Welcome Back to Term Four

We warmly welcome all families back to Term Four.

In Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 17:11–19, Jesus heals ten lepers, but only one — a Samaritan — returns to thank Him. Jesus praises his faith and gratitude. This passage highlights the importance of thankfulness, faith, and recognising God’s mercy, even when others do not.

For our students, this story reminds us that gratitude should be a natural response to kindness and blessings. As Term Four progresses — with many significant milestone events across our cohorts — Luke’s message encourages us not to take good things for granted, especially when others have supported us. It also challenges us to be inclusive and humble in how we treat others — core values of a Catholic school and an inclusive community.

Feast Day – 22 October

Feast Day is a key community event in our school calendar. Once again, our Year 12 cohort has taken the lead in planning and organising the afternoon’s events and activities.

We ask for the support of parents in ensuring that students attend the entire day’s events and are not signed in late or given permission to leave early. The purpose of the day is to build connection and strengthen our sense of belonging to the school community.

Students are expected to wear full school uniform in the morning and may change into their PE uniform for the afternoon. An email was sent to families last week outlining how to purchase ticket books and food. There will also be cash/card food trucks available on the day. All proceeds from tickets and activities will be donated to the Gungahlin chapter of St Vincent de Paul.

Parent–Teacher Interviews

Parent–Teacher Interviews were held during Weeks 10 and 11, providing valuable opportunities for families to connect with teachers and discuss their child’s academic progress.

Students are encouraged to reflect on this feedback and use it — alongside their semester goal-setting, reviewed in PC classes last week — to make the most of the academic opportunities available this term.

Year 7, 2026 Transition

One of the many exciting events in Term Four is welcoming new families to our school community. On Wednesday 15 October, we welcomed over 100 new families to St John Paul II College as part of our Year 7, 2026 transition program.

This marks the beginning of their journey with us, leading up to their first day in February next year. A sincere thank you to the many staff who helped prepare and deliver this important event.

Tom van de Waterbeemd
Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Community

Be Prepared: How the Right Mindset and Equipment Help You Succeed in Maths

Starting a new term often comes with a mix of excitement and a little anxiety, especially when you think about tougher subjects like mathematics. While effort and focus are key, you might be surprised how much your preparedness — specifically having the right equipment and the right mindset (Boaler, 2016) — can make the difference between struggling and succeeding.

The Science of Learning: Why Preparedness Works

It might seem like a small thing, but walking into a classroom fully equipped taps into key principles of cognitive science and helps your brain learn more efficiently.

1. Reducing cognitive load
Your brain has limited processing power; this is called cognitive load. When you are frantically searching your locker, asking to borrow a pen, or worrying that you have forgotten your calculator, your brain is using valuable energy on these distracting tasks (Sweller et al., 2020). By being prepared, you reduce cognitive load and free up your working memory so it can focus on understanding the lesson.

2. Anchoring the routine
Routines create pathways in the brain. The simple act of putting your notebook in the right place and having your gear laid out acts as a learning anchor. This signals to your brain that it is time to switch into focus mode, improving concentration and information retention (Wood & Neal, 2007).

3. Reducing stress and improving recall
When you are prepared, you feel less stressed. High levels of stress (cortisol) can inhibit the prefrontal cortex, the brain area responsible for problem-solving, planning and memory recall (Arnsten, 2009). A confident, calm student is a student whose brain is operating at its peak.

Why equipment matters (it’s more than just a pen)

This is especially true for maths classes. Maths builds on prior learning, and often the tools you use are critical for performing calculations efficiently, accurately and for visualising concepts (Muchnick, 2011; Ellington, 2003).

• Efficiency: Spending class time looking for a spare pencil or trying to borrow a ruler or calculator is lost learning time. When everything is at hand, you can focus immediately on the teacher and the lesson.

• Accuracy: Trying to draw a straight line or calculate an answer without the proper tools leads to sloppy work and mistakes that have nothing to do with your mathematical understanding. A ruler or calculator ensures your diagrams and calculations are precise.

• Confidence: Walking into a test knowing you have every piece of equipment you might need helps lower stress and allows you to use mental energy on the actual problems. Preparedness equals confidence.

Your must-have maths kit: the calculator conundrum

The single most important piece of maths equipment is often the calculator. However, not just any calculator will do.

At St John Paul II College we recommend the use of a Casio 82Au Plus II or Casio 8200. These handle basic functions, square roots, exponents, trigonometry (sin, cos, tan) and scientific notation.

A note on phones and laptops: While your smartphone has a calculator app, it is never an acceptable substitute for a physical calculator in class or in an exam and is against school rules. Similarly, using the calculator on your laptop is not a substitute and cannot be used in an exam. The Maths Department has strict rules against electronic devices that can access the internet or store notes. Always bring the approved, physical calculator.

Essential stationery

Beyond the calculator, make sure you have the basics:

• Pens: Maths is done in pen. Pencils are used for graphs and drawings only. Teachers need to see your working so they can help you learn from mistakes. Do not use whiteout.

• Notebook/binder: Keep notes and homework organised. A dedicated maths book helps when revising for assessments. Grid books are preferred.

• Ruler: For clear, accurate graphs, number lines and geometric figures.

A simple checklist for success

Make a habit of checking your backpack the night before. A quick five-minute check can save you hours of stress and prime your brain for learning.

1. Textbook/workbook? ✓

2. Notebook/paper? ✓

3. Pencils/pens/eraser? ✓

4. Ruler/protractor? ✓

5. Appropriate calculator? ✓

Being fully prepared with the right equipment is an easy, powerful step towards academic success. Don’t let a missing pencil or the wrong calculator be the reason you struggle. Equip your mind and your backpack for excellence. Avoid repercussions for not having your equipment, such as lunchtime detentions.

References (as provided)

• Arnsten (2009). Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

• Boaler, J. (2016). Mathematical Mindsets. Jossey-Bass.

• Ellington, A. J. (2003). A meta-analysis of the effects of calculators on students’ achievement and attitude levels in pre-college mathematics classes. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 34(5), 433–463.

• Muchnick, C. C. (2011). The Everything Guide to Study Skills. Adams Media.

• Sweller et al. (2020). Cognitive-load theory: methods to manage working memory load in the classroom. Current Directions in Psychological Science.

• Wood, W., & Neal, D. (2007). Review on habits and the habit–goal interface.

We were excited to welcome Year 1 students from Holy Spirit Primary School into our library last term. In class, our students wrote and illustrated their own picture books, and it was a great opportunity to share their stories with a younger audience. The visit was valuable for both groups: the Year 1s enjoyed engaging with new stories, and our students gained confidence and pride in their creative work.

 

Nerissa Hannaford

Last week, we had the honour of hosting the Australian Migrant Jubilee Cross at the College as it begins its 2025 Jubilee pilgrimage. Throughout the day, members of our JPC community gathered in the Chapel for a special time of reflection and prayer in the presence of the cross. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to continue to acknowledge and celebrate the faith, gifts, contributions and resilience that migrants bring to our community, our local Church and our world.

The Migrant Jubilee Cross stood as a pertinent reminder for us that God’s love is for all people and that we must continue to answer the call of the Church to be a refuge and a home for all. Our students were especially fascinated by the relics embedded in the Cross. They prayed for our migrant and refugee communities in the presence of the relics; the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

We continue to pray for those who are in search of safety, belonging and peace in our world and for those who encounter the Migrant Jubilee Cross as it continues its journey in this year of Jubilee. “As a College Community, may we be moved to listen, to welcome and to act, as we continue the mission of the Church to be a home for all and a light of hope in our world”. (Father Paul Anthony, 2025).

Bree Foley (Kuhn)
Youth Ministry and Religious Education Classroom Support

To improve safety and traffic flow, access to the staff car park for parent pick-up has been extended. Parents are encouraged to use this area for afternoon collection rather than parking illegally on surrounding streets or blocking bus access on campus.

 Please:

Follow directions from staff and posted signage.
Drive to sign posted speed limits, keep lanes clear, and do not queue across crossings.
Do not stop in no-stopping zones, bus zones, or across driveways.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our community safe and respectful.

- JPC Office

The She Leads Conference was an insightful opportunity to meet new people and develop the vital skills needed for networking and life. Throughout the day we engaged in many interactive sessions and heard from speakers about their successes and how they reached their goals.

My favourite keynote speaker was Ebony May. I was intrigued by how she started her business so young and turned something she loved into a productive and profitable enterprise. Her story was relatable — she began early and still navigated the struggles of school and teenage life while growing her business. I most enjoyed the “Unite to Ignite” interactive session by Han Worsley; it taught us how to communicate with our peers through shared values and experiences, and how to stand by our own values while respectfully disagreeing with others. My biggest takeaway about leadership from the day was to create opportunities for yourself. While opportunities sometimes come to you, creating them yourself gives you more control over what you want to achieve and how you will get there. For future students attending, this program allows you to explore leadership in unconventional ways and inspires you to chase your dreams effectively.

— Brenda Nwakor

The She Leads Conference was a wonderful experience that showed me what it means to unite and make a difference in the world. Ebony May, a 21-year-old student and entrepreneur, was the most inspiring keynote speaker for me. With youthful energy, she spoke about falling down and getting up again, and about not fearing what lies ahead — all grounded in real-life experience. Her insight into media helped us see the difference between how the media frames fear and each individual’s lived experience, and how that framing does not have to limit what we can achieve. Overall, it was an eye-opening day that highlighted the transformative power of diverse voices and created a strong sense of unity and purpose.

— Ella Horrigan

Cheryl Jones
Religious Education, Philosophy and Food Technology