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. We provide each student with a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
We believe education should be holistic, fostering both intellectual and emotional growth. Our students are immersed in a wide range of academic and co-curricular studies and supported by Pastoral Care.
Understanding that every child is unique, our approach puts students at the centre of their learning. Building on foundational knowledge and skills, students are encouraged to explore and discover their personal strengths and interests. A diverse and rich curriculum is provided at all year levels, to ensure interests, talents and aspirations are catered for and nurtured.
The learning spaces at John Paul College are innovative and diverse. Alongside the general purpose classrooms are specialist areas in the Ngargee Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, the Chaminade Centre for Learning and Teaching, the Brother Neff Science Centre, the Kealy Centre Gymnasium, the Resource Centre and a state of the art Food Technology centre.
Learning is not just about knowledge and content, but growth.
Our Learning and Teaching Vision encompasses our core beliefs and values around learning. It is the big picture of what we are striving to provide for each student and underpins what happens each day in the classroom.
We believe that there are three key elements for learning:
Knowledge - foundational knowledge and learning skills including literacy, numeracy, scientific literacy, ICT skills, and historical literacy.
Capabilities - developing the skills to learn and adapt including critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity.
Self- developing personal skills inherent in our faith values including the spirit of community, courage, perseverance and generosity.
The Stewart Centre for Individual Learning supports the learning needs of students across all year levels from those needing extra support to gifted and talented students.
Stewart Centre staff recognise, accept and appreciate students who require extra one-on-one support and have their own particular learning needs, which can range from intellectual, social and emotional to motivational, time management and organisational. The Stewart Centre facilitates the development and implementation of inclusive curriculum practices which promote fairness and equity for all students. In collaboration with teaching staff we adapt curriculum to provide achievable and relevant educational experiences for students.
Depending on the needs of the individual, Stewart Centre staff may help students to overcome intellectual, social, and emotional barriers and foster study skills such as time management and organisation. Students will benefit from specialised facilities and resources including interactive whiteboards, flexible learning areas, Juno speakers to assist hearing impaired students, and supplementary and alternative curriculum resources catering for the needs of students across the academic spectrum.Students academic results are regularly assessed using the Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) as well as other assessments. Teachers may also refer students to the Stewart Centre based on their observations.
The Stewart Centre also identifies gifted and talented students, providing a comprehensive range of enrichment programs and opportunities to expand their abilities through extension. These programs challenge students and help them achieve their goals through academic challenges, enrichment projects, and inter-school competitions.John Paul College also offers highly able students the opportunity to participate in weekly Year 7 and 8 Mathematics Extension classes.In Years 7 and 8 students are selected to take part in the Gifted and Talented Enrichment program based on their PAT test results, Scholarship Testing (Year 7 students) as well as teacher recommendations. This program will work with students to develop their problem solving and creative skills as well as personal and social capabilities through inquiry programs. Students are expected to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities that suit their strengths and learning goals. The Gifted and Talented teacher ensures an extension program is developed, to allow students to explore their interest through an enrichment project and selection into external academic competitions.