John XXIII College Newsletter

From the Principal

During the week we welcomed guests to the College whose purpose was to conduct the Ethos and Identity Review on behalf of Jesuit Education Australasia. As parents are aware, our heritage is both Jesuit and Loreto given John XXIII College formed from the amalgamation of Jesuit School, St Louis’ School for Boys and Loreto Claremont in 1977. Today, our College is a Loreto Associate School and Jesuit Companion School with the conditions of this membership included in a Memorandum of Understanding between the College and Jesuit Education Australasia Limited and Loreto Ministries Limited. 

 

As a Jesuit Companion School, there is an expectation that the College participates in an Ethos and Identity Review every four to five years. The College’s first-ever review conducted this week involved the submission of a detailed self-reflection document outlining how the College enacts its Ignatian identity through five lenses:

 

  1. The Mission – How is the College Catholic and Ignatian?

     

  2. The Formation – How does the College form the various members of its community in the Ignatian tradition?

     

  3. Programs and Practice – How does the College’s curricular and co-curricular programs form students to be men and women with and for others?

     

  4. National and Global Networking – How does the College engage with other Catholic and Jesuit Apostolic works both nationally and internationally in order to develop a broader world view that raises awareness of the complexities and concerns of other communities?

     

  5. Governance and Leadership – How does the College leadership ensure sound governance of its work and commitment to collaborating with the mission of the Catholic church and the Society of Jesus?

     

Our visiting review panel was made up of a representative of Jesuit Education Australasia, Jennie Hickey, the current Principal of Jesuit school Xavier College in Melbourne, and Jesuit priest, Fr Brendan Kelly SJ. Over three days, the panel interviewed two Council members, all Executive members, twenty staff (both teaching and support staff), eight students and three College parents.  Following the review, a draft report will be submitted to the College in late September for consideration. I extend my thanks to everyone involved and particularly thank our Deputy Principal, Faith and Mission, Janeen Murphy, for all of her hard work in preparing the self-reflection document and coordinating the interview process.

 

Finally, I extend my congratulations to the eighteen Year 11 students vying for election to the position of College Captain. During the Secondary School Assembly, each candidate responded with a two-minute speech to the prompt, Great leaders are people for others. As College Captain, how would you live out the Ignatian value of Cura Personalis to inspire, encourage and accompany others? I am very conscious of the time and effort that went into each high-calibre speech and am confident that no matter who is ultimately successful in gaining the two positions of College Captain, our new Captains will be well supported by 16 other leaders who understand the importance of authenticity, humility, and the need to accompany others by building them up. Well done everyone!

 

 

Daniel Mahon

Principal