Around The Primary

Dear Families 

Parents and caregivers are the child’s first educators and maintaining open communication with teachers allows us to walk alongside your family with consistency and care. 

Parent–Teacher Interviews are an important opportunity to strengthen this partnership between home and school. We are appreciative that parents/caregivers arrived on time for their interviews, respected the allocated time for each meeting, and approached conversations with a spirit of cooperation. These meetings are most productive when we work together, focused on supporting each child’s growth, wellbeing, learning and a shared commitment of what is best for children to thrive.

Our staff are dedicated and hardworking professionals who care deeply for their students. Like all of us, they have commitments and a life beyond the school day. We kindly request that emails be sent during school hours with the understanding that a response will be provided within twenty-four hours.

If you need to contact your child’s teacher urgently during teaching time, please contact the school office, as teachers’ priority during the day is always working with their class and an email may not be seen while they are teaching.

The Wanju Voices have been invited to sing at the 9:00am Mass at St Joseph’s Subiaco on Palm Sunday, 29 March. All families are welcome to join us for this special liturgy.

Next week we will share the significant events of Holy week with the students. On Wednesday, 1 April, the Year 5 students will be leading the Palm Sunday and Last Supper reflections. This will begin at 11:15am in the amphitheatre. The Easter Story will continue at 1:30pm in the chapel, when students will gather in prayer to reflect on Good Friday. During this time, students will follow the Stations of the Cross as they contemplate Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion. We look forward to preparing for Easter and sharing these meaningful liturgies with our students. Everyone is welcome.

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. 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. 

Wellbeing Weekly

Keeping Safe

At John XXIII, students safety remains our highest priority. As we head into holidays, it’s a good time to remind families about the importance of speaking with our children about stranger danger and personal safety.

It is important for students to understand what to do if they ever feel unsure or uncomfortable when approached by someone they don’t know.

Key Messages to Share with your child/ren

• Define Strangers, make sure your kids know that a stranger is anybody who is unfamiliar to them — even people who seem friendly. After all, not everyone who has bad intentions looks like a Disney villain or gives off “bad guy” vibes. Not all strangers are dangerous, but children should know to be cautious around people they don’t know.

   

• Teach your child to keep a safe distance if approached by a stranger.

   

• Encourage them to say “No” firmly, move away, and seek help from a trusted adult if someone makes them feel unsafe.

   

• Remind them never to go anywhere with someone they don’t know—no matter what story the person tells (e.g., “Your parents asked me to pick you up”).

   

• Children should know it is always okay to speak up, even if the situation feels confusing or they aren’t sure.

   

• Practice identifying trusted adults, such as teachers, school staff, police officers, and close family friends.

   

How Families Can Help

• Discuss safe and unsafe situations in a calm and reassuring way. Consider these age-appropriate stranger danger warnings:

   

• Kindy and Pre-Primary: “When we’re at the playground, I need you to stay where I can see you and keep you safe. There are strangers at the park, and we don’t talk to them”

   

• Years 1 -4: “If a person you don’t know tries to talk with you while you’re riding your bike with your friends, tell them to go away, and ride quickly to a safe place and tell a trusted adult.”

   

• Years 5 -6: “Don’t give your name, address, phone number or other personal information to people online. People on the internet are strangers, no matter how much you think you know them. They can use that information to hurt you.”

   

• Reinforce safe routines for travelling to and from school—such as walking with friends or siblings.

   

• Remind children to always tell a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right.

Working Together

By regularly having these conversations at home and school, we help children build confidence, awareness, and the skills they need to stay safe.

Natalie Alach

Primary School Counsellor

Primary Sport

IPSHA Basketball

Our Year 6 students enjoyed a fantastic day competing at the Willetton Basketball Association. With four teams playing a total of seven games against a range of IPSHA schools, the standard of basketball was high throughout the day. Congratulations to all players on their efforts!

Term 2 Extra-Curricular Sport

All before and after school sport begins Week 2, Tuesday 28 April.

Cross Country

Cross Country training will continue next term from 7:30am to 8:00am on the Secondary ovals. All students are welcome to attend; however, students in Year 2 and below must be accompanied by an adult. Please note that due to the Year 5 camp, training will commence on Thursday 30 April.

Soccer 

Tuesday soccer with J and J commences on Tuesday 28 April on the Junior Primary oval from 3:30pm to 4:20pm.  See the flyer for details. 

Basketball

Redhage Basketball is back on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 4:20pm in the school gym from Thursday 30 April. Registrations can be made via Redhage Basketball - Shawn Redhage Perth Wildcats NBL

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 

Primary Music 

Ensemble Rehearsals

Rehearsal times are provided below for next week: 

Rehearsals for Primary Singers recommence in Term Two.

Palm Sunday Mass - St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco

Wanju Voices have been invited to sing at the 9:00am Mass at St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco on Palm Sunday this weekend, 29 March. We look forward to seeing many families join us for this special liturgy.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Join the 2026 Premier's Reading Challenge 

The Premier’s Reading Challenge encourages students to discover the joy of reading, improve their literacy skills and enjoy amazing stories. The challenge runs for 12 weeks from 23 March to 12 June 2026. To complete the challenge Kindergarten to Year 6 students are required to read 12 or more books, either independently or with a parent/guardian.

• How to register your child 
• Visit the website Premier's Reading Challenge - Premier's Reading Challenge and create a parent account. You can then add your child/children to your profile. 

Remember to log your child's weekly reading to go into the running to win a prize. 

Happy reading!

LEGO & DUPLO Donations Wanted

Our Library is seeking donations of LEGO and DUPLO bricks for use in a range of student activities. These resources will support:

• Primary and Secondary Library activities
• Secondary Wellbeing activities

• Creative play and hands‑on learning projects

   

If you have any spare LEGO or DUPLO at home that is no longer being used, we would be very grateful to give it a new life at school.

Donations can be dropped off at the Library at any time.

Thank you for supporting our students’ creativity and wellbeing.

Jean Redfern

Library and Learning Services Educator

Extend 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.