It has been terrific to welcome students back this term. It has been a smooth start, and I thank all families for the work they have done to re-establish routines. Returning to school can be a challenge, and it is a credit to you and the work you do to reassure and provide strategies to help your child navigate the demands of high school.

Our Gospel this week came from John 20:19–31 and offers powerful relevance for high school students. It explores themes of faith, doubt, and the importance of community, which remain central to the adolescent experience:

• Faith and Doubt: Like Thomas, our students may encounter doubt and questions—about their beliefs, the world, and their place in it. This passage encourages them to seek understanding and hold on to faith, even in times of uncertainty.

• Peace and Forgiveness: Jesus' message of peace and his act of forgiveness inspire students to approach others with compassion and grace.

• Community and Support: The gathering of the disciples reminds us of the strength found in connection. JPC students can reflect on how friendships, family, and staff form their support network.

It is an exciting term of events for our school community, and I look forward to sharing these with you in the weeks ahead.

ANZAC Assembly

On Wednesday, our College held our annual ANZAC Assembly, a tradition that holds deep meaning for students and staff alike. In his address, Major Eamon Kenny shared the story of Private James (Jim) Martin, Australia’s youngest serving soldier in WWI at just 14 years of age. His bravery left a lasting impression.

This moving assembly reminded us of the enduring values of courage, mateship, and resilience, while also prompting reflection on the impact of war and the importance of peace. At JPC, we acknowledge and support our Defence families and are proud to walk alongside them in their educational journey.

A heartfelt thanks to Mrs Zonika Smith, our Defence Transition Mentor, for coordinating the event, and to our musicians and special guests who contributed to the occasion.

Uniform – Winter Reminder

The changing temperatures and leaf colours signal the transition to winter uniform. Families are reminded that uniform expectations are outlined on pages 24–25 of the College diary and can also be found on the College website.

We particularly ask parents to review the regulations on school shoes and piercings. Students are required to wear the College jumper and softshell jacket. Please note that hoodies and puffer jackets are not permitted.

We are aware of stock shortages at Lowes, and this week Dr Wattam and I met with Lowes’ senior management to raise our concerns. They have advised that new stock is expected in the coming weeks. Families are encouraged to use the ‘notify me’ function via Lowes to receive an alert when items are restocked.

We are also working closely with Lowes to improve select uniform items and explore new additions. Most elements of the uniform will remain unchanged. Once samples are available, we will share these with families and students for feedback.

Small Changes, Big Impact: Why Being On Time Matters

As Term 2 begins, we are focusing on something simple but powerful: being on time.

When students arrive late, even by 5–10 minutes per class, the impact adds up:

• 10 minutes late per class = nearly an hour of learning lost per day
• That is equivalent to over a week of lost learning per term

It also affects:

• Classroom flow and concentration
• The student’s confidence and engagement
• Accurate roll-marking, which is a legal requirement

We ask families to support this by:

• Ensuring drop-off before 8.45am
• Encouraging students to take responsibility for signing in if late
• Using Compass only to explain absences, not as a messaging tool

Together, we can build a strong foundation for every student’s success.

St John Paul II College is a faith community where there is an invitation for everyone to pray, serve, love and grow.

We all have the great opportunity to be inspired by the words and actions of St John Paul II. According to him, the vocation of all humans is "the vocation to love. Love, as a sincere gift of self, is what gives the life and freedom of the person their truest meaning" (John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 1995, para. 96).

John Paul II was instrumental in the development of the Spirit-led Movement, particularly through his great gifts in the subject of pneumatology – the theological study of the Holy Spirit, a branch of Christian theology. He suggested that:

“We must form consciences to realise the intrinsic connection between life and freedom, between freedom and love, and between freedom and truth” (§96).

It is only when this unity is repaired that we truly understand the meaning of the vocation to love.

All our endeavours through the Mission and Ministry Program at JPC will gradually bring about cultural transformation.

As we journey through this new year, it is vital for us to reflect on the values that shape our identity as a Catholic school—one deeply rooted in our faith and in the fundamental dignity of every human person. The spiritual development of our community is continually nurtured. Living and learning through the St John Paul charism, the JPC family share the same story to enter, the same language to speak, a group to which we belong, a special way to pray, the same work to undertake, and a face of God to see (Fr Claude Maréchal, 2001).

This year, each year group will have the opportunity to participate in a retreat. The retreat program is sequential, and each retreat has a scriptural theme. Through exploration, dialogue, prayer, celebration and contemplation, students reflect on the potential for spiritual transformation that exists in the obstacles and difficulties they face each day. They come to realise they encounter the living God through their interactions with others. Above all, students are encouraged to recognise that they already have all the worth and significance they need within—they are God’s precious creation.

As a community, we engage in whole school liturgical celebrations. In Term 1, we celebrated Opening Mass, Ash Wednesday, and the Easter Liturgy. These events are authentic expressions of our Catholic identity, using symbols and ritual to evoke the senses and deepen connection with the sacred. Our students’ gifts are nurtured through love, hope and faith. The joy, respect, and reverence displayed by students before, during, and after our liturgical events speaks to the importance of the College’s prayer life. Each morning we pause together in prayer, and we celebrate Mass in our College Chapel every Wednesday at 8:20am.

Recently, the College received an urgent request for food from the St Vincent de Paul Society. The response from our JPC families was overwhelming—over 100 bags of food were donated. This act of generosity reflects the selfless spirit of our students and their families.

“Each one of you has received a special grace. So like all good stewards, responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourself at the service of others.” – 1 Peter 4:1

This same generosity was reflected in the funds raised for Project Compassion throughout Term 1.

By experiencing God's love through the Holy Spirit, our students and staff are empowered to express love in a way that reflects God's presence in our community. As we continue to develop the mission of our College, our aim is to create a stronger sense of belonging and a deeper connection to one another through God’s love.

Maria Tolfree
Mission and Ministry Coordinator

On Wednesday, 30 April, our school community gathered to commemorate ANZAC Day through a respectful and moving ceremony. We were honoured to welcome Major Eamon Kenny as our guest speaker, who delivered a powerful reflection on the courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of the ANZACs. His words particularly resonated with students and staff as he shared the story of Private James Charles Martin – known as “The Soldier Boy” – the youngest known Australian soldier to die in World War I at just 14 years of age.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Music Department for their beautiful contributions, and to our Defence students and cadets for their presence and participation, which brought great meaning to the occasion. We are also grateful to the Defence families and parents who joined us—your support added to the solemnity and significance of the morning.

Lest we forget.

Zonika Smith
Defence School Mentor

On Monday, 5 May, students received their new Compass student card, marking the official launch of our updated school systems. These cards replace the previous ID and are fully integrated with our Compass Administration System.

As part of this transition, the College has moved from the MonitorBM canteen payment system to the Compass Wallet—a fully cashless system for all canteen purchases. Families can now top up funds directly through the Compass app, with all payments and pre-orders managed online.

IMPORTANT: From Week 4 (Monday, 19 May), we will no longer accept cash or EFTPOS for canteen top-ups at the Front Office.
All canteen purchases and top-ups must be made online via the Compass Wallet system. Please see the attached instructions for details on how to load funds.

MonitorBM balances will be transferred to Compass Wallets after Week 4.
If your child has any remaining funds on their MonitorBM account at the end of Week 4, these will be automatically moved across by our Compass team after that date. There is no need to request this transfer.

What You Can Use the Compass Card For:

• Canteen purchases (pre-ordering and tap-to-pay)
• Library borrowing
• Printing access
• Student identification
• Senior Students (Years 11–12): Use to sign in/out at the Compass kiosk at the Front Office

Missed Photo Day

Students who did not attend a photo day will not yet have a Compass card. Please ask your child to speak with their PC teacher to arrange a photo with the Marketing and Communications Manager so their card can be issued.

We appreciate your support and patience during this transition. This new system helps streamline services and ensures a safer, more efficient experience for all.

Lorraine Catanzariti
Marketing and Communications Manager 

This week, industry professional Ali Clinch and Jena Prince led two one-hour workshops with the Years 11/12 Drama class. Ali and Jena are working with Canberra Theatre Centre (CTC) as part of this year’s Act Up Festival.

The class is devising a unique piece of theatre in the comedy genre as part of their final assessment. Both Ali and Jena led a variety of workshops which focused on ensemble work and bringing initial concepts to life through guided improvisation. Students were challenged when working in different groups to bring ideas to life, exploring the space to create interpretative images for the audience. Students also explored how quickly they can change roles from audience to director when working with their peers.

The class is commended on their courage and flexibility to accept all challenges and experiences offered over the two workshops. Chookas!

Mrs Sarah Smith
Drama Teacher

This term, we are very pleased to welcome back Consent Labs to deliver a valuable wellbeing program for all students, along with a complimentary education session for parents and carers.

Consent Labs are leading educators in the field of Respectful Relationships and Consent Education. Their sessions are designed to provide students and families with reliable, age-appropriate, and practical information to help navigate healthy relationships.

At JPC, we uphold the importance of treating others with dignity and respect, and equipping our students with the tools to form relationships aligned with personal values and Australian laws. In today’s media landscape, young people are regularly exposed to content that can normalise unhealthy behaviours. Programs like this help students make informed, ethical, and respectful choices.

Student Sessions: 12–13 May 2025

All students in Years 7–12 will take part in sessions facilitated by Consent Labs across these two days. Depending on their year group, students will participate in discussion-based workshops or lecture-style presentations, each tailored to their stage of development. Sessions will occur on-campus at JPC, with timings and locations to be communicated closer to the date.

Please note: This is an opt-out program. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please notify your child’s House Coordinator as soon as possible.

Parent & Carer Education Evening: Monday, 12 May at 6:00 PM

Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend this on-campus evening session hosted by Consent Labs. This session is designed to support families in beginning or continuing conversations around consent, healthy relationships, and respect with their young people. The session will also cover how to support your child if they encounter unhealthy dynamics in platonic or romantic relationships.

Register for this free session here: https://forms.office.com/r/2btjjq0chw
Event details also appear at the bottom of this newsletter.

For more information on Consent Labs and their high school programs, visit: consentlabs.org.au

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the College.

Ms Ame Uidam
School Counsellor

The eSafety Commissioner is offering a free 45-minute webinar designed to support parents and carers in understanding how boys and young men are engaging in today’s digital world. This important session, titled Exploring the Online Experiences of Boys and Young Men, will cover:

• The social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men
• How boys engage online, build relationships, and where they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation
• The impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on identity, attitudes, and behaviours

Webinar Dates: Monday 27 May + Tuesday 30 July

To learn more and register, visit: esafety.gov.au

You may also wish to explore two important articles from the eSafety Commissioner:

• Shining a light on the dark forces manipulating our teenagers

• An unfair fight – how algorithms are shaping our adolescents

These are valuable resources for any parent or carer looking to better understand the evolving challenges our young people face online.

If your child is interested in learning a musical instrument and improving their theoretical and practical skills, individual tuition is available. Our industry professional tutors and performing artists cover a wide range of styles and instruments, including violin, cello, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, drums, vocals, piano, bass, and more.

Band opportunities and instrument hire are also available to support students in their musical journey.

If you are interested, please complete the form via the link below and visit the JPC Music Tuition page for more information.

https://forms.gle/XuVzaW5Tn1L9H7Fd6