Around The Primary

Dear Families

Welcome to Term 2!

 I hope everyone had a great time with their families over the school holidays.

It has been delightful to listen to the children share their experiences about camping, going to the movies, swimming at the beach, holidaying with family, spending time with grandparents and friends, practising for netball, soccer or football, cooking with parents, bike riding and much more.

Our Primary staff have returned rejuvenated and are ready for the upcoming nine weeks of quality teaching and learning with your children. 

This week, the Term 2 Curriculum Overviews have been sent out and we hope that these may be useful in supporting your children’s learning at home.

Please take a few minutes looking over the online school calendar http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-parents/calendars and noting any days or events that are important to you and your children. Just a reminder, next Friday, 9 May we are hosting a Mass dedicated to mothers and mother figures followed by morning tea.

This week we commemorated Anzac Day and spent time in reflection to express our sadness for the impact of war on people and the land, to give thanks for our freedom and democracy and to pray for peace in our world and in our hearts.

Our Easter was saddened by the passing of the Leader of our Catholic Faith, Pope Francis. Pope Francis was remarkable in his humility and ability to love people. He was a kind and gentle leader who loved God, loved people, and loved the Earth. He reminded us to look after each other, especially people who are sad, sick, or lonely. He encouraged us to care for the planet and always choose kindness. Now Pope Francis has gone to be with God in heaven, it is up to us to carry his message in our hearts. We prayed for Pope Francis at school this week and will continue to pray as the process begins to elect a new Pope.

Loving God,

Thank you for Pope Francis.

He showed us how to love others, how to care for the world, 

and how to follow Jesus.

Help us to be kind like him, brave like him, and full of joy like him.

May we continue his mission with hope, with love, with action.

Amen

In reflection of Pope Francis' practical approach to helping the vulnerable and marginalised, over the next week we will conduct a collection drive of non-perishable foods and/or toiletery items to be donated to Shopfront, who provides daily assistance to the poor and homeless.  Baskets have been placed in the classrooms for donations.  Thank you for your support. 

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. http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-parents/calendars.  By subscribing to the College calendar, you are automatically alerted when details of an existing event are changed. 

Mothers' Day

We are delighted to host a Mass and morning tea dedicated to Mothers and mother figures on Friday, 9 May.

Please remember to RSVP for adults attending (not students) the Mothers’ Day Mass by Wednesday, 7 May via trybooking link www.trybooking.com/1377327 

Project Compassion

Thank you for participating in the 2025 Caritas fundraising initiative for Project Compassion. We are very proud to announce that we raised $2445.10.  We feel blessed to be part of such a loving and supportive school community.  

Thank you for your generosity.

Kylie Allen

Assistant Principal, Primary

Uniform

Thank you to families who have sent their children back to school in the correct uniform. On enrolment you agree to all school policies and the uniform policy outlines how to proudly wear our uniform. Please ensure your child’s hair is above the collar (boys and girls) and is tied up, if necessary. Haircuts should be moderate with no long fringes or extreme colouring. 

Counsellor's Corner

As we all return to school, I have enjoyed hearing children share the new experiences they have had over the holidays and the valuable time they have spent with family.

Spending time connecting with our children allows them to feel secure and encouraging them to try new things builds their confidence and self-esteem.

Thank you to all parents for supporting your child/ren back into the routine of school.  I know this is challenging, as we return to waking up early, making lunches, tying shoelaces, navigating traffic, soccer, ballet, and repeating ourselves over and over as we reinforce bedtimes, screen use boundaries, and reduce chocolate intake. Your children may not thank you, however all John XXIII staff certainly do.

Free parent programs currently available, please contact me if you have any questions via email natalie.alach@johnxxiii.edu.au 

• Raising Children in a Digital World – setting healthy screen use boundaries, (online).
• Karen Young Strengthening Children and Teens Against Anxiety (in person).
• Keeping Kids in Mind for Dads – supporting dads through separation, (online).
• Tuning in to Kids Online – supporting children to identify, understand, and manage their emotions (online).
• Protective Behaviours – provides parents with language to use when teaching children about personal safety (online).
• Circle of Security® Parenting™ – building a secure relationship with your child and understanding how to recognise and meet their needs (face to face and online options).
• Webinar Supporting Sensory Needs - practical strategies to create sensory-friendly environments and implement effective coping mechanisms.

Natalie Alach

Primary School Counsellor

Sports Update

The Interhouse Cross Country Carnival on Friday 16 May is fast approaching and the excitement at training and around the school is building!  At training we have been building our fitness levels and distances and now in the final four sessions, it is time to taper our training and practice the course and some race strategies.

Training is still open to all students (Year 2 and below students must be accompanied by an adult) starting at 7:30am outside the gym.  

Term 2 Extra Curricular Sport

There are still spaces in the after school soccer and basketball groups for this term.  Please see information below. 

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 

Music Update

Primary Ensembles 

Please see below for rehearsal times for ensembles next week:

Palm Sunday – Wanju Voices at St Joseph’s Church

Congratulations to the students from Wanju Voices who sang at the Palm Sunday Mass at St Joseph’s in Subiaco. We received many compliments from parishioners and Monsignor Long. 

Catholic Performing Arts Festival 

Entries are now open for the 2025 Catholic Performing Arts Festival! Students learning through the College can enter via their tutors, while students learning from external tutors can lodge their entries through the Music Office.  The online form is available via SEQTA documents. Please note that scans/copies of sheet music are required. 

Entries into the Catholic Performing Arts Festival close on Thursday, 8 May.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Register for the 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 until 27 June 2025. To complete the challenge, students in Kindergarten to Year 10 read 12 or more books. 

Students can register for the challenge here: The challenge - Premier's Reading Challenge

Men of John XXIII Breakfast Event 

From Playground to Prom - Wednesday 7 May

All are invited to attend the next Men of John XXIII Fathering Project event on Wednesday, 7 May at the University Club of Western Australia. Facilitated by Glenn Mitchell, there will be a guest panel discussion to explore the changes and challenges of fatherhood, from early childhood to adolescence. Tickets can be purchased here.