Last Tuesday, our school had the privilege of welcoming Dr Justin Coulson, a renowned expert in child psychology and brain development. During the evening, he shared with parents about Digital Kids.

His visit provided an invaluable opportunity for our teachers to deepen their understanding of how the brain works, particularly in debunking common brain myths and exploring various aspects of brain development.

One of the fascinating insights Dr Coulson shared was about incidental memory—the kind of memory that helps us recall information without intentional effort. He explained that this type of memory peaks at around 12 years of age. This revelation was quite relatable, as many of us find ourselves frequently misplacing items like keys, while our younger children, can effortlessly remember where they last saw them.

For teachers, understanding the intricacies of brain function is crucial. It enables us to continually refine our teaching methods to ensure that every student can learn effectively. Each Monday morning, our teachers engage in professional learning sessions focused on specific techniques to support learning in the classroom. These sessions align with the rollout of our Catalyst practices, which aim to foster student engagement and enhance memory retention.

Dr Coulson talked about the idea that students need to forget in order to remember—a concept that highlights the significance of revisiting concepts regularly to help information stick in memory. To support this at home, we recommended that when students don't have homework, to spend 20-30 minutes each night reviewing content from the day or the previous week. This practice can significantly reinforce concepts and ideas, making them more likely to be retained in long-term memory.

As we continue to implement these insights and techniques, we are confident that our students will benefit. By understanding and leveraging the natural processes of brain development and memory, we can create a more effective and supportive learning environment for all. Stay tuned for more updates on our Catalyst practices and how we are enhancing our educational approach to support every student's journey to success.

Mrs Kathleen Garvie
Assistant Principal -Learning
Kennedy and Ferré Houses

Change of guard in the Mathematics and Science Faculties!

Mrs Jennifer Tually, the incumbent Mathematics Faculty Leader, is moving across to the Science Faculty Leader’s position from Week 4, due to staffing re-arrangements. 

Mrs Tually is a very experienced leader in the Science arena, and is a passionate teacher, especially as a Senior Chemistry, Biology, Human Biology and Junior Science teacher. She also has a professional background in cotton agronomy, commercial plant breeding and plant genetic research. Mrs Tually was instrumental in setting up the JPC science department, almost from its inception. She is very excited about this move to the JPC Science Faculty!

The Mathematics Faculty Leader baton has been passed on to two of our most experienced and senior teachers who will share the role for the foreseeable future. Dr Sophia Afghan is looking after Years 8 – 9 Mathematics, and Mrs Jie Li will lead Years 10 – 12 Mathematics. Both teachers have many years’ experience in teaching Senior and Junior Mathematics subjects, and are looking forward to using that insight to ensure the best possible mathematical learning for the students in our Faculty.

If you have any queries regarding either Faculty, please contact the relevant leader via email. We wish to congratulate Dr Afghan, Mrs Li and Mrs Tually, and wish them the very best in their roles.

Book Drive for Our New Library

We are excited to announce a Book Drive in preparation for our new library opening in 2025!

We invite you to donate books:

• Non-fiction/Reference books no older than 5 years, in brand new to excellent condition
• Young fiction books in brand new to excellent condition

As a token of our appreciation, students and families who donate a book/s will have their names placed appropriately on the text and entered into a draw to win movie tickets.

Donations of the books can occur during Week 5, 6 & 7 on Wednesday to Friday in the ICG from 8:15 am – 9:00 am.

Please see a list of recommendations at the end of this newsletter.

Remember, Reading is Magic, and we can't wait to share that magic with you!

Celebrations from the Week:

• Book Week - Reading is Magic
  • We celebrated Book Week with enthusiasm and joy, highlighting the magic of reading. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to explore new books and share their love for reading with their peers.
  • Stay tuned for more information from our college Captains.

Additional Information:

Stay tuned for upcoming events and activities that will enrich our students' learning experiences. We encourage you to participate and engage with our school community.

Thank you for your ongoing support in making our school a fantastic place for learning and growth. We are grateful for the partnership we share with you and look forward to continued collaboration as we inspire our students to reach their full potential.

The Senior Outdoor Education team visited to Tidbinbilla on a beautiful Canberra Winter Day!

The seniors led the way to Gibraltar Peak, one of the best views of Canberra. This walk aimed to help them prepare for their upcoming journey in Budawangs National Park. They also gained knowledge about how certain plants are used by Aboriginal Peoples, as taught by Mr McDonnell.

After the walk, we were thrilled to see a baby Koala! A very rare and special experience!

Take a look at the photos and see if you can spot him.

Thank you to Mr Harley Bartlett for assisting me on this trip.

Mr. Adam McDonnell
Teacher – Outdoor Education, PE
Drexel House

It has been a busy few weeks in the JPC Careers space. We have had the pleasure of hosting information sessions from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, the University of Wollongong, and representatives from the Evo Energy Apprenticeship Program.

Our Year 12 students are busy applying for the School Recomendation Scheme as an early entry pathway into university.

Additionally, last Wednesday our Year 11 students had an invaluable opportunity to attend the Canberra Careers Expo, showcasing two pavilions worth of education institutions, training organisations and businesses. The exposure to such diverse opportunities will help our students make informed decisions about their future.

If you or your child have any questions about careers, please don't hesitate to reach out at careers.jpc@cg.catholic.edu.au.

  

Have you ever seen a live band and thought “How does that band sound so amazing?”

It’s because of the sound production teams! They are the team running all of the live sound equipment and lighting. We have an amazing team of sound production students here at JPC who have learnt how to manage live sound and lighting events from small acoustic gigs to huge staged events! We’ve also had members go on to become professionals in the industry and take part in international concert tours.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to manage live sound and lighting, please follow the link below and join up.

Classes are run weekly at JPC after school from 3:30-4:30 pm.

Link - Production Crew Sign Up

If you have any questions please email the head of Co-Curricular Music, Aron Lyon - aron.lyon@cg.catholic.edu.au

We have opportunities for everyone!

Get involved in one of our bands and start your musical journey today!

No matter what style of music or instrument you like we have something for everyone. We have the best musical tutors in the ACT and endless opportunities! Grow your musical skills and talents through being involved in performances at our school, ACT events, and in live music venues across the ACT! Follow the link and sign up today.

Extra-Curricular Groups

Instrumental Lessons  

For further information contact:

Aron Lyon: aron.lyon@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Parish Newsletter

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

It’s Rail Safety Week and we’re asking you to always Stop on Red. It’s not a suggestion. Light rail has become part of the daily commute of many Canberrans, which is why it’s important we’re all aware of our personal responsibilities in ensuring the safety of ourselves and others.

To stay rail safe, remember to:

• Always stand behind the yellow line at light rail platforms and only cross at designated walkways
• Limit distractions such as mobile phones and headphones
• Canberrans should always obey traffic lights and road signs. Be aware of intersections and road line markings when driving near the tracks.

A moment of distraction can change your life forever.

We all need to be vigilant when it comes to rail safety, whether we’re passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooter riders or motorists. If everyone follows the rules, we all stay safe!

Learn more about staying rail safe here.

The Gungahlin Little Athletics club (GUNLAC) has opened registrations for the 2024-25 season.

Come and Try Athletics Day on Sunday, 15th September in addition to having free trials for most age groups.

New Tiny Tots program for U5 athletes.

GUNLAC runs athletics meets and training for ages 4 through to 17, commencing 19 October 2024 through to 15 March 2024 at the Amaroo Playing Fields. 

Get the latest GUNLAC news at: GUNLAC website | Facebook