Secondary

Dear Families

At yesterday’s Secondary Assembly, 2026 College Captain candidates presented their aspirations and insights in response to the following question: 

Great leaders are people for others. As College Captain, how would you live out the Ignatian value of Cura Personalis to inspire, encourage and accompany others? 

Their speeches were authentic and passionate, sharing powerful messages on the essence of servant leadership and how, to be a leader at John XXIII College, one must always strive to achieve the best for others. This year, 82 students are aspiring to be appointed to the Student Representative Council (SRC) in a formal leadership role next year, and all are to be congratulated on their passion, commitment and courage to contribute to College life. The appointment process for the Student Representative Council is rigorous, and all nominees are to be commended for their commitment to the process that will take place over the coming weeks. Successful candidates will be announced early Term 4 at the Day of Invitation Assembly; we wish every nominee the very best for the remainder of the process.

All the best to students performing this evening for our annual Spring Soiree and to Year 9 staff and students on the Year 9 PLUS Camp next week. We wish all dads and father figures a special Fathers’ Day on Sunday.

Smartrider Reminder

It has come to our attention that recently, there has been a rise in the number of students not using their Smartrider cards to tag on and off when using the Transperth bus service before and after school. Please be reminded that students are required to use their Smartrider when using public transport. Students who do not have a current Smartrider may order a replacement from the St Ignatius Library.

2026 Student Diaries

As a tool to support students’ organisation and time management with their learning program, in 2026 the student diary will be provided to all Years 7 and 8 students and will be offered to students in Years 9 to 12 who wish to continue using a hard copy organiser. Please complete the link below to order a College-provided diary for your child who will be in Years 9 to 12 in 2026. 

Inspire Event – Seen: The Film, Wednesday 10 September

Parenting has never been easy, and advice about how best to raise and support our children is not new. SEEN: The Film aims to help parents understand how their own experiences impact their approach to parenting. Through compelling interviews and storytelling, it highlights the importance of connection, vulnerability, and truly being seen and understood.

Join Inspire for a thought-provoking evening as we host an online screening of SEEN: The Film. Acclaimed internationally, the film has toured across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and won Best Director at the Illuminate Film Festival in the USA.

This special event will feature an online screening of the film, followed by a panel discussion with the College’s wellbeing team.

Offering hope and practical insights, this documentary is valuable for families, educators and communities invested in supporting young people’s wellbeing.

This special event will feature a screening of the film and include a panel discussion with the College’s wellbeing team, followed by the opportunity for parents to enjoy light refreshments and conversation with each other.

Tickets can be purchased via this link.

Term 3 Key Dates

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Year 11 ATAR Geography and Year 12 General Geography Excursion

On Wednesday, 27 August, the Year 11 ATAR and Year 12 General Geography classes, accompanied by Mr Morris and Mrs Bell, ventured to the Swan Valley for fieldwork linked to their studies of the production and consumption of an Australian good (wine). Fieldwork plays a vital role in the Geography courses, giving students the chance to connect classroom learning with real-world applications. Students toured Upper Reach Winery, where they explored the processes involved in wine production, before taking part in practical activities such as landscape sketching and examining land use changes in the area. To round off the day, students enjoyed a visit to the Margaret River Chocolate Company and Yahava KoffeeWorks, which provided some sweet (and caffeinated) highlights alongside their learning.

Year 9 HASS Trade Fair

On Thursday, 28 August, Year 9 Humanities and Social Sciences students participated in a Trade Fair that focused on Australia’s major trading partners. This interactive experience was an integral part of the Economics and Business unit that students are currently studying. The Year 6 students, College staff and other classes who visited the fair were greeted with a vast array of different displays and interactive activities aimed to ‘wow the audience’. 

A special thank you to Mr Rob Di Giallonardo and the rest of the HASS teaching team for their support and efforts in organising the fair, and to the College’s Maintenance Team for their assistance with the setup of this great annual event.  

Kalo Bell

Head of Learning Area - Humanities & Social Sciences

Languages Week 

This week, we celebrated Languages Week, a joyful occasion that brings our lower school classes together to share their passion for learning a second language. Studying languages not only builds communication skills but also deepens our appreciation for cultural diversity, fostering tolerance, compassion, and empathy.

Students from each year group participated enthusiastically in a variety of activities. The week began with a reverent recital of the Hail Mary by the Year 12 ATAR Language students in three languages: Japanese, Italian, and French.

The Year 7 students created fun and inspiring badges by drawing iconic Japanese and Italian images, landmarks and concepts. The Year 8 Italian students, in two groups, led by Mark Lee Football Academy, enthusiastically participated in a soccer clinic. Students were involved in a variety of soccer drills, including dribbling, tackling, soccer tactics and scratch matches. The Year 8 Japanese students were led by Simon Sensei, from Taikon On, and were taught how to simultaneously beat the drums and chant Japanese phrases. Simon Sensei inspired the students to copy the rhythms, hand gestures and movements that are traditional to Japan and the Japanese culture.  

Year 9 Japanese and Italian students were involved in a cultural quiz on Italy, Japan and other world cultures. They discovered and tested their knowledge on facts and myths. Year 10 Japanese and Italian classes combined and engaged in a variety of Italian and Japanese games. The completed bingo (tombola) with the numbers read out in Japanese and Italian, played lawn bowls (bocce) and Kendama, a Japanese traditional wooden game. Years 9-12 students were also treated to a yummy piccolo gelato. 

On Tuesday, 2 September, the Year 12 Japanese students with Aghdasi Sensei enjoyed a meal together at Osama Japanese Restaurant. It was a perfect opportunity to practice their Japanese together in an authentic Japanese restaurant. They enjoyed a variety of Japanese dishes including sushi, sashimi, Takoyaki, kaki fry and tempura prawn. 

The ATAR Language students are busy preparing for their end-of-term assessments and future oral practical assessments. In the next few weeks, they will share a traditional Japanese, Italian or French meal at a restaurant with their peers.

This exciting week with the variety of activities would not have been possible without the passion, efforts and help of the language teachers, maintenance and AV crews. Grazie, arigatoo and merci to everyone! 

Melissa Polizzi

Head of Learning Area - Languages

SPORT

ACC Athletics 

The 2025 ACC A-Division Athletics team has been announced. A copy of the full team can be found in the College notices. All team members are now eligible to purchase an Interschool Jumper from the College Uniform Shop. 

Important information:

• Attend training in the lead-up to the carnival (remaining schedule attached)
• Compulsory team training sessions attendance will be taken. Please email if there is a valid reason students cannot attend. 
• Monday, 15 September at John XXIII Ovals 6:45am - 7:45am
• ACC Team Breakfast to follow 15 September: 7:45am - 8:50am Please complete RSVP via the link by Tuesday, 9 September    
• Monday 15 September: All relay team members, including reserves, will be exempt from class periods 5 and 6 to master the all-important changeovers

As well as the compulsory sessions, there are three other sessions left. I strongly encourage all members to get to one or two in the lead-up to the big day.

Events and Coaches:

• All events will run on both Tuesday and Thursday
• Sprints - Miss Pillera
• Distance - Mr Tirant
• High Jump - Zahra Amos
• Long Jump - JTC PE Staff
• Hurdles - Lyn Foreman- Tuesday/Leila Barker-Thursday (Alumni 23)
• Javelin - Jamie Floyd (Alumni 22) /Leila Barker
• Shot and Discus - Tim Lyons 

Training Schedule 

Years 9/10 Winter NAS

The final NAS carnival for Years 9/10 students this year was a vibrant celebration of sport and school spirit, with students enthusiastically competing across a range of events. Meanwhile, those who remained at school enjoyed a Wellbeing Day that offered a refreshing change of pace. Activities ranged from energetic Frisbee, Volleyball, and Dodgeball to more calming options like beading and colouring, creating a wonderful balance of fun and relaxation. A very big thank you to all staff and coaches who contributed to the planning and smooth running of the day.

Results from the day:

Year 12 Towel Nominations

If you feel you are eligible for a specific towel or a number of towels, please complete the form below by next Wednesday, 10 September. It is your responsibility to complete the form. These towels will be presented at the Day of Invitation Assembly.  

Towel Eligibility:

• Represented John XXIII College in the category for your six years in Years 7-12
  • NAS Sport
  • ACC Swimming
  • ACC Cross-Country
  • ACC Athletics
• Must have competed/attended the NAS Carnival/ACC Carnival, reserves included!!!
• If, for some reason you had a legitimate reason for not being able to make the team (eg, injury, transferred to College from another school), please include this clearly in your nomination 

Towel Nomination Form

John XXIII Volleyball Club

The John XXIII Volleyball Club is all about growing your skills, building confidence on the court, and sharing the love of the game with others. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your game to the next level, the Club hopes to offer a fun and supportive environment where students can train, play, and connect through volleyball. We will have experienced staff and alumni coaches to help support. 

Students who are interested should complete the form below and outline their availability. This will help us decide which two time slots will work best for the majority of students.

JTC Volleyball Club Interest

Highlights from the Interhouse Athletics Carnival

Congratulations 

Impressive stats from Vivienne's 12km run in the Chevron City to Surf:

• 3rd OVERALL out of 7870 female participants
• 1st in the U16 category
• 74th out of 16,131 participants
• Time: 00:45:28
• Only two minutes behind 1st place

Congratulations Vivienne!

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport