Around The Primary
John XXIII College
Dear Families
Celebrating Creativity: Visual Arts Exhibition
Our annual Visual Arts Exhibition is a wonderful celebration of creativity, imagination and artistic growth across the College.
Featuring artwork from Pre-Kindy to Year 12, the exhibition provides a special opportunity for families and our wider community to enjoy the talents of our young artists. Our Years 3-6 students participate in a weekly specialist Visual Art lesson with Mrs Blaauw, our Primary Visual Art Specialist Teacher. They will each have a piece exhibited, alongside a selection of artwork from our Early Years students.
Visitors will enjoy a vibrant collection of 2D and 3D works across a range of art forms, showcasing the creativity, skill and individual expression of our students.
The exhibition concludes tomorrow, Saturday 24 October, and will be open from 11:00am to 2:00pm in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre. We warmly invite families to come along, explore the exhibition and celebrate the amazing creativity of our students.
Congratulations and thank you to Mrs Blaauw, for nurturing our students’ creativity and providing them with this special opportunity to proudly showcase their work.
Junior Primary Athletics Carnival
We warmly invite parents and grandparents to join us for the Junior Primary Athletics Carnival on Tuesday 27 October, as we cheer on our young athletes and enjoy a delightful day of participation, fun and community spirit.
Kind regards,
Antoinette De Pinto
Head of Primary
Staff Update
After serving with dedication as Assistant Principal, Mrs Tara Purcell has made the decision to return to a full-time teaching role at the commencement of 2027. We thank Tara for her outstanding leadership, commitment, and contributions she has made in supporting students, staff, and families during her time in this leadership role.
We are very pleased to announce that Mr Heath Nankivell has been appointed as our new Assistant Principal. He is currently serving as Assistant Principal at St Thomas’ Primary School, Claremont, and brings with him a wealth of teaching and leadership experience. We look forward to welcoming Mr Nankivell to our College community.
Dates to Remember
| Monday 26 October | Year 6 Reflection Workshops, TMEC |
| Tuesday 27 October | 9:00am-1:00pm Junior Primary Athletics Carnival, Junior Primary Oval |
| Reconciliation – 5W, 6B, 6G and 6W, Chapel | |
| Thursday 29 October | Year 5 Leadership Forum, Osborne Room |
| Friday 30 October | Community Mass, Chapel 8:00am |
| World Teachers Day | |
| 9:00am-10:15am Year 6 GATE Presentations, Library | |
| Sunday 1 November | All Saints Day |
| Monday 2 November | All Souls Day |
Primary Library Closed Before School
The Primary Library will be closed before school on Friday, 23 October due to the Year 6 GATE Presentations. Thank you for your understanding.
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.
Keeping Safe Curriculum – Protective strategies
In Term 4, Primary students will continue to participate in lessons from the Keeping Safe Curriculum, with a focus on strategies to stay safe. This includes learning about community services which can help like 000 and a range of problem-solving strategies using relevant age appropriate scenarios.
Assertive communication, persistence and resilience are all explored, and persistence is reinforced so students understand that they need to keep telling until someone listens and takes action.
Students are also participating in lessons about the URSTRONG program. URSTRONG is an internationally recognised Social Emotional Wellbeing program, that empowers children with the skills, language, and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. Friendship is such an important part of children’s lives and across the Primary school children are learning practical useful strategies to help make this a positive, happy part of their life.
Gratitude Evening
You are warmly invited to our thank you sundowner – an evening dedicated to celebrating the generosity, commitment and spirit that make our College community so special.
Event Details
- Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
- Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
- Venue: 1st Floor Main Administration, John XXIII College, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont
We want to thank you for the many ways you’ve supported College life. Whether you’ve cooked a barbeque, assisted with photo day, helped at an event, done make-up, worked backstage, assisted at carnivals, or contributed in any way, big or small, your time and energy have made a real difference.
This evening is our way of saying thank you. It’s a chance to come together, share stories, and celebrate the vibrant community you help create.
Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP here https://www.trybooking.com/1636227 by 28 October.
We hope you can join us.
Primary Sport
Alternate Sports Program
This week our Years 5 and 6 students started their Alternate Sports Program. This program aims to introduce our students to some new sports and activities and for them to learn that physical activity can take many forms.
Over 5 weeks our students will participate in Archery, Short Golf, Ultimate Frisbee, Dance and Volleyball. There will be many opportunities for discussions around the importance physical activity plays in a healthy life.
Extra-Curricular Sports
Extra-curricular sports start next week. There are still places available, please check the details below.
Tennis
Nick Kirkbride from Coastal Tennis begins again. Mondays from 7:45am to 8:30am on the Secondary tennis courts, commencing in Week 2. Sign up at Schools | Coastal Tennis | Western Australia
Fun Fitness Foundations
Dave from FFF returns with his fun and engaging program to keep students moving. Wednesdays from 3:15pm to 4:15pm, commencing in Week 2 Sign up for Term 4 here
Soccer
Tuesday soccer with J and J is back in Term 4 from Week 2. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 3:30pm to 4:20pm on the Junior Primary oval. Please see the attached flyer for further details.
Basketball
Redhage Basketball is back on Thursdays, commencing in Week 2 from 3:30pm to 4:20pm in the school gym. Registrations can be made via Redhage Basketball - Shawn Redhage Perth Wildcats NBL.
If you have any queries regarding Primary Sport, please contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au
Steve Williams
Primary Sport Coordinator
Primary Music
Ensemble Rehearsals
| Wanju Voices | Monday 26 October | 7:30am-8:30am, MacKillop Room |
| String Orchestra | Tuesday 27 October | 7:15am-8:00am, Osborne Room |
| Mini Minors | 8:00am-8:30am, Osborne Room | |
| Year 6 Band | Wednesday 28 October | 7:30am-8:00am, Performing Arts Centre |
Year 5 Band
| 8:00am-8:30am, Performing Arts Centre | |
| Primary Singers | Thursday 29 October | 8:00am to 8:40am, MacKillop Room |
| Christmas Band | 7:30am to 8:30am, Performing Arts Centre | |
| Chapel Choir | Friday 30 October | 7:30am to 8:30am, Chapel |
Save the Date
| Performance | Date and Venue | Ensemble/s |
| Christmas Concert | 5:00pm, Friday 27 November Library Courtyard | Primary Singers, Wanju Voices Mini Minors, String Orchestra Years 5 and 6 Band, Christmas Band |
| Presentation Night | 6:30pm, Thursday 3 December St Louis Sports Centre | Wanju Voices |
If you have any queries regarding Primary Music, please contact me via email: catherine.haydon@johnxxiii.edu.au
Catherine Haydon
Primary Music Teacher
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.