Principal's Address

Mr. Ralph David 

2025 has been an incredibly busy and successful year for our school.

Earlier this year the school participated in an external evaluation. Through this process it was determined that the school is excelling in wellbeing.

The external team agreed that, “Positive and respectful relationships are evident throughout the school community promoting student wellbeing and creating an optimal environment for learning across the school”.

As a result of our focus upon wellbeing students are better able to engage in and focus upon learning. Add the quality teaching provided at JJCMHS and the result is in student growth. This can be seen in the value-added growth in year 9 NAPLAN data showing greater than average growth in literacy and numeracy.

We have been very fortunate to reconnect with Karen Brown OAM, alumni of JJCMHS school and the first Aboriginal student to attend. Aunty Karen has come to community gatherings, NAIDOC week events, Year 12 graduation, presentation day and honoured us by taking an active role in the first raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags at the front of the school this year. During the presentation day ceremony, she Welcomed us to Country and then shared some important personal items and precious Aboriginal artifacts with the school. She trusted us to look after these treasured items.

I want to update you on our partnership with UTS Landscape architecture faculty. This partnership was envisioned by Daniel Girling-Butcher and involves the University of Technology Sydney for the last 3 years running a course with their landscape architecture students with the purpose of designing the landscape for JJCMHS. Tanya Wood, previously the president of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects and a registered landscape architect who also lectures at UTS and was responsible for designing the course.

This has resulted in 3 native gardens, an increased greening of the school. Positive learning connections between our students and students from UTS. It is titled Landscapes for Wellbeing because it creates a school environment that is peaceful and connected.

The project has been recognised with two State, two National and this year an international award at the Good Design Awards. You can see these awards in the school foyer.

In week 9 term 4 this year, 50 teachers and school leaders from across Australia and New Zealand participated in the Big Picture Learning Foundation training. At the end of the week, our school was given a written card from each participant as a thank you for hosting this training. They were overwhelmingly positive about our school and particularly our students. 

Here are some of the things they said:

‘The feeling of the school is positivity. There is a real sense of calm as you walk around the school. All the students were extremely polite and welcoming. From the time I arrived to the time I left, the school was a calm, kind space created by the school environment, the staff and students’ 

At JJCMHS we have a committed, passionate and compassionate staff, who have, at their centre an understanding that it is the relationships that they build with students that make a difference to learning belonging and engagement. 

The staff at JJCMHS continually push themselves to provide opportunities for students. They are the reason we are here.  I am very proud of our students who make the school an inclusive and welcoming place. The measure of a school is the students, our students are welcoming, kind and happy. The school has a calm, welcoming and optimistic vibe.

A sincere thank you to all staff, our staff go above and beyond the job because they know the difference it makes for students. As a small school we bat above our average in these areas, and this is due to the commitment of staff.

Thank you to Mr Mifsud and Ms Batista De Mello, our school deputy principals for their commitment to supporting our community.

Thank you to Mr LK for stepping up as Deputy for some large chunks of the year and the strategic work he has done to improve our processes in learning support, timetabling organisational structures and in leading the review of our school values and expectations.

Thank you to our Head Teachers and teachers both substantive and those stepping up into the role who take on many roles within the school to keep everything running smoothly. 

Thank you to our Business Manager Ms Prelec who brings a positivity to the front office team that makes the school a more welcoming and friendly place. Along with the administration team, SLSOs and our General Assistants I thank you for your ongoing commitment and dedication to our students.

Wishing everyone a peaceful rejuvenating and connected break. Let’s celebrate our differences and think about the things that connect us, practice kindness and compassion and model this for others.

I am invigorated and look forward to continuing to work with the JJCMHS community in 2026.

All students return to school on Monday February 2, 2026.

Staff will be onsite from Tuesday January 27, 2026. 

Mr. Ralph David