Secondary

Dear Families  

A warm welcome to Term 3! Whilst holidays provide a timely pause to rest, reflect and reenergise from the term, it is always great to experience the buzz of students on campus as they return from their break. This morning, to celebrate NAIDOC Week, which occurred during the holidays, Noongar elder, Matthew McGuire and his nephew, Barry Lawrence, gave a Welcome to Country and performed a smoking ceremony to welcome staff and students to Wadjuk country, inviting the good spirits of this area to help us care for each other and the beautiful land in which we work, learn and play at the College. This year’s NAIDOC theme is Keep the Fire Burning. In this morning’s ceremony, Matthew shared with students and staff his interpretation of the theme, reminding us of our connectedness to the land and each other and encouraging us to stay curious in learning about First People’s culture and walking together towards reconciliation. 

Staff Update 

I wish to inform the community that Mr Scott McDonnell has decided to not continue at the College next year and, considering this, has stepped down from his position as Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning.  Mr McDonnell will continue teaching his Year 12 class and work on curriculum projects for the remainder of the year. Mr Chris Morris has been appointed as Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning, bringing experience and knowledge to the role and we look forward to his valuable contribution.

Athletics Carnival  

The Interhouse Athletics Carnival takes place next Friday at the State Athletics Stadium. This is a compulsory day for all Secondary students. As a day of fantastic House spirit and competition, students are required to wear full College sports uniform with a House shirt and hat and should have appropriate warm and wet weather clothing. The carnival commences at 8:15am and will conclude by 3:00pm. Students are expected to make their way to and from the venue, however, transport will be provided for students who are not able to do so.  

Parents are welcome to join us on the day, we hope to see you there! 

Uniform and Mobile Phone Expectations 

The beginning of the new term is always an appropriate time to remind students and families of College expectations. The College uniform provides students with a sense of identity and belonging and should be worn correctly and with pride as a member of our community. A reminder that students are required to wear their blazers to and from school each day and that students wearing trousers and the classic shirt are required to have the shirt tucked in. Students wearing earrings are permitted to wear one pair of simple gold or silver studs or sleepers. Students wearing incorrect uniform will receive a uniform infringement and will have jewellery confiscated. Wellbeing Wednesdays continue this semester, and students are welcome to wear the sports uniform with a House shirt on these days.  

We commence a renewed focus this term to encourage students to use their mobile technology responsibly and balance this with positive relationships and interactions with their friends and peers while at school. To this end, the mobile phone expectations are that students keep their phones securely locked in their lockers for the duration of the school day (8:30am to 3:10pm).  Students should not have their phone on them (with the exception that they have been given permission to use their phone for educational or medical purposes) during class time, recess or lunch. Students purchasing items from the Canteen can do so using cash, their SmartRider or a debit card. Consequences for inappropriate use of mobile phones will include confiscation of the phone in the first instance, and further infringements for recurrent inappropriate use.  

We appreciate families’ support to help our young people minimise the distraction of mobile technology to engage more fully with their learning and enjoy face-to-face interactions with each other.   

Contacting staff via phone – change to voicemail services 

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our services, we have transitioned to a new Unified Communications/Telephony System to streamline our voice and video messaging and enhance the overall experience for parents and staff. When leaving a voice message, please ensure to press the hash key (#) at the end of your message before hanging up. This step is essential as it signals the system to send your message successfully. Failure to press the hash key will result in your message not being delivered. We understand this is a slight change from our previous system, and we appreciate your cooperation in adapting to this new process. Your messages are important to us, and we want to make sure that they are received and addressed promptly. 

Term 3 Key Dates 

Warm regards

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Sora Sweet Reads

The Sora Sweet Reads program offers a collection of grade-appropriate eBook and audiobook titles prominently displayed in Sora for quick and easy unlimited access.  

How does it work?  

Sora provides the quickest and easiest way to get started with digital titles from our College. Students can log in using their school credentials and instantly access our digital library on virtually any device. Primary students will already have the Sora app on their iPads. Otherwise, students can get started today at https://soraapp.com  or download the free Sora app for Android and iOS.  

Who is the program targeted towards?  

Students who are in Years 4-12 as they have their own device and know their College credentials.  

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Jean Redfern 

Library and Learning Services Educator 

jean.redfern@johnxxiii.edu.au  

Donations for secondhand clothing stall for John XXIII Day

As part of the College’s sustainability initiatives, we will again be running a secondhand clothing stall on John XXIII Day. 

We are looking for clothing donations from students and their families. Clothes must be in good condition and suitable for teenagers and adults. 

All funds raised from the sale of clothing on the day will be donated to Caritas, and leftover clothing items will be donated to St Vincent De Paul.

All clothing can be dropped off at the Secondary Student reception in the Wellbeing Centre.

Adrian Sims

Sustainability Coordinator

Building Courage and Resilience in Children and Adolescents

Join Karen Young, founder of 'Hey Sigmund' and author of bestselling books, for an informative session on helping children build courage and resilience. Learn practical tools and strategies to support your children in overcoming adversity and fostering a brave mindset.

• Monday 22 July 2024
• 6:00pm - 7:30pm
• Gonzaga Barry Lecture Theatre
• RSVP  https://www.trybooking.com/1225467

Hosted by INSPIRE Parent Association.

SPORT

Interhouse Athletics Carnival

Our Interhouse Athletics Carnival will take place next Friday 26 July. Results from the track and field events, along with formal training sessions post-carnival, will be used to assist in selecting the College 2024 ACC Athletics team later this term.

Please take note of the following details:

• The carnival will be held at HBF State Athletics Stadium (enter off Underwood Ave).
• Parents and spectators are most welcome and are asked to remain in the stands. A coffee van will be available for staff/parents only and Year 12 students.
• Students should make their own way to and from the venue, arriving no later than 8:15am.
• The carnival is a compulsory school day and all students are expected to attend. Non-participation on medical grounds must be explained by a parent note to the Homeroom Teacher. These students may be asked to fulfil other roles throughout the day. They should report to House Coordinators for further directions.
• Students should wear full College Sports uniform (including a hat) together with their House Shirt. College tracksuit and wet weather clothing is also recommended to keep warm between events.
• Students should bring food and water for the duration of the day as there will be no access to HBF Kiosk. 
• If weather conditions are not conducive to the safe running of the carnival, students will be notified as early as possible. Normal classes will operate in this instance.
• The carnival is scheduled to conclude at approximately 3:00pm.

Carnival Schedule

Should you have further questions or concerns please contact me at the College on 

9383 0490 or by email Jessica.pillera@johnxxiii.edu.au.  

Years 9/10 NAS Trials

Over the next two weeks Years 9 and 10 students will have the opportunity to trial for their Winter NAS Teams. Once trials are complete students will be placed in teams and commence their training block in the lead-up to the carnival on Wednesday 28 August. All students who do not participate in the NAS Carnival will have a Wellbeing Day scheduled at school with a range of activities set to rotate through. It will be a wonderful day and a break from the regular routine.

Please see the trial schedule below and pencil dates in your calendars. Students are encouraged to trial for up to two sports to give themselves the best opportunity to make a NAS team. If for any reason students are unable to make a trial due to injury, illness or an other valid reason, please communicate this with Miss Pillera and Mr Kowal.

We look forward to seeing many students trialing over the next two weeks.

ACC Championship Netball and Soccer

Our Senior NAS Netball and Soccer teams will both compete in the Round 16 for their championships next Wednesday 24 July. Both teams will play away games, with netball at John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School and soccer at South Coast Baptist. We wish all students and their coaches, Miss Jodi Power (netball) and Mr Simon Carrello (soccer), well. GO JTC!!

Athletics Training

Athletics training was back up and running this morning in preparation for the Carnival next week! Training will continue until Monday September 9, and all students are welcome to attend as many sessions as they would like. Please see the attached training schedule for the remainder of the term.

Spikes Hire

Students interested in renting spikes from the College for the Athletics Carnival are to head to the PE Office at lunchtimes only to see Miss Kuyler (HPE Assistant). 

• We require a $50 deposit to hire the spikes. Once the spikes are returned, this deposit is returned to you. 
• Money must be in a sealed envelope with your name and homeroom written on the front. 
• It is a first in best dressed on sizes available.

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport