St John Paul II Catholic College Newsletter

Dear Parents/Carers and students,

The students, both old and new, arrived with enthusiasm for the year and have been engaged in their learning during this term. I welcome the Year 7 students to St John Paul II, all 210 of them, as well as the new students in Years 8 -12. We have seen all the new students settling in well and being supported by their peers and teachers who care for them. As we progressed through Term 1, you will have noticed that school activities returning to normal within changed COVID-19 guidelines.

Through 2021, we will continue to emphasise to all students the need to do their best, care for one another and concentrate on their learning, making the college a place which has a unique and dynamic learning experience. The students have been working hard this term to ensure they are achieving their best, the result of their work is visible in what they produce and in the extent of their participation in school activities. 

2022 Enrolment Update

The Open Evening which was held recently, highlighted everything that we do here as a community with staff  displaying our school to the wider community with genuine warmth and enthusiasm. The teaching and support staff are to be congratulated on their professionalism and dedication to the school during the event. Unfortunately, due to COVID – 19 requirements, our students were not able to attend and assist at this event. Please refer to our Facebook page for information recorded from the open enrolment evening. We are currently also organising tours at different times during Term 2 for the families that could not attend the evening. 

Our Open Evening attendance numbers should also serve to remind parents and carers that it is important to submit enrolment applications promptly to ensure a place at St John Paul II Catholic College in 2022. If you know of a family that wishes to enrol their son/daughter in Year 7 at the college in 2022, please advise them to contact the college to obtain an enrolment information pack.  Enrolments are also available for any other students who are not currently at St John Paul II Catholic College, especially Year 11 for 2022. Offers of enrolment letters are currently being sent to families for 2022.

Staff Update

We welcome the following staff to St John Paul II Catholic College in 2021: Brittany Azzopardi (English/HSIE/RE), Ellen Celima (English/HSIE/RE), Olivia Cochrane (TAS/Science), Daniel Conway (Assistant Leader of English), Jessica Gibbs (English), Rebecca Johnson (Teacher Librarian/English), Terri Lennard (Dance/VET Entertainment/Music), Siobhan McCarthy (English/HSIE/RE), Natasha Prudnicki (English), Caitlin Refalo (Mathematics) and Kirsten Webster (TAS).

We also have staff returning from leave, Jessica Idone, Lisa-Maree Madigan and Amanda Saunders who will be working Part Time in 2021. 

Parents Representative Council – Diocese of Parramatta (PRC)

Thank you to Mrs Priscilla Pickering for representing the college at the Parents Representative Council – Diocese of Parramatta (PRC) in 2019 & 2020. Please contact me at the college if you wish to be the representative for St JP II CC for the PRC in 2021.

Staff Learning – Pupil Free Days in 2021

To assist with your planning, our next Staff Learning - Pupil Free Day is Friday 25 June. The other Staff Learning-Pupil Free Days for this year are Friday 13 August, Thursday 16 December and Friday 17 December. Please contact the college a week before each Staff Learning-Pupil Free Day if you require supervision for your children on these days at school.

Winter Uniform 

The changeover from summer to winter uniform for Term 2 is always difficult to determine with our changing weather patterns. However, we have decided that Week 1 and 2 being the changeover period when students can choose to wear winter or summer uniforms –– not a mixture of them – depending on the weather, with the beginning of Week 3 Monday 3 May being the time all students should be in their Winter Uniform.

Easter

As we move closer to Easter our students are continuing their Lenten practice of working for Project Compassion and each Home Room is completing a daily donation. Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal is an extraordinary, ongoing demonstration of the faith, love and generosity of the Catholic community and caring supporters throughout Australia to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

Finally, I am always happy to speak to you about your child’s education or issues that affect their education. If I cannot help you directly, I will ensure you are put in contact with the person/s that can assist you. If I am not available when you call, it is only because someone else ‘got in’ before you, but I will always endeavor to get back to you if someone else cannot assist you. I look forward to engaging with you all in 2021, knowing that our faith in God will strengthen all of us as we work to ensure the very best Catholic Education possible for those in our care.

Joseph we honour you; In your unconditional love and protection of Mary… In your courageous trust in God’s provident care… In your silent listening to the whisperings of God in your heart… In your acceptance of the mysterious action of God in your life In your nurturing love for Mary and Jesus… In your fatherly instruction of Jesus in the ways of wisdom, love, mercy and forgiveness.

Amen

Vaping / eCigarettes

As many would be aware, the use of electronic cigarettes, or vapes, among young people is on the rise. The ease of availability, the affordability and discrete nature of these devices

have all contributed to the increase in use, particularly in recent months. Of particular concern among some young people, is the perception that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. The indisputable facts, however, remind us that: Read more...

Celebrating the Year of St Joseph

Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde called the Church to set aside 2021 as a year to focus our attention on St Joseph as patron of the Universal Church. Saint Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods, the co-founders of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, chose St Joseph to be patron of the Congregation and so we rejoice in this opportunity to pray with and for the people of God with St Joseph

Saint Joseph was the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus. All we know about Joseph comes from the accounts of the nativity in the New Testament.

He was a tradesman, commonly he is said to have been a carpenter, but it's possible he may have been a stone worker. He was said to have been a direct descendent of David, the great king of Israel.

Since Joseph is not mentioned in any accounts of Jesus' public life, his crucifixion, or resurrection, it is thought that Joseph died before Jesus started preaching.

St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Catholic Church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants, workers, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Despite knowing so little about Joseph, he still has two feast days in the Western church. In his capacity as the patron saint of Workers, 1st May was established as the Feast of "St. Joseph the Worker" in 1955.

Success has been evident within our sporting sector at St John Paul II. We have recognized the incredible sportsmanship that we have at the college and congratulate all students who have participated and represented our school. Read more... 

See more here..

 Non-College items are not permissible and will be confiscated if worn. The changeover from summer to winter uniform for Term 2 is always difficult to determine with our changing weather patterns. However, we have decided that Week 1 and 2 being the changeover period when students can choose to wear winter or summer uniforms –– not a mixture of them – depending on the weather, with the beginning of Week 3 Monday 3 May being the time all students should be in their Winter Uniform.

We have been requested by Travel NSW to remind families about the use of Opal Cards. We will simply point out the following: 

• Students catching public transport to and from school must have an Opal Card, and must tap on and off each time they travel. 

• Students who do not have an Opal Card are not entitled to free public transport and can be refused entry to a bus or train. 

• If lost, Opal Cards can be replaced by ordering one online. 

• Failure of students to tap on and off will provide inaccurate data to the Government about public transport usage and may lead to a reduction in services. 

• The College has been asked to monitor Opal Card ownership and its use more closely, and we will be doing so.

Due to patronage, Transport NSW will modify a bus route if there are insufficient numbers of registered passengers. Could you please remind your child to TAP ON and TAP OFF.

All  Assessment Handbooks are available online from the website OR  via the parent portal at COMPASS Community School Documentation.