Assistant Principal - Mission
Staff Spirituality Day: A Time to Pause, Reflect and Pray
At the end of last term, our entire staff gathered for our annual Staff Spirituality Day, held in the peaceful and beautiful grounds of Sawtell Parish. The day was facilitated by Father Joy, who gently guided us through a time of reflection and prayer.
Each year, under the direction of the Bishop, we are invited to pause and consider our lives and work through the lens of faith. In 2023, we focused on the theme of Work. In 2024, we explored the importance of Rest. This year we turned our hearts and minds to Prayer.
The Bishop’s words, “The Courage to Encounter God,” set the tone for the day. He reminded us that prayer requires an open heart and the bravery to embrace silence in a world full of noise. In that stillness, we are invited to listen deeply - to the voice of God, to our own hearts, and to the world around us.
Throughout the day, we were encouraged to consider prayer not just as an act, but as a relationship. We reflected on what it means to make space for God, to dwell in God’s presence within our minds, our hearts, and our lives. Prayer, we were reminded, is not measured by how often we kneel, but by how lovingly we view others, creation, and ourselves.
It was a gift to be off campus, away from the busyness of school life - a chance to slow down, to be silent, to reconnect with God, and to be present with one another. We return to our work this term renewed and grateful for this time of spiritual nourishment.
Tell Them From Me Survey - Your Voice Matters!
Next week we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.
We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. We genuinely value the role of parents and carers within our school community and we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St John Paul College.
The anonymous survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will be open from 8:00AM Monday 12 May until Friday 30 May 2025. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
http://tellthemfromme.com/2025sjpc
Calling for Volunteers to assist with our Vinnies Van Service
We are excited to share that our school will soon be coordinating and facilitating the Vinnies Van service on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 to 6:30pm in Toormina, providing support to those in our community who may be doing it tough. This is a wonderful outreach opportunity, and we are calling on parents, carers, and students aged 16 and over to consider volunteering. This could be a meaningful way for parents and their children to serve together, build connections, and make a real difference in the lives of others. To get involved, simply complete the attached Vinnies Volunteer Application Form and email it to Coffsharbourvv@vinnies.org.au. We can’t do this without you - your time and compassion can help make this service a success!
Term 2 RAP Meeting
On behalf of the SJPC Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Party, you are warmly invited to join us for our upcoming meeting on Friday, 16 May at 2:30pm, held upstairs in the College library.
We would love to see more community members join us, as your voices are essential in shaping a more informed and inclusive school environment. This upcoming meeting is a great chance to see what our group is about and to consider whether you’d like to be involved on a more regular basis - we aim to meet once each term.
If you’re able to attend, please notify me via email (leanne.gennat@lism.catholic.edu.au) so we can ensure the meeting space comfortably accommodates everyone.
We hope to see you there.
Assistant Principal - Mission