Dear Parents and Carers,

Today our Year 12 cohort had their final day at school. After 13 years of education, they had their last class and celebrated in style with some very interesting interpretations of the school uniform.

We look forward to celebrating with them at their Graduation Mass and Awards ceremony.

Year 10 also completed the final exams this week and it is very exciting to see so many of them taking up the opportunity to undertake work experience next week.

This week I received some exciting but also sad news regarding Mr David Johns. David has been successful in gaining a Principal position at St Paul’s College in Kempsey for 2021. We are very excited for David as he takes this next step on his journey but we are also very sad for the JPC community. I know that in his short time with us David has formed strong relationships with both staff and students. We will certainly miss his highly entertaining, and often hilarious stories, but also his huge capacity to listen and empathise with so many members of our community.

We have begun the process of recruiting a new Assistant Principal and will inform the school community of the outcome of this once we have the process finalised.

I hope everyone has a safe and restful weekend – the first taste of summer appears to be appearing.

Stephanie O'Meara
Acting Principal

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
(John 13:34)

Why Love Is So Important?

The very fabric of our being requires love because we are made in God’s image and likeness. Young people are particularly vulnerable and the White Ribbon Foundation’s report -  An Assault on Our Future: The impact of violence on young people and their relationships (click to read the report) explores the far reaching effect on our youth and the future of our society.

Jesus AGAIN diagnoses problems for humanity, and bluntly describes what we must do. He was not asking or advising – He used the word command which is a strong call into action for all of us, as members of our JPC community, who are called to act.

Love How?

When Jesus told his disciples to love one another, he said to do it as I have loved you. That is a big ask! To love wholeheartedly and sacrificially - to love like God loves us. We must love the ‘unlovable’, seek out the good in each person, look beyond their failings – treat each other with respect, and build strong, loving relationships.

That is the mission of the White Ribbon Foundation in its call to eliminate violence against women, and it is ours, as followers of Jesus.

Jennifer Tually
Leader of Learning - Mission and Ministry

In light of White Ribbon Day today, students viewed a short film during PC raising awareness of domestic violence against women. The film addresses the issues still faced in society, featuring interviews from domestic and family violence service support workers in the Canberra community, and members of the JPC school community. The hope is that the film can start a conversation, and is a call to action to be mindful of attitudes and behaviour that contribute to a culture of disrespect.

Thank you to everyone for their involvement in the touch competition, and Ms Allan for all her work on the White Ribbon Awareness week.

The touch competition was completed over two days, 5 games in total, in grueling conditions. The sun was beating down hard and the humidity on the oval was inescapable. Like always with our students, when there is a need to rise to an occasion they do so and this competition was no exception. All games were completed in good spirits and I was extremely proud to see our year 10’s engage in a positive manner with our younger students. 

As you can see below the overall winner was Maathai on 4 points, with a tie for second with Drexel, Kennedy and Veritas.

I would really like to draw your attention to the Ferre and Van Thuan who, while not large in the wins department, continued to play to their best and neither team dropped their heads or gave up, which is a great win within itself. 

Big thanks to Jessie Thearle, Steve Thomas, Jake Maloney, and Jessica Giovinazzo for either reffing games or giving up their free time to help set up. These along with all Staff who assisted in their house groups and helped pump up the competition.

Thanks for being a part of a wonderful day everyone and again, Congratulations to Maathai for the win…….I feel the whole school won today on some level!

Yours in Sport.

Gregory Mitchell
Sports Facilitator

The girls enjoyed a fantastic day at the Cricket Carnival held at Deakin Oval on Thursday. They represented JPC with great pride, smashing sixes, and making super catches in the scorching heat of the day. They showed extraordinary participation, sportsmanship, and all improved out of sight. It was a day filled with laughter, smiles, tunes, and lots of fun and it was a pleasure to have these girls represent the school.

Well done!

Miss Zedde and Mrs Jewell
Health and Physical Education Teachers

Congratulations

Last Sunday the final day of 4 rounds of Club Championships was completed at Gold Creek Golf Club.

Congratulations to:

• Claire Brooker (Yr11) who was the overall Ladies Champion, winning in the end by 11 strokes to second place
• James Hynes (Yr12) was third (on a countback) in the Open Men’s championships, coming third to two past winners, who have been playing nearly as old as James is.

Both of these young people represent the Golf Club wonderfully.

Karen Burton
Gold Creek Golf Club

Job Trainer-  FREE Qualifications for Y12 School Leavers

Level up your skills for free! JobTrainer offers free vocational education and training to young people (17 to 24 years, who have finished school), across Canberra in areas of employment growth.

This is one of the ways the ACT Government is supporting jobs and the economy during COVID-19. JobTrainer will deliver approximately 3,500 training places in key industries and occupations that are in demand in the ACT. 

To explore the courses available and the training providers who will offer these courses, head to this website https://www.skills.act.gov.au/JobTrainer

To see what courses CIT are offering to start NOW, head to this website https://cit.edu.au/study/job_trainer_at_cit

NECA Holiday Program

We wish our Year 10 work experience students all the best for their experience next week!

Thank you to all of the host employers.

Academic Excellence Scholarships

Campion College is offering Academic Excellence Scholarships up to the value of $10,000 p.a. for all students who achieve an ATAR over 90. Students with a qualifying ATAR who apply are accepted a letter of offer to study at Campion College in 2021 will automatically receive the scholarship.

Campion College offers a three-year Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts and a one-year Diploma of Liberal Arts, focusing on units in history, literature, philosophy and theology.

Mrs Teena Zorzi
Leader of Learning (Careers) and Wellbeing

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

Have you ever thought of a career in the performing arts? A touring musician, music teacher, session musician or maybe even scoring music for major movies and television….

You have to start somewhere! Take the first step and get involved with our performing arts program at St John Paul II College. We have the finest tutors to help you reach your goals, tutoring bass guitar, electric guitar, vocals, piano, strings, brass, woodwind and drums. We also offer many opportunities with our Extra-Curricular ensembles including rock band, unplugged (acoustic groups), choir, concert band and jazz band to name a few. If you’re interested, please follow the link below. We are now taking enrolments for Term 1 2021.

Please get your application in before the end of the year to ensure your place with our tutors for 2021!

Further information about the programs are on the JPC Website

Aron Lyon

Jessica Sutherland
Student and Family Counsellor
CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn