Secondary

Dear Families

This week marked Loreto House Day, an occasion to celebrate the significance of one of our College Founders, Mary Ward. A courageous pioneer for girls’ education and justice for the most vulnerable in 17th-century Europe, Mary’s faith in God and conviction to improve the lives of those in need were unwavering in the face of condemnation from the authorities of the day. As early as 1612, Mary Ward said to her first companions that 'there is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things. And I hope in God that it will be seen in time to come that women will do much.' Mary’s legacy was her belief in women's capacity, which in turn led her to the conviction that the key to unlocking it was education for girls. In our contemporary context, we continue Mary Ward’s legacy by empowering young women to challenge themselves to meet their potential, take risks, and strive to make a positive impact on the world around them. Thank you to Ms Janine O’Grady, Loreto House Coordinator and Homeroom Teachers for leading students in a range of activities to celebrate the day. 

Loreto House Prayer

Loving God 

You are the parent of all parents; you are the friend of all friends. 

You are the source of all goodness and give us everything we need.  

We pray that we may share what we have and have the strength to generously give of ourselves.  

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, and with the intercession of our founders: 

Holy Mary, mother of God 

Pope John XXIII               Pray for us 

Ignatius of Loyola           Pray for us 

Mary Ward                      Pray for us 

Congratulations to all competitors at Wednesday’s Years 7 to 12 Interhouse Surfing Carnival and to our Magis teams who competed in the Mock Trials, Da Vinci Decathlon and debating competitions this week. All the best to runners for next week’s SSWA Cross-Country Carnival – an excellent practice event for the ACC Interschool Cross-Country Carnival in the coming weeks.  

Inspire presents Justin Coulson – Tuesday, 9 June 

The Inspire Parent Education Committee invites you to a special evening with one of Australia's most respected parenting experts. 

Parental Guidance – Dr Justin Coulson - Positive solutions for every family 

• Tuesday, 9 June 2026 
• 6:30pm – 8:00pm, followed by refreshments 
• John XXIII College, 25 John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont 
• Bookings are essential. 

Parenting today looks very different from a generation ago. We've moved beyond the era of strict, authoritarian approaches, but many parents are left wondering: how do we raise children who are independent, resilient, and emotionally healthy, while still providing the guidance they need? That's exactly what Dr Justin Coulson will explore in this engaging, evidence-based presentation. A father of six, author of nine books on parenting and family life, and co-host of Channel 9's Parental Guidance, Dr Coulson brings warmth, humour, and genuine insight to the topics that matter most to families today. 

On the night, you can expect to explore: 

• How to better understand your child's emotional needs at every age and stage 
• Practical, science-backed strategies to strengthen your relationship with your child 

• How to create a home environment where children genuinely thrive 

   

This is a wonderful opportunity for our parent community to come together, be inspired, and connect with other families over refreshments afterwards. 

Term 2 Key Dates

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Year 11 Politics and Law ATAR students tour the courts

Last Wednesday, Year 11 Politics and Law ATAR students took part in an excursion to the Supreme Court, the District and Magistrate Courts, and Parliament House. The day allowed the students to observe live hearings and heated question time, gaining unique internal perspectives of the WA legal system, with reference to and understanding of the content covered in Semester One. 

In the morning, the students visited the Supreme Court, exploring the courtrooms and engaging in scenario-based activities to learn about various court personnel roles and responsibilities. At the District Court, students were guided by a member of the Law Society into a final hearing for drug trafficking offenders. They witnessed the final process of a sentencing, a rare opportunity to witness in court. Students were fortunate to speak with Judge Carmel Barbagallo, gaining valuable insights into her professional experiences as a judge and prosecutor. 

For the next hour, the students observed various hearings in the Magistrate’s Court regarding theft and minor police assault cases. They then visited the video link court, tuning in to hearings from remote prisons and receiving details from the Magistrate. It was another useful experience to step into the court's internal workings, but this time online. 

After lunch, students visited Parliament House, where they were greeted by Sandra Brewer, Member for Cottesloe and John XXIII College parent. They learned about the history of Western Australia’s Parliament, including the significance of many pioneering women, such as Edith Cowan. The students visited both chambers of parliament, viewing intense question time in the Legislative Assembly, the day before the state government’s budget announcement. 

The day was very eventful and full of unique opportunities to learn and experience first-hand the ins and outs of our WA court proceedings and what goes on in parliament. 

Many thanks to Ms Kylie Mavromatis (HASS Teacher) for accompanying the class on the excursion and Katie Daly (Year 11) for assisting with this article.

Stephen Harris

HASS Teacher

Year 10 Reconciliation

This week, Year 10 students celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the form of the Second Rite. In Secondary, the students are offered this opportunity in Years 8, 10 and 12. In the Primary, class groups celebrate the sacrament from Years 3 to 6. We are blessed to have priests in the diocese, including local parishes, to assist. The Second Rite is celebrated as a community, beginning with a short liturgy of the Word. Students may then choose individual confession and absolution (or a blessing), in a communal context. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Confession or Penance) always begins with God’s love and forgiveness. Pope Francis taught that: ‘forgiveness is not a result of our efforts, but is a gift. It is a gift of the Holy Spirit who showers us with mercy and grace, that pours forth unceasingly from the open heart of Christ, crucified and risen’. It is a teaching that students can hold onto, not only during Secondary, but beyond formal schooling and into adulthood. 

Mary-Anne Lumley

College Liturgist

2026 National Schools Constitutional Convention 

The National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC) was an incredible experience and certainly one that I will never forget. Myself and 14 other WA Delegates, accompanied 113 delegates, representing the other states and territories, to Canberra where we discussed and debated some components of the Australian Constitution. In particular, we considered to amend Section 53 of the Constitution, to prevent the Senate from blocking supply bills (money bills). In our debates, we considered the 1975 Constitutional Crisis and how the blocking of supply had played a pivotal role in the dismissal of Prime Minster Gough Whitlam. We arrived in Canberra in the late afternoon on a Monday, and our first night provided a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with the other delegates over dinner. 

The next day, the program began at the Australia National Archives where we got to view original documents relating to varying parts of parliamentary history such as; a copy of the Australia Act 1986, that officially cut Australian and British legislative ties; a copy of the Larrakia Petition, a plea to the Queen to help first nations people, which was signed by 1000 Aboriginal tribes from across Australia. This was followed by a tour of Parliament House – where we received an address from the speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick. After this we watched question time with the European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen being present, and the President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine. We then attended the ‘Meet your MP Event’, where delegates met with their Federal MPs. The tour concluded with an address from the Minister of Education, Jason Clare. 

On the second day, we went to old Parliament House for the Convention’s official opening ceremony. The Welcome to Country was delivered by Richie Allan, a Ngunnawal and Kamilaroi Custodian and Cultural Director of the Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. This was then followed by a heritage message from Georgie Bryant of the Museum of Australian Democracy, and a video address from the Attorney‑General, The Hon Michelle Rowland. Emeritus Professor Clement Macintyre, from the University of Adelaide, then outlined the referendum topic and the rules of engagement that would be discussed. The first keynote address was delivered by Professor Gabrielle Appleby from the University of New South Wales, who examined the constitutional tensions surrounding Section 53 and the compromises embedded in Australia’s federal design. After morning tea, the second keynote address was presented by Professor Emerita Anne Twomey of the University of Sydney, who revisited the Whitlam Dismissal and the constitutional issues surrounding the blocking of supply.  After lunch, the third keynote brought together two senior political figures: Former Senators Nick Minchin, and John Faulkner. They provided contrasting political perspectives on the use of Section 53 in the Whitlam dismissal. We then attended Government House for an official reception hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn, Governor‑General of Australia. The evening concluded with dinner at the National Press Club, where we heard from speakers such as Amber Brock‑Fabel, Founding Director of the South Australian Youth Forum, and Tom McIlroy, Political Editor at The Guardian Australia; and a surprise entrance from Jim Chalmers.

Day 3 began at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Professor Alan Fenna from Curtin University delivered the first keynote address, bringing together the major arguments for and against constitutional change. The soapbox sessions on both Day 2 and 3, provided students the ability to publicly share and test their ideas on the information that we had received. The program then shifted to the referendum component, with Lisa Wyllie from the Australian Electoral Commission explaining the referendum process before delegates participated in a formal vote to change section 53 of the constitution. The result: the No’s achieved a majority by one vote, though majority of states voted Yes. At the conclusion of the convention, we headed to Canberra Airport where, by coincidence we ran into Senator Penny Wong, Member for Curtin Kate Chaney and MHR Anne Aly, who were all on the same flight back to Perth. 

Participating in the NSCC has been such an extraordinary opportunity and one that I feel genuinely privileged to have taken part in. Being surrounded by motivated, politically engaged students created an environment that was both inspiring and energising. I’ve formed strong friendships and gained insights that will stay with me well beyond the program. I would like to express my sincere thanks to John XXIII College and all my teachers who aided me in the management of my schoolwork that I missed, particularly I would like to thank Ms Farley and Principal Mr. Daniel Mahon, for their support and for enabling me to be part of such a valuable educational experience. The hands‑on learning throughout the convention has reinforced my commitment to pursuing political studies at university and has strengthened my ambition to continue engaging with politics in the future.

Zeph O’Brien

Year 12 Politics & Law ATAR student

Enrich family life by hosting a student from Japan

John XXIII College families have a strong tradition of facilitating connections with students internationally. 

From 2 to 9 August, students from Osaka Kasugaoka High School, Japan, will be attending John XXIII College as day students for a cultural exchange. If families are interested in hosting a student please contact Gold Educational Tours who oversee the host family arrangements, providing 24/7 support and a $550.00 contribution per student. 

Find out more: https://schoolcommunity.goldeducationaltours.com.au 

Melissa Polizzi

Head of Learning Area - Languages

SPORT

School Sport WA Cross-Country 

Congratulations to all students selected to represent John XXIII College at the 2026 School Sport WA Cross-Country Carnival on Thursday, 21 May. This competition is open to all government and non-government school students. 

The day provides a platform for selection into the SSWA Interstate Cross-Country team, where students selected will compete in the School Sport Australia Cross-Country Championships later this year. It also provides another opportunity to post times in the lead-up to the big ACC Cross-Country Carnival. A full team list is available in the SEQTA notices. 

Information for the day:

• Where: Please meet in the St Louis Sport Centre 
• Carnival Location: Yokine Regional Open Space
• When: Thursday 21 May, 7:45am SHARP St Louis Sport Centre for name check and briefing.
• Transport: A bus will depart the College at 8:15am to UWA Sports Park - McGilvray
• What to bring: Food and drink for the day, sunscreen and a hat.
• All students are required to stay for the duration of the day to support team JTC.
• Dress: Please wear the College Sports uniform and yellow athletics singlet (this is available for purchase at the College Uniform Shop).
  • Girls:  Optional JTC performance shorts (bike shorts) or College Sport shorts that can be worn with the singlet. 

ACC Cross-Country 

 All students on the SSWA team have been sent the following information regarding the upcoming ACC Cross-Country Carnival and their potential selection. The first draft of the team has been posted in the College notices. This is still subject to change after the SSWA Cross-Country next week.

• Attend team training session Tuesday, 19 May 6:45am arrival at Alderbury reserve. Please see SEQTA notices for the map and more information. There will be a bus to transport students back to school after the session.
• A full team list is accessible in the SEQTA notices
• Students who are selected for the final ACC team (top 8) need to be available for the Team training and dinner - Monday, 25 May 
  • Training: 3:30pm-4:30pm - College Ovals 
  • Dinner: 5:00pm-6:00pm - TMEC

Year 8 NAS Trials 

Year 8 NAS Trials will commence in Week 5. All students are encouraged to trial for a spot on a team for the Carnival taking place on 17 June. Students who don’t make a NAS team will have the option to attend the day as a helper or participate in the Lightning Carnival. We would love to see everyone involved. 

Please see below for important information: 

• This is a compulsory school day for students. 
  • Trials will take place during Weeks 5 and 6, and selected teams will be posted after the second trial. 
  • All students will be involved in the day as either a team member, a student helper for a team or participating in the Lightning Carnival Netball (Girls), Soccer (Boys).
  • Training schedules are posted in the College notices and have been sent out to all students.
  • Students who are unable to attend all training days must notify the team coach of their absence.
  • All students are to meet in the Pavilion in their PE uniform before their trial.

All Year 8 students are required to complete the nomination form for the teams they wish to trial for. Year 8 Winter NAS / ACC Lightning Carnival – Fill out form

Below is the NAS Trial Schedule and the NAS Training Schedule, which will commence after the trials.

Staffing

Year 7 NAS

What a carnival for our Year 7s first NAS day experience! The energy was great in the morning pre-departure, and all the students were ready to take on the other NAS Schools and Lightning Carnival Schools. Well done to all the students for their enormous efforts in training in the lead up to the carnival. The strong team spirit was evident on the day. We had some fantastic results for the day: 

Premiers 

• Boys Badminton
• Girls Soccer

2nd place

• Netball - B
• Girls Badminton

3rd place

• Boys Football 
• Boys Soccer
• Boys Volleyball 
• Girls Volleyball 
• Netball - A

Interhouse Surfing Carnival 

We were absolutely blessed with the weather yesterday for our Interhouse Surfing/Bodyboarding Carnival. Magically, there was no rain until the very end of the day. Conditions were not for the faint-hearted with some big swell that came in. It was so pleasing to see all the students running out into the surf with their peers giving it their best. All the students should be extremely proud of their efforts and for putting on a great show for the spectators. 

Congratulations to the following students who finished in the top three in their categories. The Interschool Team will be posted early next term. 

Senior Eagles Cup (First XVIII) 

Results from last Wednesday's Eagles Senior Schoolboys Cup - C Grade - Pool 2 fixture:

John XXIII College vs Belmont CC, Venue - John XXIII College

We now await the release of fixtures for teams through to the next set of rounds. We have been victorious from our three outings so far and hope the team can maintain this form into the finals series.  

Years 8/9 Boys Eagles Cup Football

The Years 8/9 Eagles Cup team delivered a strong performance in a closely contested match against Warwick Senior High School.

JTC played good football in the first half, showing structure and teamwork to take a narrow lead into halftime. Despite this positive start, Warwick gained control through the midfield in the second half and gradually pulled away, finishing with a 20-point victory.

Our players demonstrated outstanding effort and commitment throughout the game. While we matched it early, Warwick’s physical strength proved difficult to contain as the match progressed.

A special mention to our Year 8 students, who competed well against older opposition. Hugo Smith, Charlie Calder, and Ben Parker were particularly impressive with their determination and skill.

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport

Share your child’s achievements

We love celebrating the wonderful achievements of our students in this section of the newsletter. If your child has recently represented at a regional, state, or national level, or been part of a team that has achieved a significant result (such as a premiership or championship), we would love to hear about it!

Families are invited to share details and a photo by emailing newsletter@johnxxiii.edu.au. Please include your child’s name, year group, event or activity, and a brief description of the achievement.

To ensure fairness and consistency, we can only feature information received directly from families that meets the above criteria. If no image or details are provided, we may not be able to include your child’s achievement in the newsletter.