Hello JPC!

This week’s message from Mathieu House is a continuation of our three-part series that gives you some insight into the new house logo that we’ve adopted this year.

Part two is all about the Light!

You might remember from the last Mathieu update in the newsletter that we focused on the boat and the artist Meb, who painted the logo from which we’ve adopted ours. When asked about it he stated that, “Sometimes the sea is rough, sometimes it’s dead calm, sometimes you need to row, and sometimes the wind blows in the sails.” We know that after a storm and the parting of the clouds, comes the sun! The light in our logo is representative of this sentiment, as it was in Meb’s original painting. The light illuminates our path forward through both smooth seas and challenging waters and provides hope and joy for the future. In our logo, the light also guides us to the cross and the message of Jesus and shines on our shared journey as a community.

We want to encourage all of our JPC families to take this message of light and hope, and carry it forwards throughout Term 4 as we transition back to school.  

We hope that all Mathieu students and all JPC students are staying active and healthy, we are so looking forward to seeing you all again in a few weeks.

Mr Steve Thomas and the Mathieu Team.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our Year 12 students successfully completed their AST exams and were exemplary in their approach to this important event.

The external supervisors were very impressed with our students, describing them as “impeccable”, “impressive” and “outstanding.” One supervisor told me that they are going to specifically request our College next year because of the students.

We are certainly very proud of them and as the parents and carers of these fine young people, you should also be very proud of them.

Regardless of the outcome of the AST, we believe that they are already winners.

It has been a privilege to have been with them on their AST journey.

I also wanted to thank Mr Whatman, Mr Paris and Mrs Keogh who have been instrumental in running the AST Familiarisation program with the students over the last two years. Their knowledge and skills have been invaluable.

Stephanie O’Meara
Assistant Principal

With one of the largest annual events on the Australian education calendar, the Australian Mathematics Competition was the first competition of its kind in Australia and is now one of the largest of its type in the world. This year JPC had a number of Year 8 and 10 students competing with an emphasis on problem solving, a valuable life skill, and a series of questions designed to be fun for each of the students.

A big congratulations to Hamish Dwyer of Year 8 receiving a High Distinction, and Jack Evans & Kian Cox of Year 10 both receiving Distinctions for their efforts, putting all three students in the top 90% percentile ranking in their respective year groups. JPC also had a large number of other students receiving Credits, in particular Georgia Ellison of Year 10, also reaching the top 70% percentile of her respective year groups.

A great effort by all the students in this year’s competition, who will be receiving a certificate for their efforts upon their return to school.

Michael Nicoletti
Leader of Learning and Wellbeing

Our aspiring 2022 College Leaders continue to discern!

Leadership Discernment Program

Session 2 – Courage

Our second session in the Leadership Discernment Program was held this week, and our potential 2022 leaders explored Leading with Courage – what courageous leadership looks like and when it is needed, what skills are important, and how Jesus Christ led showed courage in his leadership.

After listening to the testimony from our current Courage Leaders, Lilith Prado and Cameron Cortes who described when they have had to be courageous as leaders, our participants examined the sills of a courageous leader debated the most important.

We very much look forward to our final face to face session next week where we explore the PEACE theme!

Jennifer Tually and Chloe McCallum
Leaders of Learning and Wellbeing

Fitness club is great fun!! It gets your body moving for the start of the day and gives you the mindset to keep going and doing more! This time at fitness club we did a circuit of three exercises and came up with new ones on the spot each round!!

Come and join us at 7:30 every Wednesday for some fitness fun with Miss Robinson and have a great time building fitness and stamina!!!

If you want to join the virtual fitness club, email Ms Robinson and she will send you the link.

The schedule for Senior Exams (9-15 November) has been set and is available on the website here and the Senior Moodle page. Students will be emailed their individual exam timetables, including any reschedules due to clashes and any special provisions, closer to the end of term. It would be greatly appreciated parents could notify the College as soon as possible if they are aware of any significant concerns around student attendance at the specified times.

Dr Ann Cleary
Assistant Principal

REMINDER

Earlier in the year, students submitted preferences for elective subjects in 2022. Following an extensive process in setting the timetable, students have now been allocated to their four electives: two in Semester 1 and two in Semester 2. All students who submitted preferences have been allocated subjects from that preference list.

Students have been individually emailed with their electives. Given students, particularly in Year 8, may have had limited experience of some of their electives at the time of selection, students may request consideration for a change to one (1) elective in each semester; that is two (2) elective changes in total. These requests will be considered in light of other student requests received and changes will be made where matching requests can be accommodated. Requests to move an allocated elective to a different time slot will not be considered.

Students can indicate any request for change in the form that will be emailed to them. All requests must be emailed back by the end of the day on Friday 29 October 2021. No changes will be accepted after this date.

Given the administrative load in manually matching requests, it will not be possible to advise you of the success of the request prior to Term 1 2022.

Dr Ann Cleary
Assistant Principal

Anti-Poverty Week (APW) will be held across Australia from the 17th to the 23rd of October 2021. The Telstra Tower and The National Carillon will be lit up in blue on the evening of Thursday 21st October and Friday 22nd of October to acknowledge the end of Anti-Poverty Week 2021. The colour blue has been chosen in line with the lighting up of monuments across Australia to symbolise a brighter future of hope particularly for children living in poverty.

Also, the APW Art Competition is a youth art competition (part of the week). It is open to all ACT Youth 18 years and under! Entries are open until Friday 15th October and the theme of the APW Art Competition is “Hopes for My Future”. Winners will be decided by a vote during APW https://antipovertyart.com/votehere and announced on Friday 22nd October.

If you would like more information, please visit:

https://www.actcoss.org.au/news-events/anti-poverty-week-2021

Amisha and Cullen
Justice Leaders

UC Accelerated Pathways Program Information Evening (For current Y10 students)

The University of Canberra invites prospective students, their families and other interested parties to learn more about the Accelerated Pathways Program (H Courses). Guests will have the opportunity to hear important information from the program coordinator and teaching staff, as well as ask questions. Bookings for this online event can be made via Eventbrite. Bookings are essential. More information about the program can be found at: https://www.canberra.edu.au/accelerated-pathways-program.

When: Tuesday 19 October (Week 3)

Time: 6:00 pm

Where: Online, via Zoom link

ANU - Mandatory maths and English from 2024

Successful completion in senior secondary maths and English is mandatory for applications submitted in 2023 for commencement in 2024. You will need to complete: 

• at least one high school English course/unit in at least one semester during Years 11 and 
• at least one high school maths course/unit in at least one semester during Year 11.

School Leavers Employment Support – NDIS

Calling all school leavers with an NDIS plan, join us for an Information Session to learn about the SLES program! We will be going through how SLES can help you transition from school to work, the requirements and process for how to access SLES, and the components involved in the SLES Service. You can meet our friendly staff and decide if Afford SLES is the right fit for you!! Tuesday 2^nd November 3.30 pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/afford-sles-info-session-tickets-186349505387

ACTI – Apprenticeships for the Diploma of Beauty Therapy

Ms Teena Zorzi
Leader of Learning (Careers) and Wellbeing

Helping Students Transition Back to School Following COVID-19

Your child (and yourself) may be experiencing a range of emotions about their return to face-to-face learning this term. There could be some excitement to see friends or get back into school activities, or there could be nervousness about returning. It is natural to feel a range of emotions when there is a significant change and there is support available to help at school and in our local community. To help with this transition, please read the attached information prepared specifically for parents and carers by the Australian Psychology Society.

We realise that these are challenging times. Your child’s ability to self-motivate, manage their time effectively and prepare proactively will be a crucial factor to improve their academic success over the remainder of the school year and in future years too.

Registration can be made using the link below:

Dear JPC Families,

If you have changed your residential/postal address, email address, telephone number or emergency contact details, please make sure you email the College Office so we can update your details.

Thank you

The College Office

2022 ACT Youth Week runs from Monday 4 April 2022 to Thursday 14 April 2022.

ACT Youth Week is a celebration of young people aged 12 - 25 in our community.

ACT Youth Week provides young people with the opportunity to express their ideas and views, and act on issues that impact on them and their peers. It is also a time to celebrate, to have fun and highlight the positive contributions young people make to their community.

The  ACT Youth Week Grant program is available to assist groups of young people to organise events for other young people. These grants provide funding for innovative new projects that enable young people aged 12 – 25 years old to lead and participate in community development activities targeted for other young people in Canberra and the region.

There are many ways that an activity/event or project could be facilitated. For example, through:

• building supportive connections between community members using sport, recreation, cultural and creative activities and events;
• organising and running events;
• increasing opportunities for young people to participate in local community events, activities and youth-related causes;
• recognising the contribution that young people make to their local communities; and
• increasing opportunities for young people through the development of leadership skills, project management skills, networking encounters plus teamwork, communication and decision-making skills.

Further information about the ACT Youth Week Grant Program please contact the Office for Youth Engagement team during business hours on (02) 6205 3064 or email youthinteract@act.gov.au

ACT Youth Week Grants applications are now open and will close midday on Monday 22 November 2021.

Apply now by access clicking the below link  https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/youth/grants-scholarships-and-awards

SWIFF’s Nextwave Youth Short Film Competition is open for entries!

Submissions Deadline Extended to November 12, 2021

Enter a short film into the Nextwave Youth Film Competition for your chance to win awesome awards and prizes, including Best School, and have your film premiere at SWIFF 2022 on the Coffs Coast! 

If you like being creative, and want to have a go at filmmaking, SWIFF wants to see what you can do!

The rules are simple:

• Make a film under five minutes
• Include a pineapple
• Enter before October 12^th to win! Submission Deadline Extended to November 12, 2021

For full terms and conditions, visit www.nextwavefilm.com.au

Given the announcement of lockdown lifting as of today and organised sport to re-commence October 29, Cricket can now plan for the commencement of the season, starting November 5. With this, the season is now only 3 weeks away and we would love your help in promoting North Canberra Gungahlin Juniors.

Woolworths Cricket Blast (Ages 5-10)

Junior Blasters (Ages 5-7) - Learn the skills to play cricket through fun game-based activities (60 mins)

Master Blasters (Ages 7-10) - Play modified games of cricket in a fun and social setting (90 mins)

Junior Cricket (Girls & Boys)

Girls competitions (Ages 10-17) - A fun, welcoming and inclusive environment, everybody gets to bat, bowl & field, T20 matches with modified rules and formats, a league for girls to develop their skills and progress along their cricket pathway.

Boys competitions (Ages 10-17) - A fun, welcoming and inclusive environment, everybody gets to bat, bowl & field, short, action-packed games played in under two hours.

To register, head to www.playcricket.com.au and search North Canberra Gungahlin Junior Cricket Club. I have included a QR code below and attached it to this email. This links straight to the registration page.

If you would like any more information on Cricket Blast, Junior Cricket, or the club, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the club.

Cricket looks forward to hopefully welcoming new cricketers this season and joining the North Canberra family!

Kind Regards,