Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope that term has started well for you. It has been lovely to welcome back the students and to settle into Semester 2.

Year 12 Retreat

I was privileged to spend three days of the first week of term with our Year 12 students on Retreat. This is a very special “time out” where our Year 12s have the opportunity to reflect on themselves, thinking about the influences that have shaped them, their values and beliefs and what is important to them as they complete their final semester of secondary school and contemplate their post-school journey.

I was immensely proud of the way they responded to the experiences and activities offered. The teachers who accompanied them, led by Mrs Katrina MacGregor, were a great factor in the success of the Retreat. They gave deeply of themselves and their own experiences in a way that enabled our young people to consider some of the deeper and more challenging aspects of our lives as humans.

Here is a video showing all the highlights from their experience: https://youtu.be/b2UglJjkO1Y 

NAIDOC Assembly

Given that NAIDOC week always falls during our semester break, we celebrated NAIDOC week this week in a whole school assembly, which provided an opportunity for all of us to understand more about our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters.

We are immensely proud of Mackenzie Lane of Year 12 who was awarded a Leadership Award by Archbishop Christopher Prowse at the Archdiocesan NAIDOC week Mass held last Friday at St Christopher’s Cathedral. I recommend to you the article by Mr Lachlan Arundell in this edition of Key Messages.

The CEO Vinnies Sleepout

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the CEO Vinnies Sleepout. The final tally of money raised by JPC was an incredible $20,357 – even well above that ambitious target of $18,000 that we set! I am so grateful to our students who slept out and the families and the wider community who supported them so generously.

As we know, homelessness is growing, both in our ACT community and across Australia. Grassroots support by the community is crucial – both in raising awareness for the plight of so many who find themselves homeless, often through no fault of their own, and in raising money to combat it. Thanks to the Sleepout, our young people are much more aware of the causes of homelessness and the complexity around it as well as the practical efforts made by organisations such as St Vincent de Paul to support individuals and families who are without a stable home to live in.

Thank you all. Over the 10 years that JPC has participated in the Sleepout, I am proud to say that we have now raised $102,279!

Our Musical

High School Musical is almost upon us! We had a tantalising taste of how good it is going to be at our Assembly earlier this week. We are so looking forward to the performances in Week 4. It promises to be so much fun! Please see elsewhere in Keys how to purchase tickets. Mrs Sarah Smith and her incredibly dedicated team of students and staff have been working exceptionally hard!

My warm regards to you all. As always, do not hesitate to contact us if you have queries or are in need of support. 

Catherine Rey
Principal

Last Friday some student and staff representatives from JPC attended the Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn NAIDOC Mass at St. Christopher’s Cathedral. It was a lovely mass that began with a smoking ceremony and celebrated the widespread achievements and ongoing work towards reconciliation within our school system. The following students, both from the First Nations Group and members of the Kennedy Leadership team, attended the NAIDOC Mass and were fantastic representatives of the college and our school community:

• Georgia I (Y7)
• Christian L (Y8)
• Charlotte L (Y10)
• Tiago H (Y11)
• Nadia Z (Y11)
• Mackenzie L (Y12)

In particular, we would like to acknowledge and recognise that as part of the NAIDOC Mass Mackenzie L (Y12) received an award for her ongoing commitment to supporting and leading students within our college community. Congratulations Mackenzie for your award, and thank you for your ongoing work as part of our College Student Leadership team.

Mr Lachlan Arundell
Classroom Teacher (English/Studies of Society and Environment)
Facilitator for First Nations Students and Aboriginal Education

Last term 10 students participated in the Australia-wide “Big Science Competition”. It was a 50-minutenline exam which tested their science knowledge relevant to their grade level, across a range of topics. I would like to congratulate all students who participated.

Year 10:
- Lanie U
- Naren S
- Viann R – who received a credit
- William C – who received a high distinction

Year 9:
- Shaurya P

Year 8:
- Josiah B – who received a high distinction
- Elijah C – who received a high distinction

Year 7:
- Koen M
- Amy G – who received a credit
- Payton H – who received a high distinction.

There is currently a photography competition being run titled “The Beauty of physics”. It is open to all students. A4 posters with a QR code for more information can be found around the JG (Science) area or you can come and speak specifically to our year 12 physics teacher Mr Bourke, or LLWB of Science, Mrs Hill.

Week 5 of this term is Science Week! Students should keep a lookout in the coming weeks for messages about the activities being run and how to participate.

After a portfolio submission and interview process, Riley S (Y10) has been accepted into the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, to study a Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts and Screen and Media (3D animation & VFX) starting in 2024. He will be studying part-time while completing College.

Congratulations Riley!

Snowsports Update - 2023

Winter is with us and that means that the JPC Snowsports team (Andrew D (Yr 9) and Rhys W (Yr 9)) have been hitting the slopes and carving it up with the best of the ACT & Regional NSW skiers (and boarders) in the 2023 Interschools Snowsport Championships at Perisher. The team again competed in the Alpine event while also competing for the first time in the Ski Cross event. Since the events are based on school year Divisions, the team this year stepped up to Division 2 (years 9 and 10).

The team will be back on the slopes in a couple of weeks (Sunday August 13) completing in the ACT Schools Cup.

Alpine Event (90 competitors)

Ski Cross Event (93 competitors)

Well Done Boys!

School Sport ACT Selections

SSA 15&U Australian Football Championship

Congratulations to Alexander H (Yr 9), who was selected for the 15&U Australian Football (AFL) Team which is off to Ballarat, Victoria, this weekend to compete at the SSA Championships.

SSACT Cross Country

Congratulations to Daniel R (Yr 9), who was selected for the 19&U Cross Country team to compete at the School Sport Australia Championship, 25-28 August, here in Canberra. This event is co-hosted with Athletics Australia and is part of the National Cross Country Championships

Congratulations Boys!

Have you purchased your tickets yet to see this year’s production, High School Musical, yet?

With close to 80 students onstage and behind the scenes, this show is a testament to the creativity and talent of JPC! High School Musical brings the hallways of East High to life with the high energy, humor, and lively singing of the well-known Disney songs. A brilliant team of teachers and students have been working tirelessly all year to complete the journey that started at the end of 2021. It’s been a long time in the making; however, High School Musical is worth the wait!

If you need another reason to purchase tickets, in week 3, there will be a special ticket promotion! For every ticket purchased from Wednesday 2 August to Friday 4 August, students go in a raffle to win a $50 canteen voucher. If you purchase tickets for the Saturday matinee, you qualify for TWO raffle entries.

What Team?! WILDCATS!

As Coach Bolton says, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link, when the going gets tough – the tough get going. Don’t let the team down, join us on the court and buy tickets!”

Tickets available via: https://www.trybooking.com/CGWFR

Term 3 School fees are due and payable by Friday 18 August 2023, please contact our Finance office if you have not received your Term 3 Statement.

If you are paying fees on a recurring weekly, fortnightly, or monthly frequency please disregard this notice. 

If you are unsure that your current payments are sufficient to cover 2023 fees, please contact us at JPC.Finance@cg.catholic.edu.au.

For any outstanding fees, please forward payment to the College via BPay, your BPay details can be found on previous Statements. School fees are required to be paid in full during the current school year, please ensure that your fees are not in arrears.

JPC Finance Team

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