Supporting our Students
Wellbeing
It has been a full and rewarding term for the Wellbeing Team, with several important initiatives running across different year groups to support student growth, resilience and connection.
We began the term with a very successful Year 12 Wellbeing Day. Students took part in a range of workshops focused on managing stress, maintaining balance and preparing for life beyond school. A huge thank you to our Year 12 Year Advisor for her outstanding work in coordinating the day, and to all the presenters who generously gave their time and expertise.
Our amazing Student Support Officer, has been working closely with a group of Year 8 students through the Feeling is Thinking program, which helps young people develop emotional literacy and regulation strategies. Meanwhile, students in Years 8 and 9 have also been participating in the RAISE Mentoring program, forming meaningful one-on-one connections with trained mentors who support them in building confidence and setting goals.
We would like to remind students and families of the strong network of support available at school. Our counselling team and our dedicated Year Advisors are here to provide guidance, a listening ear and practical support whenever it is needed.
Thank you to all the students who have engaged so positively in our wellbeing programs this term.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Activities
It’s been a busy and rewarding term for our Aboriginal students, with a wide range of engaging and culturally enriching activities.
Souths Cares continued their valued mentorship program for our Years 9–12 students. Some of the highlights this term included making Johnny cakes and bracelets, as well as preparing for the L’s test. These sessions have provided not only practical skills but also important moments of connection and storytelling, helping to strengthen our student community.
Our junior girls had the opportunity to attend Sistaspeak, a women’s business and wellbeing day attended by students from a number of local schools. They took part in a health and wellbeing workshop delivered by Souths Cares, made bush medicine soap, and enjoyed an incredible dance workshop led by Aunty Rayma Johnson from the Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dance Group.
We also held our annual Reconciliation Week community gathering, centered on the theme Bridging Now to Next. This theme calls on all Australians to move forward together, guided by the lessons of the past while looking ahead to the future. The day was a true celebration of culture and community, featuring sports, craft activities, a sausage sizzle, and a special Welcome to Country by our very own Karen Brown OAM, a proud J J Cahill alumna from the 1960s. We were also honoured to have Matt Thistlethwaite join us for the occasion.
With NAIDOC Week celebrations just around the corner, our students will be heading out to support local primary schools. We encourage everyone to get involved in the many events and activities on offer, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate culture, community, and Country together.
Student Representative Council
Term 2 has been a highly active and rewarding period for the Student Representative Council, marked by a renewed sense of responsibility, student voice, and community engagement. Across the term, SRC members have led, represented, and collaborated on several key initiatives that have had a lasting impact on both the school and broader community.
A significant highlight was the Federal Election Day BBQ, held on Saturday 3rd May. SRC students ran a well-organised stall on school grounds, serving food and refreshments to local community members casting their votes. The event not only raised valuable funds but also showcased the leadership and organisational abilities of our student leaders.
On Tuesday 13th May, SRC representatives were featured in the school’s promotional photo shoot, proudly modelling the school uniform and assisting staff and photographers in capturing the best of our school environment. Their professionalism and pride in representing the school was evident throughout the day.
Further afield, our school captains participated in the Secondary Schools Student Leadership Program at the Parliament of NSW on Wednesday 4th June. This opportunity allowed them to engage in meaningful discussions with student leaders across the state and deepen their understanding of civic leadership and governance.
In addition to public-facing events, Term 2 has also seen the SRC focus on internal school improvement. Several formal proposals are currently being developed, including a school hat and scarf design competition to promote school spirit, and a larger-scale project to upgrade heating and cooling infrastructure across more learning spaces. These proposals aim to reflect the voices and needs of the student body.
Finally, SRCs have continued to respond to student feedback and report repair issues around the school, contributing to a better learning environment for all.
I commend all SRC members for their commitment and service this term.
Learning Hub
We’ve had a wonderful start to the term in the Learning Hub. Our students are regularly visiting, working hard, and making great progress, especially in maths, critical thinking, and Life Skills.
This term, we’ve also had the pleasure of working closely with our Year 7 and 8 students. It’s been fantastic having Narikah help out, especially with the Year 8 small group sessions, her support has been invaluable.
Even though we’re still a new unit and finding our way, this term feels different. We’ve truly begun blazing a trail at J J, supporting both our students and staff in meaningful ways.
Vaccinations
Our Year 10 students received their Meningococcal ACWY vaccines during Week 8 from the wonderful nursing team at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. If your child missed the vaccination, there will be a catch‑up opportunity when the team returns in Week 10 of Term 3 on 23rd September while administering vaccines to Year 7 students.
Year 7 families: please look out for printed consent forms and information coming home with your child, as well as email notifications. You can also submit your vaccination consent online.
Library
Book Week Celebrations 2025 – Fundraising for Indigenous Literacy
This year, J J is proud to support Reading Out of Poverty (ROOP) during Book Week 2025, celebrating the joy of reading while helping close the literacy gap for Indigenous children in remote communities.
Funds raised will help bring the joy of reading to Indigenous children in communities like Yarrabah, Far North Queensland, where access to early literacy resources remains limited.
ROOP is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing books and literacy support to children aged 0–6 years who are experiencing disadvantage. This year’s Book Week Fundraiser will directly support programs that give Indigenous children in remote areas the tools they need to thrive through reading. Book Week runs from 16–23 August 2025 (Term 3), and our school is excited to participate in a range of fundraising activities:
Monday 18th to Thursday 21st August
Location: Library
Time: Break 1 and 2
JJ Staff Favourite Book Guessing Competition
Students are encouraged to bring in a gold coin donation to have a guess at matching the teacher with their favourite book! Students also get a shot at guessing how many jellybeans are in the jar!
Book Sale
Donate your gently used children’s books, and join us for a school book sale! Books will be on sale for a gold coin donation.
Friday 22nd August
Book Character Dress-Up Day
On Friday 22nd August, students and staff are invited to dress up as their favourite book characters and bring a gold coin donation.
All donations during book week will go towards helping support Indigenous literacy programs. Let’s come together this Book Week to celebrate stories and support children who need them most.
Thank you for helping us make a difference!
Parents & Citizens
The P&C (Parents and Carers Association) is a dedicated group of volunteers who work together to support the school and contribute to various projects throughout the year. By getting involved, parents and carers play a key role in enhancing the school community and helping with initiatives that benefit both students and staff. The P&C meets on Wednesdays during Week 3 and Week 8 of each term, providing an opportunity to collaborate on upcoming projects and share ideas. If you're interested in staying informed and getting involved, please email jjcahillpandc@gmail.com to sign up for regular updates and email communication from the P&C. Your support and participation are always welcome!