Congratulations to all students in the Year 12 Graduating Class of 2021!

We are delighted to announce that every one of our Year 12 students who completed their senior secondary education in 2021 achieved a Senior Secondary Certificate. This has been the case for each one of our Year 12 graduating classes and is an outstanding result – not generally achieved by ACT Colleges.

With regard to our Tertiary students receiving an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank), results were equally impressive.  All students achieved at the top end or above their estimated ATAR scores, with 68% of students scoring well above their estimate.

The median ATAR for the graduating cohort was 75.2.  36% of JPC students achieved an ATAR of 80+ and 69% of students above 70.

Congratulations to the top 5 students Cameron Cortes, Amisha Sehgal, Claire Brooker, Paige Nieuwendyk and Dairy Guzairov.

We wish the 2021 cohort every blessing in their future endeavours and thank them for the contribution they have made to building our community at John Paul II College. We look forward to hearing of their exploits and successes over the coming years as they pursue the next stage of their journey.

Catherine Rey
Principal

Each year at JPC we have a liturgical theme – it is one of the key threads in the tapestry that is the daily life of the school, and colours our prayer, celebrations, and our interactions with each other and our students.

Our liturgical theme for 2022 comes from the letter of St Paul to the Galatians. This scripture passage is an extract from Paul’s response to the early Christian community in Galatia as they grappled with big questions of how to live as followers of Christ. In particular, as followers of Christ, what was the place of the laws as given to the Jewish people in the Hebrew Scriptures?

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”     Galatians 5:13-14

Paul wrote to the Galatians to remind them that Jesus Christ set his face toward the cross in order to set his people free. In Galatians 5:1, Paul asserts that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”. Yet, Paul is very clear in how this freedom is to be used - not for selfish pursuits (those that are self-indulgent), but rather it is to be used to serve others, and this service to others is to be humble – to be alongside those who you serve, not above or beyond. As Pope Francis states in ‘Let Us Dream’, the way to be in community with others is to know that “we are loved by God, called to be a people in service and solidarity” (p. 51). This refers directly to the Catholic social teachings, particularly those of subsidiarity and solidarity.

Subsidiarity concerns the locus of decision making and service – that service is to be with someone, not for them. Solidarity acknowledges our interconnectedness – our wellbeing and future is truly dependent on one another.

To serve one another humbly in love calls for us to truly consider how we exist and interact in the world, and what it is that we expect in return. To serve humbly is to do so without recognition, without pretention, without acknowledgement – and this kind of service takes strength. And for this service to truly change our world, it needs to be everywhere and every time – to be ubiquitous.

This year, we challenge our students to truly consider how they can serve one another humbly in love.

Kate MacGregor
Leader Learning and Wellbeing - Mission and Ministry

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring that your son or daughter carries out their Rapid Antigen Test on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. It is through this early identification of any cases that we are able to keep the community safe and the school open.

On Tuesday next week, we will send home four Rapid Antigen Tests with each student, enough for two weeks’ worth of teaching. Please ask your young person for these on Tuesday afternoon so that they are available over the two weeks for them to do the testing.

Catherine Rey
Principal

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

With enthusiasm and high hopes, we have been promoting another exciting Production journey together following the success of Cinders. We had the intention to begin auditions this year with rehearsals starting shortly after. Unfortunately, COVID restrictions means we have not been able.

Sadly, with continued uncertainties, we have had to make the tough decision to postpone our production of High School Musial until 2023. This has not been an easy or joyful decision to make.

Our priority is student safety. With the current health advice in mind, we must continue to adhere to the guidelines, following social distancing expectations and suspending group gatherings (like assemblies or rehearsals). Additionally, the uncertain inability to hold a production, or any gathering for a live audience, also bring further challenges for an adjusted continuation of Production preparation.

High School Musial production will (hopefully) return at the end of 2022, unstoppable! The excitement that students have already displayed reflects their commitment to performance. Thank you for your continued support of the Arts and its amazing culture in our JPC community.

Mrs Sarah Smith on behalf of the Production Crew

Whilst it is disappointing that our Athletics and Swimming Carnivals will not be able to take place as planned over the next couple of weeks, we still have plenty to look forward to within our JPC Sporting Community. We are in the process or organising some interhouse sporting competitions at recess and lunchtimes to keep ourselves involved and “match fit” ready for our ASC and School Sports ACT carnivals and galas in Term 2 (hopefully – Covid permitting!). So keep an eye on our JPC sport Instagram page (@JPC.Sport) for updates, quotes, and maybe even some throwbacks. The eagle eyed students may also spot a new JPC sport board within our learning street somewhere, which will be your first port of call for our sporting calendar, team lists, trials, photos and any information about community sport opportunities taking place in our local area.

I am also aware that we have many an unsung sporting hero in our JPC community, those people who participate and compete in their sports outside of school and no one hears about their successes. So this year I want to hear all about the things you get up to, your milestones and achievements outside of school sport, no matter big or small – the things that you achieve, medals you win, records you break, etc etc etc. If you have any of these then please email them to me danni.jewell@cg.catholic.edu.aualong with a couple of photos and we will celebrate you and your achievements.

Any other questions or issues you have regarding Sport at JPC please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Mrs. Danni Jewell
Sports Coordinator 

Welcome to a new school year and a very big welcome to our new Defence students. Along with our enthusiastic Year 7s, we welcome Mia, Sean, William, Lara, Michael, Sienna, Kayla and Gabriella to Canberra and JPC.

So far, our new students are settling in well and have made new friends. I have been meeting with each of them individually, however if you have any concerns about your child, please contact me so I may make your child a priority.

By now you will have received correspondence from me and for our new families a welcome pack. If you are a Defence family and I have not made contact with you, please let me know so I may add you to our Defence family. 

Unfortunately, our Welcome Defence Breakfast has been cancelled however I hope we can facilitate another event for our Defence families during Term 2. Our Year 7/8 Defence excursion to Birrigai this term will be rescheduled later in the year.

On Monday in Week 3, all Year 7 Defence students are invited to their first Defence meeting. These meetings are held at recess time in the Barracks at JPC. Please encourage your student to attend these meetings as they are a great place to connect with other Defence students and find out what exciting events are taking place.

DMFS Events

Virtual Meet & Greet with the DMFS Canberra Team

Join the Canberra DMFS team in a 20-minute meet and greet zoom session. Find out how they can support you and your family during your time in Canberra. This event if for both new and existing ADF members and their families.

Session 3 – Wednesday 16 February at 4.00pm

Session 4 – Thursday 24 February at 10.30am

Bookings are essential and you can register HERE

ZOOMba Fun!

Join online on Tuesday 22 February for 45 minutes of Zoom Zumba! Grab your active wear and help improve your fitness. Register HERE

If you want to know about upcoming DMFS events and activities – join their mailing list. You will receive a monthly update and can get tickets to the events. To register for the bulletin please email DMFS.canberra@defence.gov.au

Again, welcome to all our Defence students to JPC and a year which will hopefully open up with new adventures for them. If you will be away on deployment, MWDU or exercises this year, please let me know so I may support your child. If you have any concerns about your child/ren please contact me anytime by email. Vicki.walsh@cg.catholic.edu.au

Vicki Walsh
Defence School Mentor

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

We are excited to offer new opportunities in our Co-Curricular/Instrumental Music Programs at St John Paul II College in 2021. Our thriving program has grown to include over 200 students who are passionate about music, it’s now your turn to get involved! Our band programs include:

• Rock Band
• Unplugged Band
• Concert Band
• Jazz Band
• Vocal group
• Ukulele club
• Piano club

We also have our fantastic Production Crew. These students manage the sound and lighting at all St John Paul II College performing arts events. They learn the technical ‘ins and outs’ of how to manage live sound, setup, pack down and lighting. We have both a senior and junior crew who meet weekly for classes.

Instrumental music lessons

As a part of our extensive music program, we also offer individual Instrumental Music lessons with some of the best music tutors in the ACT. Our music tutors offer weekly private lessons at St John Paul II College in:

• Vocals
• Guitar
• Bass Guitar
• Strings – Violin/Cello
• Drums
• Piano
• Brass – Trumpet/Trombone
• Woodwind – Saxophone/Clarinet

We have something for everyone! There are no prerequisites for any of these groups. If you are interested, just sign up and get involved.

If you have any questions, please contact our music staff:

Aron Lyon at aronlyon@hotmail.com

Sharon Robinson at sharon.robinson@cg.catholic.edu.au

Or admin at jpc.music@cg.catholic.edu.au

At JPC we like to share the many successes and achievments of our students.

Throughout the year, we welcome any communication from JPC families about certain things your child/ren may be achieving or succeeding in outside of school. This can relate to sport, music, arts, cadets, Scouts, volunteering and so much more.

Please email your childs mentor with a short discription of the achievement and photo (if available) and it you could see it in Key Messages!

Invoices for school fees will be emailed to families this week.

Please note that if you pay by Direct Debit, BPoint or you have a Payment Arrgement, the invoice is for information ONLY.

If you have questions regarding your school fees account, please email the Finance Office.