Around The Primary

Dear Families

Last Saturday evening, we had the pleasure of hosting our annual Family Picnic on the Primary oval. While it is true that as a school, our primary focus is on teaching and learning, it is also the case that the relationships and friendships we nurture here at school, also support quality learning, wellbeing, and growth. This event is always a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with one another and to ‘meet and greet’ new families to our school. 

This week, we also held our Parent Information Sessions, which we trust offered a valuable chance to meet with our teachers, to hear about how things will work in their year level and what they hope to offer your children throughout the year. We appreciate your efforts, as we know it can be challenging managing babysitting, the heat, and tiredness after a day at work. Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff, who have worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth and positive start for the children.  Presentations from Years 1-6 are available on SEQTA Engage under the respective year group tab.

As you know, students will engage in reading or reading-related tasks every (Monday to Thursday) for ‘homework’ throughout the term. Our goal is to ignite the students’ love of reading and by focusing on reading for homework, we hope to provide more opportunities for students to pick up a good book and share it with a family member and read for pleasure, read to learn something new, read to have a laugh or simply just read to relax! 

Parents and caregivers are invited to set aside some time each day for reading with their children, making it a special part of your family routine. Additionally, every student will need to maintain a Reading Log, which has been provided by their class teachers.

We aim to keep homework time as short and as stress-free as possible. This approach gives children and their families time to relax, explore, create, imagine, read, exercise, have fun and pursue their own interests, hobbies, and sporting commitments after school and on weekends.

I hope you enjoy some special family time this weekend. 

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Traffic Safety

Dear Parents/Guardians,

John XXIII College strives to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our students and wider community. We would like to address some important concerns that have been raised with us regarding the school pick-up process and potential associated traffic hazards.

For the safety of our community, we respectfully ask that you:

• Please use the designated pick-up zones only. These areas are monitored by school staff to ensure the safe and orderly collection of students and the continuous flow of traffic.
• Please observe the City of Nedlands parking regulations. Avoid parking in no parking zones, including on the footpath or kerb on Mooro Drive/John XXIII Avenue. This helps maintain a smooth flow of traffic and ensures emergency vehicles can access the school if needed.
• Encourage your children to use crosswalks and follow the instructions of the crosswalk attendant. It is imperative for their safety that they do not run across the street or between parked cars.
• Please remain patient and courteous to other drivers and pedestrians. A little patience goes a long way in ensuring everyone's safety.  We understand that pick-up times can be busy and sometimes stressful.  

In the intervening time, the College will request the that the City of Nedlands erects a sign prohibiting cars from turning right when exiting the loop on school days between 3:00pm and 3:45pm. The City of Nedlands are aware of the traffic management issues around the College and will likely be monitoring the situation going forward. 

We appreciate your consideration of these important matters and your continued support in keeping our school community safe.

Dates to Remember 

Please check the College website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar. 

By subscribing to the College calendar, you are automatically alerted when details of an existing event are changed. 

Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) is taught across the Primary school grades throughout the year.

The KS:CPC is based on two main themes which are presented through topics and activities of increasing complexity. The two KS:CPC Themes are:

• Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe
• Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust

The two KS:CPC Themes are explored through four focus areas, which are examined in growing complexity in accordance with the age of the students. The four KS:CPC Focus Areas are:

• Focus Area 1: The right to be safe
• Focus Area 2: Relationships
• Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse
• Focus Area 4: Protective strategies

This term all classes will be covering the first Focus Area of the Keeping Safe Program: 

The Right to be Safe

Topics include - Feelings; Being safe; Warning signs; Risk-taking and emergencies.

• Children develop skills to identify their own feelings and the feelings of others and develop awareness of body language. 
• Children explore the concept of safe and unsafe and the characteristics of safe places and unsafe places, including online safety. In upper primary, students explore their own safety and situations that might be scary, fun, unsafe or a combination of these. Students consider strategies to identify and assess risks and what to do to minimise risk.
• Students learn the concept of early warning signs and the three components: physical indicators (body messages); emotional indicators (feelings); and external signs (clues). Warning signs are discussed in familiar and safe environments to help children recognise a situation where there may be a risk of harm.
• Children develop understandings about emergencies and risk-taking by exploring and examining consequences and making decisions. The concept of personal emergencies is introduced, whereby children may need to break the normal rules in order to remain safe.

Attached are some suggestions from Catholic Education WA on how parents can support this learning.

Sacraments

Do you have a child in Year 3, 4 or 6?

Parishes are now finalising enrolments for their 2025 sacrament programs. It is imperative for children to be enrolled in a parish program, even though they will be prepared for the sacraments in their Religion classes.

Each Parish has their own unique Sacrament program. Information from some local parishes is provided below as well as on the College website. 

CLAREMONT – ST THOMAS APOSTLE 

Currently accepting enrolments.

Contact: Silvia.kinder@cewa.edu.au

DOUBLEVIEW – OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

Enrolments close today! Friday 21 February. doubleview@perthcatholic.org.au

Parents often have questions about the Sacrament program, so don’t be afraid to ask:

• Your parish priest or Sacrament Coordinator
• John XXIII College website
• The Archdiocesan website: Parishes & Mass Times
•  Mary-Anne Lumley on email of via phone on  08 9383 0513

NAPLAN

We continue to prepare for The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy which will take place in Weeks 6 and 7 this term. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be assessed in the areas of Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. 

The Years 3 and 5 classroom teachers will be spending time with their students teaching them how to navigate the screen when using the Online assessment platform. 

We endeavour to make the assessment experience one that simply becomes part of the student’s day where the environment is calm and well-managed. We encourage the students to approach the assessments with a positive mindset and to try their best.

NAPLAN Timeline

Week 4: Wednesday 26 February              

Practice Tests – To provide an opportunity for students to become familiar with using the test platform.

Weeks 6 and 7:  Wednesday 12 March – Monday 24 March

NAPLAN online testing window

2025 Primary NAPLAN Testing Schedule

Primary Music 

Please see below for rehearsal times for ensembles in Week 4:

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Sports Update       

Swimming Training

It was great to see so many swimmers in the College Pool on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon for our swimming training.  This continues next week, and the final session is on Tuesday, 4 March.  There is no need to attend all sessions or to book, just come along when you can.  Please remember to bring a rashie and goggles. 

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

Our Years 4 to 6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival is on Wednesday, 5 March, at Bold Park Aquatic, commencing at 11:00am.  It would be wonderful to see lots of parents, grandparents and friends come along to cheer on our swimmers.  Further information including a schedule of events and timeline will be sent to families next week.

IPSHA Interschool Swimming Carnival 

This year it is a very quick turnaround to the IPSHA Interschool Swimming Carnival which will be held on Friday, 7 March at Newman College.  The top two swimmers in each event in the Interhouse Swimming Carnival from Wednesday, 5 March will represent the College.  Further communications will be sent on Thursday, 6 March. 

Tennis

Tennis trials for boys and girls in Years 5 and 6 will take place on Tuesday, 25 February at 7:45am on the College tennis courts.  Places are limited and the ability to serve, along with knowledge of how to play a game is important.  This year, the boys will play in the SSWA Academy Plate on Tuesday, 4 March. Unfortunately, due to a clash with the Interhouse Swimming Carnival the girls will miss the Academy Plate competition. To make up for this, we will organise matches against some local schools for the girls at a later date. 

If you have any queries regarding Primary Sport, please contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Extend After School Care 

Please click on the following link to find out about After School Care offered by Extend, including hours of operation, fees and how to book - John XXIII College - Extend

The team at Extend can be contacted via email: support@extend.com.au or call 

1300 366 437.

Enrolment Interviews Kindy 2027

If you have a child entering this year group and would like them to be considered for a place at John XXIII College, please ensure you have completed an Expression of Interest.

If you are unsure if you have submitted an application, or if you have any questions about the enrolment process, please contact our College Registrar, Allison Falconer.