Key Messages Week 9 - Term 4Dear Parents and Guardians, As 2019 draws to a close I want to, on behalf of all the staff of JPC, to wish all our students and families a wonderful Christmas break. We have had a very positive year and we are looking forward to continuing to work with our students and their families in 2020. On Monday we celebrated our 2019 Graduating class Mass and Awards evening. It was very special evening and I congratulate all our Year 12 students with every one of them receiving their Year 12 Certificate. I would also like to acknowledge our Award recipients who received special recognition for their contributions to the school over the years. Last night we celebrated the Year 12 Formal at the National Museum. It was a lovely evening and one that was a perfect culmination of the 6 years that we had worked with our students and their families. Today we held our Christmas Liturgy and Semester 2 2019 Awards Assembly. It was wonderful to see the number of students receiving awards and the recognition of student who have made outstanding commitments to their Houses. The end of the year also sees some of our staff moving onto new adventures. I would like to thank the following staff for all their work and contributions to the JPC Learning Community over the years.
The following teachers have also been successful in gaining positions at schools in the ACT.
Mr Iain Pettit and Mr Kevin Robertson are taking Long Service Leave for the first part of 2020 and Mrs Allana Haines and Mrs Fleur Greaney will be on maternity leave. We wait in anticipation of their exciting news regarding their new babies. Next year we welcome a number of new staff and we will ensure that we introduce you to our new members of staff early in the new year. I wish all our families a safe and holy Christmas, and in the materialistic overload that has become Christmas, to ask each member of our community to remember the real reason that we have Christmas – to celebrate the birth of Christ. Stephanie O’Meara Principal (Acting) In and Around the School Vinnies Christmas Appeal As in previous years, St John Paul II College has participated in donating food and arranging hampers to go to families in need in our local community. All Pastoral Care classes were very generous with their donations and many students volunteers to pack these hampers ready for collection. Thanks to their generosity, were have sent over 30 hampers to our Holy Spirit Parish ready to be delivered to families next week. Thank you to all who contributed with their donations and time. Alison Middleton ILT Elective Activity This week's activities included Indigenous pebble painting for our Indigenous garden. Pooch Pals Pippa had her last school day on Tuesday before she takes a break to learn how to be a big sister! Pippa absolutely loves the staff and students and it’s safe to say she will definitely miss you all while she is away!!! We want to wish everyone a lovely Christmas and a happy and safe holidays! Love Mrs Haines and Pippa Cinderella 2020 Musical Production It is an exciting time for JPC Arts as we announce the 2020 musical production will be Cinderella, a pantomime by Suzan Holder. As part of offering our students genuine learning experiences, to be part of the performance, they are required to audition! This allows roles to be offered which best cater to student abilities. Cinderella is a Pantomime, meaning it has a strong element of audience participation, cliched humour and exaggerated characterisation. Auditions will run TERM 1 WEEK 2, after school Wednesday 3.45pm – 5pm. There may also be additional auditions on Thursday afternoon. Students have already been able to collect auditions packs from Mrs Smith. If you are interested – please collect a pack and practice over the holidays! Audition packs will still be available at the beginning of 2020. The production will run Term 3, Week 3 Thursday 6th August – Saturday 8th August 2020, with three performances available to a paying audience, full of your adoring fans! We look forward to communicating more exciting news about the production of Cinderella! We will be also asking for our community help and support in the areas of costume donations, sewing costumes and other areas. If you are willing to help out, please feel free to contact the College or Mrs Sarah Smith directly. We look forward to making the production a memorable experience for the entire JPC College Community! Mrs Sarah Smith on behalf of the Arts Team DefenceAnother busy and exciting year with excursions and activities and many Defence students joining our Defence family. Our Defence family will continue to grow at JPC next year when we welcome new families posting into our community from overseas and interstate. We say “goodbye and good luck” to Julius who is posting to the warmth and sun up north. I wish him and his family well as they embark on new adventures. We also farewell our two Jacobs, Bailey, Abbey, Alexandra, Matthew, Amber and Madison as they move onto other colleges. I also would like to congratulate our Year 12 graduates, Christian, Tara, Aspen, Thomas, Jackson and Patrick. I have sincerely loved being a part of their journey at JPC and I remind each of them to stay in touch with their friends here. Good luck to our graduates as they start their tertiary studies or employment. I have loved their contributions to our JPC Defence family and I wish them all the very best for their future. Save the Date What: DCO’s Welcome to Canberra Event When: Friday, 14 February 2020, 16:30-19:00 More information will be on DCO’s social media and website soon, so check it out! Tickets will be available through Eventbrite. DCO Canberra Eventbrite Duntroon Community Centre (DCC) DCC Playschool is currently accepting enrolments for their 2020 Playschool program which runs 3 hours a day, Monday to Friday during the ACT school term. Visit https://www.duntrooncommunitycentre.org.au/playschool or call 6265 9411 for further information. DCC will be holding an Open Day for families on Saturday, 18 January 2020, 10:00-14:00. Support over the Holidays Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling Open Arms - Veterans and Families Counselling provides professional and confidential service, with 24/7 support available to all current and ex-serving ADF members and their families on 1800 011 046. https://www.openarms.gov.au/ Defence Family Helpline (DFH) For advice, support or local community information, contact the Defence Family Helpline which is available 24/7. The helpline is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists. It is run by DCO and is the best way to access the programs and services offered by DCO to help ADF families manage the military way of life. DFH 24/7 phone number 1800 624 608 A huge thank you to all the families whom I have worked with over the year. Whilst it has been a “tricky” year for me, I have been humbled with the messages and actions of support from my Defence families. As always it has been a privilege to support your children in my role as DSM and I look forward to working with your children next year. I wish you a safe and beautiful Christmas and healthy New Year and safe travels for all those on the move. A big welcome home to our deployed personnel returning in time for the holidays and for those families who continue to have their loved one away over this special time, we pray for their safe return. Feel welcome to contact me by email vicki.walsh@cg.catholic.edu.au anytime. Vicki Walsh, DSM Career NewsDestination Survey - Year 12 Students Reminder to Year 12 Students Thank you to the Year 12 Students who have completed the Destination Survey on the JPC Careers Website. If you have not completed the survey or need to update your details, click here Thank you Mr Pettit From the College OfficeJPC Uniform for 2020 Please ensure you purchase the correct JPC uniform for 2020 Uniform list and policy is available here Uniforms can be purchased from Lowes in Gungahlin. Second hand uniform is available from the College. If you require second hand uniform, please email the college office with what you require and size and a staff member JPCII – Uniform & Tech to You Facebook page is also available to JPC families. This page is for families who wish to sell their uniform or tech items to the JPC Communitiy. Click here to request access.2020 Music Programs St John Paul II College provides a variety of interesting, educational and fun music programs. Registration for the 2020 Music Program is now open. Click on the following links to book a spot in the program for next year. Extra-Curricular Music Includes Concert Band, Rock Band, Unplugged Band, Vocal Group and Production Crew. Complete the form here to register for one of these groups. Instrumental Music Tuition Our music tutors are among the best in the ACT and deliver well-planned in-depth music lessons with your child's musical ambitions always kept as the number one priority. Lessons are held in the Performing Arts Centre at St John Paul II College. Students who are a part of this program are also encouraged to join one of the St John Paul II College bands, to experience the pleasure and challenge of playing with others. Complete the form here to register for lessons. Instrument Hire St John Paul II College offers a variety of instruments for hire, including Guitar, Bass Guitar, Saxophone (Alto & Tenor), Euphonium, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, and Flute. Complete the form here to hire an instrument. Click on the particular link to register your child for one, or more, of the Music Programs on offer. If you have any questions about the JPC Music Program, email Sharon Robinson or Aron Lyon. Leaving JPC? If you know that your child will be leaving JPC at the end of this year, please email the college office (office.jpc@cg.catholic.edu.au) as soon as possible. Year 12 families - There is no need to respond. Thank you to those who have notified us already. The College Office For the latest CELEBRATE Edition Click Here For the latest Parish Bulletin Click Here The Holy Spirit Parish Christmas Nativity Nativity roles for children in Years 3 – 7 All children are invited to participate in the Parish Christmas Nativity at Mass on Christmas Eve, Thank you Community NewsAUDITIONS - WODEN VALLEY YOUTH CHOIR WVYC will hold auditions during January for its two senior choirs for students going into Year 7 or above. Woden Valley Youth Choir has a strong emphasis on music education and is seeking young people who have an interest in developing their musical skills. The flagship choir, Australis Voices, is for young men and women with treble voices and Centauri Voices is a choir for young men with changing voices. Audition times are flexible and can be held on dates and times to suit prospective choristers, with the expectation that successful applicants will attend the beginning of year camp on the first weekend of February. For further information go to http://wvyc.org.au/join-us/ and download an application form. Auditions for primary aged applicants will be held on Saturday 22 February following an open rehearsal on Tuesday 18 February. |