Dear Parents and Carers,

This week we celebrate the most significant time in our liturgical year as we move through Holy Week towards the Crucifixion on Good Friday and the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  In our very secular culture, the meaning of Easter can be well and truly lost amongst Hot Cross Buns, Chocolates and holiday plans.  However, this is the heart of our Christian beliefs where we commemorate the inception of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday and the ultimate sacrifice showing both the humanity and the divinity of Christ.  The culmination of Easter is our celebration at either the Vigil of Saturday evening or the Easter Sunday service of the
Resurrection of Christ.

At JPC, we have marked this special event this afternoon with a Good Friday liturgy.  It began with a re-enactment of the washing of the feet, seeing Jesus as the ultimate symbol of service.  We then followed the journey of the passion of Jesus from The Last Supper, through the betrayal and conviction of Jesus to the crucifixion.  We left the liturgy with Jesus in the tomb.

When we return on Tuesday morning we will celebrate the joy of the Resurrection. 

I would like to wish all of our families a joyful and a safe Easter.  I would really encourage you to consider attending a service this Easter.  There are a great many options available from Holy Thursday and the Last Supper services to the Stations of the Cross in various locations on Friday to the joy of Easter ceremonies. 

Catherine Rey

We are very excited to announce that the new website has gone live today! We are keen to get your feedback and comments on our new site. You can check it out online now at www.jpc.act.edu.au 

On Monday, I was invited to take two of our students, Marija Rathouski and Subhi Senthilvel, to share lunch with the Governor General and over 1000 guests on the lawns of Government House to celebrate Harmony Day. Marija and Subhi both made a plate food from their home country to share, and wore their traditional dress for the occassion. 

We sat at a 327 metre-long table, and were lucky enough to be sitting alongside our Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, with the US Ambassador sitting opposite us, sharing his plate of food from Merrylands. 

It was a wonderful occassion that celebrated the rich diversity we have in Australia, and highlighted the importance of inclusivity, respect and a sense of beloning for all. 

Catherine Rey

Our partnership with CSIRO scientist Dr Gonzalo Estavillo continues into Phase 2…..

This week saw Phase 2 of our current Scientist and Mathematicians In Schools partnership, where volunteer scientist Dr Gonzalo Estavillo visited our Year 10 Science students during Independent Learning Time. They are currently working on Individual Science Research Investigations – an integrated Science/Mathematics project, where each Year 10 student has identified a issue of scientific and social significance as the topic of a research project which they undertake over Semester 1.

(Dr Estavillo is a plant physiologist and molecular biologist at CSIRO’s Agriculture Department, working on crops and other species. His main focus is to understand the links between photosynthesis and yield in crops such as wheat.)

Dr Estavillo is pictured working with two of our students – Paige Brockmann and Agau Manyok, giving them detailed feedback on their proposal,  experimental design and reports.

It is incredibly exciting for the students to have direct and individual access to expertise of this calibre – this process is inspiring our students to develop a fascination with science and ultimately consider science careers as viable options for their future.

We are VERY grateful to Dr Estavillo for giving up his time and look forward to Phase 3 of our program where he will work with students when they undertake their investigations and gather data, ready for the analysis and report writing in Term 2.

Jennifer Tually
Science Coordinator

Year 9 students were tasked with investigating and analysing significant events and challenges that shaped the contemporary Church. Their assessment task involved them taking on the role of a curator working in the Vatican Museum to produce a special exhibition exploring the topic Church History – Challenges and Change. The pieces of work produced by the students are indicative of their creativity and empathetic approach to the task they were set. The students were able to draw upon what they had experienced and learned from the Masterclasses held during ILT, along with their own research and analysis, to create works of such a high standard.

Their beautiful work is on display outside the school Chapel.

Congratulations Year 9!

On Tuesday, a group of boys from JPC attended the Northside ASC Basketball Gala Day. We had a Year 7/8 team and a Year 9/10 team. All the boys represented the College with pride and respect. They all played with a high level of enthusiasm and ability.

The 7/8 team won their pool via count back of for and against points. They will be representing the Northside against Southside schools later in the year.

Congratulations to all the students who represented JPC. A big thank you to Mr Stakelum and Mr Pitt for their organisation on the day.

On Wednesday 6 April (Week 10) we will be holding our first parent teacher interviews for Term 1. We will  have a second night of interviews in Week 1 of Term 2 on Wednesday 27 April. You will be able to book in for interviews on either Week 10 or Week 1 once you receive your login details. 

Families will be receiving their login details via email next Wednesday afternoon, along with instructions on how to book interviews with teachers. Please note that interviews are 5 minutes duration. 

If you experinece any problems logging in once you have received your log in details, please contact the Office on 6163 4800. 

7.30pm  Thursday 24 March - Holy Thursday, Mass of the Last Supper

11.00am  Friday 25 March -    Stations of the Cross

3.00pm  Friday 25 March -   Liturgy of The Passion. Parishioners are invited to bring a flower to lay at the foot of the Cross.

7.30pm Saturday 26 March - Easter Vigil Mass

8am, 9.30am & 5.30pm Sunday 27 March - Easter Sunday Mass