Around The Primary

Dear Families 

Today, as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, we take a moment to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our teachers and education assistants. Their role extends far beyond the classroom. They build relationships founded on trust, show compassion and understanding, and nurture each child with care and respect. Their dedication helps create a learning environment where students can thrive, and we are deeply grateful for the positive impact they have on the lives of our students every day.

A special thank you to our families who generously provided a delicious morning tea to help celebrate our staff. It was a thoughtful gesture and a wonderful way to express appreciation for the important work our educators do in shaping the future of the next generation.

Many thanks also to the families who joined us for our Junior Primary Athletics Carnival on Tuesday. It is always a joy to come together as a school community to encourage and celebrate our students. Our Kindy to Year 2 children participated with great enthusiasm and energy, and we are incredibly proud of the way they embraced each event and gave their personal best.

Congratulations and sincere thanks to Mr Williams for his organisation of this much-loved carnival, which continues to be a highlight of the school year for our youngest students.

Next Thursday, 5 November, we are delighted to host our Gratitude Evening to thank our wonderful volunteers for the many ways you have supported College life. Whether you have assisted on photo day, helped at events, supported excursions, lent a hand at carnivals, provided assistance with the musical, or contributed in any other way, your generosity of time and energy has made a real difference to our community. We hope you can join us.

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Dates to Remember

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

Great Minds - Bringing history to life

Our Year 6 Gifted and Talented students brought history to life through their engaging 'Great Minds' presentations, celebrating some of the world's most influential thinkers, innovators and changemakers.

Students stepped into the shoes of remarkable individuals, sharing their achievements, challenges and lasting contributions to society. We met Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, who championed equality and peaceful change, and Greta Thunberg, whose environmental activism has inspired young people worldwide.

Scientific discoveries were celebrated through Marie Curie, a pioneer in radioactivity, Albert Einstein, whose theories transformed our understanding of the universe, and Katalin Karikó, whose groundbreaking mRNA research helped pave the way for COVID-19 vaccines.

Innovation and imagination came alive through Bill Gates, a pioneer in personal computing, Walt Disney, who revolutionised animation and entertainment, and Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web.

Students also explored the extraordinary achievements of Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the Moon, Amelia Earhart, a trailblazing aviator, and Queen Elizabeth I, whose reign shaped a significant period of English history.

Congratulations to our Year 6 GATE students on their outstanding presentations!

Tara Purcell

Primary GATE Teacher

2027 Booklists

Booklist orders for Kindy to Year 4 will follow the ‘bulk order’ system at the College.  This ordering system enables students to have everything they need for the first day of school and ensures all students have the same equipment as their classmates.  Our booklist provider is Campion Education.

How does the bulk order system work for Kindy to Year 4?

Teachers complete a bulk order list for their year level that will provide all the equipment each student will need for the year. For instance, if a student fills an exercise book then a new book will be provided.  Families will not need to purchase any extra stationery.  The only time families will be required to buy supplies will be if their child intentionally damages any equipment or regularly misplaces supplies. 

How does this help students and teachers?

Firstly, every student will have exactly the same materials.  Students will not feel left out if they do not have the correct materials or the latest trendy pencil case etc.  Teachers are guaranteed that every book and stationery item is correct and it will be available in class for the first day of school. 

This bulk order option will also be a more cost-effective option for families, as well as, offering an easier method for teachers to organise resources ahead of time. It is important to note that this bulk order cost will be added to the 2027 School Fees.

Booklists in Years 5 and 6

Our Years 5 and 6 students will require booklist orders to be completed with the payment being made directly to Campion Education.

The Years 5 and 6 Booklist Forms for 2027 are available on College Website using the following link Booklists | John XXIII College Mount Claremont The Resource List Code for John XXIII College is – KFHM. All orders must be completed online at www.campion.com.au by Sunday 13 December 2026. 

Wellbeing Weekly

I am pleased to share with you several of Ngala’s FREE parent information and support programs offered this November.  Follow the link for information on dates, location and to book.

Parenting with Neurodiversity in Mind 

A 6-week program facilitated by Neurominded, designed for parents and carers who have questions, concerns, or experiences related to neurodiversity and developmental differences. 

First Aid Heartbeat Club 

This training session facilitated by Royal Life Saving aims to increase parents skills and confidence in CPR and First Aid on infants and children. 

Successful Toileting 

This information session explores the issues of acquiring toileting skills for children over 3.5 years. Discussing practical strategies and resources this session will explore the issues which might impinge on a child acquiring the toileting milestone.

Keeping Kids in Mind 

Keeping Kids in Mind is a 5 week program for separated parents who are experiencing on-going conflict. The program is designed to assist parents to see through their children’s eyes the experience of parental separation and develop greater understanding about how to support children following family separation. 

Key Word Sign 

Research shows Key Word Sign can support early language and communication development. In this two-part workshop, parents and caregivers will learn how to use Key Word Sign and other practical strategies to support children with emerging language skills through everyday routines and activities.

Starting High School 

A parent information session with author, speaker and Youth Coach, Claire Eaton. Join Claire for an evening of practical information, strategies, tips and tools to help tweens transition to high school with more resilience, optimism, and confidence.

Transition to School 

Starting school can be both an exciting and scary time for you and your child. This session will discuss the transition phase and provide guidance to help ensure your child is ready.

Natalie Alach

Primary School Counsellor

Primary Sport

What a fantastic day we enjoyed at our Junior Primary Athletics Carnival on Tuesday! With beautiful sunshine and wonderful support from parents, grandparents and friends, the carnival was a wonderful celebration of participation and fun.

While the cheering from the sidelines created a vibrant atmosphere, it was our young athletes who truly stole the show. We were incredibly proud of the way they embraced every challenge, navigated the ups and downs that come with competition, and gave their best effort in each event. Their courage, determination and willingness to step outside their comfort zone was inspiring to watch. Learning to be brave in these moments helps build the confidence and resilience students need to tackle future challenges both on and off the sporting field.

Thank you to all our spectators for bringing such positive energy and encouragement throughout the day. A special thank you also goes to our parent volunteers, whose assistance helped make the carnival run so smoothly. We would also like to acknowledge the parents who enthusiastically joined in the parent races.  Your participation added to the fun and created wonderful memories for our students.

It was a fantastic day filled with smiles, laughter and achievement, and we are incredibly proud of every student who took part in this special event. 

Soccer News

Congratulations to Year 6 students, Manuela Braga and Samuel Hewer, who proudly represented Western Australia at the School Sport Australia Under 12 Soccer Championships in Newcastle, New South Wales, this week.  We look forward to hearing all about the competition when you are back at school.

If you have any queries regarding Primary Sport, please contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Steve Williams 

Primary Sport Coordinator 

Primary Music 

Ensemble Rehearsals 

Save the Date

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

After School Care 

Please click on the following link to find out about After School Care offered by Extend, including hours of operation, fees and how to book - John XXIII College - Extend

The team at Extend can be contacted via email: support@extend.com.au or call 1300 366 437.