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Every Friday morning, Our Lady Help of Christians Church hosts a Parish Mass at 8:20am, warmly inviting the staff, students, and families of John Therry. This morning’s Mass held special significance as we celebrated All Saints Day, a treasured day in the Church when we honor the Saints who have gone before us.
During today’s Mass, Father Sarkis shared a beautiful reflection on how our Catholic faith guides us to view death not with fear but with hope and peace. We believe that, at the end of our earthly journey, we return to God, who welcomes us into eternal life. All Saints Day reminds us of this promise, offering a hopeful vision of reuniting with God and our loved ones in heaven.
The Saints, whose lives we honor today, inspire us to live with purpose, love, and devotion to God. Their faith-filled lives remind us of the strength and courage found in faith and call us to deepen our commitment to live as they did—with hope, integrity, and love for others.
Year 11 Parent Teacher Interviews
Thank you to the parents that could make it in to our parent teacher interviews this week. In reading the reports, I am really impressed not only by the results, but the effort and attitude to learning that our senior students have towards their studies. We challenge each of our students to work hard and achieve their personal best in the HSC, as a wonderful opportunity to develop habits and approaches that will support them well beyond their time here at John Therry.
World Teachers Day is celebrated on the 25th October and this year we organised some lovely apple treats for the staff. I am truly inspired by the amazing teachers we have at John Therry. I see how hard they work to support and care for the students, while also challenging them to achieve what they are capable of. This is reflected in how students interact and engage with our teachers, and teachers regularly acknowledge just how grateful and respectful our students are. It was lovely to hear similar comments this week from our new canteen staff and our HSC Supervisors, about just how impressive our John Therry students are!
On October 20th-22nd, myself and 3 other girls from the leadership team were privileged to attend the Student Leadership Gathering retreat at the Hermitage in Mittagong. Whilst attending this event, we met various Marist schools across NSW/ACT which informed us about the rich traditions of the Marist brother. We engaged in various discussions, games and workshops within our own leadership team and other individual groups consisting of other schools. Through these insightful workshops, we were able to coordinate new ideas for the school, whilst listening and taking inspiration from other schools. We continued to take part in a formal dinner and Mass which created a strong connection for spirituality growth. We enjoyed prayer, fun group activities and made strong friendships throughout the retreat. We are grateful for this opportunity to learn about leadership and hope to implement these characteristics or ideas into our journey as leaders in 2025.
- Neha Nishad - Faith and Good Works Captain
On Friday October 25, the Year 9 Visual Arts class visited the ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ exhibition. It was a visual arts experience in an out of classroom environment that was both educational and enjoyable. The exhibition showcases over one hundred sculptural works and contemporary practices, including site specific and ephemeral installations, by Australian and International artists. The exhibition takes place along the iconic coastal walk between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. The sculptures themselves are constructed from a diverse range of hybrid materials.
Students developed their understanding of, and individual responses to, sculpture as a visual art form though directed interactive discussion and art making activities on the day. Visual Arts plays an important role in the social, cultural and spiritual lives of individuals. It offers a wide range of opportunities to appreciate meaning -personally, culturally and as a form of communication. Congratulations to all students on their excellent behavior throughout the day. Thank you to Mrs Hume and Mr Kennedy for making this event possible.
Annual Plant Sale Blooms with Success!
This week, our annual Plant Sale was in full swing, and it was a wonderful success! With a stunning variety of plants on offer—from vibrant flowers to hardy succulents and everything in between—there was something for every type of garden. The sale drew a fantastic turnout, with enthusiastic supporters of all ages eager to pick up a new addition for their homes or gardens.
More than just a marketplace for plant lovers, the event serves as a key fundraiser with all money raised goes to Australian Marist Solidarity. We are incredibly grateful to all who contributed, whether by purchasing plants, volunteering time, or spreading the word. The funds raised will go a long way in supporting important initiatives within the Marist community.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Plant Sale a blooming success! We can’t wait to see the gardens around our community flourish as a result of your generosity.
John Therry Students Shine at CEDOW Spotlight Event
We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievements of four of our students—Aidan Bryant, Aedan McNulty, Ethan Walker, and Isaac Oudgenoeg—who recently attended the CEDOW Spotlight event. This prestigious gathering showcased the innovative strides in education within our diocese, and our students certainly made their mark.
Aidan Bryant and Ethan Walker had the honor of participating as panel members alongside Mrs Natalie Wagstaff. Their insightful contributions and articulate responses impressed the audience, highlighting their deep understanding of the topics discussed.
Meanwhile, Aedan McNulty and Isaac Oudgenoeg captivated attendees with a live demonstration as part of Mr. Jefferys’ presentation on AI teacher agents. Their demo showcased how these advanced tools can significantly enhance student learning, sparking numerous conversations among educators about the future of AI in education.
During the lunch break, our students were approached by many teachers eager to learn more about their experiences and insights into AI. It was a proud moment for John Therry as our students represented our school with excellence, engaging in meaningful dialogues and sharing their journey with AI.
A huge congratulations to Aidan, Aedan, Ethan, and Isaac for their exemplary representation of John Therry. Your hard work and dedication are truly commendable. Well done, boys!
Throughout term 3, Year 10 students have been working on a project based learning (PBL) task based on the driving question “How can we improve the wellbeing of young Australians?”. This task required students to engage in research and collaborate with their peers to create an initiative that helps to educate and raise awareness for a health issue affecting young people. This process involved substantial effort, time and planning, with the overall goal of presenting their initiative in an “Expo Event” style format to year 9 and 10.
In the first week of Term 4, students presented on a wide range of topics including physical activity, nutrition, screen time, domestic violence, body dysmorphia and anxiety to name a few. Each group demonstrated passion and enthusiasm in presenting their initiatives to their peers and they did an excellent job in breaking down barriers and raising awareness for a wide variety of issues. The students' application and commitment to the task is commendable and they should all be proud of their efforts.
Please find below a link to the latest Parish Bulletin