Secondary

Dear Families 

As Term 1 draws to a close, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the experiences that this term has provided. I hope that as we all head into the Easter and holiday break, families take this opportunity to pause and reflect on the highlights, challenges and learnings of the past term. Our world often feels frenetic with the ‘busyness’ of daily life, which is exactly why we need to intentionally take time to be still. St Ignatius of Loyola, in establishing the practice of The Examen to find presence in the moment, reflect on what has been and build connection with God, provides us with a highly relevant and useful practice to help us find peace and mindfulness over the coming break.  

This afternoon we welcomed our Year 12 students back from Manresa, a significant spiritual milestone of their Secondary journey. We hope that the contemplation and connection experienced over the past few days have nourished and renewed them for the remainder of their final year.  

Wishing the cast and crew of this year’s College Musical Chicago all the very best as they finalise their preparation over the holidays for opening night on Tuesday, 16 April. Staff and students have been rehearsing throughout the term for what is sure to be a dazzling showcase of our Performing Arts program.  

Congratulations to ….  

Tommy Warren (Year 11) who recently completed the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood in support of mental health. Established in 2017, this is one of the most challenging rides in Western Australia, totalling 130 km between Bridgetown, Balingup, and Nannup. Tommy’s efforts contributed to raising $55,000 in support of the Blackwood Youth Action.  

Term 2 Uniform 

Term 2 brings the transition from summer to winter uniform, and students are required to wear the correct winter uniform, including a tie, from the beginning of the new term. With the weather still warm in the first weeks of term, the blazer will be optional for the first three weeks (Tuesday, 16 April to Friday, 3 May). Full winter uniform will be required as of Monday, 6 May.  

Secondary Photo Day is on Tuesday, 7 May and students will be required to wear full winter uniform, including stockings if wearing a skirt.  

The Uniform Shop will be open on Monday, 15 April from 8am to 4pm for blazer and trouser fittings. No appointment is required.  

Key Term 2 Dates 

Wishing families a very happy Easter and a restful, enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to welcoming students back for Term 2 on Tuesday 16 April.  

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Manresa Retreat - Year 12

The Year 12 Students attended their Manresa Retreat this week with activities carefully curated to foster self-reflection and gratitude. During the retreat, students engaged in deep reflection on themselves, their families, their personal narratives, their spiritual connection and their aspirations for the future. We trust that students have returned with a rejuvenated sense of self and a widened outlook on life and human connections. They forged new bonds beyond their usual social circles and relished the opportunity to interact with teachers in a setting far removed from the traditional classroom environment. Our aspiration is that each student has encountered transformative moments and created lasting memories that will accompany them on their life journey.

Andrew Osnain

Assistant Deputy Principal - Year 12

National Schools Constitutional Convention

The National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC) was an incredible experience and certainly one that I will never forget. With 95 other Australian students from the Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales, ACT, Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia, we discussed and debated some components of the Australian Constitution. In particular, we considered section 96 of the Constitution which deals with financial assistance to the states. We looked at what was possible given section 51 of the Constitution as this outlines the areas for which the Commonwealth may legislate. Our discussions centred around the Federal Government tied grants that are given to the states for funding in relation to exclusive, residual, and concurrent areas of lawmaking. 

We arrived in Canberra in the late afternoon on a Monday, and our first night provided a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with the other WA delegates and the other states and territories delegates. 

The next day, the program began at the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House). We began our convention with a Welcome to Country from Selina Walker - Ngunnawal Emerging Elder, Co-Chair, ACT Reconciliation Council - and an introduction from the facilitators; Emeritus Professor Clement Macintyre and Professor John Williams – both from the University of Adelaide. There was also an official opening by the Honourable Jason Clare, Minister of Education. 

This was followed by our first keynote speaker in the old House of Representatives by Professor Kim Rubenstein from the University of Canberra who spoke about the history, the drafting, and the structure of the Constitution. Our second keynote speaker was Professor Emerita Anne Twomey from the University of Sydney. Professor Twomey gave a fascinating speech that was a favourite amongst the students attending the convention. She explained the background to sections 96 and 51 of the Constitution and the critical importance of these sections in respect of which laws the Commonwealth may legislate. We then moved into working groups that were comprised of around 6 to 8 people from different states, where we discussed notes, and our thoughts on potential strategies for improvement with respect to the way these sections apply to key legislative activity. Each group then reported back to the convention. 

Our next keynote speaker was Dr Andrew Banfield from the Parliamentary Library in Canberra. Dr Banfield spoke about federalism, vertical fiscal imbalance, horizontal fiscal imbalance, and fiscal federalism. This was followed by further discussion in our groups before reporting back to the larger group.

On the second day, we had our first soapbox session. These soapbox sessions were highly valued as they provided each person with an opportunity to speak on the subject, including the participant’s personal opinions. Then we had a lecture from Professor Alan Fenna from Curtin University, one of my personal favourite speeches, as it compared Australia’s version of federalism to international versions of federalism. In our groups, we then deliberated on focus questions and presented our findings to the whole delegation. This was followed by a second soapbox session, which provided great opportunities for us to hear diverse opinions from individual students who (in just two minutes) presented their challenging and inspiring reflections on the content. We were then lucky enough to have a speech on voting from the Australian Electoral Committee (AEC) and then had the privilege to vote in a mock referendum with the AEC. 

While the referendum failed, the overall consensus was that there should be a change to the grant-giving process from the Federal Government to the State Governments. This was put in a report which was presented to Deputy President of the Senate and Chair of Committees, Senator Andre McLachlan. We then got a tour of the museum where we got to see a whole range of political objects. My favourite exhibit was Julie Bishop's red shoes, which she wore when she resigned from parliament. 

We then took a bus ride to the Official Reception at Government House, hosted by His Excellency the Honourable David Hurley and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, which was such an incredible experience. Her Excellency even wrote a song for us, and all the delegates sang, You are My Sunshine together, led by Mrs Hurley. We were then kindly hosted at the National Press Club with guest speaker Catlin Figueiredo, Co-Chair of Australian Youth Affairs and 2024 ACT Young Australian of the Year, who gave us insight into getting into the political scene as a young person. 

On our final day we visited the National Museum of Australia. My favourite exhibition was the Garden of Dreams, which had speakers that emitted the sounds that you would hear in nature during the changing season. They have 336 different tracks as no two days would sound the same. From there, we went to Parliament House, but on the way, we got a tour of Embassy Drive, which was so beautiful. The Indian High Commission was my favourite. We toured Parliament House, then had the privilege of witnessing Question Time in an incredibly significant sitting week. I even got to see the Shadow Housing Minister, the Honourable Michael Sukkar, get removed from the chamber under Section 94A of the Standing Order, and the delegates got a shoutout from the Speaker. Our excitement was maintained during an address from the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, followed by a ‘Meet your MP’ session. I got to meet Patrick Gorman, as well as Senator Varun Ghosh, and MP Sam Lim. This trip was such an amazing and rewarding experience. 

The NSCC was such an amazing opportunity – it was so nice to be surrounded by like-minded students who are passionate about politics.  I have developed such great friendships on this trip that I think will last a while. To John XXIII College and in particular Ms Farley, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity and support to participate in such a remarkable program that gave me such hands-on experience. This experience has inspired me to continue my passion for politics in the future at university where I hope to study political science and international relations. 

Lucy Galvin

Year 12

Way of the Cross

Today, in small groups, Year 9 students walked the Way of the Cross that has been a part of the College grounds during Lent. As well as recalling the final hours leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Way of the Cross is a way of engaging with sorrow and injustice in the world and in one’s own life. Students had the opportunity to listen and reflect on selected Scriptures, to respond in their own way and to pray.

Mary Anne Lumley

College Liturgist

Year 7 Chapel Orientation

Last week, Year 7s had the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the College Chapel and some of the items and garments used in liturgical celebrations.  

The College was lucky to have Jesuit Father Steve Sinn SJ to explain the meaning of the garments he wore, as well as the reasons for different colours.

Students enjoyed the opportunity to respectfully explore all corners of the Chapel, see items at close range, and even hold some of the vessels used in the Eucharist.  

'It was fun learning about our school chapel, a beautiful place to be.' 

Elsa (Campion) 

'We learnt the names and purpose of different objects in the chapel'

Matilda (Campion) 

Lana Gregory Turner

Head of Learning Area - Religious Education

FEAST Program Launch 

On Tuesday, the Year 9 Food Technology class at John XXIII College welcomed a special guest: OzHarvest. This incursion marked the beginning of an exciting journey into understanding and combatting food waste through the implementation of the FEAST program.

FEAST, which stands for Food Education and Sustainability Training, is a 10-week curriculum-aligned education program designed for high schools. It delves into various aspects of food waste and its environmental impact, promotes healthy eating habits, and introduces easy classroom cooking techniques.

During the OzHarvest presentation, students were engaged in a 30-minute session that covered crucial topics such as the global and Australian food waste dilemma, its environmental repercussions, OzHarvest's mission, and practical ways to tackle food waste both at home and at school. The eye-opening statistics shared, such as the staggering six garbage trucks of food waste produced every second in Australia, left a lasting impression on the students.

As we look forward to the next term, Year 9 students will actively participate in selected segments of the FEAST program. They will focus on utilising food efficiently and understanding the significance of reducing food waste, all while embracing the values of sustainability and responsibility.

Launching the FEAST program at John XXIII College is not just about education; it's about instilling values deeply rooted in Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si. By fostering an awareness of our impact on the environment and emphasising the connection between social and environmental issues, we strive to empower our students to become conscientious stewards of our common home.

Mindy Toleman

Technologies Teacher 

SPORT

Northern Associated Schools (NAS)

That is a wrap on Summer NAS for 2024! Yesterday we rounded out the Summer Carnivals with the Years 9/10 day, and what an incredible journey it has been. A very BIG congratulations to everyone that was involved across all the carnivals, for their enthusiasm and sportsmanship. It has been wonderful to see everyone really embrace the new format. It has truly brought out the best in the students, fostering stronger bonds within year groups as they worked closely with their teams and competed side by side on the day. As we gear up for the Winter Carnivals next term, we’re excited to build upon this success and continue to enhance the NAS experience for all involved.  

Summer NAS Premierships

• Year 7 Girls Indoor Beach Volleyball 
• Year 9 Girls Indoor Beach Volleyball 
• Year 7 Girls Frisbee
• Year 7 Boys Frisbee 
• Year 8 Girls Frisbee
• Year 8 Boys Frisbee 
• Year 10 Girls Frisbee
• Year 10 Boys Frisbee
• Year 9 Boys Frisbee
• Year 9B Girls Basketball 
• Year 10B Girls Basketball 

Year 7 Winter NAS Trials Term 2 

If you have any queries, please contact Miss Pillera. 

Interschool jumper embroidery

It is now time for any ACC Swimming team members to deliver their Interschool jumpers to the uniform shop to be embroidered. The cut-off date for ACC Swimming embroidery will be Friday 19 April. If you missed ACC Cross Country or Athletics last year, you are welcome to drop this off. The staff at the Uniform Shop have a list of all team members from last year. 

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport