Congratulations to students, families and staff for successfully transitioning to the remote and flexible learning program.  As I write, Year 11 and 12 students are now once again enjoying onsite learning and we look forward to welcoming all Year 7 to 10 students on Tuesday 9 June.

The theme of National Reconciliation Week 2020 ‘In This Together’ was explored by Mrs Middlebrook’s Year 11C Religious Education class during remote learning.  In exploring the theme, the class discussed how groups of people in Aboriginal art were marked as a set of concentric circles, connected by parallel lines of travel. 

These days we hear a lot about anxiety, and we tend to think of it as a negative emotion.  The truth is, anxiety evolved to keep us safe.  But it becomes a problem when it stops us doing something that we want or need to do.

This week we have started another new phase in our educational and life journeys.  The return to on-site learning will elicit a wide variety of thoughts and feelings for students, parents and carers and staff.  

Return to School

It has been a great joy this week to see our senior students returning to school and we are looking forward to the return of all students in the weeks ahead as the staged return to school continues. 

"The past two months have been an unexpected and challenging time for the John Paul College community, Australia, and for the rest of the world. However, taking from our experiences, this time has also taught us many things about showing optimism, perseverance, and collaboration throughout what has felt like one of the most difficult periods of our schooling. 

Over the last 4 weeks during isolation we have had the JPC Virtual Cross Country up and running. Both students and staff have been encouraged to send in a 3km or 4km, walk or run during this time as a way to keep active, stay connected and even earn some points for their houses.

The John Paul College Remote and Flexible Learning Framework is an overall strategic approach to learning when students are not on site at school. There will be particular approaches for different year levels and even for different subjects to allow for the best learning and support to be delivered. However, each approach will fit within this overall strategy, which is designed to ensure that students, teachers, non-teaching staff and families are clear about the coordinated approach we are implementing.

Full STEAM ahead at John Paul College. Rehoming bushfire-affected wildlife is just one way students at John Paul College are applying what they are learning to real life problems. The wildlife project originated from ‘Altitude’ - a new student-driven program where pupils years 7-10 develop practical problem solving skills in STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).

On Thursday 12^th March,  John Paul College took part in the annual Mission Action Day (MAD). 

MAD challenges all students to carry on the Church's mission of service (especially to the marginalised of our society). The day is student-led with the VCAL students and the Year 12 Leadership team taking charge of the event. These students worked tirelessly in taking on roles of planning and implementing a variety of stalls and activities, with profits going towards the four House charities.