Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach mid Term 3 and with ILT beginning again next week, it is timely to reflect with you on our aims for our students here at JPC and how you may be able to support them in their growth, both personally and as learners.

As you know, we aim for our students to become independent and self-directed – both in the way they approach learning and in how they conduct themselves. Qualities such as self-regulation are key.

Self-regulation encompasses a raft of attributes which together are a powerful tool for growth and success. These include:

• self-awareness and the ability to manage emotions
• self-discipline to do what needs to be done at a particular time
• maturity in the choices made – to be able to delay immediate gratification for long-term gain
• resilience to bounce back from challenges and failures
• persistence to persevere when things are difficult.

Obviously, growth towards these attributes is not something that follows a linear path. As teachers, we reflect often on how we can support our students in moving towards growth in these qualities, both as young people and as learners, and we discuss strategies to help them achieve these.

As parents, you are key in helping them achieve the self-regulation required for mature independence and self-direction as they move through school and into their adult lives.

Our teachers are encouraged to discuss with students in their classes what it means to be independent and what it looks like in their class. At home, these discussions can also be very valuable. Often they might come about in the inevitable tension that occurs as adolescents seek to become more independent in their actions and as families negotiate ways forward that satisfy both parents and child. A discussion that includes how the attributes listed above feed into mature independence may enable a richer dialogue around this.

Often as parents, we seek to protect our children from challenges and, in particular, from failure but this is not always the best avenue for them to gain self-regulation.  Fear of failure can be one of the chief obstacles to growth in independence in young people. Here at school, we aim to foster the view of failure as a wonderful opportunity to learn from rather than as something to be avoided. We seek to have them see the benefits that come from failure in the real world, for example on the sports field. You might also initiate discussions with them along these lines when the opportunity arises. This could come from their own talk about a failure they had experienced, but you might also be able to “catch” them in a failure where they clearly learned something, for example, a cooking experience which hadn’t gone as well as expected and where they spoke of what they would do differently next time. 

Persistence is an important element of resilience and a key factor in success. Helping your young person experience the pride that comes from pushing through with something hard and getting to the end of it is extremely beneficial. Praising them for their persistence in persevering rather than focusing on the quality of the final product is important here. Reminding them of how they successfully managed similar challenges in the past is another valuable strategy to use in encouraging them not to give up. For them to know how proud you are of them for their persistence and perseverance in difficult circumstances is a powerful source of encouragement to them. Knowing that you have high expectations of them in this regard is also important.

AST session for Year 11 and Year 12 T students on Moderation Day

Next Thursday on Moderation Day, we are expecting our Tertiary students in Years 11 and 12 to be at school between 9 am and 2 pm. They do not need to wear their uniform but can come in smart casual attire.

We have been particularly proud of the persistence of our Year 12 students in their weekly AST sessions and it is good to start our Year 11 students on this path as well. Year 12s have made very encouraging progress in their ability to problem solve and think critically during these sessions. They have displayed a growth mindset and those traits outlined above, along with a great sense of collegiality. 

As you are aware, every individual student’s AST result influences the groups that they are in and so when all students work together to lift their skills and understanding, it benefits the whole group. This will be the final session for our Year 12s before they complete the AST exams in early September. You can support your student by congratulating them on their hard work to date and building their confidence to use all of their skills and all of the time available to them in the tests themselves.

Thursday’s session will be devoted to problem-solving in groups. It will be a peer-mentoring session where Year 12 students will show their Year 11 peers the successful strategies that they have been employing and initiate them into those strategies. As we know, teaching is a very powerful way of revising and learning something so we feel that Thursday’s session will be mutually beneficial.

Thank you for your ongoing support of us. My best wishes to you.

Catherine Rey

Over the last couple of weeks in RE, Year 10 students have created a simulation press conference about climate change. The students each took different roles such as Prime Minister, Climate Change Expert, protesters and news corporations. They used initiative to set up the classroom like a press conference room and prepared speeches and questions for the event. It was great to see students involved in decision making, understanding politics, and the threat of climate change on the environment and people.

I am very proud of their work!

Alyssa Markmann
Leader of Wellbeing
Mathieu House

This term in year 8 SOSE students has been learning about landscape and landforms in geography. Students showed great creativity and understanding of geography in developing intricate plasticine models of landscapes and some impressive stop-motion videos of exogenic (external) and endogenic (internal) processes such as weathering, mass-wasting and erosion. Well done to all of year 8 for their engagement with this interesting task.

Mr Caldow
Year 8 SOSE Teacher

National Science Week is occurring from Saturday 13 August to Sunday 21 August 2022

Next week the Science Faculty will be holding activities during lunchtime for students to explore many facets of Science.

Students have been given opportunities to sign up for different activities and we look forward to sharing this with the JPC community the following week.

Ruth Hill
Leader Learning and Wellbeing
Science Faculty | Kennedy House

At JPC, we are passionate about caring for our students as whole people through supporting their development as learners, as unique individuals and as members of a broader community.

We would like to invite all parents and carers who would like to learn more about wellbeing and mental health to attend our upcoming
‘Wellbeing Workshop’, occurring on Wednesday 24^th August at 6:00 PM.

This Workshop will focus on the topic of ‘Building Healthy Lifestyles’. We will explore a number of everyday lifestyle factors which impact mental health and wellbeing and how to promote healthy choices within these areas for young people. This has been a highly requested topic by our JPC families and we hope that you’re able to join us.

Please save the date for this event and register using the Trybook Link - https://www.trybooking.com/CBKPJ

I just wanted to share with you the amazing experience of one of our 2021 graduates Bridget Shelley. Last week she attended an address from President Zelenskyy at the ANU, and was given the opportunity to ask the president a question directly about the situation in Ukraine. I have included below the link to the address and interview, and an article in which she is quoted about the experience.

Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKY6DvhIkcg (Bridget is introduced at 34.13)

Article: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/ambassador-to-begin-with-talks-on-australian-university-access-for-ukrainian-students/jvyeiljjj

A great example of the excellent opportunities our students are going on to be involved after graduation!

Jessica Reid
Leader of Learning and Wellbeing—English Faculty, Drexel House
Teacher of English and Religious Education

We would love to hear from our Alumni and share your successes post JPC

Please keep in touch with us here - https://jpc.act.edu.au/alumni

Key Dates:

• Tuesday 16 August – ASC Netball
• Tuesday 16 August – ACT Boys OzTag
• Thursday 18 August – MODERATION DAY
• Friday 19 August - Girls Bill Turner Quater Finals
• Monday 22 August  - ASC Boys Basketball
• Monday 29 August – ASC Girls Basketball
• Friday 9 Sept – PUPIL FREE DAY
• Wednesday 14 Sept – ACT Girls OzTag

Follow JPC.SPORT.ACT for all the current sporting information.

If you have any sporting news, email the college office.

Boys Bill Turner Cup

What an achievement by our Boys Bill Turner Cup Team to make it through to the Round of 16 nationally, and through their trip to Albury last weekend.

The rain held off for Day 1, as the boys took on Xavier High in the Round of 32. In what was the toughest match for the boys so far, they showed lots of skill and determination, running out deserved 2-1 winners. The scoring began thanks to a great finish from Carter Connell midway through the first half who, amongst a very crowded box, snuck in between the defensive line and goalkeeper following a set piece situation, to tuck the ball away. While Xavier clawed a goal back as a result of a rare defensive error and caused our continued to cause our defence some challenges, our boys were still dictating a majority of the play, supported by their technical skills and regular combination play. As the second half progressed, Xavier Bonnett found himself in a 1 v 1 situation with a goalkeeper who was drawn out to the ball. Bonnett lifted the ball of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net beautifully, wheeling away to the corner post to celebrate with a slide. While Xavier High pushed for an equaliser, our boys stood strong.

In the Round of 16 the following day, the boys found themselves up against a very strong Rowville Secondary College – a specialist sports college from Melbourne. Despite the driving rain that had begun the night before and the pitch holding a lot of water, the boys fought admirably in trying to keep the relentless pressure of Rowville at bay, while creating a few half opportunities at the other end, assisted by our boys own technical skills, heart and combination play. Natural team leaders Noah Hewitt, Cadel Zwangobani and Gabe Taurasi were all having big games. Nevertheless, Rowville found themselves up 3-0 at half-time assisted by their speed, physicality and overall imposing play.

Within a few minutes of the second half getting underway, the field became so waterlogged that the ball could hardly move and players were sliding all over the place. For safety reasons the game had to be called off minutes later, but a fair result was still achieved. Well done to Rowville on progressing to the Quarter-Finals of this prestigious competition, and in particular to our boys for their brilliant 2022 campaign. They have played so well for each other and represented their school brilliantly. Impressively, the majority of the team is still young enough to play in the competition in 2023, further highlighting the strength of their efforts in this campaign.

A big thanks to Mrs Jewell for her super leadership in making the Albury trip such a smooth trip away, and for her amazing support throughout the campaign. Also, a big thank you to the amazing support from the many parents who made the trip and or gave support in whatever way they could right throughout the campaign, in particular Nino Taurasi, Donna Cracknell and Rachel Hewitt for their direct assistance in Albury, Nino for running the line in an earlier game, Rachel Hewitt for her regular team photos, as well as Eric Bonnett and Elliot Zwangonbani for setting up Veo cameras for capturing match footage right throughout the campaign.

Mr Woodman
Coach  

Brumbies U13 Squad

Patelesio Saisoaa, Yr 7 Maathai, represented the ACT in the Southern State Championships in July 2022, Brumbies U13 Squad.

Congratulations Sio on your success!

REMINDER

RSVP to the Year 10 Social is due by 10.00 am Monday 15 August 2022.

Link to RSVP - https://www.trybooking.com/CBTBE

Parish Newsletter

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

Transport Canberra would like to remind everyone that masks are still mandatory for anyone 12 years and over.

For further information about staying COVID Smart on public transport click the link below.

The historic Tharwa Preschool, together with Outward Bound Australia, are raffling off a place on the Outward Bound Junior Program. Valued at almost $1000, the program is 5 days full of thrill-seeking fun, adventure, friendship and personal development for 12-15 year olds. This prize would be great for any of your students completing their Duke of Edinburgh award!

https://rafflelink.com.au/tharwabushfair2022

Tickets are $5 each, 3 for $10, 7 for $20 or 20 for $50. The raffle closes at 11:59pm, 17 September 2022. It will be drawn at the Tharwa Bush Fair on Sunday 18 September, and we’ll share the results on the Tharwa Preschool Facebook page.

Thanks in advance, goodluck in the raffle. 

Warm regards,
Elisa
On behalf of the Tharwa Preschool P&C