Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to 2019! I hope your student(s) have experienced a really positive start to the year and that things are going well.

This is another significant year for St John Paul II College as we move into our second cycle, having come of age as a 7-12 College in 2018. We were delighted with the success of our inaugural Year 12 group in 2018 and look forward to the continuing success of our Year 12 groups in years to come. This year, we have again grown in numbers, with almost 850 students across the years.

And some new members of staff and some changes in responsibilities …
Those of you who were with us last year will recall that we are being joined by two new Assistant Principals this year. We are delighted to welcome Dr Ann Cleary and Mr David Johns who are joining Mrs Stephanie O'Meara as Assistant Principals this year. Dr Cleary is looking after Van Thuan and Ferré houses, Mr Johns is looking after Drexel and Kennedy and Mrs O'Meara will continue to take responsibility for Maathai and Vanier. In this Key Messages, Mr Johns introduces himself to you and you can look forward to more introductions in the coming issues of Key Messages.

We also welcome Mrs Sarah Rowley as Leader of Learning and Wellbeing to Vanier House, working with Mr Iain Robertson. We are also very pleased to welcome Mr Lee Rose back to the College after a year away in America. He will be working with Mrs Faye Robertson in Van Thuan House. Mrs Alison Middleton will be the Leader of Learning and Wellbeing working with Mrs Jen Tually in Ferré House while Mrs Eliabeth Walsh is on maternity leave.

The Leaders of Learning and Wellbeing in the other houses have remained the same: Mr Jason Paris and Mrs Madeleine Harley in Drexel, Mrs Nicola Edghill and Mr Ian Pettit in Maathai; and Mr Nicholas Whatman and Mr Patrick Wood in Kennedy.

We also welcome some other new members of staff:  Mrs Catherine Gibson, teaching SOSE and Religious Education, Ms Kath Podger, teaching Visual Arts and Photography, Ms Yolandi Swart, teaching Science and Visual Arts and Ms Jessie Thearle, teaching PE.

Taking on a new responsibility this year is Mrs Chauntell McNamara, who will be leading the Wellbeing team, working with the Leaders of Wellbeing (LWBs). This team is now situated together in the Student hub. In 2019, in Vanier, the LWB is Miss Jess Reid, in Maathai it is Miss Chloe McCallum, in Drexel it is Ms Teena Zorzi, in Ferré, Mr Paul McKie, in Van Thuan, Mr Alagaysan Chandra-Segaran and in Kennedy it is Ms Fleur Greaney. I know you will enjoy reading more about the way this team will operate in the article by Mrs McNamara.

Other members of staff, taking on additional responsibilities this year are Mr Rohan Duddy who is looking after Integrated Maths and Science, Mrs Annie Daley who will look after our indigenous group, Ms Ashlee Turner, who is the Facilitator for Sport, Mrs Clementine O'Sullivan looking after languages and Mr Andrew Woodman, looking after Integrated Humanities.

A very positive start…
It has been a very positive start to the year. Our students in all year levels are enthusiastic and appear to have settled in very well. Over the coming weeks, you will receive contact from your son or daughter’s Mentor teacher so that you are aware of who to contact with any questions or queries. In the meantime, feel free to contact one of the Leaders of Learning and Wellbeing in your House with any issues you may wish to discuss. 

…. and an inspirational theme for the year
Our theme for the year "Listen to what the spirit is saying" has already made a great impact. As members of staff, Mrs Nicola Edgehill worked with us during our professional learning week prior to the return of students to reflect on and interiorise its potential in our own lives and the Year 12 Leadership team led the whole school in a beautiful opening liturgy, introducing the theme to them. You will certainly be hearing more…

Thank you all for the support you have given us already. We are greatly looking forward to working with you and your sons and daughters in 2019.

Catherine Rey

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the new look Wellbeing Team!

JPC is always striving to improve and develop. In 2019 we are pleased to introduce the Wellbeing Team who will be working with the House Leaders of Learning and Wellbeing and Mrs Chauntell McNamara who will lead the Wellbeing team.

The team will be focused on working with their House Leaders of Learning and Wellbeing (LLWB) in continuing to support the pastoral care of their house members. LWB’s will also be developing and implementing a pastoral program and be responsible for assisting the LLWB’s in managing the wellbeing of all students at JPC.

You can contact them and your Leaders of Learning and Wellbeing via email. As always, your first point of call is the mentor for wellbeing & the classroom teacher for academic issues. Ongoing or very serious issues can be referred to the LLWB. Each contact teacher can be found on the relevant Moodle page.

Sincerely,
Leaders of Wellbeing Team

Miss Chloe McCallum
Maathai House
Chloe.Mccallum@cg.catholic.edu.au

Mr Paul McKie
Ferre House
Paul.mckie@cg.catholic.edu.au

Miss Teena Zorzi
Drexel House
Teena.zorzi@cg.catholic.edu.au

Miss Fleur Greaney
Kennedy House
Fleur.greaney@cg.catholic.edu.au

Mr Alagaysan Chandra Segran
Van Thuan House
Alagaysan.chandraseg@cg.catholic.edu.au

Miss Jessica Reid
Vanier House
Jessica.reid@cg.catholic.edu.au

Leader of Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing

Mrs Chauntell McNamara
Chauntell.mcnamara@cg.catholic.edu.au

I am married with 3 children aged 18,16 and 14. I continue to enjoy all the ‘special’ moments that come with children of this age and I am forever searching for the book that provide the answers to manage my ‘gifts’.

I am a Science/Biology teacher and I also teach Religion. I am excited about working with the students, staff and families in this community. The collaborative, independent and open approach to teaching and learning at JPC is refreshing and stimulating. I look forward to the many opportunities the school will bring me both personally and professionally.

We would like to invite Year 7 Students and their families to a
"Tips & Tricks Session" at the College.

Topics covered during the session will be;

• Using our Online Learning Portal - MOODLE
• Assessment Tips
• Cyber Safety

The session will take place on Tuesday 12 February - 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Please bring your Year 7 child/children and their Ipads.

No need to RSVP but we hope to see you all there.

We would like to invite our indigenous students and their families to a welcome afternoon tea

On - Thursday 21 February

Time - 3.45pm to 4.45pm

Location - Kamberri Room

RSVP - Tuesday 19 February

email - office.jpc@cg.catholic.edu.au

Dear Parents/Guardians,

If you are interested in your child taking part in the St John Paul II College Music Program, which includes the Co-Curricular Music Groups (Rock Band, Unplugged, Concert Band, etc.) or Individual Lessons (Guitar, Bass, Piano, Vocals, Woodwind, Brass, Drums and Strings), please use the links below to enrol as soon as possible.

We are lucky to have the best tutors in the ACT working at our school and helping our students. We currently have numerous vacancies in Woodwind, Brass, Strings and Bass, so if you are interested, please get involved. If you have any further questions please contact Aron Lyon at aronlyon@hotmail.com or sharon.robinson@cg.catholic.edu.au

Instrumental Lessons Form
 

Co-Curricular Music Form
 

JPC will be holding their annual sporting events of Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country in Semester 1. These carnivals are compulsory whole school events and attendance is required like any regular school day. They are an excellent opportunity for all students to make their contribution to the JPC Community and develop their relationships with peers and teachers.

The first of our carnivals (Swimming) will be held next Thursday 14 February. Permission notes are now DUE. Please click on the link below to access the permission note.

School Photo envelopes are to be returned on the day and handed to the photographer when your childs photo is taken. Please make sure you complete the form and return it next Tuesday.