Secondary

Dear Families

A highlight of this week was welcoming the Class of 2030 on Monday for their Year 7 Orientation Day. Starting high school brings with it a mix of emotions: excitement, anticipation, hope, nervousness and sometimes a sense of overwhelm, which is why an effective orientation program is essential to set the foundation for a successful transition. The Year 7 Transition experience is a well-developed program to provide students entering the Secondary School with the framework and skills to establish a sense of place and belonging, positive relationships with peers and teachers, and effective routines and habits to meet the changing nature and rigour of high school.

Monday provided our new students the opportunity to meet peers from other schools as well as a variety of teaching staff as they engaged in a series of activities throughout the day. The transition experience will continue through next year to nurture the pastoral and academic growth of each student. During their first week of Term 1, students will engage in a range of activities to help them settle into their new environment and routines. Complementing the Wellbeing Program that focuses on connection and belonging will be the Life Skills program, where students learn skills such as organisation, time management, goal setting and digital literacy. A vital component of the transition journey will be the Year 7 camp, the St Omer Experience, which will focus on building connections and teamwork, problem-solving and resilience towards the end of the Term 1.

Thank you to Ms Morgan Ball, Assistant Deputy Principal – Year 7, all staff involved, Year 7 student helpers and our generous parent helpers for contributing to a very successful day on Monday. We wish all our new Year 7 students and their families the very best as they finish their primary school days and look forward to commencing Secondary School next term.

Presentation Evening: Thursday 28 November

Our College Presentation Evening will be held in the St Louis Sports Centre on Thursday 28 November beginning at 7pm. As this is an important community event for our College, all students in Years 6 to 11 are expected to attend. Year 12 students are required only if they are involved in the evening as a presenter, performer or major award recipient.

Parking will be available on the College playing fields with entry from John XXIII Avenue. Entry to the St Louis Sports Centre will be through the doors adjacent to the playing fields.

Guests are to be seated by 6:45pm for a 7pm start.

Students who are attending as members of the audience are to wear their summer uniform, whilst all award winners are required to wear the formal winter uniform, including blazer, shirt, tie and tights for girls. Other College requirements regarding grooming are to be adhered to.

Students receiving an award will be notified during the week of the evening and will participate in rehearsals during the day on Thursday 28 November.

Inspire Workshop

The Parents' Association is committed to providing valuable educational experiences through our 'INSPIRE' program, which focuses on parent education through presentations, forums, and interactive sessions. Our program funds a range of speakers and educators who address health and wellbeing issues affecting young people and their families. In this interactive workshop, we invite parents and guardians to come together and brainstorm potential topics for our 'INSPIRE' events in 2025 and beyond. Your input will be important in helping us identify the most relevant subjects that will benefit our community. By attending this workshop, you will be part of a proactive community that is dedicated to the educational and emotional wellbeing of our children. Together, we can create a robust and relevant program for 'INSPIRE' into the future. 

We look forward to your participation and contributions.

• Date: Tuesday 12 November 2024 
• Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
• Location: Thomas More Exhibition Centre
• Register

2025 Year 10 Student Device Opt-in to the College-Owned Student Device Program

As part of the implementation of the College-Owned Student Device Program, next year Year 10 parents will have the choice to purchase their child’s device or opt to lease a College-Owned device.

Parents wanting to join the College-Owned Student Device Program for 2025 Year 10 students are required to complete the College-Owned Device Agreement Form by Monday 11 November 2024.

For further information, please view the attached letter.

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

From the Ignatius Centre Library 

Important: Whitelist Our Library Emails

We have noticed that some emails from the Ignatius Centre Library are being sent to junk folders, especially for parents using Hotmail accounts. To ensure you do not miss important updates and information, please add our library email addresses to your trusted senders list.

Library Email Addresses: library@johnxxiii.edu.au and jean.redfern@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Here is how to add us to your trusted list:

1. Open the email from the library in your inbox or junk folder.
2. Click on the three dots (more options) and select "Mark as Safe" or "Add to Safe Senders."

Thank you for helping us keep you informed.

Jean Redfern

Library and Learning Services Educator

Year 9 Economics and Business Trade Fair 

Over the past two weeks, the Thomas More Education Centre and the Pavilion have been transformed by the annual Year 9 Trade Fair. Year 9 Economics and Business students have been examining Australia’s economic interdependence with other nations, with a particular emphasis on trade. Each student pair was tasked with creating a trade stall representing the primary goods and services exchanged between their assigned country and Australia.

The thoughtfully designed and informative displays attracted students from both primary and secondary levels, providing an engaging and interactive learning experience focused on Australia’s major trade partners. Year 9 students are to be commended for their dedication, creativity, and depth of understanding regarding bilateral trade relationships.

Thomas Hooker

HASS Teacher

Alliance Française examinations

Back in July, Years 10, 11 and 12 French Second Language students sat the written examinations for the annual state Alliance Française examination. This prestigious examination is sat by students studying French as a Second Language in Western Australia. 

Hannah Johnson (Year 12) and Isabelle Greenwood Haynes (Year 10) were invited to sit the oral component on 14 September at the Alliance Française Centre in Nedlands, with external oral examiners. Well done to both students. 

Isabelle, currently completing the Year 11 French Second Language ATAR course through SIDE, was awarded the first prize in the Year 11 cohort of the state. On Friday, 25 October, along with her teachers: Madame Outtrim, Madame Griffin-Appadoo, Prof Polizzi and Madame Simone Menager, from SIDE, congratulated her at the award ceremony. Félicitations and congratulations to Isabelle. We are all very proud of your accomplishments.

Well done to all the Years 10, 11 and 12 French students for sitting the examination. The below students received Très bien:

Achieving bien:

Melissa Polizzi

Head of Learning Area - Languages 

John XXIII College Shopfront Christmas Appeal 2024

Please give generously to the John XXIII College Christmas Appeal.

Please donate money or items from the list below to support the Shopfront Christmas Appeal. Students should bring their donations to Homeroom by Wednesday 20 November. Any cash donations will support the Shopfront Christmas Lunch.

The following items are needed for gift bags:

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal - Faith and Mission

Community planting and weeding day: A heartfelt thank you

Last Saturday the John XXIII College community came together for a highly successful community planting and weeding day. This event, held from 8:00am to 9:30am at the back of B8 on the western side of the College, was a resounding success, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of students, staff, families, and alumni.

The morning was filled with the spirit of service and environmental stewardship, as inspired by Pope Francis's call in Laudato Si' to be caretakers of our common home. Participants engaged in various activities, including planting new flora, weeding existing gardens, and maintaining previous plantings. This collective effort not only beautified our College grounds but also reinforced the importance of environmental responsibility and ecological justice.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look forward to continuing this tradition of community service and environmental stewardship in the future.

Adrian Sims

Sustainability Coordinator

SPORT

Years 9/10 Water Polo 

Girls 

The girls were fantastic! Undefeated for the day, won grand final 8-1and showed great sportsmanship and spirit.  

Boys 

The Years 9/10 boys water polo team reached the Grand Final of the competition, winning seven games out of eight along the way. The boys went down in a nail-biting game 4-3 against CBC Fremantle. Well done to all students on their positive attitude and teamwork on the day. 

A big thank you goes to Mr Chris Morris and Ms Jodi Power for their work with both teams!

NAS Golf 

A strong performance from our NAS Golf Team was not quite enough to overcome the previous holders of the NAS Golf Tournament trophy for 2024. Congratulations to our representatives, who acquitted themselves in fine fashion with their effort and etiquette at a very high standard indeed, and congratulations to Newman College for their run of victories for this event. Our John XXIII College players have shown some considerable improvement over the weeks of preparation including shorter and longer sessions on the College ovals and a 9-hole practice round at Wembley Golf Course leading into the tournament. 

Thank you to our parents, who attended practice sessions and assisted on game days. A special mention to the support of Miss Kylie Bone (mother of Jovi) for her assistance on tournament day. The commitment of our squad members (listed below) was outstanding and very much appreciated:

• Jovi Gibson
• Max Brooks
• Matthew Mignacca
• Izaac Paton
• Jack Whitaker
• Sam Derbyshire
• Jagger Nener 
• Tommy Nugyen 
• Rory Early-Smith- reserve
• Jacob Chester – reserve

Special mention also to our Year 11 squad members who were unable to participate due to exam pressures – Logan Blake, Luke Green, David Gardner.

Volleyball Club 

All students interested in playing Volleyball are invited to attend volleyball sessions on Monday mornings at 7:00am to 8:00am. This is open to all students, and no experience is needed. Students will have the opportunity to learn the basics and more in a fun and relaxed environment. 

Swimming Club 

Come and join Swim Club every Wednesday, 7:00am to 8:00am for the remainder of the term. All abilities and experience levels are welcome as there will be something for everyone, a great way to start the day especially as it is warming up!! We would also like to invite current College Year 6 students to the training, a great chance for them to get a taste of high school swimming.

Years 7/8 Water Polo Trials 

All students interested in trialling for Years 7/8 Water Polo please attend the trial on Wednesday 13 November 7:00am to 7:50am at HBF Stadium Indoor Pool with Mr Morris and Miss Power. Students are to be dropped at HBF for a 7:00am start in the water.

There will be a bus to take students back to the College at the end of the trial. Competition Dates are 28 November for Years 7/8 Boys and 29 November for Years 7/8 Girls.

Congratulations 

Last weekend we had a record number of twelve John XXIII students competing in the WA Athletics All Schools Championships. This is an event that enables athletes to qualify for nationals next year. All students who run, jump or throw at the qualifiers and finish on the podium are selected as a part of the WA Team. 

Well done to all the students for their amazing efforts! A big well done to the students below who have qualified for the national championships. 

Girls Under 14

• Ciana Rio Torto, Discus (Gold), Shot Put (Gold), 

Girls Under 15 

• Sade Hewes, 100m (Silver), 200m (Bronze), Long Jump (Silver)

Boys Under 16 

• Finn Wibrow, 100m Bronze
• Kayden Prosper, 200m Silver 

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport

Metro Pipe Renewals near John XXIII College - Dates and details

Work on the metro water pipe renewals in Pine Tree Lane, close to John XXIII College, is scheduled to commence on Monday 11 November 2024. The project is expected to be completed by mid-December 2024, taking approximately 6 to 8 weeks.

The works will take place from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays as required.

The exact location of the work is Pine Tree Lane, as indicated on the provided map.

While no roads are expected to be closed, there may be extra traffic management in the area, potentially causing minimal traffic delays for parents.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this necessary work.