Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a very busy time of term for students and staff alike. Students have their final summative assessments due this week and seniors have their exams starting next week. Lots of work for students and for teachers, many hours of marking and preparation of feedback to provide to students as well as completion of Semester reports.

As students receive their feedback, and while the work of the semester is still fresh in their minds, it is a very good time for them to review not just their final assessments or tests but to look again at all of the assessment for the semester. They can access all of their rubrics and their feedback on Sentral. It would be a very positive thing for parents to do this with them, noting the strengths that they have demonstrated and the areas where they need to develop further. This can lead to very productive discussions around what their academic goals for Semester 2 might be.

We are also moving towards having all rubrics and feedback available to parents on the Parent Portal. You will already be able to see some of your student’s results here but we hope that next semester, all teachers will be posting results in the Parent Portal. Next semester we will develop a short video to help you explore all of the aspects that the Parent Portal provides.

Year 10 Transition Week
This is also the time when our Year 10 students are making decisions about their subject choices for Year 11. We are looking forward to the Year 10 Transition Week, with lots of very targeted activities to support our Year 10s in making the transition into Year 11. The week includes individual interviews with students, parents and a senior member of staff to talk through and finalise their courses for Year 11. We will provide information on how to book in for these interviews in the near future.

Literacy and Numeracy Testing
All students in Years 7-10 will do some literacy and numeracy testing in the coming weeks. This is testing that we do internally several times a year to gain data on how students are progressing. PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) are a way of measuring progress made by individual students and as a year level against standardised achievement of students across Australia in the same year level. It enables us to target areas of need both as a year level and for individual students so that we can remediate these areas of need. PAT testing for Reading and Numeracy is now adaptive testing, which means that it adapts to the answers an individual student gives in order to tailor the test to that student. It gives us very valuable information for planning a way forward. Each test only takes about twenty minutes for students to complete. The testing will take place for students in Years 8-10 prior to the end of term. For Year 7 students, it will take place in Week 1 of Term 3.

Performing Arts news
We are delighted with the recent work of our students in Drama and Music. You will have read last week about the impressive performance of our Drama students in the Act Up program. Whilst it is not a competition, the performance of our students was recognised by many as a stand out, in terms of the script and the delivery - very sophisticated and funny, with great comedic timing!

This week, I had the privilege of attending the performances of our senior Music students for their final assessment. The breadth and depth of the talent of individual students and of the group was quite astounding. The assessment of their performances was moderated by teachers from other ACT colleges and I have no doubt that our students compare very favourably with students from across the ACT. I congratulated the students afterwards on their very professional and entertaining performances.

I would also like to thank Sharon Robinson, Music Teacher, and Sarah Smith, Drama Teacher and head of Arts, for their invaluable expertise and support of our students. They go above and beyond to provide opportunities for our students to expand their horizons, providing them with great support as they do so. We are indeed fortunate to have such great students and teachers!

I wish you all a very positive end of term.

Mrs Catherine Rey
Principal

Right now in Australia, more than 122,000 people don’t have a place to call home! Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. For over a decade, supporters of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout have provided essential support to tens of thousands of Australians. This year, you can make a difference by donating to our campaign, https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/catherine-rey/act

The JPC Vinnies Sleepout is on Thursday 22 June. Our College Principal, Catherine Rey is also participating in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout on the same evening. 

All will contribute towards a JPC tally and donated to Vinnies Canberra to support those requiring assistance in our local community. 

This will be the 10th year that JPC has participated in the Vinnies Winter Sleepout. Over that time, we have raised just under $82,000 for the homeless in ACT. The highest amount raised was in 2019 where we raised $16,631.

Mrs Rey is hoping that, in her last year of participation, we can top that number and bring our grand ten year total to $100,000. What a wonderful result that would be!

To reach this goal, we need to raise $18,000 this year. Currently we are just under $1500 and we would like to thank those who have already donated.

If you would like to support this cause, and help us reach opur goal, donations can be made via the link above!

Thank you

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is an invitation for you to complete the Tell Them From Me survey. 

The survey is one used by all Catholic schools in our system and focuses on the teaching and learning experience. Along with the questions that are used for all schools, we are able to add two questions that are specific to our JPC context.

We would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at JPC.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Please note that the survey needs to be completed in one sitting. 

You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL sent to your email.

The survey closes next Friday, 9 June, at 4.30pm.

Thank you all for your support with this.

Catherine Rey

Principal

JPC is taking part in the push up challenge!

The push up challenge raises money and awareness of mental health. Please donate to support our team and raise funds for mental health this June!

Thank you!

Sharon Robinson
Music teacher

On Friday 1^st June, Adam S (Y11), Alex R (Y11), Sultan A (Y11) and Charlene Z (Y11) performed songs from Adam’s original album at Smith’s alternative in the city. The event was organised entirely by the students and was an absolutely awesome night.

Congratulations guys!

Sharon Robinson
Music teacher

Thank you so much for all the donations we have recieved so far! This week, Mr Abbott & Mrs McNamara took all the donations to Roundabout Canberra. 

If you haven't had a chance to donate yet, we will still be collecting items until the end of Term 2.

Donations can be dropped off at the college office. 

Van Thaun House has aligned with Roundabout Canberra as their House charity and is running a winter clothing drive.

Your NEW or good quality USED clothing will be used to help Canberra children warm this winter!

The ALDI winter sale is about to kick off can you add an extra jacket, beanie or gloves to your trolley?

Or clean out those wardrobes for the small items that no longer fit your teens!

For more information www.roundaboutcanberra.org or Chauntell.mcnamara@cg.catholic.edu.au

Items can be dropped off at the JPC front office until the last day of Term 2, 2023.

Thank you for the donation already received.

Unfortunately, Transport Canberra have notified JPC about poor behaviour on the 1001 afternoon school bus. 

If your student travels on this bus, we ask that you remind them of the school behavioural expectations when in public wearing JPC School uniform. 

Teachers on bus duty in the afternoon are aware, and will talk to students to remind them again of these expecations.

Further action will be taken, if the promblem continues.

Thank you

If your student is unwell, please DO NOT send them to school to see how they go!

This is to limit the amount of sicknesses floating around the school.

Early Collection - If you need to pick your student up early, please give the office staff adequate notification and make sure your student is aware of their collection time. This can be done by sending an email to the college office, with your students full name and time of collection. Pease ensure that your srtudents school email has been cc'd in to this email so they can show thier teacher when they need to leave class.

We have had an increase of parents arriving to pick their students up without prior notification. As the offcie is very busy, it is not always possible for us to go and collect your student from class.

The procedure can be found in the JPC Student Guide 2023 on page 9, click link below.

Thank you for your cooperation.

JPC College Office

Parish Newsletter

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

The University Of Canberra Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) is offering courses for high school students in the upcoming winter school holidays.

View the available courses here

Accidental Loss or Damage & Theft Insurance for Laptops & Tablets used by Students & Teachers in Australian Schools, Colleges & Universities

Visit iBroker website here to get an instant quote.

Merimbula Big Game and Lakes Angling Club Inc. are running a fishing competition and workshops in the June School Holidays.

Competition entry is free. Workshops are also free and must be booked in advance.