Dear Parents
It’s been an exciting finish to the year with many opportunities to reflect on and celebrate the learning and growth within our school community. Only a week after welcoming our 2026 Kindy children, we celebrated with our graduating Year 6 students. We are very happy for the achievements of our graduating class in readiness to enter secondary school. Yet, there is also some sadness in saying farewell to our Year 6 children with whom we’ve had the privilege to work with over the years. To our Year 6 students and to all the families who will be finishing their time at St John Paul II, we thank you for sharing this leg of the journey with us. We wish you well for the adventures ahead.
Christmas Picnic
Thank you to all the parents, friends and families who came along to help make our Community Christmas picnic a success. Thank you in particular to our P&F who organised the activities for the night. Thanks also to Mrs Fiona Kranz for her fantastic circus skills workshop, the Parish Choir for entertaining us with carols during the night, to Sr Van and the Parish, Emma Little and family and Jongwon Kim and family for your stalls, Mr Bigwood for all his work with setup and the teachers and Mr Raftos for preparing the students for their items. It is always lovely to watch the children perform, and so good to hear live music thanks to our talented school band. The happy faces everywhere made the efforts of all involved in the evening worthwhile. It was a wonderful opportunity to bond and celebrate as a school community.
Thanksgiving Mass
At this morning’s Thanksgiving Mass, we came together to give thanks as a community for the 2025 school year. Thank you to our celebrant Fr Bernard and to Mr Bigwood for planning the Mass. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Fr Bernard many blessings as he makes his way to his new parish in Yangebup in the new year.
Reports
Reports go live this afternoon. Thank you to the children for working so hard throughout the year and to the teachers for the effort they have put into writing the reports.
Move Up Session
Today the children had the opportunity to meet their teacher and classmates for 2026. The aim for the move up time is to have the children entering the school holidays knowing who will be in their class for next year, and reduce those worries regarding their first day back to school. This afternoon, parents will receive a message naming their children’s teacher and 2026 class.
Uniforms
Uniforms for 2026 can be ordered through our school website:
https://sjpiicps.wa.edu.au/our-parents/uniform/.
In 2025 there was a transition period in regard to sock colour, as of 2026 children will be required to wear all black socks. I would also like to remind all parents that the students are required to wear all black shoes. These will be easier to source in the new year as shops sell ‘Back to School’ items.
Uniforms that are ordered during the Christmas holiday break will be available for collection on Wednesday January 28 from the school administration.
Term Dates & Pupil Free Days at SJP2 for 2026
Please note the term dates and pupil free days for children next year. Hopefully this information helps with your planning.
First Term: Monday 2 February to Thursday 2 April
Second Term: Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July
Third Term: Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September
Fourth Term: Tuesday 13 October to Friday 11 December
Pupil Free Days:
Monday 2 March (Labour Day)
Tuesday 3 March
Monday 27 April (ANZAC Day)
Friday 29 May
Monday 1 June (WA Day)
Tuesday 2 June
Monday 20 July
Monday 12 October
Save the Date
In 2026, we will be modifying the Parent Information Evening and Community Night – by combining them. The aim is to have parents visit their children’s teacher and speak with them about the classroom expectations, processes and key events throughout the year and also to provide an opportunity for parents to ask teachers any questions they may have. This will be followed by a picnic on the school oval whilst being entertained (and dancing to) music by a Bush Band. The date of this event is Friday February 20, please mark this community event in your calendar.
Colour Fun Run
Children should have received their prizes from the Colour Fun Run yesterday. Thank you to Emma Little for putting all the prizes together.
Social Media Age Restrictions
The Australian Government has announced that from yesterday, age-restricted social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account. The restrictions aim to protect young Australians from pressures and risks associated with social media use, The eSafety Commissioner has released information to families Parents | eSafety Commissioner to support them to create safer online environments.
And Finally
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the school community for your support and encouragement during the year. I cherish being part of the St John Paul II community and am looking forward to achieving wonderful things for our children and helping our school to become the school of choice for families in Banksia Grove and surrounding areas.
Wishing you a blessed, joyous and peaceful Christmas and a hope-filled start to the new year.
In Harmony
Martin Tucker
Principal
