Gospel reflection — Luke 13:22–30

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate…”

In this passage, Jesus reminds us that the path to the Kingdom of God is not always easy or obvious. It requires effort, humility and a willingness to live with integrity. He challenges us to reflect on our choices and how they align with God’s call to love and serve others. For our JPC community, this could mean considering that entering the narrow door means choosing peace over conflict. In a school setting, this could mean resolving disagreements respectfully, supporting classmates and creating a safe and welcoming environment. It also takes courage to walk the narrow path—especially when it means going against peer pressure or standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly. Jesus encourages us to be brave in living out our values, even when it is unpopular.

Book Week

Always a special week for students across Australia, Book Week 2025 at JPC was extra special with the addition of our new library. This week students were treated to Uncle Nic sharing stories, book swaps, dramatic readings by the English faculty, our fictional-character Book Week parade, and much, much more. A huge thank you to Mrs Stokman for her leadership of this, and to all the staff and students who participated in this exciting week!

Assembly highlights — celebrating community, compassion and opportunity

This week’s school assembly featured a number of initiatives that reflect our College’s commitment to justice, community and student growth.

Kennedy House proudly launched a partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), a charity that works with remote Indigenous communities to publish books and stories in their own languages. Inspired by their House Patron, Ted Kennedy, the Kennedy House leaders have organised a series of fundraising activities in Week 6, aiming to raise enough funds to purchase eight book packs for remote communities. One highlight of the week will be a livestreamed performance from the Sydney Opera House featuring ILF ambassadors and special guests celebrating Aboriginal storytelling. To support this initiative, please consider donating via the ILF fundraising page: https://fundraising.ilf.org.au/stjohnpaulcollege

Our Justice Captain, Neve, also spoke passionately about the Term 3 Vinnies Winter Appeal. This year, our College captains and the Mission and Ministry team are committed to raising funds to provide a night off the streets for people experiencing homelessness. Each Pastoral Care (PC) group is aiming to raise $52, which covers one night of safe accommodation. Neve reminded us of the words of St John Paul II, who said that all people, regardless of their housing situation, are made in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion. We look forward to our community coming together in support of this important cause.

Finally, we were thrilled to announce the launch of our inaugural World Challenge immersion to Sri Lanka in 2027. This unique opportunity will allow students to experience Sri Lanka in a meaningful way, combining cultural exploration with service and leadership. An online information evening will be held on 3 September at 6:00 pm for families of current Year 8 and 9 students who are interested in learning more.

Defence Captains

In recognition of the important role our Defence students play in supporting the College and their peers, we are proud to announce the appointment of students to leadership positions within the Defence student community.

These roles have been created to strengthen the support available to Defence students throughout their time at JPC. They also reflect our commitment to fostering connection and wellbeing, with students who share similar experiences offering peer support alongside our dedicated Defence Mentor, Mrs Smith.

We were delighted to welcome our newly appointed Defence Captains and their families to a special assembly and morning tea, where students were formally presented with their leadership badges. Congratulations to our new Defence Captains — we look forward to the positive impact you will make within our community.

Uniform

Over the coming weeks, the College will place a renewed focus on ensuring students are wearing the correct uniform. This is in response to a noticeable increase in students out of uniform and is intended to support the many families and students who consistently uphold our uniform standards.

We understand that keeping up with uniform requirements can sometimes be challenging. To assist, the College offers a range of second-hand uniform items through the front office, available to any family needing replacements or additional pieces.

We appreciate your ongoing support in helping us maintain a sense of pride, belonging and consistency across our school community.

Tom van de Waterbeemd
Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Community