The official Reconciliation theme for 2018 was ‘Don’t make history a Mystery’ and we added our own JPC touch with ‘Footprints; Moving Forward’, beginning with Sorry Day on Friday 25th May. Each student wrote a personal message on a Footprint and formed the word ‘sorry’ in house colours on the oval, to spectacular effect. We were also very lucky to have inspirational guest speakers from AIME, Glenn Isemonger and Darren Brady present to staff with a focus on connecting with Indigenous students, teaching with an Indigenous perspective, plus the power of mentoring and how it can assist in the classroom. Both gentlemen were very generous in praising our school. To quote Glenn “It was an absolute pleasure to come to your school and it was inspiring for us to see such caring and motivated staff working with Indigenous kids....and the (senior hospitality) coffee was damned fine too!!”

Tuesday was a moving Reconciliation assembly run by our courageous JPC Indigenous group concluding with a presentation to the delighted house captains, of stunning Recycled Floor Mats, designed and made by local Indigenous artists.

Wednesday was a Lunchtime movie featuring Ngunnawal elder, Aunty Agnes Shea ‘Footprints on our land’ and Thursday a Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser prepared and cooked by the members of the Indigenous group - including Footprint Biscuits (which took them hours to prepare and decorate, & Lemon Myrtle Cordial). We made $750.00 profit to go towards our Indigenous garden and the Indigenous footprints charity!! Huge thanks to Harvey Rymill, Ayden Okely, Charlotte Cambridge and Sophia Henson for generously volunteering their time and effort. I am incredibly proud of them.

A busy day is not complete without the expertise of the local community and guest speakers! In the afternoon students heard Elise and Sandi from the Greenshed speak about the wonderful work they do around Canberra, students were particularly interested in the weird and wonderful items that they have been gifted-such as war medals and prosthetics from popular athletes!

Nina Gbor spoke to the girls about the fashion industry, running a fantastic session on styling for sustainability and thoughtful shopping.

During this time, the boys were challenged by an upcycling activity run my Ms Chauntell McNamara of the College, turning single use soda bottles into self-watering greenhouses!

This was an amazing day filled with knowledge, creativity and challenges to ensure that as members of a global community we are doing our small part to decrease our contribution to the Earth’s pain and the suffering of others.

For more information about the Greenshed and the work that they do go to http://www.thegreenshed.net.au/

Don’t forget! World Environment Day 2018 is 5 June!!!

Cheryl Jones, Year 7 Team

This semester the Peace Leaders have been focused on promoting St John Paul College’s Youth Ministry Team. The Youth Ministry Team is open to all Senior students, with our fortnightly Thursday Morning Masses and Youth Ministry Breakfast open to students of all ages.

On Wednesday 30th of May, local athletes including weight lifters, distance runners and football players, as well as our PE teachers and JPC elite athlete students were invited to a luncheon at the JPC restaurant to enjoy meals cooked by Year 9/10 Food Technology classes for their unit assessment Food For Everyone -‘Food For Athletes’.

The three Food Technology classes were responsible for the entire design process from designing the invitation to the recipes, setting up the restaurant, cooking and cleaning. The lunch was a great success and special thanks to Mrs Kelly for all of her assistance and Megan Hajduk, our lovely food tech assistant, for her enormous effort leading up to and on the day.

Mrs Daley

This week saw our 3 Year 9 & 10 Outdoor Ed classes travel to https://www.canberrarockclimbing.com.au/ to have a crack at scaling their impressive indoor rock climbing facility. The students were like “geckos” making even the tougher walls look easy.

What was more impressive was the staff from Canberra Rock Climbing mentioned that they were the best behaved and respectful school group he has seen!

It was great to get off campus during ILT and see how the students handled being out of the comfort zones. 

Mr Boyle, Ms Greaney, Ms Turner

Lola was exemplary and as the only Great Dane to be registered as a Paws Pets as Therapy companion in NSW she was given great accolades for her gentle nature and beautiful manners! As the youngest in the course at 14mths old the course conveyors couldn’t quite believe how well she behaved.

Lola continues to come to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays providing pats and cuddles to all who need them. She has a sixth sense seeking out kids and staff who may need to have a cuddle. Her size is an advantage as she cruises through the corridors just at the right petting height but she may get just a bit bigger yet!

Happy Dane days

Mrs McNamara

To all Year 9 & 10 students of

Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)

SIGN UP for the upcoming, 3-day STEM experience at our very own Australian National University!

Wondering what a future career in science might look like? Just love science and want to do MORE???

Take your passion for science to the next stage. Students attending the National ConocoPhillips Science Experience in the ACT will visit scientific research facilities across the Australian National University campuses and outreach venues for a range of tours and hands-on activities including:

• exploring the forensic techniques of DNA fingerprinting
• flying model rockets
• stargazing the night sky at Mt Stromlo Observatory
• learning about geological mapping
• touring the Tsunami Early Warning Centre at Geoscience Australia
• measuring gamma-ray radioactivity
• visiting a particle accelerator
• designing a self-drive robotic car
• testing sustainable water filters
• other cutting edge science activities!

We have had a number of JPC students attend this in the past with VERY positive and excited testimonies!
(Limited spaces – get in early!)

“This is an experience that both Nick and I thoroughly recommend to any future Year 9’s and Year 10’s as it is REALLY interesting, and we were able to experience science in action at university and in industry, as well as meet some other students who are interested in science.” - Thomas Mugridge

Dates: 26th - 28th  September 2018

Cost: 3 days $190 (NB: Full or part sponsorship can be sought from our local Rotary Club - see Mrs Tually)
Application forms: download from: www.scienceexperience.com.au or see Mrs Tually.

Year 9/10 Graphics

“There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no, and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.”

And “WOW!” is the one I would use to describe this small class of designers. This years 9/10 graphics class have created practical designs that could be used within our school and community – from studying other designers and using them as an influence, to creating promotional items based on a brief from their teachers to most recently, the beginnings of the yearbook – these students have had to work hard to get information from various “clients”, meet design restrictions and push themselves to create something that is aesthetically pleasing to both themselves and others.

My goal had always been to go to the Cheerleading Worlds and represent Australia for the sport I love. Whilst the experience itself was incredible, the journey to get there was difficult. I was constantly training many hours, catching up on school work, emailing my teachers and having limited time to socialise. Although it was a mentally tough 4 months, the results, the friendships and the overall experience I gained, I wouldn’t trade for anything. My team was the first Australian team to compete in the Small Senior Coed level 5 division ever and although the competition was tough, we managed to pass the prelims in second place and compete a second time in the semi-finals. This experience has changed me as a person and I hope that other students will work hard to follow their dreams also, the work is always worth it!

Duntroon Community Centre
Duntroon Community Centre is a facility located on the grounds of the Royal Military College, Duntroon and offers a diverse array of programs and activities.  Some of their programs include: Playschool for 3 year olds, Playgroups, craft groups, short courses, community events and social activities.  These activities are available to both Defence and non-Defence families.   For more information visit their website
http://duntrooncommunitycentre.org.au/

Kookaburra Kids
Lasertag & Dodgem Cars - Free Activity
Join Kookaburra Kids on Tuesday, 19th June for a night of Lasertag and Dodgem cars! This program is part of the Kookaburra Kids Program - supporting kids who have a parent or family member with a mental illness. 
Defence Program Camp
There is also a Defence Camp coming up in July which will be held in at the South Coast.  ACT Defence students are eligible for this program, however transport to the coast will be the family’s own responsibility.  If you would like to find out more about this camp or the Lasertag & Dodgem Cars Activity, please contact Nick from the ACT Kookaburra Kids office for more information on (02) 6109 0408 or email nick.atkin@kookaburrakids.org.au 
Children must be registered with Kookaburra Kids to be able to participate in their events and camps.  www.kookaburrakids.org.au  or please contact me for more information.

Tutoring Assistance
Remember if your family has recently posted to Canberra, your child may be eligible for the Defence Funded Tutoring Scheme.  This funding is through Education Assistance Scheme (DCO) and may be of assistance if your child is experiencing changes in curriculum or disruption to their education or just needing some extra support.  More information may be found through the website   http://www.defence.gov.au/DCO/Family/Kids/Education.asp or feel free to contact me for more information.

Aquatots Swim School will be running a Swim Australia qualifying course at Gold Creek on 9/7/18. This course is an internationally recognised qualification to teach children how to swim and survive.

This course is available for children 16 years or older and is a great stepping stone to gain employment in a job that requires commitment and a huge amount of responsibility.

To find out more information or to book please email course.aquatots@gmail.com

Carers ACT is hosting a unique opportunity for parents, carers and friends to learn how to recognise the warning signs and better understand depression, suicide, eating disorders, deliberate self-harm and other mental health problems in young people. Mental illness in our youth – often known as the ‘invisible disease’ - is growing at an alarming rate with many parents at a loss on how to deal with it. The speaker will be Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia’s leading experts in parenting and child and adolescent mental health and founder of CanTeen for teenagers with cancer.  Bookings essential.

When: Tues 19 June 2018, 7-9pm, Hellenic Club, Woden
More info: Ph 6296 9900 or email mhcarers@carersact.org.au
Register : through Eventbrite http://bit.ly/2HIqSiy
Cost: free

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