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