John Paul College Prospectus

A Community Of Vibrant Learning

With Him is the fullness of life

Jn 10:10

Our motto is our vision - the commitment to ensure every member of our community is empowered to achieve success, act with integrity and contribute to the common good - Christian discipleship for a just world.

Our values

We treasure our spirit of community and the values that flow from it - courage, perseverance and generosity.

The strength of our House system is anchored in these values and the charism we inherit from the lives of our founders.

Today, we live by our values and animate them within a culture that:

• respects the dignity of every person

• is inclusive, compassionate, just and forgiving, and

• honours the integrity of creation through careful stewardship

John Paul College | with Him is the fullness of life

Principal’s welcome

John Paul College is a vibrant learning community where each student is supported and challenged to achieve excellence. Together with our families, we are committed to maintaining high positive expectations and are attentive to the needs, goals and abilities of every student.

We believe that every student’s success is grounded in quality learning and teaching and a school culture that fosters wellbeing, promotes resilience and inspires faith in action. The support of caring and expert teachers allows our students to become passionate and self-motivated learners who thrive in their studies and future lives.

We live in a rapidly changing world that provides our young people with new challenges as well as exciting opportunities. Providing our students with real-life experiences that broaden their view of the world provides a springboard for students to see beyond their current circumstances. The future calls us to help shape confident and innovative young women and men who can apply their passion and compassion to make a difference in their local and global communities.

John Visentin Principal

The years at secondary school are critical in forming young people into the men and women they will become. We work in partnership with families to support and guide our students. The supportive and collaborative environment at John Paul College nurtures and challenges students to take up our House charisms of Community, Perseverance, Courage and Generosity.

The years at secondary school are critical in forming young people into the men and women they will become.

When you talk to a John Paul College student you will notice their confidence, commitment and spirit. They use their talents, skills and knowledge to effect change in their world.

Learning and academic excellence

At the heart of John Paul College is the desire for the full flourishing of each student, across religious, physical, cognitive, emotional and social domains. Students enjoy coming to school as their personal narrative is known, respected and valued. Students are continually challenged to achieve academic success and model excellent learning skills and work habits.

A diverse and rich curriculum is provided in all year levels to ensure interests, talents and aspirations are catered for and nurtured. In Year 7, students study across all learning areas including Religious Education, English and Language, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, Technology, The Arts and The Humanities.

In Years 8, 9 and 10 students study core subjects and make informed decisions regarding elective choices. Year 9 students who achieve high academic results are invited to accelerate their learning by studying a Victorian Certificate of Education subject in Year 10.

In the senior years, students study the VCE Vocational Major or the Victorian Certificate of Education. A strong partnership with Chisholm Frankston and other institutions enables ready access to Vocational Education and Training Certificates.

The learning spaces at John Paul College are exciting and diverse. Alongside the general purpose classrooms are specialist areas in the Chaminade Centre, Ngargee Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, the Brother Neff Science Centre, the Kealy Centre Gymnasium, the Resource Centre and Technology rooms. Students enjoy playing on the spacious grounds, the Kealy Centre Gymnasium, tennis courts and basketball courts. Support structures for learning include a vibrant Careers Centre, Health and Wellbeing Centre, the Chapel, the Stewart Centre for Individual Learning and Student Services Centre.

John Paul College recognises that the best learning occurs when staff, families and students are in partnership. A sense of belonging in the learning community, collaboration and respect for each other are one of the many drivers of confidence and growth in each individual.

Student wellbeing and Pastoral Care

Inspired by the Gospels’ values, John Paul College is committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which all members of the school community experience being loved, being worthwhile, having a sense of belonging and being recognised as unique.

We acknowledge and promote the importance of wellbeing as the foundation for engagement and connection with learning. Our structures, policies and guiding principles recognise this importance.

Each morning students meet with their designated Pastoral Care teacher. Middle Students are allocated Pastoral Care Group within their Year level, while Senior Students are allocated based on House Groups. The morning sessions provide an opportunity for students to develop relationships amongst their peers and communicate with the teacher, who is always considered as the first point of contact for all school related matters.

The fortnightly sessions involve the delivery of a carefully designed curriculum which meets student needs as they travel through secondary school. This curriculum includes programs that focus on resilience, driver education, cybersafety, study skills and personal organisation.

Our Wellbeing Team consists of three counsellors and is led by our school psychologist. Students can self-refer or can be referred by parents or staff members. We also have a full time nurse onsite who is there to look after the medical wellbeing of all students.

A carefully designed curriculum which meets student needs as they travel through secondary school.

Faith and mission in action

John Paul College offers parents, students and staff an opportunity to experience community life in a faith-filled environment.

Each student is invited to develop their personal faith and the meaning and value in life through sacramental celebration, prayer, liturgy, retreats and other religious celebrations. The College provides opportunities for participation in the life of the Catholic Church and recognises the need for a more just society.

Social justice initiatives are flourishing through our fundraising efforts and immersion programs to the Philippines and East Timor. Students willingly

volunteer locally and globally, and we are very proud of our young people who, in their service to others, enrich both their own lives and those around them. This is core to our belief that John Paul College “...inspires faith in action” and nothing is more central to this than issues of social justice and our capacity to facilitate change within our own community.

John Paul College | with Him is the fullness of

The power of House spirit

House connections play a significant role in our students’ journey at John Paul College and provide an extra sense of pride and belonging.

The four Houses; Chaminade, D’Houet, Olsen and Turner pay special tribute to the John Paul College history and formation. The House charisms; Perseverance, Courage, Generosity and Community, are always at the forefront of the students’ minds and of our initiatives and programs.

The Houses are student led by two leaders in the Middle School and two leaders in the Senior School. This provides strong leadership opportunities and ensures the Houses are driven from the student cohort, establishing a supportive, inclusive and encouraging culture.

Providing friendly rivalry and motivation, students represent their Houses in sporting contests, performances, fundraising efforts, House assemblies and community events. This strengthens the bond between all year levels, as they regularly unite as a team throughout the school year.

John Paul College | with Him is the fullness of life Prospectus

There are so many opportunities for our students to be active participants and shine in our extracurricular program.

Endless opportunities

Opportunities to grow, learn and develop unique talents continues outside of the classroom and there is something for everyone at John Paul College.

Immersion trips to the Philippines, East Timor and India allow students to express their commitment to social inequalities, and trips to Italy and Central Australia broaden students’ horizons.

Sporting opportunities are wide and varied for all year levels from individual sports to fast-paced team competitions. Students of all skill levels are encouraged to get involved through the House Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country carnivals and those that excel in these events are invited to go on to higher level competitions at state and regional levels. JPC also competes in the Southern Independent Schools (SIS) association across a range of sports including Basketball, Soccer, Football, Cricket, Volleyball, Netball, Tennis and Golf.

A contemporary, dynamic and vibrant Arts Program allows students to excel in any facet of the Arts,

that sparks their passion. Involvement in the Arts provides students with the platform to develop their creativity and confidence in a supportive, challenging and engaging environment.

The extracurricular Arts opportunities include Arts Night, instrumental music program, vocal ensembles, theatre sports squad, dance club and the full-scale College production. Students are encouraged to be involved in whatever way they feel comfortable including roles as on-stage performers, backstage crew, sound and lighting, make-up and hair and front of house teams.

There are so many opportunities for our students to be active participants and shine in our extracurricular program.

John Paul College | with Him is the fullness of