Dear St John Paul II community,

The College farewelled our Year 12 students in a most fitting way both at the graduation Mass and ceremony. It was a time that we asked our young people to reflect on the values that have shaped their education. In our Catholic tradition, hope is a key value, but it is more than mere optimism; it is a profound trust in God’s love and providence. It is the belief that, no matter the challenges we face, God is with us, guiding us toward a future filled with purpose and joy.

Over the past years, Year 12 students have grown not only in knowledge but also in faith and character. They have learned to navigate the complexities of academic demands, build lasting friendships, and contribute to our community. They have faced trials and triumphs, all of which have prepared their journey ahead. 

The following is my message to our Year 12 students that I want to share with all families. As you step into the next phase of your life, I encourage you to carry with you the gift of hope. How do you live a hope-filled life, rooted in our Catholic values?

Trust in God’s guidance, especially during times of uncertainty. It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. One of the most profound ways to experience hope is through service. By helping others, you not only bring hope to their lives but also find deeper meaning and fulfillment in your own.

As Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). Life will inevitably present challenges, but with hope and faith, you can overcome them. Draw strength from your relationship with God and the support of your family and community. As St. Paul wrote, "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3- 4).

Uphold the values you have learned here. Let mercy, justice, service and compassion guide your actions. A life of integrity is a beacon of hope to others and a testament to your faith. As you leave the St John Paul II, know that you carry with you the prayers and best wishes of our entire community. The world needs your hope, your courage, and your commitment to making a positive difference. You have the power to shape a brighter future, guided by your faith and values.

I take this opportunity to thank all parents in supporting us in the education of your children. We are here in partnership with you to ensure all students succeed and grow. I also like to thank the Teaching and Support staff for their dedication and professionalism and wish them a well-deserved break.

Term 4 will be a time to consolidate changes over the year as well as plan for 2026. We will be finalising the implementation of the College new vision and mission statements for a launch next year. Thanks again for those parents who have provided feedback.

Have a great holiday and I look forward to working with you in Term 4.

God Bless

Mr R. Muscat

Click here for the End of Term 3 Wellbeing Newsletter

OrbiSpace

Congratulations to Evania J, Arya K, Ramaj K, Anishka S, Krisha S & Navya T who represented St John Paul II Catholic College in the Orbispace Pitch for the Planet competition last Thursday!

Throughout Term 3, these students worked tirelessly in their own time and during class to research and design an innovative solution tackling the Urban Heat Island effect. Their creativity and dedication was evident when they pitched their idea to real industry investors, impressing the judging panel and earning full marks from several judges along with high commendations from Orbispace founder Anna Grace. We are incredibly proud of their innovation, teamwork, and commitment to building a more sustainable future. Make sure you take the time to watch the video of their presentation available on the College YouTube page.

TAA Term 4

The Year 10 ThinkQuest program has been a resounding success. The program allowed students to apply their entrepreneurial, collaborative and creative thinking skills to design and develop a range of projects. The program will continue in Term 4 with a new offering of projects. Thank you to Mrs Brooks for this innovative idea and her leadership in the TAA space.

In Term 4 we will also be offering Robotics to students in Years 7 & 8. Students will utilise our newly purchased robotics kits to design and program their own robot. An EOI will be sent to students at the beginning of next term.

Finally, we will be offering Chess. Chess is quite popular amongst a growing group of students; however, it is evident that those who want to play do not have an understanding of the game’s basics. To support student interest and develop their skills we will be engaging a Chess coach from the Rouse Hill Junior Chess Club. An EOI will be sent to students at the beginning of next term. This club is only for students serious about learning Chess and an interest in competing in local competitions.

Wishing everyone a relaxing and peaceful break. 

Holiday time

It is that time of year when the sun is coming out, school is finishing for two weeks and it is time to put aside the books…..however when students return Year 11 are no longer - they are the Year 12 HSC class of 2026, Year 10 are preparing for their End of Year Exams (which commence in week 4), and year 7, 8 & 9 will have PAT tests and a range of final assessment tasks (including exams). And Year 12 will have the HSC! So whilst it is tempting to put all thoughts of school aside, it is important to stay in touch with your learning and get prepared for your final assessments.

So what should you do:

• The first step in the process is to put together a list of all the holiday homework and study you need to complete and what you need to achieve

• The second step is to work out what order you are planning to do it in and then allocate time to each task

• If you have a novel, or several to read, then the holidays allows you time to read them once and work out what is going on in the book, think about the ideas being raised and who the main characters are.

Also for our Year 11s:

• It is also important to re read any notes you have taken to assist consolidating that knowledge now

• Go through your school notes from this past year and work out what materials you might like to reference again next year ie those subjects that you are continuing with and put them somewhere easily accessible.

(From Organising Students)

Equipment lists for 2026

We are very excited to announce that we have engaged Box of Books (BoB) to be a one stop shop for all your resources for the next academic year. Box of Books has been a supplier of textbooks to schools and students for over 65 years. The power of partnering with them is that students will be able to purchase any textbooks they require for study via the platform and access them digitally via Box of Books. Using the platform also allows an increased level of usability where teachers can specifically assign and highlight work, embed additional videos and track student usage, making it a powerful learning tool.

As our equipment and textbook lists are finalised for 2026, we will notify parents via Compass news items. However, if you would like to familiarise yourselves with the platform in anticipation, you can access the following PDF for instructions and links:

Parent Information

Student Information

I hope all families and students have a safe holiday break and I look forward to seeing you next term.

As our Year 12 students prepare for their HSC, we continue to hold them in prayer, asking God to guide and strengthen them during this important time. In the spirit of Soctober, our community is also reminded of our call to serve others, particularly those in need. Soctober is a chance for us to put our faith into action through simple acts of kindness and generosity, echoing the charism of St John Paul II, who urged young people to be witnesses of hope, compassion, and solidarity with the poor.

Let us support our Year 12s not only with our prayers but also by living out this mission of service together as a community of faith.

Prayer for Year 12 Students:

Loving God,
Bless our Year 12 students as they prepare for their HSC.
Grant them peace of mind, clarity in study, and strength in times of challenge.
May they know Your presence guiding them,
and may our community surround them with encouragement and prayer.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Facilities

It is very exciting to approach the School Holiday break and have plenty of things planned to improve the visual amenity prior to students returning.  Whether students are revising ahead of exams or away with family and friends or enjoying a stay-cation, there are a number of people working hard on the facilities around the College during the 2 week learning hiatus.  To ensure pedestrian safety of our visitors and students, a new pathway is being constructed at the front of the College with some associated landscaping. Tree Work is also being undertaken and other grounds maintenance to ensure our ovals are ready for Summer Sport.

Operations

This week we conducted both a Lockdown and Evacuation Drill.  The College takes the Safety of our Students and Staff very seriously and runs training exercises from time to time to ensure that all personnel understand what to do and where to go if an emergency arises.  The drills were conducted successfully and the students cooperation is very much acknowledged.

School Fees

To all families that still have outstanding accounts, if you haven’t already reached out to the College’s School Fee Officer, then please do so as a matter of urgency.  This can avoid accounts being escalated resulting in legal action.  Our goal is to work with each family developing achievable arrangements and providing continuous student education.