Dear Families

The Primary school is starting to radiate the festive spirit of Christmas! This week, our students in Kindy, Pre-Primary, and Year 1 showcased the heart-warming Christmas story in various delightful ways to their family and friends in our community. Through their performances, they not only reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas but also emphasised the values of kindness, patience, love, and generosity towards one another.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, it is important not to overly focus on which peers will or will not be in your child's class. Our dedicated staff have diligently crafted class placements, considering numerous factors. However, it is essential for every child to learn how to adapt to different teaching styles and diverse classmates.

It was lovely to see the excitement on the students’ faces when they found out the news of their future teachers and classmates. As significant adults in a child's life, it is our responsibility to instill confidence in their ability to overcome any concerns or challenges they may perceive. We also need to reassure them that we are here to provide our support and they can look forward to an amazing year ahead.

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary

Presentation Night

Congratulations to the Year 6 students who received an award at Presentation Night. We are very proud of their wonderful achievements.

Year 6 Award	Recipients
Religious Education	Georgina Gleghorn
Design and Technologies	Ciara Thornton
Digital Technologies	Munesu Marerwa
English	Jacey Li
Health	Jamelia Greenwood
Humanities & Social Sciences	Niamh Jennings
Languages – Japanese	Sienna D’Alessandro
Mathematics	Jacob Chan
Performing Arts – Music	James Haydon
Physical Education (female)	Vivienne Barley
Physical Education (male)	Oliver Rohr
Science	Charlotte Blaxell
Service	Olivia Negus
Visual Arts	Charlotte MacLennan

Sienna D’Alessandro was awarded the Outstanding Student Award for achieving academic excellence across all Learning Areas.

William Bontempo was awarded the Simon Casey Sports Award which recognises outstanding participation, sportsmanship, enthusiasm, commitment and encouragement of others during Sport and also displays the same life-long interest in Sport as shown by the late Mr Simon Casey.

Christmas Newsflash

Next Thursday 7 December, the students can come to school dressed in Christmas colours or wear a Christmas t-shirt, hat etc… (No coloured hair spray or face paint please) If preferred, students wear their House shirt and sports shorts.

On this day we also hope to raise the students’ awareness of how fortunate we are to have access to everyday privileges at Christmas. All students are asked to bring along a gold coin donation for St Vinnies. Thank you in anticipation of your generous support.

Staff News

Next year we welcome to our teaching team:

Miss Kate Mackinnon, Year 1 Blue

Miss Stephanie Micale, Year 3 Blue

Miss Briony Hooper, Year 6 White

This rich blend of new and experienced staff in the Primary school sets the stage for a bright future. The wealth of experience, combined with fresh perspectives and energy from new members, is a promising mix that will likely benefit the school and our students in various ways.

Class	Staff Member	Staff Member	Staff Member
Pre-Kindy	Amanda Kounis	Vicki Murphy
Kindy	Emma Distante	Cayley King
Pre-Primary	Claire Peirce	Hannah Kolbusz
Year 1	Kate Mackinnon	Sonia Thomas
Year 2	Lucy Ricciardi	Emily Krikstolaitis
Year 3	Stephanie Micale	Grace Jones
Year 4	Emma Eisenmann	Sonja Goss
Year 5	Teresa Fontaine	Yasmin George
Year 6	Emily Driscoll	Jacqui O’Connor	Briony Hooper

2024 Yearbook - Companions

Companions will be distributed to students on Wednesday 6 December.

The youngest child in the family at the College will receive a copy (except for Pre-Kindy). Pre-Kindy students (without siblings at the College) will have their copy mailed to them.

Semester 2 Reports

Semester 2 reports for Pre-Primary to Year 6 students will be available through the College’s online communication platform ‘SEQTA ENGAGE’ on Thursday 7 December at 3:30pm.

Instructions

i. Please login to your SEQTA Engage account at: https://parent.johnxxiii.edu.au

ii. Click on the REPORTS link located on the menu at the left side of screen

iii. Select Student

iv. Select 2023P, 2023S2

Dates to Remember

Monday 4 December

9:00am-9.45am

2024 Pre-Kindy Meet and Greet (Pre-Kindy classrooms)

11:00am-12:00pm

2024 Kindy Orientation for new students (Kindy classrooms)

Tuesday 5 December

9:00am

Year 6 Farewell Mass (Chapel) followed by Morning Tea (Thomas More Exhibition Centre)

12:00pm

Year 6 Big Day In (College Pool)

Wednesday 6 December

Year 6 Big Day Out (Adventure World)

Thursday 7 December

9:00am

PP to Year 9 End of Year Mass (St Louis Sports Centre)

Last Day of Term 4-students can wear Christmas colours or items to school.

Please check the College Website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar: Calendars | John XXIII College and subscribe to the Primary Calendar.

2024 Term Dates

Please note the following Term Dates for 2024 for Primary students:

Term	Start Date	End Date
Term 1	Wednesday 31 January	Thursday 28 March
Term 2	Tuesday 16 April	Friday 28 June
Term 3	Thursday 18 July	Friday 20 September
Term 4	Tuesday 8 October	Thursday 5 December

All Things Japanese

This week our Pre-Primary students enjoying making origami Christmas trees and the Year 6 students made a Japanese inspired Christmas bauble with an origami crane, which is a symbol of peace and good fortune – a lovely memento to keep from their time in the Primary school. The Year 6’s also received a pencil case, personalised with their name in Japanese as a parting gift.

Rowson sensei

PAL 2024 Coordinators

A very warm welcome to our Primary PALs for 2024:

	Primary Convener – Caroline Di Costa
KG	Leisa Britten, Elise Holder, Nicole Moscarda, Angela Smith
PP	Tracy Mitsikas, Hayley Munro-Tobin, Asha Tratnik, Linda Wallace
Y1	Melinda D’Orsogna, Katie Lynch, Dee O’Shea, PJ Secrett
Y2	Dara Byrne, Claire Jorgensen-Goss, Leah Lemmon, Carla Mamotte
Y3	Natalie Ainslie, Austen Anderson, Caroline Ford, Jo Woods
Y4	Kylee Chung, Hannah Hewer, Ashleigh Rhodes, Karen Suppiah
Y5	Jess Knox, Vanessa Reside, Laure Thepenier, Cindy Tonkin
Y6	Sacha Free, Rachel Hurley, Renata Ogilvie, Emma Smith, Lia Tonich

Sport Update

PP-Year 3 Swimming Certificates

Rare Indigo Swimming Surf Program Certificates have been issued to all students in Pre-Primary to Year 3 this week.

Co-curricular sport

Cross-country and swimming training will also begin in Term 1 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons. More details to come soon.

Extra-curricular sport

It is time to start thinking about extra-curricular sport for Term 1 in 2024!

Year Group	Sport	Day (commencing Week 2)	Booking Information
PP – 6	Tennis	Mondays 7:45am to 8:30am	Nick 0419 923 495 www.coastaltennis.com.au
Years 1 – 6	Soccer	Tuesdays 3:30pm to 4:20pm	J & J Football Training Coach Adi juricadi@hotmail.com
Years 1- 6	Soccer Girls only	Tuesdays 3:30pm to 4:20pm	J & J Football Training Coach Adi juricadi@hotmail.com
Years 2 – 6	Basketball	Thursdays 3:20pm to 4:20pm	Redhage Basketball www.redhagebasketball.com

If you have any queries about anything sport related, please contact me via email: steve.williams@cewa.edu.au

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Music Update

Primary Ensemble Rehearsals

Rehearsals for Primary Singers and Primary instrumental ensembles have now concluded for 2023. Wanju Voices have their final choir rehearsal for the year at 8:00am on Monday in the Osborne Room to prepare for the Year 6 Farewell.

Thank you to parents for your support in getting students to rehearsals throughout the year. We look forward to resuming our ensembles in 2024.

Primary Instrumental Recitals

Congratulations to the students who performed in the Primary Instrumental Recitals on Monday. Parents and grandparents were treated to performances by students from Years 1-6 in strings, winds, piano and vocal session.

A big thank you to the tutors, music office and primary staff for assisting with the running of these recitals.

Music Enrolments and Withdrawals

Please refer to the Music page of this newsletter for important information regarding instrumental enrolments and withdrawals for 2024.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Enrolments Kindy 2026

Kindy interviews for 2026 will commence in Term 2 in 2024. Please ensure you have submitted your child’s application submitted - Enrolments Information and Online Enrolment Enquiry | John XXIII College

Please contact the College Registrar, Allison Falconer with any enquires on 9383 0449 or enrolments@johnxxiii.edu.au

Drama

Featuring Tonight

2024 College Musical