Around The Primary

Dear Families

It is hard to believe we have just two weeks left until the end of term. The students have been working hard towards achieving their various goals across many different areas. They are learning how consistent effort, practise and a positive attitude supports their learning progress.

The Parent Teacher Meetings have been a wonderful opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn more about their child’s progress. While academic goals are important, it is also valuable to set your child up for successful learning by encouraging them to:

- adopt a positive attitude

- view mistakes as a learning opportunity 

- stay focused

- try their personal best effort

- celebrate the small steps forward

- cooperate and work well with peers

We appreciate the teachers’ preparation for the Parent Teacher Meetings and for everything they do to support students’ learning and wellbeing in our school. Their sustained efforts really make a difference to every student.

The efforts of parents at home are also highly valued and vital for setting your child up for success. Through the URStrong Friendology program, we encourage students to work hard on staying calm, being patient, fair, kind and respectful. We encourage all families to sign up for a free life-time Parenting Membership to learn how to empower your child to make healthier decisions in their friendships and put out ‘friendship fires’ and resolve conflict in a respectful way. https://urstrong.com/parents/

Our Year 5 students will depart on Monday to take part in the Cahoots Adventure Camp in Bullsbrook. I’m sure they will enjoy the fun and challenging team-building activities.

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. 

Project Compassion

Our wonderful school community has embraced our Project Compassion fundraising initiative with open arms.  Classes have begun their visits to the chapel to learn about others in need. 

Last week students learnt about Toefuata’iga, a student in Samoa who faced severe challenges and disruptions to her learning due to water scarcity. Students reflected on how lucky they are to not have to face such challenges and wrote prayers of hope for the Samoan community.  

This week, the wishing well was placed in front of our rural Vietnam board, where students have learnt about Lam and the challenges he has faced living with a disability. Prayers of hope have been shared, and I look forward to displaying some of them in the Chapel.

Next week the students will learn about Irene from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Students will gain an understanding about the challenges Irene has faced growing up with limited education.

Our goal is to continue raising money for these communities and to build the students’ understanding of hope and how they can impact the world and bring good news and hope to others.

Kylie Allen

Assistant Principal, Primary 

Year 6 Leadership Day

I had an incredible time at the Ern Halliday Recreation Camp! A highlight for me was going on the big swing because I loved being dropped from the rope. It was exhilarating and I was so proud of myself for ‘giving it a go’. It was a great experience! Giselle D’Souza 6G

When our bus pulled up at the Ern Halliday Recreational Centre, I was very excited for the fun day ahead! I had a great time working with my friends and giving new things a go. One of the highlights for me was the team crate build challenge,  where we worked together to build an enormous structure that we could climb to touch the roof!  Claudia Milligan 6G

Harmony Week

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. The week is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.

In Pre-Primary the students have dressed up in cultural outfits and explored the theme of diversity through storytelling. They have also loved singing the ‘Better Together’ song.

The Year 4 students have learnt how to say ‘happy harmony week’ in different languages and created a jigsaw puzzle celebrating diversity, with the message that 'everybody fits and belongs together'. 

Year 6 students drew self-portraits that reflect their culture and identity. 

Medical Update

Gastroenteritis, or gastro, is a common illness in children that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever. It is usually caused by a viral infection and can spread easily. Most children do not need to take any medicine for gastro, but it is important that they drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. Gastro is spread easily and is more common and serious in babies and young children.

If your child has been unwell with Gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and/or vomiting) they must be excluded from school until symptoms have ceased for at least 24 hours. 

For more information, please see the Gastroenteritis information via this link: https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Gastroenteritis  

College Nurses

Medical Centre

Medical.centre@johnxxiii.edu.au

Sports Update

IPSHA Basketball Carnival 

On Thursday, our Year 6 Basketball teams took part in the IPSHA Basketball Carnival at Willetton Basketball Stadium.  It was a fantastic day with some outstanding play and very competitive games. 

In hot conditions, our players did amazingly well and displayed good sportsmanship throughout the eight games.  Both the boys and girls competitions had a JTC derby in the final round, which was a fitting end to a great day, and I'm pleased to announce that JTC were victorious!

Cross-Country

It is great to see the numbers growing on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Please note there is no training on Tuesday, 1 April.

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

Please see below for rehearsal times for ensembles for Week 9 – 

Palm Sunday – Wanju Voices at St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco

At the special request of Monsignor Kevin Long, Wanju Voices have been invited to sing at the 9:00am Mass at St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco on Palm Sunday, 13 April. We look forward to seeing many families join us for this special occasion.

Music Photo Day

Music Photo Day takes place on Friday, 4 April. Information regarding uniform requirements and timetables have been emailed to parents of students involved in these ensembles. Please see the Music Page of the Newsletter for further details.

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 available via SEQTA documents (please note that scans/copies of sheet music are also 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

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.