought-provoking story based on an old tale titled "The Monk and the Butterfly". His story illustrated the important role we all play in the development of our college and encouraged all students to help positively shape the future of JPC for the benefit of all. As he said: “the future of JPC is in your hands.”

Dr Wattam also expressed his immense pride in witnessing an increase in student voice throughout over recent weeks. He highlighted how students have become more actively engaged in shaping their learning environment, contributing ideas, and leading initiatives that reflect their growing sense of responsibility and ownership within the school. This shift towards a more participatory culture is a testament to our collective commitment to nurturing confident, articulate, and empowered young people.

Book Week 2024

I would also like to thank all students and staff for their enthusiastic participation in Book Week 2024, which celebrated the enchanting theme of 'Reading is Magic.' Your creativity and dedication in bringing this theme to life was fantastic and this was best seen at the Book Week parade on Friday. The vibrant costumes highlighted the wonder and transformative power of reading. Thank you to those involved in making Book Week a wonderful success.

As always, there have been many other wonderful things that have occurred at JPC over the last couple of weeks. We thank all of those involved in these activities and for the collective effort to make them a success.

Jacob Knowles
Assistant Principal – Development