Sophie Milligan, Mac Fahey, Quaid McLean, Grace Hahn & Ellie McBride

Kia ora koutou katoa

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It has been a special privilege this week to meet our new Year 9 students and their families through individual interviews.

DRS Joanie Roberson and I are impressed with the students coming through to JPII. They are smart, articulate, fun, and are excited to begin their high school years with us! We will be welcoming students from most of the West Coast primary schools, including St Pat’s, Cobden, Blaketown, Karoro, Paroa, Lake Brunner, Kumara, Awahono, and St Mary’s.  A group of 16 Year 10 students have applied for, and been selected for, the Peer Support Leader roles. They will work with our new students on Orientation Day next Friday 8 December to welcome them into JPII. The Peer support Leaders will continue this work in 2024, meeting with our new students weekly to make sure they feel settled, happy, and transition well into secondary school life. Thank you to all our parents for putting your trust in us to deliver the best possible education for your students. It is pleasing to see a number of incoming students who wish to receive the sacraments of Catholic Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation through the school’s Sacramental Programme in 2024. We look forward to celebrating these important faith milestones as a community on Feast Day in May.

Another highlight has been meeting with the applicants for 2024 senior student leadership positions. With such a high calibre of applicants it has made our decisions incredibly difficult! Thanks to Fr Mathew and the rest of the team for their wisdom and guidance in ensuring the best people for the job are selected to role model and make a real difference at JPII next year. Student leaders will be announced after the Eucharist at Mass next Thursday. We invite everyone to come and celebrate our Mass and Prizegiving from 6pm at St Patrick’s Church on Thursday 7th December. It is a wonderful celebration of student achievement and volunteer contributions to our school. All students will need to be in uniform.

A reminder that Monday is Westland Anniversary Day and Tuesday is a Staff Only Day for NCEA prep. We will see our Year 9 and 10 students back on Wednesday.

Keep safe and enjoy the long weekend.

Ngā mihi nui

Renée Hutchinson

Principal