JPC Key Message Week 3, Term 2 2020

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

(oft-quoted Traditional African Proverb)

But we don’t even HAVE a ‘village’!

             So, build one.

How do we build this ‘village’ when we are NOT EVEN TOGETHER?

            Well, create the SENSE of community.

Earlier this week in our morning ZOOM prayer, the staff at JPC contemplated the ideas relating to ‘community’ and how the idea of community comes from the sense of responsibility we have for each other. There are MANY references to the importance of community in God’s words:

“… spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another….” Hebrews 10:24-25

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:5

Seeing how JPC has been impacted by the tyranny of distance through remote learning, it is not just our learning processes but our sense of community which could have ‘taken a hit’ in this time. The importance of maintaining a connection with others has been at the forefront of our efforts to establish processes that sustain our thriving community.

It is, however, important for each of us to individually take action, not just to be the ‘villagers’ who are part of children’s lives, but to deliberately build, repair, and restore our school community for all – it may be a different, ‘virtual’ community, but it is one to which we must feel we belong. Just because we’re apart, doesn’t mean we can’t be together, and it doesn’t just magically happen! It requires effort and thought by everyone.

Please take a moment to consider what YOUR role might be as a parent, student, staff member, parish member, or friend of JPC in strengthening our community (even remotely) for everyone in this time.

Create CONNECTION for yourself and others to JPC – its place & people:

 make the effort,    receive,    join in,    reach out,    listen,    take,    offer,    acknowledge,    check in,    reply,    rely on,   sign up,    give of yourself,    contact,    show you care,    show interest,    volunteer,    commit to,   ask for help

 YOU CAN influence the strength of our JPC community

through your actions.

Don’t leave it to someone else!

Jennifer Tually

Leader of Learning and Wellbeing - Mission and Ministry, Ferré House

In and Around JPC

Scaling and Scoring - for Senior Students

On Wednesday 27 May (Week 5) during Period 5, we will be having an information session for Senior students - “Scaling and Scoring - the Facts explained and the Myths debunked”. We will record this and put it up onto our Website for our parents to access.

Mrs O'Meara

Challenges we face around social distancing and online learning

The Year 12 Leadership Team members responsible for the JUSTICE PORTFOLIO, Wanin Tessema and Amadour Baptiste identified the need to gather information about some of the challenges we all face around social distancing and online learning.

As a result, some professional from within our school community were contacted to answer some questions and provide direction to help us all navigate through this, at times, very challenging space.

Wanin and Armadour brought together -

• Sara McKenna- school counsellor
• Theresea Canty- VINNIES Youth facilitator
• Mr Tim Guthrie- Life Coach
• Mr Sam  Martyn- Teacher
• Mr David Johns- Teacher – Interview facilitator

A series of questions were developed and presented to the panel.

This was recorded as a resource for all in the community to consider when dealing with social isolation and online learning. See recording here

We were challenged to think about ourselves, our contribution to others in our lives and the contributions we make to society (our Canberra community).

I congratulate Wanin and Amadour for this amazing initiative and I hope the JPC community benefit from this presentation.

Mr JOHNS

Cinderella: A Pantomime – Postponed

With enthusiasm and high hopes, we embarked on an exciting Production journey together. Then, just as we were getting in the swing of rehearsals and mastery of performance skills, we had to stop.

Unfortunately, with continued uncertainties, we have had to make the sad decision to postpone our production of Cinderella: A Pantomime until 2021. 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 inability to hold a production, or any gathering for a live audience, also bring further challenges for an adjusted continuation of Production preparation.

Cinderella: A Pantomime production will return in 2021, unstoppable! The energy that students have already displayed reflects their spirit. 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

Careers

Hi JPC!

Next week is National Careers Week! JPC Students – keep your eye on your emails every day for careers stories from your teachers!

For Year 10’s, National Careers Week coincides with senior subject information. If you have any questions about career pathways, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Teena.Zorzi@cg.catholic.edu.au.

A great resource for Year 10 and Seniors is the Year13 careers expo. Year13 is a company who has organised an online careers expo for all of next week. More information about how to sign up is below.

Don’t forget to check out this week’s careers newsletter.

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Zorzi

YEAR13 Career Expo

Year13, the developers of a digital career and life advice platform, have kindly offered all students a free Premium MyYear13 Account, where you can access the Year13 Digital Careers Expo which will be held on May 18-22. The site will offer you information about a range of great local study and employment offerings, as well as national and international options!

As part of the Expo, there will be a range of very interesting speakers including:

• Laura Enever, a Pro Surfer, 
• Will Hodgett, the Creative Director of GoPro Europe,
• Hugo Gruzman of Australian Band Flight Facilities,
• Blake Frantz, one of the ACT Education Directorate’s very own ASbAs; and;
• Industry experts on a variety of topics, ranging from creative industries, sustainability and apprenticeships!

 To get signed up:

1. Click this link: https://year13.com.au/account/verify/school/OLV9VTQW   
2. Fill out your details
3. Click Attending Expo

If you already have a MyYear13 account, please go to your profile, and add this code OLV9VTQW in ‘link school’.

Defence

“The Importance of Anzac Day”

Poem by Tom Dixon

Catholic Education - ENROLLING NOW!

Senior Information Night

Thank you to the 90+ participants who attended the Senior Information Night held on Thursday 14 May 2020. We hope you found the session informative and it has started the conversation in your family about Senior studies and the opportunities that JPC has to offer.

Next week we will make available the recording of the zoom session and the FAQ. We will also send you the schedule for when the Senior Subject Information Sessions via Zoom will be held, and we will include a virtual information pack for enrolling for the Senior years in 2021.

If you have any questions about Senior Studies, please contact the College office office.jpc@cg.catholic.edu.au.

Thank you

For current Year 10 Families

For our planning and records ALL current Year 10 families are required to complete the Year 11, 2021 - Commitment of Continuation form by the end of week 7 (12 June 2020).

Interviews with continuing students and their parents about subject selection for 2021 will be held in week 10 with a member of the Leadership team. Further communication with regards to booking an interview time will be sent out soon.

Thank you

From the College office

JPC Community Council Nominations

St John Paul II College has achieved some significant milestones over the past 8 years including reaching a total of 902 students.

As part of the evolution and growth, we are looking for interested parents who would like to bring their expertise, commitment and passion to provide continued success to St John Paul II College. The College Council was established in 2013 and has made a significant contribution over this time.  The Council is seeking to fill a number of vacant parent positions and ask all parents to consider how they may contribute to the College and nominate themselves to join the Council.

The College Council is your way of having a say in how the college operates and providing the College with ideas and feedback across all areas of operation.  The Council is actively involved in guiding the development of the catholic identity and character, approving governance structures and finances, ensuring the College is meeting its obligations to the parent community and working to build networks and relationships to support the College in the achievement of strategic goals.

Mrs Stephanie O’Meara and the Leadership Team in conjunction with the Catholic Education Office are responsible for the day to day operation of the College with the Council providing a governance structure, similar to that of a Board for a corporation. Working with Mrs O’Meara who is the public representative of the school, the council has responsibility for providing feedback and making decisions on behalf of the school community in relation to areas such as:

• Supporting the development of the Catholic identity, ethos and mission of the school.
• Supporting pastoral care strategies in the school community.
• Promoting the school in the local community, supporting the engagement of parents and providing feedback in relation to curriculum, activities and operational matters.
• Developing, approving and monitoring the annual budget, including school determined levies, loan commitments and the fees collection and remission policy.

The Council meets approximately every 6 weeks between 5.30 & 7.30 pm – Council members will also contribute to activities outside meetings in support of College activities – these are not onerous.

If you would like to nominate yourself for a position on the Community Council please submit your nomination form to Mrs Stephanie O’Meara via Kris.Davis@cg.catholic.edu.au by no later than 21 May 2020.

For more information on the Council please contact the Council Chair, Kirk Johnstone, on 0427 585 521 or email council.jpc@cg.catholic.edu.au

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