From the Principal

Extraordinary semester

Best wishes to all students, staff and families for a well-deserved break during the school holidays. It has been brilliant to have the schooling experience return to near normality despite regular student and staff absenteeism. The understanding, support and encouragement from within the John XXIII College community has been outstanding.

Our calendar has been extremely busy in the past few weeks as we have attempted to provide students with our usual scheduled events and, where possible, include previously postponed activities. Our Secondary assembly this week included an ‘end of semester’ spirit tunnel welcoming our Year 7 students to the College. It is a delightful rite of passage as our Year 12 cohort induct our newest secondary students. Our senior students also attended our Manresa Retreat this week commencing with a beautiful Mass and dinner at the College on Sunday evening and moving to the Retreat site on Monday. It was a special experience for our students as they examine their relationship with God and with their loved ones.

We have also been in regular contact with our Year 11 pilgrimage students immersed in their experience in the Northern Territory. Despite COVID challenges, the feedback we have received indicates that our students are benefiting enormously from this special time.

Our Year 10 students and parents have also been busy with information sessions being provided on learning pathways for 2023. It is always an exciting time when there is discernment around possible pathways for the future. My brief message to parents reinforced the importance of seeking the intersection between interests and abilities to enable our students to flourish.

I have loved our Primary assemblies in the past three weeks. The opportunity to learn and celebrate as a community has been wonderful.

Congratulations to all students, staff and families on a wonderful semester.

Robert Henderson

Principal