From the Principal

In their element

This week we conducted important celebrations to wish our Year 12 students well as they conclude their formal schooling at the College. Our ‘Day of Invitation’ assembly, Valete dinner and liturgy are highlights of the school year and are beautiful symbolic events to celebrate our Year 12 students and wish them well for the future.

We have also presented a wonderful Art Exhibition and Media Night as a celebration of the superb work created by our students during the year.

At the final assembly for Year 12 students, I related the following:

“Two fish were swimming back to shore and they came across another fish who posed the question:

‘What is the water like?’

The first two fish looked at each other and asked themselves:

‘What is water?’

It was so natural for the fish to swim in the water that they did not even need to think about it. They were in their element.” (Adapted from Sir Ken Robinson)

For some Year 12 students finishing today, John XXIII College has been like that. It has been a wonderful school and you have thrived on the opportunities presented. You have been in your element. For other students, the seas have been a little less predictable. There have been plenty of good times interspersed with some less pleasant times.

For others the seas may have been ‘rough’ throughout their schooling. Maybe for some families John XXIII College has not reached expectations. If that is the case, I am genuinely sorry.

In the coming days, months and years, there will be lots of exciting opportunities for our Class of 2018. But how are they going to judge the success of their lives?

Three weeks ago, West Coast Eagles won a remarkable AFL premiership. Before the season commenced many experts gave them little or no chance to succeed. One of the lovely images in the celebrations was coach Adam Simpson (JTC Parent) asking his captain, Shannon Hurn, to come to the whiteboard in the change rooms.

On the whiteboard ‘family’ had been ticked, ‘friends’ had been ticked and Hurn completed the picture by ticking off ‘flag’. The external success of a ‘premiership’ was very much the third priority.

Our College Mission statement suggests that ‘we seek to be people of competence, conscience, compassion; committed to God and the service of others’. It is wonderfully aspirational and a blueprint for a happy and successful life.

Please join me in thanking our Class of 2018 and wishing them well for the future.

Robert Henderson

Principal

Expressions of Interest: The College Council's Property and Planning Committee

The College Council is establishing a pool of qualified and interested College parents from which to seek members for the Property and Planning Committee, as positions become available.  Skill sets in the architectural, environmental, town planning, engineering, building, facility management, maintenance, property law and project management areas are sought. 

Presently the College Council is looking to appoint a new member to the Property and Planning Committee with expertise in the architectural field.

The Committee's responsibilities include ensuring that the physical condition of the School is kept in good repair, with provision for on-going maintenance and planning for future needs, developments and acquisitions.  Meetings are held bi-monthly, generally early on a Thursday morning.  This is a great opportunity to get involved in the governance of the College.  

Expressions of interest and initial inquiries should be directed to the Business Manager, Mr John Cumming by Friday, 26 October 2018.

Email: john.cumming@cewa.edu.au

Direct: (08) 9383 0402