Around The Primary

Dear Families

Today the Years 3 to 6 students participated in our Interhouse Cross-Country Carnival.  It was wonderful to see all the runners trying their personal best to complete the course.  Special thanks to Mr Williams for running the training sessions in preparation for this event and for coordinating this successful Carnival.  My thanks are also extended to all those who came along to cheer on the runners. 

At this week’s Assembly, the Year 2 students shared many interesting facts about places in Australia and reminded us that we all have a responsibility to take care of our environment.  Special thanks to Mrs Haydon, Miss Pillera, Miss Cruse and Ms McKeague for coordinating this entertaining and informative presentation.

Once again, I would like to share my sincere gratitude to all the parents and grandparents who come along to support the students at these special events throughout the year - your involvement and encouragement made such a difference to our school community.

Next Friday 23 May we will be celebrating Primary House Day. This involves the students participating in activities to learn about the House founders of John XXIII College and to commemorate the House to which they will belong throughout their time at the College. We will begin the day with a Mass in the Chapel at 9:00am.

As part of these celebrations, our Year 6 leaders will be holding a 'Monster Cake Stall' to raise funds for LifeLink.  Please see details below.  

During the day, each class will be participating in a special incursion or sporting activity.

I’m sure the students and staff are going to have a wonderful time on Primary House Day!

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. 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. 

Primary House Day & Monster Cake Stall

On Primary House Day, our Year 6 leaders will be holding a 'Monster Cake Stall' to raise funds for LifeLink.  

The Years 1-6 students are welcome to bring along a gold coin/s to buy special treats for morning tea.  The prices range from $1.00 to $2.00 for each item.  It is recommended that students bring a total of $3.00 to $4.00.   

The Pre-Primary students are welcome to bring along a gold coin to buy a cupcake as a treat for their morning tea on this day.

Our normal nutrition guidelines are relaxed on this day, but families may like to provide instructions on the day for their children regarding their purchases.  If preferred, families are welcome to send along a special treat for your child/ren to enjoy at recess rather than making a purchase at the cake stall.

If your child has food allergies, it would be best for you to provide a special treat on the day.

On this day the students are required to wear their House shirt and sports shorts.  They will need to bring their lunch and water bottle.

Please note that there will be no canteen lunch orders available on this day. 

Super Stars

Well done to all the students who received a certificate at today’s Assembly:

Counsellor's Corner

This term we are exploring the second Focus Area of the Keeping Safe Program – ‘RELATIONSHIP’

Students explore what it means to have rights and responsibilities. Children’s rights are introduced by looking at what children need to be healthy and safe, and identifying the responsibility adults have in keeping children safe. Children explore their personal identity and the importance of respecting diversity. They begin to understand the connections they have with their family and friends and explore these relationships. The concepts of bullying, fair and unfair, and power are all introduced. Children explore age-appropriate social issues to identify situations where there has been an abuse of power in a relationship and to demonstrate appropriate actions to take. The language of safety is an important aspect, and non-blaming language is encouraged.  Children develop an understanding of trust and trusted networks to consider who will listen to them and help them when they feel unsafe. They will explore a range of people who they may not know, but who may be able to help them.

Families can support their child by helping them:

• understand that we all have rights, e.g. the right to be safe, the right to be cared for, the right to be listened to 
• know the difference between things they may want such as chocolate or toys, and items they need such as food, a bed and a safe place to live understand relationships with their family, friends and others, and safe ways to interact (if consensual and trusted), e.g. hug, kiss, shake hands, wave.
• recognise what mean on purpose behaviour looks like and what to do if they or someone else is being treated this way, e.g. Use their quick comeback, walk away, talk to a trusted adult. 
• understand that personal power can be used positively and negatively, e.g. letting another child join in the game, not taking turns.
• know what to do if someone tells them to do something that feels unsafe.
• identify trusted people at home, in the family, at school and in the community, such as, Kids Helpline
• practise talking to the people on their trusted network and know how to get help if they need it.

Parents are encouraged to look at the URSTRONG website, activate the FREE Parent Membership and explore all the resources available to your family. 

Information from KS:CPC | Parent and Carer Fact Sheet

Please contact me if you have any questions via email natalie.alach@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Natalie Alach

Primary School Counsellor

Sports Update

Cross Country Interhouse Carnival

Congratulations to all the runners who took part in the Years 3 - 6 Interhouse Cross Country Carnival.  It was an incredible day full of amazing individual efforts.  The support from the spectators was deafening, and it always helps give the runners a final push to get across the line.  Every runner should feel extremely proud of their efforts and doing their part for their house. 

The next step in the cross-country season is the SSWA Cross Country races on Wednesday, 28 May.  The top 4 girls and boys in the long course from Years 3 to 5 will compete in this (Year 6 will be away in Canberra).  Then on Friday, 6 June, the top 8 girls and boys in the long course will compete in the IPSHA Years 3 to 6 Interschool Cross-Country Carnival at Guildford Grammar.  Information for those involved in the interschool races will be sent out in due course.   

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

Primary Ensembles 

Please see below for rehearsal times for ensembles next week:

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Register for the Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge encourages students to discover the joy of reading, improve their literacy skills and enjoy amazing stories.

The challenge runs until 27 June 2025. To complete the challenge, students in Kindergarten to Year 10 read 12 or more books. 

Students can register for the challenge here: The challenge - Premier's Reading Challenge