The way students learn mathematics, and how to deepen mathematical understanding, is the focus of ongoing professional learning being undertaken by teachers of Maths at JPC. Some of the main ideas that we are exploring include:

The brain is plastic!

The latest neuroscience research shows that the brain has an immense capacity to change and grow in response to new experiences – this is known as neuroplasticity. Applying that to Maths, we know that all students are capable of learning maths – the key to achievement is effort and practice, rather than some kind of innate ability. There really is no such thing as ‘a maths brain’!

Practice makes permanent

The old saying is ‘practice makes perfect’. But, with our ‘plastic’ brains, the reality is that ‘practice makes permanent’ because the more our brains do something the more the brain changes. So, it is important that students do practice – new understandings and processes need to be repeated so they stick - but checking answers, understanding and process before it becomes permanent is equally important.

Mistakes are vital

The brain changes just as much when we make mistakes as when we get it right – in fact, our brains grow more from the challenge of making mistakes and figuring them out than by just getting everything correct. In Maths, it means that we need work to be hard, challenging, and even a bit frustrating to maximise learning. We need to be okay with not getting it straight away, and having to struggle a bit – finding ourselves in ‘the learning pit’ is the perfect place to be, and we don’t want to be rescued too quickly (figuring it out ourselves makes the learning deeper).

Maths is a broad, creative, and visual subject

Most people think of maths as a boring set of processes to memorise, and the most often asked question in maths is, ‘When we will ever need to know this?’ In Maths, it is important to look at the patterns and relationships that we are representing – it is not just about the calculations, it is about the understandings that develop from the connections we make. We are much more likely to see connections when we look at mathematics visually or represent it physically – and these connections will be much deeper.

If you would like to explore some of these ideas in more detail, this video is a great introduction, and the YouCubed website has links to the latest research, some amazing tasks, and information for parents.

We look forward to helping students develop a mathematical mindset that is not limited by preconceived ideas of ‘maths people’, a mindset that values practice and sees the importance of effort, and a mi

It is with much sadness that our JPC community mourns the passing of Mr Anthony Ganley, a much-loved teacher who passed away unexpectedly last Friday. He had been unwell for some time but his condition recently deteriorated. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Mr Ganley came to us in 2020 as a Learning Support Teacher, from St John the Apostle Primary School, where he was a highly respected and valued Assistant Principal, Coordinator and classroom teacher.

He loved every community in which he worked. Anthony was a man who valued service, not just to schools, but to the wider community. Before he became a teacher, he was an active member of the Australian Defence Force, serving in the Royal Australian Navy on HMAS Hobart II.

Mr Ganley showed particular empathy and care for students with additional needs, which is what drew him to working in the area of learning support at JPC and inclusion at St John's. He dedicated himself to these students and their families to support their success at school.

The memories shared by his students have been very special, and in particular highlighted the profound and enduring influence he has had on his mentors.

Thank you to the members of our community who have sent messages of love and support to the schools in which he worked. They have been an enormous strength to our staff and students, and honour his memory.

We pray for his soul, and celebrate the wonderful contribution he made to schools and students throughout his teaching career, and especially the care he showed for those who needed support. Our Catholic faith gives us comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God. 

Prayer for Mr Ganley:

The calculation of the ATAR is quite a complex process. The information session is for all families who would like to understand the process better.  It will be especially helpful for students in Year 11, as they will have received their first set of results. These results provide a tangible base from which to understand the process and implications.

Catherine Rey

This week we are celebrating the start of the Tokyo Olympics AND the start of our Year 9 Softball unit, by showcasing the achievement and experiences of our very own Jo Brown. Most people will see Jo’s Smiling face in our front office, on a daily basis and would have no idea that Jo is also a two time Olympian for Softball and she has also won 2 Olympic medals. She spoke to our students about her experiences at both the Olympics and World Champs and her time playing Softball at UCLA in the states. She also passed around her Olympic Medals and the Olympic Torch from her time as a Torch Bearer as the Olympic flame came through Canberra. Our students were hugely inspired by her and we thank her for taking the time to chat with us.

This semester, the Years 11/12 Drama class is studying the course, Theatre for Young People. As part of their assessment, students are required to create a performance for a target audience being the children from Holy Spirit Primary Year 1 classes. To ensure they make a thoroughly enjoyable performance, the Drama class spent some time with Year 1G.

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 what they are learning. This information will be used to inform their final performance in Term 4. 

The Senior Drama class were energetic, inclusive and effective when running their designed activities. Senior students were entertaining guests in the 1G learning space, gaining valuable information from their future audience. They are looking forward to creating a unique piece of theatre for Holy Spirit’s Year 1 classes.

Mrs Sarah Smith
Drama Teacher

This Wednesday 34 creative and enthusiastic JPC students participated in the Kid’s Cancer Project’s Write a Book in a Day from 8am – 8pm. The event involves students working in teams of 5-10 to produce a 3,500-5,000 illustrated book within 12 hours and within certain parameters that are released to them on the day. The books are designed for 10-16-year-olds currently in hospitals around Australia. Teams need to raise at least $240 by the end of August for their stories to be added to the online database for the young patients to read, as well as for teams to be eligible for prizes.

It was awesome to see the way in which our students went about the challenge, and that they have already managed to raise $2,000 for kids living with cancer. All teams achieved their goal of producing a book in a day, and within the required word count and specific parameters.

They will continue to fundraise up until 31^st August (supported by the fundraising links that appear below their group names). A big thankyou to Miss Markmann and Mr Arundell for their super involvement with the day.

Beetle Bonanza

JPC Blue (Year 10 Team of Liliana Beckett, Georgia Ellison, Lachlan Harrop, Tilda Salisbury, Suru Sharma and Alexandra Skudder)
https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=728

Lost Legacy

JPC Grey (Year 7 Team of Samantha Gibbon, Sienna Ness, Larissa El-Khoury, Ryder Stapleton, Samara Burns, Anisha Nathania, Imogen Zimmer)
https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=731

Time Juice – A Tale of Two Brothers

JPC Navy (Year 10 Team of Shelby Ruthenberg, Callum Webb, Thomas Philpot, Kaden Waugh and Zimitra Lyras)
https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=729

Blue Bottle

JPC Red (Year 10 Team of Catherine David, Wenting Huang, Kai-Lani Dawson, Pari Malhotra, Jasreena Sidhu, Carly Tilyard and Sohil Malhotra (Year 9))
https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=727

The Bridge Home 

JPC White (Year 8 Team of Leanne Sheather, Genevieve Beckett, Zara Pathan, Harriette Battye, Silvia Tobiasz, Maryam Amatur-Rahman, Nia Martinez, Neve O’Byrne and Emily Harrington)
https://writeabookinaday.com/teams/?id=730

This term, the Social Justice team challenge you to show your support of the community and environment through different activities! This week’s challenge is:

Donate food to your local food pantry! The nearest pantry to JPC is the Ngunnawal Street Pantry.

Send photos of you and your friends completing the challenge and they’ll be posted on the JPC Instagram page!

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away,

lived a group of enthusiastic performers who wanted to put on a play.

After meetings and auditions, they began their rehearsals,

when suddenly the global pandemic became an unsurpassable hurdle.

The year went by and the restrictions eased,

the show was revived and we all were relieved.

Have you purchased your tickets yet to see the musical, Cinders, yet? With over 60 students involved onstage and behind the scenes, this show is a testament to the creativity and talent of JPC! Cinders is a pantomime version of the classic Cinderella fairtyale but, the high energy and humour makes this story unique thanks to the input of those involved. A brilliant team of teachers and students have been working tirelessly all year to complete the journey that started at the end of 2019. It’s been a long time in the making, however, Cinders is worth the wait!

Don’t miss your chance to “dream like there’s no midnight and dance the night away”!

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

The White Card / Asbestos courses will be held in Week 10 of this term. These are essential qualifications if students want to undertake a job that requires access to a construction site.

This might apply if students are interested in work experience or getting a job in:

• Architecture
• Interior design
• Construction/Building
• Trades (electrician, carpentry, plumbing, etc.)
• And MORE

Students can register their interest in these courses by emailing careers.jpc@cg.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday next week.
Note: students must be 15 years of age, or turning 15 within the next 6 months.

Don’t forget to follow the JPC Careers Instagram and Facebook page! (insert picture)off

https://www.instagram.com/jpccareers/

https://www.facebook.com/JPCcareers

Ms Teena Zorzi

Parish Newsletter

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

Elevate is an award-winning organisation that has been working with your child’s school to help them become more effective learners. We realise that these are challenging times. Your child’s ability to self-motivate, manage their time and prepare effectively will be a crucial factor to guarantee their success over this academic year.

Join us for our exclusive webinar series where we will show you – as parents – how to best support your child through school. 

It is estimated that ACT households could save up to $70 per week by avoiding food waste.

Take the Food Waste Challenge for a step by step recipe to reducing food waste in your household, saving you money and cutting carbon emissions. The three-week Challenge will focus on simple actions that ensure the food you buy and prepare gets eaten.

Earn a $30 IKEA voucher* - offer extended

We’ve had such a wonderful response to our Food Waste Challenge that we have increased our offer to 1500 IKEA vouchers!

The first 1500 ACT residents that sign up and complete the challenge, including the final survey, will be eligible for a $30 IKEA voucher*.

*To be eligible for a $30 IKEA voucher, you will need to be one of the first 1500 ACT residents to complete the final survey. The survey will only be sent to those who engage with the Food Waste Challenge emails. Transport Canberra and City Services employees and their families are not eligible to receive the $30 IKEA voucher. Please allow up to 3 days for your voucher to be emailed once you have completed the survey.

Food is too valuable to be wasted so transform your household from food wasters to food tasters in just three weeks!

Sign up to the three-week Food Waste Challenge for a step-by-step recipe to reduce food waste in your household.