Around The Primary

Dear Parents

We have had a very busy time around the Primary this week. On Wednesday morning the Years 1 – 12 students gathered in the St Louis Sports Centre to celebrate Mass. These prayerful times are an important part of building our community and celebrating that we are all part of God's family. Under the expert guidance of Mrs Haydon, our Primary Singers stood proudly alongside the Secondary Choir to lead the singing throughout Mass.

On Wednesday, 26 February you are welcome to join us for Mass on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of penitence leading up to Easter. The Mass is being hosted by 4G and will begin at 9:15am in the Chapel.

Our Years 4 - 6 students have certainly made a big splash at Claremont Pools and Cottesloe Beach by taking part in swimming lessons and swimming trials this week. We are also very impressed that many students have committed to after-school swimming on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Mr Williams and the coaches from Uniswim.

As you are aware attendance at school is a critical factor in any child's academic success. Children should attend school every day, except in cases of illness or emergency. It is impossible to replace the learning that happens on any school day with ‘make-up’ work. The teachers put a lot of time into the preparation of each lesson and every child should be at school for the entire day. We do understand that children may need to attend medical appointments, speech therapy or occupational therapy sessions throughout the day. However, we are concerned that some children are attending extra tutoring during school time. Extra tutoring needs to occur out of school hours so that children do not miss valuable lessons on a regular basis. If your child is attending tutoring during school hours, please inform me directly.

The teachers are now finalising preparations for the Parent Information Sessions on Monday 17 February. This is an important night whereby you have the opportunity to listen to your child's teacher outline their program and procedures for this school year. All families are encouraged to be represented at the Parent Information sessions.

Our Year Six students will be commissioned as Primary Leaders at next Friday’s Assembly. Everyone is welcome to join us at 9am in Roncalli Hall.

I'm looking forward to seeing many families at the Super Summer Picnic on Saturday. A friendly reminder, parents are responsible for the supervision of their children throughout this event and please refrain from bringing any glassware to the picnic.

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary

Our Pre-Kindy children were delighted to receive an ‘Early Companions Teddy’ to celebrate the beginning of their educational journey at the College.

Important Reminders

Duty of Care

• If your child arrives after 8:45am they must report directly to the Front Office.
• If your child has a recurring appointment, such as, OT or Speech appointment please send an email to primary.absentees@johnxxiii.edu.au advising of the date and time of the appointment.
• If your child is receiving extra tutoring, please book these sessions before school, lunch-time or after-school.

 After-School Pick Up

• Please be especially vigilant driving into the ‘loop’ drive through - go slow, be patient and have your family name sign ready to go! 
• Parents with children in Years 1-3, need to display their 'family name' sign on their wind-shield or on the back of your car sun-visor. This visual reminder helps the teacher to call for children quickly and this greatly assists with the flow of traffic. If you have lost your name sign or need another one for Grandparents’ cars, please email nancy.petsos@cewa.edu.au
• Any students not collected by 3:30pm will be waiting in the front office for their parents. This includes Years 4-6 students who have not been collected from the lawn area near Year 6.

 Uniform

• We really rely on the cooperation of families when it comes to children wearing their correct uniform to school. Our school policy is clear, that a neat haircut is expected and that long fringes are not acceptable. All children need to wear predominantly white sneakers with white shoe-laces on allocated sports days. We thank you for your co-operation and support in regard to this matter.

Playgrounds

• All Primary students and their siblings are not permitted to play on the playgrounds before or after school.

 Pets

• We request that dogs NOT be brought into the Primary School precinct. Despite the very best behaviour of pets, there are many children who remain frightened of dogs and we also have children that are allergic to dogs.

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

Sports Update 

The Year 4, 5 & 6 swimming lessons have been a great success with all students working hard to improve their swimming technique in preparation for the Inter-house carnival on Thursday 5 March.  It was wonderful to see all their efforts coming together for today’s time trial day.

The Year 5 & 6 students thoroughly enjoyed the last two lessons at Cottesloe beach where they were learnt vital beach awareness and survival skills.

Year 3 to 6 students are invited to come along for some extra swimming practice before the Carnival every Tuesday and Thursday in the College Pool from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.

Mr Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Choir Update

Wanju Voices

Rehearsals are on this coming Monday 7:30 to 8:30am in the MacKillop Room. Students who did not attend auditions last week are still able to join and will be auditioned by Mrs Haydon on Monday. 

Primary Singers

The students made a fantastic start this week. Please note that there is NO rehearsal on Thursday 20 February. Rehearsals will resume on Thursday the 27 February at 8am in the MacKillop Room. 

Mrs Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Specialist 

Counsellor's Corner

Protective Behaviours

As of January 1, 2017, the new registration standards and other requirements for Non-Government Schools Subsection (12.1e) requires the “delivery to all students of a developmentally appropriate protective behaviours curriculum, developed by experts in child abuse prevention, and covering what the boundaries are between appropriate and inappropriate interactions and when, how and who to tell when a boundary is crossed…” 

All Primary staff at John XXIII College are trained in the delivery of the Keeping Safe : Child Protection Curriculum. The KS:CPC is an evidence based, best practice curriculum developed collaboratively with child protection experts, teachers, educational leaders and other professionals. It will be taught across the Primary school in Years K-6 throughout the year as it was last year. 

The KS:CPC is based on two main themes which are presented through topics and activities of increasing complexity. The two KS:CPC themes are:

· Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe 

· Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust. 

The two KS:CPC Themes are explored through four Focus Areas, which are examined in growing complexity in accordance with the age of the students. The four KS:CPC Focus Areas are: 

· Focus Area 1: The right to be safe 

· Focus Area 2: Relationships 

· Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse 

· Focus Area 4: Protective strategies 

A focus area will be covered each term starting in Term 1 with ‘The right to be safe’. Information will be provided in the newsletter for parents on the topics that will be covered. If you have any queries or concerns about the program, you are welcome to contact me.

Anne Murphy

Primary Counsellor 9383 0469 

anne.murphy@cewa.edu.au 

College Charter Bus

Parents are able to download the app to track the bus and enable push notifications for the College Charter Buses.

The app is free in the App Store and Google Play. If you’re ready to simplify your mornings and get a little peace of mind at the same time, simply download the app to show the real-time location of your child’s bus on a map!

Getting Started

Step 1:              If you have a smartphone or tablet, download the Horizons West app from the App Store or Google Play.         

Step 2:              Log in with the following credentials

Username: johnxxiii@horizonswest.com.au      

Password: JTC123!

Step 3:              Select the route relevant to you

Step 4:              Track the bus

Step 5:              Tap the timetable icon to access the John XXIII College Charter bus timetable

Sacramental Program 2020

Do you have a child currently in Year 3, 4 or 6? The children will be preparing, in their class Religious Education lessons, for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. While the students will learn the appropriate content in their Religion lessons, they celebrate the sacraments with their family in their parishes. 

Parents are encouraged to enrol their child, as soon as possible, in their parish – usually, but not necessarily the parish closest to home.  Please check the enrolment dates and procedures for some of our local parishes. 

If you have any further queries please contact Mary-Anne Lumley, Liturgist and Parish Liaison: mary-anne.lumley@cewa.edu.au

Updates from local parishes

Holy Spirit, City Beach

Information about the Sacraments: an evening for parents

Tuesday 18 February, 6:30pm

Information: delattrecn@yahoo.fr or phone Parish Priest, Fr Emmanual-tv Dimobi, 93413131.

Saint Thomas Apostle, Claremont

Sacrament enrolments close: Friday 14 March

Registration forms are available from silvia.kinder@cewa.edu.au

Star of the Sea, Cottesloe

Enrolments next Thursday, 20 February, 3:30-5:00 pm.

Further information: cottesloe@perthcatholic.org.au

Saint Cecilia, Floreat

Further information: Rita Morgan, floreat@perthcatholic.org.au

St Joseph, Subiaco

Applications open soon.

Further information: sacraments@stjosephssubiaco.org.au

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarborough

Contact: Fr Grant Goddard

08 9341 1124  OR   scarborough@perthcatholic.org.au

Mary-Anne Lumley

Liturgist and Parish Liaison