Around The Primary

Dear Families, 

The College’s Visual Art Exhibition, which took place this week has showcased remarkable artwork created by both Primary and Secondary students.

Our Years 3-6 students participate in weekly specialised Visual Art lessons, and each student has a piece of their artwork on display. Furthermore, there is a selection of works from the Early Years, providing an excellent opportunity for families and the community to appreciate art from all year levels. 

This event allowed students to express their creativity and present their 2D and 3D works in various forms. Congratulations to all our talented students and to Fiona Blaauw, our Primary Visual Arts Teacher, for imparting her artistic skills and knowledge to our students.

The Exhibition will conclude tomorrow, Saturday, 25 October. We warmly invite everyone to come and view the wonderful artworks between 11:00am and 2:00pm.

Anticipation is growing among the Junior Primary students for their forthcoming Athletics Carnival. Preparations are progressing well, and we look forward to seeing many parents and grandparents next Thursday 30 October. This year, the carnival will take place on the Secondary Oval. Please remember to wear your parent badge. We are crossing our fingers for good weather!

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Campus Parking Update

The two demountables (Primary Art and former Uniform Shop) located near the loop drive through are being removed from the College grounds next week.

To ensure ongoing safety and to avoid any potential vehicle damage, it will be important that there be no parking in the loop carpark for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (27, 28 and 29 October)

The steps that will be put in place to help ease traffic congestion during these days include:

• the loop drive through will be open in the morning for drop off and then will be closed at the entry/exit at 9:00 am
• the loop drive through will be re-open for pickup only at 2:30 pm

To support parent car parking during the three days, families are welcome to park in the main College carpark, located off John XXIII Avenue. There will also be some limited parking available in the Staff Carpark, located off Heritage Lane.

Thank you for your understanding of the need to ensure the safety of all, by observing these guidelines and adhering to signage and directions from staff on duty.

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. 

Volunteer Thank you Evening

As we near the end of the school year, we want to acknowledge the many ways you have supported John XXIII College. Your time, energy, generosity, and commitment have made a lasting difference in our College community. 

To our parents, alumni, and friends who have so generously given of their time and resources, we extend our sincere thanks. Whether you have volunteered at carnivals, assisted at special events, served on committees, supported our music and drama productions, helped at sporting events, or contributed via the Foundation, your support has been truly invaluable.

 We warmly invite you to join us for an evening of fellowship, gratitude, and refreshments as we come together to celebrate your contribution to the life of our College: 

•             Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025

•             Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

•             Venue: John XXIII College, 1st Floor Main Administration

•             RSVP by: Thursday, 30 October

•             RSVP Link: www.trybooking.com/1468077  

Volunteering is an essential part of our College community and reflects our shared values of service to others. If you know others who have also volunteered in any capacity, please feel free to pass along this invitation, every contribution is valued and worth celebrating.

 We look forward to sharing this special evening with you.

Wellbeing Weekly

Keeping Safe Curriculum

This term Primary students will continue to participate in lessons from the Keeping Safe Curriculum, with a focus on strategies to stay safe.  This includes learning about community services which can help like 000 and a range of problem-solving strategies using relevant age appropriate scenarios. 

Assertive communication, persistence and resilience are all explored, and persistence is reinforced so students understand that they need to keep telling until someone listens and takes action.

Helping Your Child Navigate the Internet Safely

From 10 December, the Australian Government will introduce world-first social media age restrictions to protect young Australians during a critical stage of their development. Under these new rules, most social media platforms will prevent children under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. This change aims to reduce exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and addictive design features.

To help families prepare, the eSafety Commissioner’s Social Media Age Restrictions Hub offers practical resources, FAQs, and conversation starters. You can visit the hub here: esafety.gov.au/social-media-age-restrictions-hub

Here are some simple strategies to ensure your child’s online experience supports their wellbeing:

Set Clear Rules

Agree on time limits and which sites or apps are appropriate. Explain why these rules exist - focus on safety and balance.

Use Parental Controls 

Enable filters and monitoring tools on devices and browsers. Keep software and apps updated for security.

Teach Digital Literacy

Show children how to recognize reliable sources and avoid scams. Discuss what personal information should never be shared online.

Encourage Open Communication 

Make sure your child feels comfortable telling you if something online makes them uneasy. Avoid punishment for honest mistakes—focus on learning.

Model Good Behaviour 

Demonstrate healthy screen habits yourself. Share positive ways to use the internet for learning and creativity.

If you have any queries, please contact me via email: natalie.alach@johnxiii.edu.au 

Natalie Alach

Primary Counsellor 

Sports Update

One week to go until the Junior Primary Athletics Carnival!

We are looking forward to seeing many family and friends on Thursday 30 October to support our Kindy to Year 2 students.  This year the Carnival has been relocated to the Secondary ovals.  Parking will be available in the Main carpark on John XXIII Avenue and there will be additional parking available on the Secondary ovals – please follow the signage on the day. 

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 

Rehearsal Times

Please see below for rehearsal times for next week - 

Save The Date

Please note the following music performance dates for this term:

Communications regarding these performances will be issued closer to the dates of the events.

Primary Instrumental Recitals – Monday 1 December

The Primary Instrumental Recitals are an exciting opportunity for students to show off their hard work from throughout the year. This performance opportunity is open to students who learn an instrument at school or privately. Entry forms will be available via an online link in the Newsletter next week and further information will be communicated at this time also.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Sacramental Certificates

Parents are requested to email a copy of their child’s Sacramental Certificate (Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation) to Mrs Petsos in Primary Administration, nancy.petsos@johnxxiii.edu.au, for our College records.