To the community of St John Paul II College,

On Tuesday this week (August 29) the Church remembers The Passion of Saint John the Baptist and reflects on his life and the important role he played as the precursor of Jesus.

John was born approximately six months before Jesus in the small Jewish town of Ein Karem, located in the hill country west of Jerusalem. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was present at his birth and was carrying Jesus in her womb. It is recorded in the bible that when Mary greeted Elizabeth (John’s mother) “the infant leaped in her womb…” (Luke 1:41). This leap in the womb has been interpreted as John’s sanctification by grace before he was born and Jesus would later say of John, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

Not a lot is known about John’s childhood other than what is recorded and told in the Bible, “The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel” (Luke 1:80). Though he would have been raised devoutly in the Jewish faith by his parents, John eventually entered the desert to live a life of prayer and preparing for his earthly mission. John’s preparation proved fruitful when he saw Jesus, the Son of God, approaching him in the desert while he was baptizing. John immediately exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

The Passion of Saint John the Baptist commemorates one of the oldest feasts within the Church, the day on which John was martyred by Herod for his devout and unwavering faith in God.

A prayer to St John the Baptist:

Saint John the Baptist, you were given a holy mission and sanctified in the womb of your mother in preparation for that mission. You never deviated from your calling and always pointed the way to Christ, the Saviour of all. Please pray for me, that I will have the same courage you had and the resolve to fulfill my duties, no matter the cost. Saint John the Baptist, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Year 7 2024 Information Evening

Last night (Thursday) we were delighted to welcome students and parents/carers of our 2024 Year 7 cohort to the college. The evening was a chance for our newest members of our school community to come and meet key staff including their House leaders and learn more about what to expect in moving to High School. The evening was filled with lots of smiles, brilliant questions and a sense of belonging. Thank you to the House Leaders and staff responsible for making the evening such a success.

Year 7 Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre Excursion

This week our Year 7 students visited the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre as part of their learning in IMS and IHU. The students had a tremendous time learning about the history of the Snowy Hydro scheme and its implications for energy in Australia. A special thanks to the staff who organised the trip and those who attended with the students.

Andrew Fuller Presentation – Tuesday 5 September

A reminder that next Tuesday the Catholic School Parents Canberra and Goulburn have organised a free family event that will see well known Clinical Psychologist Andrew Fuller presenting a session titled Supporting Your Child in their Learning. Details on how to register for this event can be found later in this newsletter.

2023 Book Week

A final thank you to all students and staff for their participation in Book Week last week. This year's theme of ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ was captured well in artworks, short stories and in the wonderful costumes worn on Friday for our Book Week Parade. Thank you to Mackenzie Lane and Harry Tatem (2023 Justice Leaders) for their work in organising and leading the activities across the week. 

Of course, there have been many other wonderful things that have occurred at JPC over the last couple of weeks. We thank all of those involved in these activities and for the collective effort to make them a success.

Jacob Knowles
Assistant Principal – Development
Drexel and Mathieu House

Terms 3 fees were due and payable by 18 August 2023, please note these fees are now overdue and immediately payable.

If you are paying on a regular frequency, please ensure your payments are sufficient for your fees to be paid in full by the end of the current school year.

If you are unsure of your balance, please contact JPC.Finance@cg.catholic.edu.au

JPC Finance Office.

Next week is the AST Test for our Year 12 Tertiary Students.

These tests will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at school. Students will need to bring all required equipment including a dictionary, pens, pencils and a ruler.

Breakfast will be provided for students prior to the test at 8 am on both days.

From all of the staff and students at JPC, we wish you the best for these exams.

Ms Amber Donoghue
Leader of Learning and Wellbeing: Senior Studies and Drexel House

Year 10 Exams will be held during Week 8 on 6^th & 7^th September 2023.

The Exam timetable has already been emailed to students.

If you have been notified that you are eligible for special provisions, please use the special provisions timetable below.

The Year 10 students will be receiving their Meningococcal ACWY vaccine (1 dose) on Friday the 3rd of November 2023.

We have been contacted by the School Immunisation Department at ACT Health to let us know that not all consent cards have been received. If you have not yet returned your student's consent card or it has been misplaced, please complete the attached card and return it to the school as soon as possible.

Please note that the Health Department cannot accept scanned and emailed copies, these must be originals that are returned to the front office. If you DO NOT consent for your student to have the Immunisation, please complete the Do not Consent section on the card.

Please see the information flyer attached from Canberra Health Services for more information.

The College Office

Are you Leaving JPC at the end of Term 3 or the end of 2023? 

Last Friday four students completing a Vocational Education and Training (VET) Certificate II in Active Volunteering and two students preparing for work experience visited the Edge Early Learning Centre in Ngunnawal as part of Book Week. The children at the centre were astonished to see the ‘fairies’ visiting their centre and excited to ask them about their magic. Our students read stories to the children and let the children tell them about their day. We hope this can become an ongoing visit, building on community connections and relationships with a range of student from different backgrounds and age groups.

The Certificate II in Active Volunteering is a new initiative at JPC where older students can develop portfolios of their volunteer work as well as attain the certificate. We feel that the benefits to the students as well as the community are part of our lived faith experience, but pragmatically also has benefits with regard to future pathways and personal satisfaction.

Mrs Kathy Kinnane

LWB Mathieu House

This semester, the Years 11/12 Drama class is studying the course, Adaptation in Drama, with a focus on Children’s Theatre. As part of their assessment, students are required to create a performance for a target audience being the Year 5 cohort from Holy Spirit Primary. To ensure they make a thoroughly enjoyable and relevant performance, the Drama class spent some time with Mrs Hannaford’s Year 5 class.

Students were warmly and excitedly welcomed by younger students. Drama students organised and played a variety of games with the students to help them experience Drama. The Senior students also asked questions about their interests, dislikes and archetypal character journeys to inform the final performance in Term 4.

The Senior Drama class were energetic, inclusive and effective when running their designed activities. Senior students were entertaining leaders, gaining valuable information from their future audience. They are looking forward to creating a unique piece of theatre for Holy Spirit’s Year 5 classes.

Mrs Sarah Smith
Drama Teacher

Senior Economics Class: Understanding the Impact of the Ukraine War on Inflation

Our senior commerce students have embarked on an enlightening journey, exploring the intricate relationship between global events and economic stability. With the ongoing war in Ukraine having profound implications on the world stage, our seniors have taken it upon themselves to understand how this crisis affects inflation, an issue that resonates with all of us.

Through data analysis, and critical thinking, our seniors are not only grasping the complexities of inflation dynamics but also discovering how they can apply economic theories to real-world problems. This practical knowledge will undoubtedly serve them well in their future careers, where adaptability and the ability to make informed decisions are paramount.

Business Marketing Class: Pioneering Digital Marketing with Google Techniques

In today's digital age, marketing is an ever-evolving field, and our Commerce department is at the forefront of preparing our students for success. Our marketing class is starting to engage in using the techniques of Google and Meta in utilising cutting-edge digital marketing strategies and leveraging the power of social networking.

By tapping into Google's expertise, our students are gaining insights into the latest trends and techniques in online advertising, SEO, and social media marketing. This forward-looking approach ensures that our students are not just keeping pace with the industry 

Junior Business Class: Examining Anti-trust and Monopoly in Sports - Super-League vs. ARL

In a world where business ethics and competition are paramount, our junior business class is diving into a compelling historical case study—the Super-League vs. ARL debacle of the 1990s. This unique perspective allows them to analyse the implications of anti-trust and monopoly practices within the sports industry.

Through lively discussions, case studies, and debates, our juniors are exploring the ethical dimensions of business decisions and the consequences of monopolistic behaviour. This approach not only sharpens their critical thinking but also instils a sense of responsibility and ethics in their future business endeavours.

At John Paul, we take immense pride in offering our students an innovative and forward-thinking commerce education. These real-world, contemporary experiences ensure that our graduates are not just academically accomplished but are also ready to meet the challenges of the business world head-on.

Mr Nicholas Carey-Ide

Another Smiths Alternative gig is taking place next Tuesday 5 September from 7-9 p.m. for our 9/10 Music class.

These performances are their assessments and it’s so exciting they get to perform them in a professional venue.

Everyone is welcome, $10 at the door. 

Sharon Robinson
Music teacher

ASC Girls Basketball

On Monday 28^th August, students in years 7,8 and 9 attended Tuggeranong Basketball stadium to participate in the ASC Girls Basketball competition. Our two JPC teams, one 7/8 team and one year 9 team, competed against colleges around ACT and NSW (Goulburn). Both teams showed teamwork, dedication and perseverance.

Mr Charter would like to thank Imogen H for her assistance in coaching the 7/8 team and Mrs Hill would like to thank Sienna N for her assistance in coaching the year 9 team.

It was a great day!

Mrs Ruth Hill
Leader of Learning and Wellbeing, Kennedy– Science Faculty

Australian Catholic University Canberra Open Day

Saturday 2 September

12 – 3 pm

Click here for full details

University of Canberra Open Day

Saturday 16 September, 2023
10am - 2pm

Click here for full details

Parish Newsletter

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

October is also known as Frogtober - as it's the time we conduct our annual Frog Census.

Frogs are like the canary in the coalmine - they are an important indicator of ecosystem health, that's why we make it our business to check up on them at this time of year.

We are running a series of events to share the world of frogs with the Canberra community and have devised an evening specifically for young folk aged 15-30yrs.

FROG FACTS AFTER DARK

Save the date and get spooky on black Friday - October 13th - with a special event just for bright young things.

Make your way to Gungahlin Valley Ponds for some spooky frog facts after dark. Meet beside Birralee Scout Hall at 6:30 p.m. for a hot drink (look for the glowing lanterns). Join FrogWatch Coordinator Anke Maria from Ginninderra Catchment Group and Sally Holliday from Landcare ACT's Wellbeing through Nature program to explore this wetland habitat under the cloak (or even croak!) of night. Attune your sensory perception, identify calls of different frog species and learn how you can be involved in citizen science. Gungahlin Valley Ponds are opposite Burgmann Anglican School. Park next to Birralee Scout Hall. *Please note there are no toilet facilities on site. Rug up, wear comfortable enclosed shoes, and bring a torch.

Registration is via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spooky-frog-facts-after-dark-tickets-671249113167?aff=oddtdtcreator

More information about Landcare ACT's Wellbeing through Nature program can be found on our website (including a video and report) - https://www.landcareact.org.au/wellbeing

Facebook group for the Wellbeing through Nature program - https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellbeingthroughnature