Wednesdays at John Paul College (JPC) have taken on a new flavour during Lent, with a simple meal of rice and beans the only option at the school canteen on those days.

So, perhaps “flavour” is too strong a word to describe this simple meal, however, it certainly conveyed a message!

John Paul College in Nicholls’ canteen offers healthy, sustainable food to students and prioritises ecology, the environment and keeping waste to a minimum.

Principal Catherine Rey is committed to this model, and plastic plates and cutlery are not used in the canteen. This is something practical that the school can do in the spirit of Laudato Si’ (the Pope’s 2015 encyclical on care for our common home) and is an important way to instil a sense of justice and ecology in the student body.

As part of this commitment, fundraising for Caritas’ Project Compassion is something canteen manager Kate Parker was proud to be part of.

Each year, around 25 million tonnes of beans are produced, and rice is somewhere around the 700 million tonne mark.

As the most important source of protein, minerals and calories for some 300 million people, beans are an important food source to combat malnutrition.

1.2. billion people living below the poverty line have half of their daily food intake made up of rice.

When the price of rice tripled during the global economic crisis, the World Bank estimated that some 100 million people fell into extreme poverty.

The John Paul College Peace Leaders Albert David and Addison Atkinson have hit the ground running with their fundraising initiatives, organising a pancake breakfast, a “guess the teacher’s baby photo competition”, a “lolly jar guessing competition”, and a sale of “Zooper Doopers”. Second-hand uniforms are being sold at the Clothing Pool for $2 and all funds raised contribute to the total for Project Compassion. On Friday of this week, students will donate some money to have a crazy hair style for the day.

This week’s beans and rice fundraiser is perhaps their most ambitious target, and the awareness-raising that went along with it has made a big difference.

“I found that the students, once they understood the reason for the sustainable, simple meal were happy to get on board, even if the meal wasn’t that exciting”, said Albert.

“I think the Simpsons references helped too!!! Beans beans good for your heart, the more you eat the more you…..raise money for Caritas!!!”, said Addison.

The work of Caritas Australia is supported in large part from fundraising which takes place during Project Compassion throughout Lent. In addition to this, Caritas has already raised $2 million toward the relief efforts in Ukraine.

For more information about the work of Caritas and how you can be involved here in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, contact Beth Doherty on 0432 608 310 or email Elisabeth_doherty@hotmail.com.

On Tuesday the 29^th of March the JPC First Nations Students went for a walk in Mulligan’s Flat Woodland Reserve. This was a wonderful opportunity for the group to get to know each other better and to learn about connection to country. Mr Chaydin Reid, who is a Dunghutti man from the Kempsey region and a teacher at JPC, spoke with the group about Aboriginal culture and connection to country. The group practiced being with the mother (Earth) and listened to the sounds of nature along with some soothing sounds of the Yidaki (Digeridoo). It was wonderful to see the group spend some quality time together walking through country.

Carly Conlan
Integrated Maths and Science Facilitator
Acting Contact Teacher for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Students

Maths Tutoring @ JPC after school on Thursdays is well and truly established AND is proving to be of great benefit to our students’ Maths learning.

Here is the Week 9 group hard at work, with Dr Afghan, Ms Gao, Mr Bourke, Mrs Garvie and Mrs Tually supporting them – thank you to those teachers who take the time to offer this opportunity to our students.

UPCOMING Maths Tutoring dates:

TERM 1 – Last Session: Week 10 Thu, 7 April.

TERM 2 – Starts again in Week 12 - May 5 (Parent-Teacher interviews will be on Week 11 Thursday)

Mrs Jennifer Tually
Leader of Learning and Wellbeing (Mathematics & Ferré House)

We will be running a Mathematical Mindset course on Wednesdays Period 2, from Week 4-7 next term (Term 2). This is open to students from Year 7-12.  

This course will look at ways to decrease maths anxiety, to improve achievement in Mathematics. Mathematics anxiety is that feeling of panic or dread you may feel when going into a Mathematics test, completing maths homework or generally when you think about going to your maths class. This course will look at strategies you can use when faced with some of these feelings or situations.

If your son or daughter would like to be part of this course, please have them register their name by clicking on the link and filling in the form:  

https://forms.gle/Jnh7FK1bcw4N5AaW9

Kathleen Garvie
Assistant Principal

Interview bookings will close Tuesday 5 April 2022 at 12:00 pm. Bookings are made through the Sentral Parent Portal. Please ensure that you have your own access to Microsoft Teams. Instructions on how to download Teams can be found on our website here.

To access your Interview Schedule and Teams Links you will need to go to the Sentral Parent Portal Interviews. More detailed instructions to assist families with Teams Interviews will be emailed out on Tuesday 5 April.

Refer to JPC Key Messages, Week 8 for full details.

Thank you

Key Dates

• 26 April – ASC athletics - Permission forms DUE
• 28 April – SSACT Beach Volleyball 
• 3 May  - ACT AFL – Year 8/9 Boys and Girls
• 4 May - ACT Colleges mixed netball
• 6 May – SSACT 13/O Swimming
• 20 May – JPC Cross Country

ASC Athletics

Students involved in ASC athletics are to complete the QKR permission form before the end of term – If we don't receive your permission not, you will not be permitted to attend the day as it is on the first day of term.

AFL Boys and Girls AFL trials

AFL Boys and Girls AFL trials will continue to take place, in week 10 for the Gala day on the 3^rd of May. Girls had an initial trial on Thursday 31^st March, with a second due to take place on Wednesday 6^th April at Lunchtime. The boys 1^st trial will take place on Tuesday 5^th April from 4-5 pm with a second to be confirmed in week 1 of term 2. All players wanting to be considered for the team need to attend at least one of the trial sessions for their respective teams.

Colleges Mixed Netball Comp

JPC will be entering a team in the ACT Colleges mixed netball competition taking place on Wednesday 4^th May – any students in year 11 or 12 who are interested please sign up outside the gym ASAP.

ACT Golf Championships & ACT Tennis Championships

Taking place early in term 2 is the ACT Golf championships and the ACT tennis championships. Both of these events will form the trials for the ACT team, therefore if you wish to be considered please let Mrs Jewell know ASAP and we will put forward your nomination.

ACT Hockey

We have a number of boys headed off to represent ACT at their age group state hockey Championships. Jack Evans has been selected to play in the U18 Champs in Cairns. James Taylor, Max Flynn, and Hugh Evans will be representing the U15s at Newcastle.

Best of luck boys, enjoy it and play well.

ACT Swimming

The following students were selected to represent JPC at the 13 & O ACT swimming competition early next term. Zach Millfull-Brady, Brady Bryant, Kayla Bryant, Anzac Longley, Taylah Guthrie, Bella Revell. Covid meant that this year’s selection was a very different process, and these swimmers made the times required from either team, club or rep verified competitions.

Congratulations and Good luck.

Baseball

Congratulations to Ryan Lyddiard who has made the selection for a National Junior Camp for Baseball Tasking place at the AIS and Narrabundah Ballpark from April 16-24th, which is a key step in Team Australia’s preparations for September’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in the US.

More information can be found here https://baseball.com.au/news/junior-camp-host-locked-in-six-players-added/

Congratulations

Our Bill Turner Cup Boys Squad for 2022 has begun preparations for our Round 2 match against Radford College, to be played at Radford College on Monday, 9^th May. The boys are looking forward to the challenge, including the opportunity to train on the resurfaced school oval from the start of Term 2. Congratulations to Noah Hewitt for being named Captain of the team, and to the whole squad for the great commitment to training so far.

Andrew Woodman

This week was the inaugural JPC Allstars competition to raise money for Caritas. Students had the chance to battle it out on the 3 point line to be crowned the 3 point champions!

In Year 7 and 8 it was a close call! In year 9/10, two students (Noah and Brady) battled it out with Brady being crowned our overall winner!

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

For all students involved in Co-Curricular Music Groups at St John Paul II College, payments for term 2 are now due. Please ensure these are finalised before the end of this term to ensure your child’s position in their chosen ensemble. Payments are made through the Qkr app under “Music”.

Instrumental Music Lessons

Enrolments for Instrumental Music Lessons for term 2 are now also open. If your child would like to be involved in taking lessons on one of the following instruments, please ensure you have filled out the appropriate form below to ensure your child’s involvement. We offer lessons with some of Canberra’s finest music tutors on:

• 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.

Taking enrolments for Bands/Ensembles now through the online application system below.

Taking enrolments for Instrumental Lessons now through the online application system below:

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

Parish Newsletter

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