College Update

The Catholic Church commenced the season of Advent last weekend as a time for us to prepare for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Traditionally, Catholics will focus more on prayer and the element of fasting through this period. Priests will wear purple vestments, and the readings of the Mass will emphasise how the coming of Christ will give a renewed salvation.

The Advent wreath consists of four candles, which are arranged in a circular pattern. Each candle corresponds to the four Sundays through Advent. Three of the candles will be purple or blue in colour and the other one will be pink. The purple /blue represent penitence, while the pink refers to the third Sunday of Advent, which is known as Gaudete Sunday. This is meant to encourage participants to continue praying as Advent is soon to reach its conclusion.

The College congratulates Isabella Marks for being awarded the NESA HSC Young Writers category for her Extension English essay. We are so proud of her achievements and wish her all the best at university.

Congratulations to Arjun Singh for being selected in the U/15 NSW All School Cricket squad. This is a marvellous opportunity for Arjun and we can’t wait until he represents Australia in cricket.

Riley Sciberras was presented with a STEM certificate and medal for his project on measuring interstellar objects. We are in awe of his innovative thinking and know how.

We had five students and one teacher attend the 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne this week. Every Catholic secondary school was represented making it the largest gathering of young Catholics in Australia. They experienced different workshops and listened to many speakers about the integral nature of religion in our society and the development of faith programs.

God Bless

Mr R. Muscat

Head of Catholic Identity and Mission - Mrs Michaela Evans

Last Sunday marked the beginning of Advent, a sacred season of hope and preparation as we ready our hearts for the coming of Christ at Christmas. The First Week of Advent reminds us to be watchful, hopeful, and attentive to God’s presence in our daily lives.

Jesus calls us to “stay awake,” not out of fear, but so that we may recognise the moments where God enters our lives through prayer, kindness, and the people around us. Advent invites us to slow down, reflect, and make space for God’s grace.

As a school community under the patronage of St John Paul II, we draw inspiration from his strong Advent spirituality. He reminded the Church:

“Advent is a time of hope. It tells us that our God is not distant but is close and comes to us.”

– St John Paul II

St John Paul II lived with a deep and courageous hope, even amid suffering and uncertainty, and he encouraged all people to open their hearts to Christ with trust and joy. His famous “Do not be afraid” continues to guide our community as we walk together through this season.

Business Manager - Mrs Emily Catt

As we approach the end of the year, please take heed of the following reminders:

Overdue Library Books

Both resources as part of subjects such as English and private borrowing books are to be returned to the College at the earliest opportunity. Unreturned library books will be billed as part of the first fee instalment in 2026. Please get your student to look at home and through their school bags for books belonging to the College and ensure they are returned.

Canteen - Closed in Week 10

There will be no canteen available in Week 10 due to change of operator, please ensure students come to school with a packed recess and lunch.

Stationery and Resources for 2026

2026 Stationary and Resources lists are available via the BOB shop only. Purchase can be made via the BOB Shop or purchased elsewhere at your convenience.

To ensure students have the equipment and resources they require for next year, please ensure you order from the BOB Shop prior to the 7 December 2025. Orders after this date cannot guarantee delivery before Term 1 commences. To access the BOB Shop, please click HERE.

Office Closure

Over the Summer Holidays, please take note that the College Offices will be closed from Monday 22nd December 2025 and reopen only at Schofields on 22 January 2026. The Nirimba Campus Office will reopen on Monday 3rd February 2026.

Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne

Pilgrims of hope!

This week Year 10 students along with Miss Ponce attended the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne. Year 10 students: Christian, Madison, Siobhan, Peyton and Laura along with over 6,000 other young pilgrims from all over Australia gathered to come together to connect, deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to live their faith in the world and experience the breadth of the Church in Australia.

It was an enriching and transforming experience that allowed us to strengthen and deepen our faith, engage in meaningful conversations and be around like minded people. We participated in praise and worship, workshops on bettering our own selves, trusting in God’s plans and loving our enemies. Pope Leo XVI also gave us blessings on our first plenary gathering, inspiring us to “be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

We endeavoured on a pilgrimage walk from St Patrick’s Cathedral to MCEC for over 2hrs with rainy weather throughout. So although weather was not on our side, we persevered. Moreover, Mass was celebrated on the final day with Archbishop Anthony Fisher announcing the next ACYF 2028 to be held in Sydney.

Alumni students Ashley D (Class of 2023) and Olivia M (Class of 2024) were also in attendance, it was great to have familiar JPII faces along with us.

Year 10 students share their experiences below:

It was such an enriching journey that truly strengthened our connection with God. Being surrounded by so many like-minded young people made us feel supported and uplifted. Throughout the festival, we felt the Holy spirit move within us, especially during the worship, talks and moments of quiet adoration and reflection. One of the highlights for us was the vocal worship, hearing thousands of young people praising together created such a powerful atmosphere and really helped everyone connect on a deeper level. We also loved meeting new people in our pilgrim groups and sharing our faith openly in a safe space. We’ve come home feeling inspired, renewed and grateful for the chance to be part of something so meaningful.

Seeing all 6000 young people altogether inspired us to undertake the journey to fully devote our lives to Christ and become preachers of Jesus. We felt the holy spirit kindle within us and the plenaries really sparked a fire inside of us, wanting to give all of our hearts to Christ. A quote that stood out to us was “what you are is God’s gift to you and what you become is your gift to God”. In the noise of the world, ACYF reminded us to make space for God’s voice. For the first time we felt that pull towards God, and that was so enriching. Going to plenaries and expo-centres and overall hearing others' experience made us fully realise the pureness of God's love.

“Let the Holy Spirit stir your heart so deeply that you cannot return the same”. ✞

REMINDERS:

College Uniform

Our students are ambassadors for St John Paul II and should wear their correct uniform with pride at all times.

Term 1 & 4 - Summer Uniform

Term 2 & 3 - Winter Uniform

Please refer to the uniform page for more information.

Student ID Cards

Students are required to attend the College with their Student ID cards and replacement cards will be issued at the cost of $10 per card and can be processed through Qkr!.

New orders will be processed Term 1

2026 CSPD Mobile Phone Policy Update

From Term 1, 2026, all CSPD schools will implement a new Student Use of Mobile Phones and Other Digital Devices Policy.

This policy has been developed to create more focused learning environments and to support student wellbeing and safety. It follows strong evidence from schools across Australia showing that limiting mobile phone use during the school day helps improve learning focus, reduces distraction, and supports positive relationships.

Under the new approach, students will not use mobile phones during school hours.

Secondary students will be responsible for the safe keeping of their phones. They cannot be used during the day.
Other digital devices such as smartwatches or Bluetooth earbuds may only be used for learning activities and require principal approval.

The significant change is that mobile phones must be switched off the moment a student walks into the gate. They can only be used once they leave the gate in the afternoon. This also includes bus lines (no access).

Using a phone to check the time is not a valid reason to switch on or check a phone.

Please note: A plan will need to be further developed with the canteen operators. Students will be able to use a physical card or cash for canteen purchases. Online ordering is currently being investigated. More info in the coming weeks.

Exemptions to the policy will need to be approved by the principal, justifying the need for the mobile phone to be accessible by the student. For example, medical or educational needs could be grounds for an exemption.

We understand that families may rely on mobile phones for communication, so if your child needs to contact you during the day, they can do so through the school office. Likewise, you can contact your child by calling the school office.

This change is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every CSPD school remains a safe, supportive, and respectful place to learn. More information, including FAQs, will be available on the CSPD website.

Thank you for your support as we work together to build focused, respectful, and distraction-free learning environments at St John Paul II Catholic College.

Navigating the Social Media Changes

What's Changing?

From 10 December 2025, social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X, and YouTube will no longer allow children under 16 to create or maintain an account.

This change gives young people more time to develop digital and emotional skills before engaging fully online.

What It Means for Our School Community

Students under 16 won’t be able to have personal accounts on major platforms.
They can still view public content without logging in.
Educational tools such as Google Classroom and YouTube Kids are not affected.
Our school will explore alternative communication methods for updates and events if needed.

For Students

Learn how to stay safe and positive online
Access eSafety’s Get Ready Guide for under-16s
Develop digital literacy and wellbeing skills

For Parents and Carers

Visit eSafety’s Social Media Age Restrictions Hub for tools and FAQs
Find guides to help start open conversations with your teen
Attend free eSafety webinars for practical advice and support

Upcoming Webinars for Educators & Families

Join a live 30-minute session to understand the new laws and support young people through the changes:

Wednesday 26 November, 3:45pm (AEDT)
Thursday 27 November, 3:45pm (AEDT)
Monday 1 December, 3:45pm (AEDT)

How Our School Is Responding

We are committed to supporting students, staff, and families as these changes take effect.

Resources and updates will be shared through Wellbeing lessons, newsletters, assemblies.

Stay informed. Stay safe. Stay connected.

Learn more at the eSafety Commissioner’s official hub or download these resources below.

School student travel information for parents and students

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2026 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2026.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.