Message from the Principal
Blessing for the new school year (from Caritas Australia):
May the gift of each new day be a chance to learn.
May our kindness and compassion be a moment to teach each other.
May the fragility of students, parents and staff be a place to build community.
May listening and encouragement be the well-spring of leadership.
May the passion of young people keep our hearts alive.
May the wisdom of older people keep our hearts alive.
May laughter and joy spread like branches above us.
May prayer and gratitude be our deepest roots.
May justice and peace ripen like fruit as we grow in generosity, reaching out beyond our familiar world to those in need.
In this Year of Jubilee,
May we be Pilgrims of Hope.
May we find God in every class, recess, game, performance, meeting, discussion, assignemnet, friendship and lunch.
May we find Gods love and grace in even our most ordinary days.
Amen
(Written by Michael McGirr, 2025).
Again, welcome to the new school year. We have been busy preparing for the arrival of our students this week, and are ready to begin a new year of learning, praying, and working together. We look forward to welcoming all students back, especially those who are new to our community.
During the last week staff have been engaging in a wide array of compliance, professional learning activity, and preparation in readiness for the students’ arrival this week. Last Friday we all participated in a system-wide day on high impact teaching practices, with an address also provided by the Archbishop.
This year the Church celebrates a jubilee year, which the Pope has entitled “Pilgrims of Hope” for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of pandemic and the climate crisis. As Catholics, we are eternal people of hope. We choose to see the positive, the possible and the goodness in others, and we work actively for peace, solidarity, and justice in our world. A pilgrim is a journeyman/journeywoman who travels to sacred places. May this year of jubilee provide all of us with a sense of optimism, renewal, and ultimately fill us with hope. I think that we can all perhaps make a conscious effort to be hope-filled, and choose to see the glass half full, not empty, and remember and express gratitude for the good things and gifts we have been freely given by God, and our fellow humans.
I pray for all our students and their families as we commence this new year at St John Paul II College, safe in the knowledge that God will watch over you all, protect, guide, and nourish, and most of all fill you with hope!
During the first few weeks there is much happening at the college. Please check your calendars for invitations and coming events. In particular, on Tuesday 11 February we will have our Academic Awards assembly, a welcome BBQ for parents and families, and a senior studies BSSS information evening. My grand hope is that parents will avail themselves of the increased opportunities we will provide this year to engage with our school, and our community, with the intent of promoting a strong partnership and sense of belonging for all.
I am excited about the coming year, especially the advent of our new library. More information and opportunity to see the library will be coming soon!
Dr Craig Wattam