It has been a busy week with our College community celebrating Harmony Week. The theme for this year is ‘Everyone Belongs’. Celebrations such as these allow us time to acknowledge the rich cultural diversity in our community and the benefits that sharing our different experiences and cultures can make to our school community. 

Three-way interviews (also known as Parent Teacher interviews) will be occurring in Week 10 and Week 11, and bookings for these will open next week.  These are important opportunities for parents, teachers, and students to discuss progress and set goals in the learning process. Having students present at these interviews is vital for developing a sense of ownership and pride in their learning.

Two leading educational researchers provide more insight into this process. Professor John Hattie identifies “students self-reporting as the most significant indicator linked to raised student achievement”. Dylan William says, “the process of students reflecting on their learning through effective questioning that promotes the articulation of student thinking, is integral to classroom and assessment practices that enhance student learning.”

I know as both a parent myself and from a teacher’s perspective that going to parent-teacher interviews can make me a little nervous. As a parent I have found the following helpful in preparing for these interviews:

• Have a conversation with your child before the interviews (so there are no surprises). Questions such as how are you going in ‘Mathematics’? What might your teacher say about how hard you are working in English? 
• Take a list of any questions you may have. For example, with the upcoming test, what type of revision should my child be doing? Does my child ask questions in class? How is homework communicated to students?
• Be prepared to listen. The classroom teacher offers a perspective that we as a parent don’t see, that is how our students interact in the social learning space (classroom). Often this offers insights into how we can support our children further.
• Be forward focused. Leaning is a process that takes time (sometimes a long time). Finding out strategies for how the current situation can move forward is an important part of the three-way interviews.
• Know the important role you play in your child’s education. Sometimes as students move from primary to high school, the parent involvement may feel less - it isn’t! While the role changes, as we slowly release responsibility to our children, parent input and support are vital for student success.  Don’t be afraid to ask how you can help.

As we move towards the end of the term, we thank all our staff for the time and energy they are investing to support our students.

Kathleen Garvie
Assistant Principal - Learning
Ferré & Kennedy House

Dear Parents/Carers,

This year our Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews will be face to face again in the school Hall. There will be two sessions:

• Term 1 Week 10, Wednesday 5^th April 2023 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
• Term 2 Week 1, Thursday 27^th April 2023 4.00 pm - 6.30 pm

You will need to be registered on the parent portal to access and book your interviews. If you are new to the school this year, you received your registration details in January.

We always advise that your son or daughter is part of the discussion with teachers.

Interview bookings open on Tuesday 28^th March 2023 at 12:00 pm and close at the following times for each session:

• Session 1:  Wednesday 4^th April at 12.00 pm
• Session 2:  Wednesday 26^th April at 12.00 pm

Interview bookings are 6 minutes in duration. Please do not book your interviews back to back. Some teachers may want to speak with you and your child specifically. If this is the case, you will receive a notification through the portal, requesting that you book an interview with them. If you do not receive a notification, you are still very welcome to book an interview. However, please remember that the number of sessions available to all parents are limited.

If you are unable to secure a booking with your child’s teacher, please contact the teacher directly, via email to arrange another time to have a discussion.

Should you experience difficulties please do not hesitate to contact IT Support for assistance, email JPCPortal@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Kind Regards

Catherine Rey
Principal

Note – Instructions on how to access the Parent Portal (Sentral) https://jpc.act.edu.au/key-jpc-links

Hi Everyone,

I am Ajay Gupta and I am as young as 2 years in Canberra and 5 years in Australia. I worked for 20 years in the corporate world primarily in the telecom field before transitioning to a rewarding career in teaching in 2018.

In my immediate family, I have a wife and two lovely kids aged 10 and 15 years.

Although I don’t get enough time to play cricket, it definitely excites me (apart from occasionally playing badminton).

I love Indian street food and like spending time with family and friends.

Ajay Gupta
Teacher-Mathematics
Ferré  House

This week, the 9/10 Music class performed their assessment pieces at Tuesday tunes and to each other in class.

They all did such a great job at performing live for their assessments!

Here are some higlights of the performances.

“On Sunday, Alex Rose and Adam Schranz played a professional gig at a Bridal Shower at Hotel Realm in Barton. They played some amazing duets on piano and guitar and of course swapped instruments as well. Great job for this performance guys, we always appreciate your music”.

School Fees were due on Friday 17 March 2023 and payment is to be made via BPay.

QKR is no longer available for payment of school fees (effective Friday 17 March).

Please forward future payments via Bpay. Bpay details are noted on your Fee Statement.

Thank you

Please check the lost property table located by the Student Office by the end of Term 1.

Any items that are unnamed by Thursday 6 April will be donated or thrown away.

Please make sure all items are labelled so the office can return them to you.

Thank you

Dear Parents & Carers,

If your child is not continuing at JPC for Term 2 2023, please complete the Leaver's Clearance Form (see link below) so we can update our records. JPC is required to update the student movement register with the Department of Education.

Parish Newsletter

For the latest news Click here or you can view it on the Parish App or visit the website below.

The next session of the ACT Junior Lawn Bowlers Program 2023 will be at Yowani Country Club

• 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm
• Friday 31 March
• Yowani Country Club Lyneham.

The session is primed for beginners to advanced levels for boys and girls aged 12 to 18 years

A further session is planned for Friday 14 April 2023 4 pm-6 pm.

Phillip Beggs
President
Yowani Country Club Bowls

The Lolly Shop in Gold Creek Nicholls is looking for a couple of new young casual staff as fast paced all rounders in our friendly little family-owned store.

Some of the duties include serving customers, packing products, pricing and putting out stock and cleaning.

Aged 15-16 years with an energetic, confident, happy, bright personality.

Experience is not necessary but you do need to be confident enough to engage with the public in a fast-paced shop.

Weekends, after school and school holiday shifts.

Living close to the shop would be an advantage in regards to after school shifts as days and times are flexible with a finish time no later than 6.30pm.

Please email your resume and short video introducing yourself to Shelley at [hello@lovethelollyshop.com.au](mailto:hello@lovethelollyshop.com.au)

Kind Regards

Shelley

Competition Information

Entry IS NOW OPEN for the 2023 Schools Poetry & Short Story 'Cool Writings' Writing Competition! Students all over Australia are invited to enter their 16 line poems OR 500 word short stories, and battle it out for the great cash & prizes on offer.

There is no theme!! Entrants are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild and write on ANY TOPIC and in ANY STYLE. Students from ALL GRADES are welcome to enter - Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Entry is FREE and all entries must be in by the EXTENDED closing date of 23 April 2023!
*Please note, entry forms still have original closing date of 26 March 2023 on them. The competition HAS BEEN EXTENDED to 23 APRIL and all entries will be accepted up to this date.

THE BOOK

Poems and short stories entered into the competition may be considered for inclusion in our 2023 Write4fun anthology!* Those selected will have the opportunity to purchase the edition at a discounted rate. 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizewinners and Finalists will be featured in the publication and receive a complimentary copy of the book.
*Anthology publication is dependent on interest from competition participants.