Secondary

Dear Families

The creative arts play a significant role in nurturing students’ creative expression, collaboration with others, cultural appreciation, confidence and self-discipline. We are blessed to have a strong music and drama culture at the College that provides many opportunities for students to explore and expand their artistic interests and passions. The past week has seen a showcase of student talent on display as part of Music and Drama Week. Well done to all students involved in the Music Eisteddfod held last weekend; the calibre of performances was indeed impressive, and congratulations to St Louis House, who won this year’s Music Shield. This is somewhat of a dynasty for St Louis, who have now won their sixth consecutive Music Shield! The annual Jazz Night at the Ellington on Monday saw students enjoying themselves performing in front of friends and family in an authentic live venue. As part of their Drama program, Years 7 and 9 students engaged in Circus Skills and Stage Combat incursions throughout the week. We also had band performances during lunch yesterday, and the Year 12s showcased 5-minute musicals today on the Chapel Lawn. Thank you to the passionate and dedicated Music and Drama staff for inspiring students’ creativity and joy for the performing arts.

A testament to the talent that the Arts program nurtures and inspires, we congratulate the following students who have achieved awards for their solo vocal performance in the recent Catholic Performing Arts Festival:

Ward House Day

This week also saw the celebration of Ward House Day, an occasion to mark the significance of one of our College Founders, Mary Ward. Born at a time when England was in political and religious turmoil, Mary felt the call to serve God and her neighbour, but it was some time before she realised she was called to found an Order of Sisters, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which would pursue the same ideals as the Jesuits. Her Sisters would have 'a will to do well which women may have as well as men'. Her commonsense religious spirit and her vision of a robust role for women in the Church and the community have been abiding characteristics of the Loreto Sisters and their affiliated schools. In our contemporary context, we continue her legacy to live with sincerity and ensure that we 'seek justice' for all. Thank you to Mrs Janine O’Grady, Ward House Coordinator and Homeroom Teachers for leading students in a range of activities to celebrate the day.

Ward House prayer

Lord God,

May we live like Mary Ward

With Faith and Love in Christ our Lord.

When the going is hard, and our spirits grow weak,

We look to Mary and her faith we seek.

Though dangers besieged her and sure, she knew fear,

Mary never wavered from the faith she held dear.

We, like Mary Ward, have this vocation in life;

To be faithful to Christ in good times or strife,

To bring the good news of God’s love to each other

And welcome the stranger like a sister or brother.

The message we have heard from the good women Ward

Live every day as best you may as Jesus Christ the Lord.

Positive Peer Relations Framework

As a Catholic school in the Ignatian tradition, we consider the concept of ‘cura personalis’, care of the whole person, to be central to the principles and practice of our pastoral care, and we are committed to providing an educational environment which promotes the safety and wellbeing of every student. To accompany our Wellbeing Framework and last year’s revised Positive Behaviour Framework, the updated Positive Peer Relations Framework encourages the strengthening of positive relationships between students to minimise the incidence of bullying, harassment, aggression and violence. The revised framework should be seen as fitting within a broader context of our commitment to maintaining a safe, supportive and protective learning community for students, with the updated policy now available via the College website and a summary of the procedures for responding to incidents of peer negative interactions below.

School Photos and Photo Pack Distribution

Photo order packs have arrived and will be ready for distribution to students via Homeroom next week. Students who presented the photographer with an order form on the day or placed their order online will receive their complete order; those who did not place an order will receive a second-chance order bookmark, which will allow families to place an order directly via the Photo Hendriks website. If you have any queries regarding your orders, please call Photo Hendriks Customer Service Team on 9361 3206 or via email.

Term 3 Key Dates

Term 3 Parent Events

Thank you to our Parent Association Liaison parents for organising another term of parent social events to strengthen connections between parents in each year group. Please find below an overview of this term's events. This is also available via SEQTA. 

Thinking ahead to 2026?

As we begin planning for the year ahead, we understand that family circumstances can change, and sometimes this means a move to a new school.

If you believe your child may not be returning to John XXIII College in 2026, we would appreciate hearing from you as early as possible. This helps us to ensure a smooth transition for your family and allows us to offer places to other students on our waiting list.

In line with our College’s Withdrawal Policy, we kindly ask for written notice to the College Registrar at least one term (ten school weeks) before the anticipated departure date.

Where notice is not received, the policy provides for one term’s fees in lieu of notice.

If you are unsure about your plans or have any questions, our Enrolments team is here to talk things through and support you. You can contact our enrolments team via email or call 9383 0449.

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Science Week 2025

National Science Week has been celebrated over the last two weeks by the John XXIII Science Department. This year's theme, 'Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language', has been explored by a number of fantastic new activities. Firstly, Science Week was introduced with the ever-popular liquid nitrogen ice cream. Students were tasked with a lunchtime science scavenger hunt, finding specimens of angiosperms, keratin, stomata, something sedimentary and PET. The successful hunters were rewarded with ice cream frozen by liquid nitrogen, which has a boiling point of -196 OC. 

Year 9 students were tasked with creating their own spectroscopes, which gives students a glimpse into the emission spectrums created by a range of light sources. The stereotypical photons of light emitted by different elements were also studied via flame tests. Here, students created different, vibrant colours of flames by exciting different chemical elements. 

Year 8 students were tasked with investigating different ways that we communicate as humans. This first involved creating a circuit with copper tape that can be used to send Morse code messages. They continued this study in communication by undertaking an engineering challenge, being asked to build a lighthouse out of paper, aluminium foil and a globe. The challenge was to build the tallest freestanding lighthouse that could withstand the highest breeze. 

Science Week activities will continue into the coming weeks. Year 7 students are going to investigate DNA, the code that all organisms use to build different structures. We are also very lucky to have a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) loaned via Curtin University. This SEM uses a beam of electrons to analyse an array of metals, ceramics and biological samples, giving students an insight into the nanoscale details that can’t be witnessed by an optical microscope. 

Thank you to the fantastic, dedicated Science educators at John XXIII College, who continue to ensure that every week is Science Week for our students. 

Simon Carrello

Head of Learning Area - Science

Year 9 Reflection Day

This week the Year 9 cohort participated in their Reflection Day. Facilitated by the Youth Mission Team, the theme for the Retreat was ‘Self-Image’, giving students an opportunity to appreciate the gift of their own uniqueness. At a time in their life where they may feel pressured to change their attitudes and behaviours to gain the acceptance of others, the day focused on recognising the positive impact they can have on those around them. Empowering their own self-identity by recognising the profound dignity and value they have as being created in God’s image and being loved by Him unconditionally.     

James McLaughlin

Assistant Deputy Principal - Year 9

A QBD Book Fair is Coming, Let’s 'Book an Adventure'

Get ready to 'Book an Adventure' at our upcoming Book Fair, just in time for CBCA Book Week. 

• Book Fair Dates and Times:
• Tuesday 19 August – Thursday 21 August
• Before school: 8:00am – 8:30am
• After school: 3:15pm – 3:45pm
• Location: Ignatius Centre Library

Please note that we can receive card payments only.

If you cannot attend in person, the adventure is available online. Visit our Digital Book Fair here.

If you have any questions about the Book Fair, please contact:

Jean Redfern

Jean.redfern@johnxxiii.edu.au

Book Launch - Sir Gerard Brennan's articles and speeches

John XXIII College warmly invites you to an enriching networking event with a law focus, welcoming alumni from all industries, current Year 12 students, current parents, past parents, and the broader John XXIII College community.

Launched by The Hon. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan

Join us as we celebrate the release of the two-volume set of Sir Gerard Brennan's Articles and Speeches, a remarkable collection honouring the legacy of the late Sir Gerard Brennan, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and one of our nation's most distinguished jurists.

This event provides a unique opportunity for our College to welcome alumni from all industries, current Year 12 students, current parents and past parents, and the broader John XXIII College community for an inspiring evening centred on law, faith, and public life. Fr Frank Brennan SJ, a distinguished Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer, and academic, will share personal insights and reflections. Books will be available for purchase on the night, a wonderful opportunity to have your copy signed.

SPORT

NAS Athletics 

Our Years 7 to 10 NAS Athletics team was posted in the notices this week, and all students and families have been emailed. This team will attend Period 1 on Tuesday, 26 August, and then travel by bus to the WA Athletics Stadium to compete in the NAS Athletics Carnival. This day will provide a competitive environment for our team and provide them with an opportunity to secure their position in our 2025 ACC A-Division Athletics team.

Important NAS Athletics Information:

• Please note the NAS Athletics team is not eligible to purchase the interschool jumper - this is only the final ACC team. 
• All students in the NAS Team are encouraged to attend at least two training sessions in the lead-up to the day.
• Students attending may wear their PE uniform to school on the day.
• Attend Period 1 as normal.
• At the end of Period 1, meet in the St Louis Sports Centre ready to depart at 10:00am.
• It is preferable that athletes run in the College Athletics singlet (can be purchased from the Uniform Shop). A College Navy shirt is also acceptable for this day

• If you are in field and track events that are on at the same time, make sure you are at your track events as they will run strictly to time. You can go to your field event after completing your track events

   

Challenge Week

Athletics training is still in full swing on Tuesday and Thursday on the College Ovals and is open to all students, not just the Interschool teams. There will be an opportunity for students to challenge their results for a spot in the final ACC team. Please see dates below:

Tuesday 26 August - NAS Athletics Carnival

Top 5 Athletes from each event will be selected for this day

• Wednesday 27 August  - HBF Athletics Stadium 6:30am to 7:30am
  • 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m, Hurdles

  • Long jump, high jump 

     

• Thursday 28 August - 7:00am to 8:00am at JTC College Ovals 

  • 1500m and throwing events 

     

Events and coaches

• All events will run on both Tuesday and Thursday
• Sprints - Miss Pillera
• Distance - Mr Tirant 
• High Jump - Zahra Amos
• Long Jump - JTC PE Staff
• Hurdles - Lyn Foreman- Tuesday/Leila Barker-Thursday (Class 2023)
• Javelin - Jamie Floyd (Class 2022) /Leila Barker (Class 2023)
• Shot and Discus - Tim Lyons 

Training Schedule 

Spikes hire

Students interested in renting spikes from the College for the remainder of the school Athletics season are to head to the PE Office before school and at recess to see Miss Kuyler (HPE Assistant).  

We require a $50 deposit to hire the spikes; this needs to be dropped off at Student Services before heading down to the PE office. 

• Money must be in a sealed envelope with your name and homeroom written on the front. 
• Once the spikes are returned, this deposit is returned to you. 
• It is a first in best dressed on sizes available.

Years 9/10 Winter NAS

Our Years 9 and 10 NAS teams have now been finalised, and all teams can be found posted in the College notices.  All students not listed in a team as a competitor or student helper will be taking part in a Wellbeing Day at the College where a range of great activities have been organised for the students. It is a compulsory school day for all.

Please see the remaining training dates and times below for each sport. Please lock them into your diaries. If you are unable to make training please contact your team teacher.

ACC Australian Football

On Wednesday, our Year 10 Girls took part in the ACC Football Div 3 carnival. It was a contested day in all games, and there was some great footy played by all the girls. They showed great spirit in each of their games and were led brilliantly by Miss Rebecca Marquardt. Well done girls.

Congratulations 

Angelina Smythe

Congratulations to Year 11 student Angelina Smythe, who represented the Seychelles in swimming at the 13th edition of the CJSOI Games. She delivered an exceptional performance, securing an impressive tally of five gold, four silver, and two bronze medals, making her the top medallist for the games. The 2025 Games, featuring ten sporting disciplines, were hosted in the Seychelles from 1 to 10 August. The competition brought together young athletes from seven Indian Ocean nations: Comoros, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, and Seychelles. Angelina goes on to represent Seychelles on the world stage this month at the World Aquatics Junior World Championships held in Romania from 19 to 24 August. We wish her all the best!

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport