Secondary

John XXIII Day MasterChef Cake Competition

Entry Fee: All Classes – gold coin per exhibit

Theme: Wellbeing/Health

Ribbons: 1st and 2nd place ribbons will be awarded for all classes along with Highly Commended and People’s Choice ribbon.

• Entry is only open to AMATEUR cooks of school age
• No more than three students may work on a single entry. Where students of varying ages have participated, the cake must be entered in the category of the oldest student.

Teaching and Learning for all

Yesterday we celebrated our High Achievers’ Breakfast for students in Years 7-12 who demonstrated outstanding academic results in Semester One. An Alumni spoke to the students about five key lessons she has realised during her time at university. She spoke of these as a culmination of her academic studies as well as the other learning experiences she has engaged with both at high school and university.

Two of these messages that resonated with me were the need to accept that success is not always linear and that ‘failures’, or perceived failures are in fact wonderful opportunities to learn and to demonstrate resilience. This is a key message the College gives to all our students, learning opportunities present themselves in a variety of ways and our role, as students and staff is to ensure we maximise our engagement with these opportunities.

The second message was of embracing an ‘attitude of gratitude.’ For all students to recognise they have been blessed with gifts and talents and to be thankful for these. As part of this there is also a responsibility to use these gifts and talents to be of service to others. There are a plethora of ways students can use their gifts and talents both at our College and beyond to ensure they are developing themselves completely.

Jessica Bouwman

Deputy Principal   Teaching & Learning

Year 9 Retreat

Tuesday 30 July was a time away from the normal rigours of academic schooling which enabled Year 9 students to reflect on their lives in a spiritual and emotional capacity. 

A fantastic group of Young People from the Youth Mission Team (YMT) Australia, were able to facilitate a meaningful session along with support from Homeroom and other Year 9 Teachers throughout the day. 

The Theme of the Retreat was “Self-Image”.

Below are some student testimonies from the feedback we have received.

• “That it was a really fun and a worthwhile experience that taught me a lot about self-esteem”
• “The Retreat was fun and educational and had a lot of great games and speeches that encouraged me to think more about how I interact with others, as well as my relationship with God. The members of the mission group were all very nice and made it an enjoyable and meaningful experience.”
• “After the day, you will understand a lot more about the relationship between you and God. And that people are individual and it’s not up to the people around them to tell them what to wear or what to say.”
• “It was a good experience for the students, and I would suggest it to other people. I think it works best with year 9 because that is when you really look for a relationship with God because you need it. It was a fun experience and I am sure it will benefit me now and in the future.”
• “It was really nice to take some time out of our busy lives to truly connect with God, especially on a topic that everyone can relate to.”

A Sincere thanks to Mrs Janeen Murphy and Mrs Mary-Anne Lumley for helping plan a wonderful experience for students and staff.

Mr Cameron Haines

Assistant Deputy Principal Year 9

Founders' Week Assembly

Founders’ Week at the College is a time of celebrating our College heritage and looking ahead with joy and expectation.  This year we were blessed to have US Jesuit theologian, Father Chris Collins address Secondary students on the discipleship of St Ignatius.

Some of our Year 10 students shared their reflections on Father Chris’s homily. 

"Father Chris Collins’ homily was captivating and inspirational for all who listened. It showed how doing good for others brings back happiness that stays and does not fade like the happiness brought by material objects. Overall Father Chris’ homily kept us entertained from start to end and gave us a deeper insight into what we truly want from our lives."

Will Hawkins

"We were really grateful that Father Chris Collins from Missouri was at John XXIII College to join us in our Founders’ Week Assembly. The homily was very relatable to high school students and Father Chris related it to Ignatius of Loyola as well as the Gospel. A new experience from a new voice!"

Madison Gunasekera and Georgia Than-Htay

"At the recent Secondary Assembly for the beginning of Founders Week, Father Chris from Missouri in the US visited our College. He gave us an insightful glimpse into his life and began his speech by outlining his early life in America. He compared his life to the story of St Ignatius of Loyola. After moving schools in his Junior Year, he was uncertain about what the future might hold. With his free time, Father Chris decided to dedicate his life to the service of others. This included venturing to Ecuador to assist the local community by constructing trenches for fresh water supply. With no running water or electricity, this community was a much-needed escape from the clutter of normal life. This expedition prompted him to further draw on St Ignatius’ story, leading him to become a Jesuit Priest in America. Father Chris’ inspiring stories motivated the assembled students to listen to his wise words and consider a life of service. We thank Father Chris for his generosity and humbling stories, which we will always remember and cherish."

Rosa Defrancesco, Stella Kenny, Audrey Morison, Josh Roberts, Grace Soutar & Kiran Tandon

"Some things that I really loved about yesterday’s Homily by Father Chris Collins were: 

• His ability to connect with the audience and pose questions towards us which made me reflect and ask myself some very deep and meaningful questions.
•  His cheery outlook on life and the way he described trajectories onto different paths but only one will give you happiness.
• Father was able to draw the audience in and retell valuable life experiences which makes him seem like a friend even though we had only met briefly. 
• -Father Chris was very enthusiastic and provided a touching message which I interpreted to be: that if you live your life simply and in service of others, you will understand that you don't need lots of clutter in your life as it doesn't make you happy. I think his main message was simplicity and faith - that God has prepared a path for you even though the future is unknown."
• Bella Pether

About Father Chris

Father Christopher Collins, SJ is the Assistant to the President for Mission and Identity at Saint Louis University.  He provides executive-level leadership for fostering and promoting SLU's Catholic, Jesuit identity. He works to ensure that the mission and core values – as well as the principles and traditions of Catholic, Jesuit higher education – are fully integrated into the university. 

Father Collins is also an assistant professor of Theological Studies.  His research and teaching are in the areas of Systematic Theology and Spirituality.  His publications include The Word Made Love: The Dialogical Theology of Joseph Ratzinger/ Benedict XVI (Liturgical Press, 2013) and Three Moments of the Day: Praying with the Heart of Jesus (Ave Maria Press, 2014). He regularly gives retreats around the country based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Father Collins received a BA in Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; Master of Arts in Early Modern European History from Saint Louis University; Master of Divinity and a Sacred Theology Licentiate from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from Boston College.

Pilgrimage Movie night

The John XXIII College Pilgrimage program offers our students and staff the opportunity for growth and transformation through the experience of service, reflection and prayer. Forty-seven Year 11 students and 12 staff members will have the opportunity to travel to Beswick in the Northern Territory, Cambodia, India and Timor Leste in September to broaden their world view and discover how they can become ‘men and women for others’ and ‘seekers of truth and doers of justice’. 

The funds raised in the Solidarity Walk, Movie Night, Raffle and Sausage Sizzles will be donated directly to the communities that we visit to help support their programs related to health, education, building enterprises, income generation activities etc.

Please support the program by attending the Pilgrimage Movie night on 7 August at 7:00pm in the GBLT.

https://www.trybooking.com/524419

If you would like more details, please contact Janeen Murphy, Director of Faith and Mission. 

Rowing Club Fundraiser

Home delivery included for purchases of 4 bags or more

(within 10km of John XXIII College, Mount Claremont)

→ Direct pick-up from John XXIII College ovals

→ Pick-up/delivery on Saturday 31 August 2019

https://www.trybooking.com/515540

2019 John XXIII College Parent party

Book now: https://www.trybooking.com/519848