This week has seen JPC in full celebration of the part our college patron, St John Paul II, has played on the faith life and culture of our school.

Yesterday, October 22, is the actual Feast Day of our patron saint, and we dedicated our Thursday morning JPC community Mass to him. Father Mark celebrated the Mass to a full house of staff and students in our chapel, and it was wonderful to see so many of us united as a community of faith in this way – thank you to all those who joined that part of our celebrations. 

Today, our Feast Day Liturgy taught us that St John Paul II was a man of faith, hope and love, and a bold and courageous leader. His appreciation for life grew from the suffering he endured as a young Polish man who survived the Nazi and Communist regimes, and he dedicated himself to uniting the world against the violation of human dignity in so many ways. 

St John Paul II’s writings reveal his intense awe of God’s love for us. He also held such joyful hope for the young people of our world whom he saw as the designers of the future. These are so much a part of our college’s ongoing message to our students, through his words:

“Dear young people, my friends: be witnesses to the love of God, sowers of hope and builders of peace.”

We also took the opportunity today to share in the joy of being together with our Feast Day community activities and the Interhouse Championship events, run by our Year 12 Leadership Team. Students enjoyed over 20 different stalls in our Feast Day Fun Fair this afternoon, from the slippery slope water slide, to tug o’ war, karaoke, guess the teachers’ baby photo or the mystery history objects, beauty salons, and MORE! The proceeds of this afternoon will given to the Catholic Missions.

An ENORMOUS thank you to our Year 12 Leadership Team who developed the ideas, worked on the logistics and galvanised our school to participate in the day with such enthusiasm. Deep appreciation goes to Father Mark for celebrating Mass with us yesterday, and to Caitlyn D’Cruze and our Youth Ministry Team for their work in developing the Liturgy. A special thanks goes to the team of teachers and support staff who have so willingly taken on anything that has been asked of them – the dedication shown by our JPC staff is just phenomenal.

And finally, a MASSIVE thank you to the students of JPC who fully embraced the Feast Day of St John Paul II – you make it all worthwhile!

Mrs Tually
Leader of Learning and Wellbeing – Mission and Ministry

Key Dates for senior students

Please follow the links for significant dates for all senior students.

1. The exam timetable for senior students has been published. Students with known clashes or three exams in a day have been rescheduled.  Please follow the instructions regarding any requests for rescheduling due to extenuating circumstances.  Students eligible for special provisions will be contacted in Week 3 with specific arrangement details.
2. The final dates for senior assessment, publication of results and appeals are confirmed. This information also includes all academic dates for Year 12 students, concluding with the personal pick up of official BSSS certificates for all students from JPC on Wednesday 16 December 1:00-3:30pm.

As part of the Year 11 English Essentials class assessment task which involves interviewing immigrants to Australia, students invited Claude Kouamen Mbianga, Youth Services and Community Development Officer from the Multicultural Hub Canberra as a guest speaker to the class.

The students had prepared a wide range of in-depth questions which they asked Claude in an extremely mature and appropriate manner. A very engaging conversation took place and assisted in preparing students for their final assessment.

Claude is also visiting JPC regularly to help establish connections within the community.

The term 4 Year 7 Food Technology classes practised their knife safety and knife skills creativity to make Food Faces this week!

They enjoyed eating them afterwards too!

In Visual Art, Year 8 do a term of ceramics, exploring their culture and identity using symbols alongside personal imagery to represent aspects of modern life.

Inspired by Egyptian Canopic pots, students designed and created their own clay vessel, learning construction and decoration techniques on the way. After the vessels were bisque-fired in the school kiln, students then applied glaze to give colour and life to their works. One more glaze-fire in the kiln brought out the amazing colours and designs of each vessel, showing off our students’ unique talents and interests.

Come and see the display this week in the front office area!

On Wednesday 4th November, the Senior Music class have their performance assessment evening. There is such a diverse range of performances and pieces creating a wonderful night of musical entertainment. This will also be the year 12’s final performance for Senior Music. The 9/10 Music class have also been working on their performances and some of them have been asked to perform alongside the seniors on this night. Of course, we will also have the support of our amazing tech crew on this evening as well.

Due to COVID-19 we are ONLY able to invite immediate family members so we keep Covid safe. An RSVP is required when completing the permission note.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Sharon Robinson
Music Teacher

On Sunday 18^th October, Aiffel performed at the Gungahlin Lakes Club. This amazing band consists of some of our very own music students including josh Cougar, William Kelly and Shelby Ruthenberg. It also includes Callum Webb who used to attend JPC and two others from Marist College and Lynham High.

This performance was arranged by the students themselves and I was lucky enough to receive an invite. This was such an amazing performance and is such a pleasure to work with these students at school. Their songs included hits from the 80’s and 90’s as well as some more modern tunes. The room was booked out and they received over 1500 views on Facebook Live. I congratulate these students on their performance and the dedication and passion they demonstrated.

Sharron Robinson
Music Teacher

This year commemorates the 75^th Anniversary of the end of World War II. A period of time which produced heroes from ordinary men and women.

Last week we began our series of remembering, recognising and saluting our JPC family members who served during World War II. This week we are privileged to share again, the stories of Grandfathers, Great Grandfathers and Great Uncles who left Australia during the turbulent time of world conflict, to fight in countries far from their homeland.

Remembrance Day. Let us remember. Let us honour. And may we never forget.

Vicki Walsh, DSM

We Remember…

Leading Aircraftman Alexander Ferguson (Grandfather of Jasmine and Jeffery Miller)

Alexander was 17 years old when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force. He told them he was 18.  He was just out of Darwin putting in a runway when Darwin was bombed. He finished the war on Morati (Island) an American Air Force base, as support for the American planes flying to Japan. The Japanese planes would bomb the island and each accommodation hut had their own sandbag shelter. They would clear the runway and send the American planes out again.

Alexander’s Father, Alexander Senior trained troops in Melbourne in preparation for WWII. Alexander (Snr) had served during WWI and was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

Gunner Alan Morris West (Great Grandfather of Jenifer Crispin)

Alan joined the Forces because his father served in World War I. He enlisted at age 28 and trained in Australia, Egypt and Palestine. His first battle was in Bardia against the Italians and Tobruk in 1941. Anticipating a German invasion when he was in Greece, he evacuated to Crete. Alan went back to Palestine, moved to Syria and then left the Middle East to Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka). He helped to defend the Island from possible Japanese attack. Alan came back to Australia in August 1943 and got married. He went Papua New Guinea in 1944 and patrolled the Torricelli Mountains and Prince Alexander Mountain Ranges to clear out the Japanese. He returned to Australia to his wife and a baby on the way, who was due in October 1945.

Gunner Wesley Couch (Relative of Mrs Nat Tarry)

Wesley was in the Heavy Battery – Anti-Aircraft. He enlisted in 1942 and served in Papua New Guinea. Sadly, Wesley died in Bougainville on 06 August 1945.

Des Dawe (Grandfather of Ms Sally Dawe)

Des was in the 4^th Anti-Tank Regiment and sadly became a Prisoner of War (POW) when Singapore fell. He spent time in Changi Prison, Singapore before going to work on the Burma-Thai Railway. Des went on to Japan and whilst in Nagasaki, built ships for the Japanese. He helped to “immunise” himself from the cold by standing naked in the chilling winds during the morning parades and rubbing himself with snow. Des caught pneumonia. Whilst in Nakama, Des witnessed the Atomic and its destruction.

John Orton (Great Grandfather of Emily Burgess-Orton)

John was in the South African Artillery and fought for the Allies in North Africa and in Italy. He was killed in action and is buried in Florence.

Thomas Brewis (Great Grandfather of Emily Burgess-Orton)

Thomas was in the Royal Artillery 43 Wessex Division and fought for the Allies in Normandy, France. He survived and came back to England.

Alwyn St John Ducat (Great Uncle of Jasmine and Jeffery Miller)

Alwyn was a Prisoner of War (POW) in Changi Prison, Singapore for over three years. He was lucky and eventually came home.

Corporal Reginald (Jack) Skewes (Great Grandfather of Mrs Mardi Huckstadt)

Reginald was first rejected from joining the Army due to his age (he was 37) and his large family, but in 1942, he was called up to train in jungle warfare. After training, he was promoted and kept on as an instructor, while the men he trained with were sent to Borneo. Many of them died and he always felt he should have been there with them. In December 1943, he was sent to Papua New Guinea as part of the 2/32^nd Battalion of the 9^th Division, disembarking from the Katoomba at Buna.  All who knew Reginald in the Army called him “Pop” and when he returned to work on the newspaper in Tamworth, he spent his time looking after those who had returned and through the RSL and Legacy, he supported the families who had lost loved ones. Reginald “lived for those he loved and those he loved remember”.

Reginald Baily (Great, great Uncle of Aimee Dawe)

Reginald worked on the Burma Railway. He was a Prisoner of War (POW) of the Japanese for three and a half years when Singapore fell in 1942. Reginald lost his leg due to gangrene.

Jack Bailey (Great, great Uncle of Aimee Dawe)

Jack served in the 29^th Battalion. He was killed in action on 25 October 1942 in Liberia at the Battle of El Elamein.

Reginald and Jack served with their brother Hugh Richardson Bailey. Three men – three brothers – three sons.

Major Harry Murphy Rooney (Great Grandfather of Josh Backwell)

Harry served in the Australian Army from 1939 to 1945. He was an infantry

man originally and moved to the Royal Australian Artillery. He trained soldiers on the Bofors Anti-Aircraft guns and was posted to Brisbane, eventually heading to Papua New Guinea. The story goes that he wanted to do what he had been training his soldiers to do so he may have become a battery commander of an Anti-Aircraft Battery. Harry never spoke of his time in the war and he was one of the reasons Josh’s Dad joined the Army. 

Careers guest speaker – Lawyers

On Thursday, Our JPC teachers Mr Caldow and Miss Gibson spoke to students about their previous careers as Lawyers. They shared some great insights into the legal industry, the types of skills needed and provided some essential advice! Thank you Mr Caldow and Miss Gibson!

Parent seminars

Y10 work experience 

A reminder that Year 10 work experience week is on in Week 7 (23^rd-27^th November). This week, students were emailed a ‘checklist’ to help them begin their work experience search (click here to access the checklist). The work experience application forms are due no later than the end of Week 4! Students who are not participating in work experience will have lessons as normal in Week 7.

Senior Blazer Orders for 2021 are due
Next Friday 30 October 2020

Blazers are a compulsory uniform item for Term 2 & 3
https://www.jpc.act.edu.au/our-community/jpc-parents/uniform/

If you know that your child will be leaving JPC at the end of this year, please email the college office (office.jpc@cg.catholic.edu.au) as soon as possible. 

Year 10 & 12 families - There is no need to respond.

Thank you to those who have notified us already.

The College Office