Secondary

Dear Families  

Grounded in Ignatian spirituality and Jesus’ role modelling of servant leadership, the Year 11 leadership process ‘Id Quad Volo’: that which I desire, provides all Year 11 students the opportunity to transition into Year 12 as leaders of the student body who role model humility, hope, authenticity, purpose and are committed to responding to the needs of the world around them. For those aspiring for appointment to the Student Representative Council (SRC) in 2025, this week saw the commencement of interviews with staff leaders and will continue with speeches for College Captains and House Captains in the coming weeks. Sixty-eight candidates have nominated for a formal leadership role next year and all are to be congratulated on their passion, commitment and courage to contribute to College life through leadership in 2025. To continue broader student participation in the leadership process, College Captain speeches will take place at the Secondary Assembly on Thursday, 29 August for students in Years 7 to 12 to hear. Candidates will respond to the following statement: What does it mean to be a leader following in the Ignatian tradition? Students in Years 10 to 12 will then vote for their preferred candidate on Friday. House Captain speeches and voting will take place on Friday, 6 September. We wish all candidates the very best for the coming weeks ahead, may they heed the words of St Ignatius of Loyola: 

Teach us, Good Lord, to give and not count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do thy will.   

We’ve experienced great success across numerous competitions in recent weeks! Congratulations to Maya Mintz (Year 12), who achieved first place in this year’s Speak for Faith public speaking competition. Congratulations also to our debating teams, who competed this week in the Western Australian Debating League as finalists, with two teams progressing towards the quarter-finals next week.

Thank you to students involved in the Catholic Arts Angelico Awards this week. As host school, students assisted with hospitality and musical performances that impressed guests. Congratulations also to Charlotte Long, Elizabeth Levey, Bianca Petsos, Samantha Gribben and Bella Samson whose artworks have been selected for the Angelico Art Exhibition. Well done to all musicians who performed at last night’s Interhouse Musical Eisteddfod Winners’ concert and congratulations on your achievements for this years’ competition.  

Helping others in our Community: Roncalli Care 

The Roncalli Roster is a College community-operated pastoral care program that facilitates the delivery of home-cooked meals to members of the College community experiencing hardship and loss. The primary purpose of the roster is to provide meals while maintaining the privacy and anonymity of the recipients and volunteers alike, in a timely and consistent manner. If you or someone you know could benefit from the service provided by the Roncalli Roster, please get in contact by emailing Roncalli@johnxxiii.edu.au. Please note, consent is required from the meal recipient before the roster can begin. 

PALS Term 3 Parent Events  

Thanks to all PALS for organising an array of social events for parents to connect. Please find below this term’s calendar of events.  

2024 Census Collection Notice  

Every August, the Australian Government conducts the Non-Government School Census data collection. The information provided by schools during the Census is collected by the Department of Education to:   

• ensure the provision of Australian Government funding to schools is properly calculated and appropriately managed.   
• conduct research, statistical analysis and develop school education policy for the Australian Government.   
• meet national and international reporting obligations on school students in Australia.   
• publish and provide information about schools to the public.   
• Further information regarding the Census can be accessed below and via SEQTA Documents.    

A reminder that Monday is a Catholic holiday and therefore a pupil-free day. We look forward to having students back on campus on Tuesday.  

Revised Parent Contact Lists 

Please note that the revised parent contact lists for Semester Two have been distributed to parents.  

Term 3 Key Dates 

Warm regards

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Pilgrimage 2024 - 2025

We will be hosting an online information evening for parents and students at 6pm on Wednesday, 21 August for current Year 10 students who are interested in attending the Pilgrimage to Cape York in 2025.

A brochure can be accessed in SEQTA documents and detailed information will be discussed next Wednesday evening.

If you are interested in attending the event, please register below in order to gain access to the online link.

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

Angelico Art Exhibition 2024

The Angelico Exhibition for is a prestigious annual event on the Catholic Arts calendar. The exhibition provides a broad public forum through which students throughout Western Australia are able to exhibit their dynamic artistic talent.

This year John XXIII College has five students exhibiting work at the Angelico Art Exhibition. The exhibition is open to the public from 5 August until 23 August at the Forrest Centre 221 St Georges Terrace, Perth. 

Congratulations to the following students on their participation in the exhibition:

Charlotte Long, Year 10

Looking Glass

Oil on board

Inspired by Pop Artist James Rosenquist this work includes collaged subject matter taken from commercial images in a colour palette of dominant magenta and blue. 

Elizabeth Levey, Year 10

Luxury Lifestyle

Oil on board

Inspired by Pop Artist James Rosenquist this artwork utilises fractured and then rearranged images from advertising material painted in bold, reflective colour and texture conveying the overt glamour and excess of consumer culture in society today.

Bianca Petsos, Year 11

Ophelia

Oil on board

Surrounded by neon magenta and yellow light in the first image and illuminated by it in the second, my contemporary Ophelia struggles to escape the stark, colourful spotlight of an increasingly artificial world. She is desperately trying to stay afloat in a world that idealises making waves.

Samantha Gribben, Year 12

Pearls Embrace: A Birth in a Shell 

Oil on Canvas

Inspired by Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, my piece conveys the lens society views women through. Depicting myself emerging calmly like a pearl, from a tumultuous sea of expectations depicts the challenges of society's expectations of women. 

Bella Samson, Year 12

Fragments of Perception

Prismacolor pencil and embroidery

My artwork represents disassociation- the feeling of watching the world around you from a distance, without connection to what is going on in the present. The delicate fragmented embroidery is symbolic of a veil on the subject’s perception of reality.

Kiri Moore

Visual Arts Coordinator   

Exciting Victory: Maya Mintz Wins First Place in the 2024 'Speak for Faith' Competition!

We are delighted to share that Maya Mintz, a Year 12 Religion and Life student, has won first place in the 2024 'Speak for Faith' competition. Her insightful speech on the Catholic Church's role in loving and including those on the peripheries captured the judges' attention and earned her the top honour.

This achievement marks the third consecutive year that a John XXIII College student has claimed the top spot in this prestigious event. Congratulations to Maya for continuing our tradition of excellence!

The 'Speak for Faith' competition, organised by CEWA and the West Australian Catenian Association, provides a platform for students from Catholic schools across the region to showcase their understanding of Catholic ethics and values in today's society.

We invite you to explore Maya's award-winning speech, presented below: 

Lana Gregory Turner

Head of Learning Area - Religious Education

Year 12 ATAR Geography Excursion

Last Friday, Year 12 ATAR Geography students attended an excursion that visited the Henderson Waste Recovery Park and Cockburn Central, in Perth’s southern suburbs. The purpose of the excursion was to conduct an inquiry into the morphology of Perth and complete fieldwork that complimented their study of the waste management and transportation challenges facing the city in the future. Students particularly enjoyed the bus and walking tour of the waste facility, as they were confronted with the issues surrounding landfill sites across the Swan Coastal Plain. Thank you to Mrs Kalo Bell (Humanities and Social Sciences Teacher) for accompanying the students on the day. 

Chris Morris

Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning

Year 9 Reflection Day

On Tuesday, the Year 9 students participated in their Reflection Day organised by the Youth Mission Team. The purpose of the day was to help students appreciate their own uniqueness and understand the importance of being true to themselves without altering their behaviour just to gain acceptance. They explored how their actions impact others' perceptions of their value and dignity, recognising that their worth is not based on external factors such as looks or achievements, but on being created in God's image and loved unconditionally. The day emphasised the significance of shedding societal masks and embracing one's true self, while also reflecting on the responsibility to treat others with the dignity they deserve. Through this experience, students were encouraged to experience and internalise God's unconditional love, reinforcing their intrinsic value and dignity.

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

Spellbound by Stories: Dive into the Magic of Reading! 

19 - 25 August

Get ready to be enchanted by our Digital Book Fair during Book Week! Discover new worlds and magical adventures with our carefully curated selection of books from QBD Innaloo.

How to Order:

1. Visit our digital book fair website
2. Browse the collection: Explore a wide range of books appropriate for secondary students.
3. Place your order: Simply select your books and check out online.
4. Enjoy your order: Orders will be delivered to you at school within a few weeks.

School Discount: Students will receive an exclusive discount on all purchases!

Don’t miss out on this spellbinding opportunity to enhance your reading collection. Dive into the magic today and make your Book Week unforgettable.

For more details, contact Jean Redfern, jean.redfern@johnxxiii.edu.au.

Jean Redfern

Library and Learning Services Educator

Festeggiamo!

The Year 8 Italian classes have been learning about the topic of school in Italy and in Australia. The structure of the school times, and different systems of schools have been an interesting point of comparison. One element of interest has been the discussion of how school times impact the meal times in Italy. Lunch time in Italy is usually the time where the main meal consisting of pasta and/or meat and sides is eaten, whereas dinner, much later, is a lighter meal. 

Students have been learning in class how to prepare an authentic pizza, the names of the ingredients and names of the different pizzas in Italian and where one can find the best authentic pizza in Perth. Students shared pizza with the Italian exchange students and discussed how pizza in Italy and in Australia is different regarding price, toppings and how it is made. They enjoyed participating in conversation with the Italian exchange students to ask questions about life and experiences in Italy.

Grazie to Professoressa Cinini e Cocco on preparing and sharing their knowledge with the students. 

Italian Exchange Update 

The Italian exchange group have enjoyed the splendid weather we have been experiencing for August in Perth. With their host brothers and sisters, they visited Rottnest and Kings Park last weekend. 

Last Tuesday the Italian exchange group, along with Year 11 ATAR Italian students: Marco Zammuto and Isabelle Counsel, attended a Courtesy Call at Council House. The Honorable Lord Mayor, Mr. Basil Zempalis and the CEO of Perth City warmly welcomed the Italian exchange group to Perth.  Mr. Zempalis expressed to the group the strong bond Italy and Australia have, that Perth City and Vasto city are sister cities, and this year are celebrating their 35th year anniversary.  Italian Consul, Mr. Sergio Federico Nicolaci also attended and spoke fondly to the group, outlining the importance of the connection between Italy and Australia and how these links not only foster relationships, but tolerance, acceptance and peace in the world.

During the week, the Italian exchange group participated in cultural classes with the Year 8 and 11 Italian classes as well as enjoyed excursions to Fremantle, Perth City and Hillarys Marina. The Italian Exchange group will depart on Saturday, 17 August. No doubt there will be many tears and hugs. 

My sincere gratitude goes to the College, to all staff, to the staff in the Languages department, and families of John XXIII College for supporting the Exchange Program.

Melissa Polizzi

Head of Learning Area - Languages 

Inspire Parent event

We are pleased to invite you to a special follow-up event organised by our Parents' Association Inspire group, building on the success of the recent talk by Karen Young. This session, titled ‘Lessons Learned from Karen Young’s Presentation,’ will provide further insights into the strategies discussed during her presentation on Building Courage and Resilience in Children and Adolescents.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, 28 August 2024
• Time: 8:45am - 10:00am
• Location: Thomas More Exhibition Centre. John XXIII College, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont 
• RSVP: essential: https://www.trybooking.com/1271777 

Join our College Primary Counsellor, Anne Murphy, along with our Secondary Psychologists, Eva-Maria Catina and Martin Emery, as they delve deeper into the lessons from Karen’s presentation. This session will explore what strategies have been effective, what challenges have arisen, and why certain approaches have worked while others have not.

This is a valuable opportunity to continue the conversation on how we can help our children develop the courage and resilience needed to face life’s challenges with strength and confidence. Your participation will not only benefit your own family but will also contribute to our collective efforts in supporting the wellbeing of all our students.

SPORT

Northern Associated Schools (NAS) Athletics 

Our Years 7 to 10 NAS Athletics team will take to the track and field on Tuesday, 20 August. This team will attend Period 1, then travel by bus to the HBF Stadium to compete in the NAS Athletics Carnival. This day will provide a competitive environment for our team and provide them with an opportunity to secure their position in our 2024 ACC A-Division Athletics team.

Important NAS Athletics Information

• Please note that the NAS Athletics team is not eligible to purchase the interschool jumper, this is only for the final ACC team. 
• All students in the NAS Team are encouraged to attend at least two training sessions in the lead-up to the carnival.
• Students attending may wear their PE uniform to school on the day.
• Attend Period 1 as normal.
• At the end of Period 1, meet in the St Louis Sports Centre ready to depart at 10:00am.
• It is preferable that athletes run in the College Athletics singlet (this can be purchased from the Uniform Shop). The College navy sports shirt is also acceptable.
• If you are in field and track events that are on at the same time, make sure you are at your track events as they will run strictly to time. You can go to your field event after completing your track events.

Challenge Morning: ACC A-Division Athletics Team 

The draft ACC Athletics team has now been posted in the notices. Before finalising our 2024 ACC A-Division Athletics team, all students will have one final opportunity after the NAS Athletics to challenge for a place in the team. Please take a look at the challenge morning dates and events below. Students will only be allowed to challenge for an event on a day if it is listed.  

• Wednesday, 21 August
  John XXIII College
  7.00am - 8.00am
  Javelin, shot put, discus and 1500m 
   
• Friday, 23 August
  HBF Athletics Stadium (Students must make their own way to the Stadium, there will be a bus to transport students back to the College)
  6:30am - 7:30am 
  Hurdles,100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, long jump and high jump

Students are encouraged to complete the Nomination Form to register for a challenge event.

The schedule for the remaining training sessions are below. Please take note that the ACC Team dinner and final training session will now be on Friday, 6 September.

Years 9/10 NAS

One final week of training before students set off on their competition day on Wednesday, 28 August. Please see the schedule below for the final week of training, students are reminded that they must communicate with their coach if they are unable to attend. 

Please find attached all information for the upcoming day on the Parent Information Letter, which will be sent out to all families next week. 

Year 10 AFL Carnivals 

This week it was the boys turn to take on Division 1 at the ACC Australian Rules Football Carnival at Lightning Park. It was a classic day of wet weather footy with some hard fought games and close results. We look forward to taking on the best in Division 1 again next year. Thank you to Mr Darren Kowal for his assistance in coaching and leading the team. 

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport