As we start a new semester and students review how they performed in their reports, it is timely to start to think about areas to focus on and improve. When I talk to my mentors I am often asked the question, “How do I get better organised?” or “I feel like I never have time to finish things”. When students are organised and they have a plan, all their daily activities, assignments and homework are less stressful and achieved with more confidence.
So how can a student become more organised? Below are 4 areas that students can focus on to help. 

Goal setting:  During mentoring sessions set realistic goals. Have these goals in a highly visible place where you see then every day. (eg Goals as your screensaver on your device)

Don’t Rush: If you plan your time well and use ILT effectively you will avoid feeling rushed. Monday night is very important. Take the time to plan when your homework, ILT work and assignments are due and allow for this in your ITL planning time.

Use a student Planner: The semester planner at the front of your ILT planner is the perfect place to plan out when you have assignment. Also use it for important dates like going out for sports or dance. That way you can plan around times you will miss classes or ILT.

Eat your broccoli first. Imagine eating your dessert before your broccoli? What would be left for you to look forward to? The same can be said for assignment and homework. Do the work you find most challenging first. Then, everything else will be a breeze, and therefore, more enjoyable.

This week JPC had the pleasure to present semester 1 awards to students. What a wonderful celebration of our student’s achievements and commitment to their learning. We would like to congratulate our students who received awards and challenge all student to strive for their best this semester.

Mr Rose

Coordinator Kennedy

On Wednesday 26th July, the JPC community celebrated NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee) week with a special assembly run by our Indigenous students. Guests from AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) included Sam Martyn and Melina Saunders, who gave an inspiring and informative speech, including the powerful message about the NAIDOC theme for 2017 “Our Languages Matter”. Melina shared with us alarming statistics about the demise of traditional language within Aboriginal communities and how this is affecting cultural identity.

Our assembly began with Ally Hampton and Lillian Dominick performing a dance to acknowledge their ancestors which was shortly followed by a minute silence to acknowledge and respect the passing of Dr G. Yunupingu who left us on the 25th of July in Darwin. As a community, we aimed to recognise and educate the school about the theme for this year and so, students were asked to sit and listen with respect to the following song, sung by Christina Anu, Kulba Yaday. This song speaks of the sadness of Indigenous people losing their culture and the stories passed on from generation to generation. It is about Indigenous people’s connection to the land.
The song is in Christina Anu’s language “Kalaw Kawaw Ya” and she is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from the island of Saibai which is only 4km south of Papau New Guinea – right up the top of Australia. The song came to her in a dream, and is an expression of her pride for her culture, and efforts to unite Australian cultures.

The day finished in high spirits as our students were lucky to create paintings inspired by Wendy Rix (Lucy and Charlotte Cambridge’s Aunty) who volunteered her time with us last year. Wendy is a part of the Yuwaalaraay mob from north west NSW, in a little town called Goodooga. Wendy taught our students how to paint on a coolamon, which is an Indigenous carrying vessel to symbolize their own journeys that included a story about their family.

I would like to thank our wonderful friends from AIME for their continued support and guidance, to our brothers and sisters at Holy Spirit Primary School for attending our assembly with Mrs Katrina Cambridge and to Wendy Rix for inspiring our students to reach beyond their comfort zones and to engage with their culture.
I invite all members of our community to think of and pay respect to the Ngunnawal People as it is their footsteps that are deeply embedded in the ground beneath us.

Miss Boller

Much like last semester, students are offered the opportunity to join an after-school Drama Club. D2 will run weekly sessions, each Thursday afternoon, starting in Week 3 and concluding in Week 18. Any student who has an interest in Drama, or who wishes to develop confidence or performance skills, are encouraged to join. There will be two performance opportunities for students this semester.

Permission notes are available on Moodle through the Drama or Permission Notes pages. Students can also collect a note directly from Miss Keane. Confirmation, via the return of the permission note, is required by Tuesday 1st August, Week 3. Please contact Miss Keane for further information.

Miss Sarah Keane

Mia McGovern was selected to play in the ACT U14’s Football team competing in the National Youth Championships held in Coffs harbour. Mia helped her team win Pool B by scoring 6 goals during the tournament. She was the top goal scorer during the National tournament. Congratulations Mia on your achievement.

Harrison McLeod has made the under 15's ACT Touch Football team. He will be playing in Adelaide in December as part of the Pacific School games. Congratulations Harrison on your achievement.

JPC at ASC Netball

On Tuesday the 25th of July, JPC Netballers from years 7-10 participated in the ASC competition in Lyneham. The 7/8’s performed well, delivering a number of wins over the course of the day, including an outstanding one point win over Daramalan. The 9/10 team, were against some tough competition but came away with a win to end the day positively. Congratulations to all participants who demonstrated sportsmanship and courage, representing JPC with pride.

A special thankyou to our umpires Madeline Moore and Shayd Measures who volunteered their time and did an excellent job on the day. Another thankyou goes to Miss Dawe, who played a huge role in the support and organisation both prior to, and on the day of the carnival.

Our school has partnered with Transport for NSW to use the new online School Portal for endorsing school travel applications and submitting School Drive Subsidy and Private Vehicle Conveyance Scheme attendance checks.

You are now able to manage all your school travel needs online including applying for school travel passes, tracking the status of your application and tracking the status of your School Drive Subsidy application and payments.

The application process has also been simplified so that a new or updated application for school travel passes is only needed when a student is:

• applying for a school travel pass for the first time
• requesting an additional pass as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).
• changing school or campus
• changing home address
• receiving an expiry notification
• repeating a school year
• changing their name
• requesting a new transport operator.

This means students who are progressing to year 3 and year 7 only need to reapply if they are changing circumstances.

Students who are not residents and are temporarily in Australia can also provide their visa subclass number or exchange program when applying online, making the application and approval process much faster.

Parents, guardians and students can apply or update their details online at:

www.transportnsw.info/school-students

If you do not have access to the internet contact 131 500 for assistance.

Note: Student attendance checks will be available for completion by schools after the last day of semester (1 July 2017).

Learning music can help students’ self-confidence, self-discipline and team work. Music helps students progress in other important learning areas such as Maths and English. Indeed, countries with a strong focus on music education tend to have higher scores in literacy and numeracy. Engaging music programs have been shown to help with attendance and can be particularly beneficial for students who are not achieving well in school.

If you are a practicing Catholic who has a helpful and supportive nature who is confident working with excel, access or databases, we have a part-time position (approx 11hrs per week) in Holy Spirit parish, Gungahlin. The role is administrative, requires weekend and evening work during the Sacramental programs of First Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation.
The role works closely with the Parish Priest, Pastoral Associate and Religious Educations Coordinators from the three primary schools. Please send your expression of interest – (no longer than two pages), demonstrating the following:
• your knowledge or interest in the Sacramental Program offered by Parishes to children
• your involvement in your Parish
• your experience and willingness to work within tight timeframes and deadlines
• your ability to be flexible ie very busy during Sacramental program
• your computer knowledge and skills ie Microsoft office suite, spreadsheets and data management
• the reasons you are interested in the position.

For a more detailed position outline, contact Magda at office@holyspiritgungahlin.org.au. Please send expressions of interest to Parish Priest at office@holyspiritgungahlin.org.au by Friday, 18 August 2017. For information contact Theivani Evers on 0472 921 518 (Tuesday/Wednesday).

Minister for Women, Yvette Berry has announced the opening of the

2017 Audrey Fagan Young Women Enrichment Grants on July 17 2017.

The Enrichment Grants continue to offer young women with an opportunity to realise their dreams in a collaborative relationship with a mentor.

Young women aged between 12 and 18, residents of the ACT or attending education in the ACT are eligible to apply. The program provides one off grants of up to $2,000 to support young women to achieve a project in their area of interest.

The Enrichment Grants are a component of the Audrey Fagan Scholarship program established in 2007 to honour former ACT Chief Police Officer Audrey Fagan’s contribution as an inspirational leader and mentor for young women.

For more information on the grants program visit:
http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/women/grants_and_scholarships

Or phone ACT Office for Women on 6205 3614. Applications close on 25 August 2017