Around The Primary

Dear Families 

The start of a new term always brings a renewed sense of purpose and possibility, and it has been wonderful to welcome our students back after the holiday break. I hope your family enjoyed a restful and enjoyable time together. Our students have returned refreshed, enthusiastic, and ready for the learning and opportunities that lie ahead.

This week, we were delighted to welcome many parents and caregivers to our Parent-Teacher Meetings. Thank you for taking the time to attend and engage in these valuable conversations about your child's learning and wellbeing. The strong partnership between home and school is one of our greatest strengths, and your support is deeply appreciated.

Term 3 promises to be a vibrant and rewarding term, filled with rich learning experiences, meaningful connections, and opportunities for growth. Alongside the exciting learning taking place in our classrooms, we look forward to several special events including the Primary Musical, John XXIII Day, the Book Week Parade, Fathers’ Day celebrations, the Athletics Carnival, and the Music Eisteddfod. These experiences help enrich school life, strengthen community connections, and create lasting memories for our students.

As Pope Francis reminds us, 'Education is an act of love; it is like giving life.' Together, as parents and educators, we have the privilege of helping our children grow in knowledge and faith, inspiring them to become lifelong learners who make a positive difference in the world. 

I wish all families a rewarding Term 3, and I look forward to sharing many special moments with you throughout the weeks ahead.

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

Religious Education Assessment (REA) 

In Catholic schools across Western Australia, students enrolled in Years 3, 5 and 9 participate in a system-wide, online assessment in Religious Education. The administration of the assessment commences on Monday, 3 August. Students following a regular classroom program are expected to participate. Students with disability are entitled to participate. However, exemptions may apply.

The purpose of the REA is to measure student learning of the mandated content in the Religious Education Curriculum. Test items relevant to each participating year level are developed by the Religious Education Directorate at the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia. The test items consist of multiple-choice, short and extended responses. The students’ faith is not assessed using the test items.

As a system-wide assessment, the REA informs teaching and assessment practices in Religious Education by providing classroom teachers, school and system leaders with a ‘point in time’ snapshot of student achievement. Over time, the REA also provides information about student progress in Religious Education. 

Formal student and school reports are produced from the student achievement data generated from the REA. The reports are made available to schools in Term 4. A copy of your child’s results will be sent to you. The information provided by the REA reports aims to complement the school-based assessment programs in Religious Education.

We have scheduled a practice test for Years 3 and 5 students to take place on Wednesday, 29 July. 

The following week, students from Years 3 and 5 will sit the Religious Education Assessment (REA) on Wednesday, 5 August.  A catch-up Assessment Day has been scheduled for Thursday 6 August. 

Please contact your child’s teacher or me via email - kylie.allen@johnxxiii.edu.au if you have any enquiries regarding the Religious Education Assessment. 

Kylie Allen

Primary Assistant Principal

John XXIII Day moving to cashless purchases

John XXIII Day is one of the most significant days in the College calendar, a community day where students celebrate our founders and heritage. A highlight of the day is the House stalls and activities, which raise funds for our College partners, Jesuit Mission Australia and Mary Ward International.

This year, John XXIII Day will move to cashless purchases.

Primary parents can now order the following for their child:

• Pre-Primary to Year 2      $5 token card
• Years 3 and 4                      $5 or $10 token card
• Years 5 and 6                      $5 or $10 card (if they wish to visit other stalls)

How to order:

1. Log in to My School Connect using Parent ID Passport (PIPs), our single sign-on system. You can sign in with Google, Microsoft, Apple, or your email address, just make sure it matches the email the College has on file for you.
2. Select the John XXIII Day tile from the dashboard.
3. Choose the value of the card(s) you wish to order and click Add to Order.
4. Make payment.

Important: Orders close at 11pm on Monday, 3 August, without exception, to allow time for logistics on the College's end.

Collection and unused funds

• Cards will be delivered to student classes for collection at the start of John XXIII Day.
• Any outstanding value remaining on cards after the day will be donated, along with funds raised on the day, to our College fundraising partners.

Need help? Contact the My School Connect support team, who will be happy to assist, or visit their FAQs page for more information.

A note on email communications jtc@idmail.johnxxiii.edu.au is a valid College email address, used by our PIPs Service to send communications regarding My School Connect and related matters. To ensure you receive these, please add this address to your safe senders or contacts list ("whitelist" or "trust it") in your email platform.

 Primary Sport

Athletics Trials 

Athletics Time Trials were a great success today.  This provided students an opportunity to practice the track events with the timing gates and will help with organisation for the Interhouse Athletics Carnival on Friday, 11 September.  If your child missed the trials and would like to be timed, they can come along to athletics training in Week 4, details below. 

Extra-Curricular Sports 

Athletics – Years 3 to 6

Beginning in Week 4, students will have the opportunity to practice track and field events in preparation for the Interhouse Athletics Carnival on Friday, 11 September. Training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30pm to 4:30pm.  Meeting outside the gymnasium, bring a healthy snack. 

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 

Primary Music 

Ensemble Rehearsals

* Please note the change of day

Music Eisteddfod

John XXIII College’s annual Music Eisteddfod will be held on Sunday, 9 and Monday, 10 August, when hundreds of young musicians will fill the College with music! Featuring students from Primary and Secondary in vocal, instrumental and ensemble categories, students receive feedback on their performances from our panel of external adjudicators.

Students who have requested piano accompaniment can book rehearsals through the Music Office in the lead up to the Eisteddfod. The schedule is being finalised and will be communicated in the coming days.

Please contact the Music Department with any queries – music@johnxxiii.edu.au

Save the Date

Please note the following performance dates for instrumental ensembles and choirs.

Chapel Choir

Chapel Choir is open to all Years 1 to 12 students who love singing, with a focus on liturgical music. Rehearsals commence at 7:30am in the Chapel with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. Chapel Choir then sings at Community Mass (commencing at 8:00am). All are welcome to join the school community for Community Mass. The next Community Mass for Term 3 is on Thursday, 30 July.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

WA Student Assistance Payment 

The WA Student Assistance Payment helps parents and carers with cost-of-living pressures associated with sending their children to school. 

All Western Australian school students with an active enrolment at a public school, non-government school or registered for home education are eligible for the WA Student Assistance Payment. 

You can claim $250 for each secondary student and $150 for students from Kindergarten to Year 6.

The fastest and most convenient way to claim is through the ServiceWA app. More information on how to claim through the ServiceWA app is available at WA.gov.au/WASAP2026 

All claims must be received by Friday, 25 September 2026. More information can be found at the WA Student Assistance Payment.  

Inspire Parent Education: Supporting emotional regulation at home

Thursday 30 July 2026

The Inspire Parent Education arm of the Parents’ Association warmly invites all John XXIII College parents to an engaging session on emotional regulation. Join our Primary and Secondary wellbeing teams as they share insights into children’s and teens’ emotional development and offer practical strategies to help you support your child’s emotional regulation at home.

What we’ll explore:

• recognising children’s emotions and how they present across different stages of development
• why co-regulation matters and how it helps children learn to manage their emotions
• the steps of emotion coaching
• core strategies for de-escalation
• using the RULER approach to support emotional regulation for children, adolescents and parents.
• changes in the adolescent brain and behaviour
• managing adolescent emotions and knowing when to step in

This session is designed to empower you with knowledge and tools to nurture your child’s wellbeing, strengthen family connections and foster resilience.

All John XXIII College parents and carers are welcome. Register here.

Notification of Absences: Important Reminder

A reminder of the change in process for notification of absences. 

If your child is absent or has an appointment (one offs and recurring), it is essential that you notify the College using the SEQTA Engage App/Portal before 8:30am, giving the reason for the absence. 

Families are still required to sign their child on SEQTA Kiosk for late arrivals, early departures and appointments.

Please note the ‘primary absentees’ mailbox is no longer in use.

Additionally, for absences extending more than 2 days during term time, parents are also required to email Antoinette De Pinto, Head of Primary and Nancy Petsos, Administration Officer, Primary.

Sacrament Certificates

Parents are requested to email a copy of their child’s Sacramental Certificate (Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation) to the College Enrolment team – enrolments@johnxxiii.edu.au for our College records.

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.