This is our final newsletter for 2024. How fast the year has flown. I am sure that you have marked the year in myriad ways both consciously and unconsciously that have shown the passage of time. It might be letting down a hem on a skirt or a pair of trousers, because your child has grown so quickly, it might be the sprouting of some/more grey hairs, or it could be that you have completed something this year that has been a long time in the making – painting the house, finishing a course, saving up for something or the like. In any event, time marches on despite us and yet hopefully, we become a little wiser as each year unfolds.

I am sure that your household is now gearing up for the festive season with plans being made for Christmas, perhaps the holiday period for some, gift purchases, and the endless shopping that comes with all of the preparations ahead of Christmas and the New Year. I sometimes get exhausted just thinking about Christmas!

Interestingly, our Church calls us to do the exact opposite of running around frantically organising, and busying ourselves with end-of-year stuff. Yesterday marked the first Sunday of Advent in the Church calendar. This is a time for preparing, waiting, and anticipation. Advent means “arrival” and of course we still our hearts and minds in anticipation of the birth of the Christ Child. We can prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus by spending a little time each day in prayer. Just simply stopping what we are doing, finding a quiet space and stilling ourselves is a good way to centre: and to enter into a time of opportunity to speak to God, or conversely, to let God speak to us. It can be a welcome respite from the speed of our daily lives!

Advent is a time of joy, hope, and faith. We are getting ready to really celebrate when 25 December comes. Our faith is one of positivity – we are people of hope because of Jesus and his salvific act for all of humanity.

When Christmas does arrive, may it be a time of family, love, celebration, and joy for all our St John Paul II families. We also remember those who have little at this time of year, and extend our generosity through charity and good works.

Thank you to all families for your support of our College this year. I hope your holiday period is safe, wonderfully relaxing, and rejuvenating. Our staff no doubt is looking forward to some time to recharge and slow down. We look forward to seeing our families back at the College in February next year. Stay safe and may God richly bless you all this season.

The College Office hours during the holidays are below.

Dr Craig Wattam

Attention 2025 JPC Families

The JPC 2025 Student Guide is now available on our website to help you prepare for changes coming in 2025.

Inside the guide, you’ll find essential information, including:

• Staff structure
• Key contacts
• 2025 term dates
• School hours
• Online platforms
• Timetable overview
• What to bring
• IT requirements

We encourage you to take some time to review the guide and familiarise yourself with these updates before the new school year begins.

The College Office

A few reminders about information put out over the past weeks for 2025:

• Next year we will no longer have Sentral or Moodle. These will be replaced with Compass and Canvas. Details will be available both via the College website, the school newsletter throughout Term 1 and via email to all families. We will also walk through with all students in the first couple of days how to access and use these systems. Sessions to help any family needing assistance will be made available at college events throughout Term 1.
• We will be moving to a 7-day rotating timetable. We will work to mitigate the confusion to students by providing calendars that can be used both at home and at school as well as utilising the College diary. Every student will have a College diary, which will travel between home and school.
• Early next year will see the opening of our College Library. We watch with excitement, as this new space develops. There will be multiple opportunities next year for families to engage in this space.

Mrs Kathleen Garvie
Assistant Principal -Learning
Kennedy and Ferre Houses

7-day Rotating Timetable

The following table outlines the number of periods students will have for each subject in 2025, over a 7-day period. To determine these numbers, a significant amount of research was conducted including investigating legislative, BSSS and CE requirements, required learning time from ACARA, and what is happening in other CE schools and other jurisdictions.

We understand that in any timetable change, there are perceived winners and losers. The new timetable may lead to concerns about the allocation of time for Religious Education (RE) and its perceived impact on other subjects across the curriculum. However, we want to assure you that RE will remain a vital part of our educational offering. To complement regular classes, we will implement Faith Formation Days each Semester as part of a continuous faith development program. These days will provide students with enriched experiences focused on spiritual growth, community service, and reflection, ensuring that their faith journey remains integral to their overall education. This balanced approach will allow us to maintain a strong commitment to RE while still meeting the academic needs of our students.

Pastoral Care (PC)

In the new timetable, PC will be scheduled first thing in the morning on Wednesdays. We hope this adjustment will make it easier for parents to attend special events, such as assemblies when they are available. This time will be spent either with the mentor teacher or in year groups, running through the wellbeing curriculum, or at assembly or in other whole school events. Year 11 and 12 will be either in with their House or completing their Flex choice.

Mrs Kathleen Garvie
Assistant Principal -Learning
Kennedy and Ferre Houses

On Thursday evening, Year 12 students and their parents gathered to celebrate the 2024 Year 12 Formal, hosted at the prestigious Hotel Realm. The evening was an outstanding success, serving as a testament to the Year 12 students, whose impeccable fashion sense was equally matched by their impressive skills on the dance floor.

An event of this magnitude requires meticulous planning and organisation. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mrs Natasha Bramham for her leadership in orchestrating this event. Her efforts were significantly supported by the Year 12 Leadership Team, whose contributions were invaluable, encompassing every detail from the selection of the menu to the choice of music and decorations.

The evening was not only a celebration of the students' achievements but also a reflection of the strong sense of community and collaboration within our school. The dedication and hard work of all involved ensured that the formal was a memorable and joyous occasion for everyone present.

Congratulations to all the students for their vibrant participation and to the parents for their unwavering support. Special thanks once again to Mrs Bramham and the Year 12 Leadership Team for their exceptional efforts in making this event a resounding success.

Tom van de Waterbeemd
Assistant Principal – Wellbeing & Community
Maathai and Van Thuan Houses

As we look ahead to 2025, the much-anticipated opening of our new library promises to be an exciting space for student learning and engagement. This facility will be in the Justice Wing, creating a dynamic hub for innovation, collaboration, and quiet study.

With this change comes a shift in space allocation, and as always, we are committed to ensuring that our facilities support our growing school community. To meet the increasing demand for classrooms—driven by both the reallocation of space for the new library and our increase in enrolments for 2025, we will be installing modern modular classrooms on campus. The building site has now been established and limits access to the carpark near the basketball courts.

The library and modular classrooms reflect our ongoing commitment to excellence and adaptability as we support the needs of our growing community.

Thank you for being so supportive as we evolve out College to meet the needs of our students.

Dr Craig Wattam

Last Friday, JPC hosted the Big Band Extravaganza, our end-of-year music showcase. The evening featured a wide range of performances, including rock, jazz, concert band pieces, film scores, and soul music.

We extend a special thanks to our Year 12 band cohort, who closed the night with a standout performance, and to Mr Aron Lyon for his exceptional contributions to our music program.

Thank you to all who attended and supported this event!

Jonathan Goodwin

In preparation for the 2025 calendar year, College and Portfolio leaders dedicated a day to enhancing their understanding of leadership, exploring what it means to be a leader within a school community, and considering how they can leave a legacy within the JPC community. The sessions encompassed various topics, including leadership styles, guiding others on their journey, leading from a Catholic perspective, time management, and event planning.

In the afternoon session, the 2025 House captains joined the students, who were divided into House teams to undertake the challenge of assembling a children's bicycle without instructions or tools.

Congratulations to all students for their positive and enthusiastic participation and their valuable contributions to what promises to be an exciting year ahead! Special thanks to Mrs Darmody and Dr Wattam for their assistance and insights.

Congratulations to the following House Captains for 2025.

We look forward to seeing your passion and creativity shine as you lead your Houses in the year ahead.

Tom van de Waterbeemd
Assistant Principal – Wellbeing & Community
Maathai and Van Thuan Houses

This last week saw our Year 7 students get in the spirit of Christmas by designing and icing various gingerbread biscuits. Our 9/10 students looked at ways we can sustainably use items from our pantries and fridges to make tasty meals. They munched on a tasty pesto pasta using ingredients from our college garden!

We want to thank all our young people who partook in Food Technology and Hospitality classes this year. We hope they learnt life-long skills that are being practised and refined at home; from prep work to baking, to cooking and everyone’s favourite job, clean up!

We hope all families have a great Christmas period, filled with delicious foods and good vibes! We look forward to seeing all our young people return to our kitchens in 2025.

Merry Christmas,

Food Technologies Team,

Mr. Charter, Mrs McNamara, Mr Wilcox,
Mrs Hajduk, Mrs McCluskey

Congratulations to the students who have received their Road Ready Certificates. This marks an exciting milestone on the journey toward adulthood, as these students take their first steps into the world of driving with their Learner's Permits ('L's').

Remember, every great journey begins with a single step—or in this case, a turn of the key. Drive safe and enjoy the journey.

Kym Darmody

Year 10 Certificates

Students or Parents registered in our system can collect Year 10 Certificates after Mass on Friday 6 December up to week 4 of Term 1 2025. Any certificates not collected by this time will be returned to the ACT Government.

Year 12 BSSS Certificates

Collection of Year 12 certification certificates from JPC Compulsory - Monday 16 December 2024 - Please see note below**

• **ALL Year 12 students must pick up their certificates in person. Written authority by the student naming a responsible adult to pick up certificates in their absence must be personally signed by the student and given to Mrs Garvie prior to Thursday 21 November. Any certificates not picked up will be returned to the BSSS in February.

Kathleen Garvie

Are you thinking about 2025 stationery requirements?

St John Paul II College has partnered with COS to offer pre-packed book packs tailored to each year level's requirements. COS will handle the packing and delivery of all necessary resources directly to families.

For more information about requirements in 2025 visit - https://www.jpc.act.edu.au/stationery-requirements

The 2025 Student Guide is also now available - https://jpc.act.edu.au/handbook

Mrs Kathleen Garvie
Assistant Principal -Learning
Kennedy and Ferre Houses

Australian Training Company (ATC) is excited to advise that they have vacancies in their upcoming 2025 Information Technology program with a Federal Government Agency located in the ACT. 

About the Program:

• Qualifications Offered:
• Certificate II in Digital Media Information Technology
• Certificate III in Information Technology

• Eligibility:
• Women in IT: Open to female students currently in Years 10 and 11.
• First Nations Students: Open to Indigenous students in Years 10 and 11.

Placement Details:

• Location: Canberra City (face-to-face; no work from home).
• Schedule: 1 to 2 days per week in the workplace (8:30 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday).
• Additional Study: 3 hours of external study per week.

For more information and to apply, please click the link below.

Parish Newsletter

For the latest news Click here or you can view it on the Parish App or visit the website below.