A Message from the Head of College

Welcome to the John XXIII College website and to the John's Community. As you scroll through the pages here I trust you will encounter a College that has many features that appeal to you.

Features such as our rooms (which are the largest of the catered colleges), all of which contain king sized single beds, hot and cold running water, and good study facilities. You will also read of our dining room which serves three meals per day cooked by our own chefs (including French and Vietnamese) and which enables vegetarian options, salads, pizzas etc as alternatives to the standard high quality cooked meals. Sunday's cooked brunch is always a hit as are our formal dinners which occur throughout the year. There is also al fresco dining which residents love in the balmy spring and autumn days. Or you may be interested in our Common Room facilities enjoyed by all students and which includes big screen TV, including FOX, leather lounges, open fire, booths, table tennis, pool table, canteen for milk shakes, toasted sandwiches etc all of which are adjacent to our own sports tavern which, for some, is the social hub of the College.

You will read, too, of our academic support available for most faculties and which provides valuable support especially when assignments are due or the exams approach.

Another strong feature which may appeal to you is our strong Residents' Association which each year organises the vibrant social life of the College as well as the numerous sporting activities. John's (as we're known) has won the Sports Shield over the past seven years dominating most events. If you have an interest in sport, John's is the College to come to. But you will also notice that we are strong in debating, music (only College with a choir, jazz band and music director) drama (annual play production for Parents Weekend is terrific) as well as many other cultural features eg our music studios are sought out by students from the School of Music.

But, while all of the above are great reasons to come to John's, perhaps the best reason is our strong, closely knit community into which you would be welcomed. We are a strong, pastorally oriented community with Senior Residents to support and assist you to settle in and integrate into our vibrant, enthusiastic community. You would be expected, over the year, to be involved, too, in building this community, in participating in life at John's—in being a family. The only people not welcome at John's in 2008 and beyond are smokers since John's will be a smoke free environment from January, 2008.

To sum up we are the most affordable, high quality College which has a strong sense of community (or family) where staff and students work together to create a supportive environment which will ensure your University experience is a memorable and meaningful one.

From January 2008 John's will have a new Head of College. Mr Sean Britto-Babapulle who begins on January 7, 2008.

Please read on, or alternatively make an appointment to call in to see me or the Dean, Annaleis Martin, and we’ll show you around. I look forward to meeting you when you come to Canberra.

Ken Evenden
Head of College