Around The Primary

Dear Families, 

Students and staff have all had a great first three weeks back at school and we have much to look forward to as the term unfolds. I wish to thank everyone for reading all my messages and following the plans for special events.

I especially want to acknowledge all those families who have followed my requests regarding the loop drop-off/pick-up and parking arrangements. This has made a huge difference, and we have still managed to get all the students into their cars at the end of the day in a safe and timely manner.

Many thanks to all those who were able to come along and cheer at our Junior Primary Athletics Carnival on Thursday – it is always very special being together as a school community.

The Kindy to Year 2 children were very excited and participated with great enthusiasm. We are so proud of our young athletes for trying their personal best. Congratulations to Mr Williams for coordinating this much-loved carnival. 

We know there are many great things that go together to make a great school and community, but today, on World Teachers’ Day, we remember just how important our teachers and education assistants are to the development of our students.

Our teachers don't just teach. They build relationships and trust. They empathise. They show compassion, care and respect for the individuals they teach every day.  This is what makes a great teacher, and in turn, a great school.

Families provided us with a delicious morning tea as part of our celebration today.  This was a lovely way to recognise and express gratitude for the important job that educators and education assistants do in shaping the bright future for the next generation. 

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Dates to Remember

Please check the College Website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar. http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-parents/calendars.  By subscribing to the College calendar, you are automatically alerted when details of an existing event are changed. 

Celebrating Young Writers 

We are very proud of our students that entered the Craig Silvey Writers’ Competition.  Their stories will be displayed in the College library.  This year there were over 1,180 entries.  Congratulations to Claire Chia (4G) who placed 2nd for “Rong Fu and the Emperor”, in the Year 3 /4 category and Beatrix Reed (6G) who placed 3rd for “Forte”, in the Year 5 /6 category. 

Tara Purcell

Primary GATE Teacher

STEM Stars

On Tuesday, 21 October, our Year 5 GATE students took part in the Scitech Catholic Challenge Day, competing in Engineering, Maths, Astronomy, and Science challenges. Sixteen teams from Catholic schools participated.  We are proud to share that two of our JTC teams placed very well! The Red Pandas came 2nd, and The Inventors placed 3rd. A special mention to Ava and Ethan joining us on the day too.  Well done to all students for representing the College with excellence and enthusiasm!

Tara Purcell

Primary GATE Teacher

Wellbeing Weekly

Keeping Safe Curriculum

This term Primary students will continue to participate in lessons from the Keeping Safe Curriculum, with a focus on strategies to stay safe.  This includes learning about community services which can help, like 000, and a range of problem-solving strategies using relevant age-appropriate scenarios. 

Assertive communication, persistence and resilience are all explored, and persistence is reinforced so students understand that they need to keep telling until someone listens and takes action.

Helping Your Child Navigate the Internet Safely

From 10 December, the Australian Government will introduce world-first social media age restrictions to protect young Australians during a critical stage of their development. Under these new rules, most social media platforms will prevent children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. This change aims to reduce exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and addictive design features.

To help families prepare, the eSafety Commissioner’s Social Media Age Restrictions Hub offers practical resources, FAQs, and conversation starters. You can visit the hub here: esafety.gov.au/social-media-age-restrictions-hub

Here are some simple strategies to ensure your child’s online experience supports their wellbeing:

Set Clear Rules

Agree on time limits and which sites or apps are appropriate. Explain why these rules exist - focus on safety and balance.

Use Parental Controls 

Enable filters and monitoring tools on devices and browsers. Keep software and apps updated for security.

Teach Digital Literacy

Show children how to recognise reliable sources and avoid scams. Discuss what personal information should never be shared online.

Encourage Open Communication 

Make sure your child feels comfortable telling you if something online makes them uneasy. Avoid punishment for honest mistakes—focus on learning.

Model Good Behaviour 

Demonstrate healthy screen habits yourself. Share positive ways to use the internet for learning and creativity.

If you have any queries, please contact me via email: natalie.alach@johnxiii.edu.au 

Natalie Alach

Primary Counsellor 

Sports Update

Junior Primary Athletics Carnival – A Joyful Day of Sport and Spirit

On Thursday, our Kindy to Year 2 students made their way to the Secondary ovals for the much anticipated Junior Primary Athletics Carnival. The excitement was palpable, and even a heavy downpour couldn’t dampen the students’ enthusiasm or high spirits!

We extend our sincere thanks to all the parents, grandparents, and family friends who came along to support our young athletes. Your presence made the day even more special. A special thank you to the wonderful parent volunteers who assisted at the finish line and those who participated in the parent race!

It was heartwarming to see every student giving their best effort, embracing the thrill of competition, and navigating the emotions that come with such an energetic event. Congratulations to all involved—your resilience, sportsmanship, and joy truly made the day a memorable one!

If you have any queries about anything sport-related, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au  

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator 

Year 6 Swimming Club Training  

We would like to invite our Year 6 students to join the Wednesday afternoon Swimming Club training at the College Pool from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.  The training as a great chance for students to get a taste of swimming in Secondary and help prepare for the 2026 Secondary Interhouse Swimming Carnival.  So come on down to Swim Club every Wednesday starting on 5 November for the remainder of the term.

All abilities and experience levels are welcome. There will be something for everyone, so this is a great way to end the day especially as it is warming up!! 

Miss Pillera

Head of Sport, Secondary 

Music 

Rehearsal Times

Please see below for rehearsal times for next week 

Year 1 Mini-Music Performances 

The Year One students have been preparing for their mini-music performances of ‘Somewhere in Australia’ and are looking forward to sharing this with families. Please remember to wear your parent badge. 

Save The Date

Please note the following music performance dates for this term:

Communications regarding these performances will be issued closer to the dates of the events.

If you have any queries regarding Primary Music, please contact me via email: catherine.haydon@johnxxiii.edu.au

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Sacramental Certificates

Parents are requested to email a copy of their child’s Sacramental Certificate (Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation) to Mrs Petsos in Primary Administration, nancy.petsos@johnxxiii.edu.au, for our College records.