Secondary

Dear Families

Yesterday’s Opening College Mass was celebrated by Bishop Sproxton, who following Mass, presented students with the 2025 Archbishop’s Spirit Award for their dedicated support of Lifelink last year. By putting our mission into action as people for others, students’ support of Lifelink has made a significant contribution to the welfare and social service agencies supported by the Church in the Archdiocese of Perth. We thank all students and staff for their commitment to being people for others in assisting those vulnerable in our local community.

Our annual Secondary Parent Information Evening took place last night, offering parents a wide range of presentations to attend throughout the evening. It was wonderful to reconnect with parents at the start of the year, and we hope those who attended found the evening informative. Assistant Deputy Principal presentations are available via SEQTA Year Level categories and all other presentations can be accessed via the General Secondary category.

The Northern Associated Colleges (NAS) One-Day carnival preparations have begun in preparation for the Summer Carnival on Tuesday 10 March. Those who are not involved in a team will participate on the day either as a helper for the various fixtures or by competing in a grass-court volleyball competition at the College. A reminder to parents of Years 9 and 10 students, this is a compulsory school day and full attendance is expected.

Year 7 Parent Welcome Sundowner

The transition to Secondary School is as much of a journey for the parents as it is for Year 7 students, and we welcome all Year 7 parents to a Welcome Sundowner on Friday, 6 March from 6:30pm to 8:30pm to meet each other in a relaxed and social setting. Please RSVP via this link.

Homework Club and Extended Library Hours 

Our Homework Club is back this year due to popular demand. Homework Club is available for Secondary students every Monday to Thursday, from 3:30pm to 6:00pm in the Ignatius Centre Library. Please see below for more information and when specialist support is available. Alumni tutors will commence shortly to assist students with their homework and study. 

When: Every Monday to Thursday

Where: Ignatius Centre Library

Time: The library will close at 6pm, but students may leave at any time before then. Years 7 to 10 students who remain past 5pm will need to be collected by a parent/guardian from the library. 

Signing in and out: Students must sign in and out at the kiosk. Students will need a phone or laptop to scan the QR code. 

Uniform

The uniform is a symbol of membership to the College community and assists students to develop a sense of unity and belonging as well as pride in their presentation. Students are expected to uphold a high standard of uniform and grooming at all times and to adhere to the Secondary Uniform Code. 

Students in breach of the Uniform Code will receive infringements in the first instance, and escalated consequences should breaches continue. We appreciate parents’ support in helping us to maintain a high standard of presentation when in uniform.

Mobile Phones 

Unless for extenuating circumstances, students do not need to use their mobiles during the school day, and phones must be kept securely in locked lockers between 8:30am and 3:10pm. Students needing to contact parents during the day are welcome to use a phone in the Student Wellbeing Centre, and canteen purchases can be made using their SmartRider or debit card. Students using their phones without teacher permission between 8:30am and 3:10pm will have their phone confiscated.

Traffic Management 

To ensure the safety of our students and our good relations with neighbouring residents, please utilise the designated drop-off and pick-up zones marked around the campus. When parking, we request that drivers use allocated parking spaces in visitors’ car parking bays only. Double parking or stopping in unauthorised zones – particularly around Graylands campus and Montgomery House – poses safety risks to both our students and others in the local community. 

For pedestrian safety and to reduce traffic congestion, drivers picking up students should only use visitors’ parking bays or the Primary and Secondary drive through facilities, and we encourage families to stagger their arrival and departure times where possible. When we exercise patience, follow the instructions of staff and signage, and are considerate of others during these busy times, we can maintain a safe and smooth experience for everyone. 

2026 Student residential address and other information collection

Under the Australian Education Regulations 2023, John XXIII College is required to provide the Australian Government Department of Education with information about each student at the school. For more information, see the PDF below.

Parent Resources and updates

Find out about our new canteen offerings and how to order, explore details of the College charter bus service, and read the latest from our Parents’ Association, including their objectives, funding proposals and upcoming PAL social events for families. Click the links below to learn more:

• Canteen Information
• Charter Bus Service
• Parents’ Association Updates

Term 1 Key Dates 

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

NAPLAN 2026 - Practice sessions

There will also be a practice NAPLAN sitting on Thursday, 5 March, in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre (TMEC). This practice session is simply to allow students to familiarise themselves with entering the TMEC and to check that the online test environment and web browser are working correctly, including ensuring there are no internet or technical issues.

Pope Francis: The Disruptive Pilgrim’s Guide – Book Launch at John XXIII College

John XXIII College is delighted to be hosting an upcoming book launch with Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO, and we would be very grateful for your assistance in promoting this event through your networks. The event will launch his new book, Pope Francis: The Disruptive Pilgrim’s Guide, and will be officiated by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop of Perth, together with Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO.​

Fr Brennan’s publication explores Pope Francis’s impact as a ‘disruptive pilgrim,’ blending Jesuit insight with themes of mercy, justice and inclusion, and inviting readers to reflect on the Pope’s call to renewal, compassion and social engagement within the global Church. 

Staff and attendees from Catholic Education WA schools may also use their attendance towards accreditation hours, which we hope will make this a particularly valuable opportunity for colleagues across the system.​

Event details are as follows:​

• Title: Pope Francis: The Disruptive Pilgrim’s Guide – Book Launch​
• Date: Tuesday 24 February 2026​
• Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm 
• Venue: Thomas More Exhibition Centre, John XXIII College, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont 
• Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/1514428​

The book will be available for purchase on the evening at a special launch price of $25 (soft cover).​

SPORT

Interhouse Swimming Carnival 

The Sr Mary Murray Cup Swimming Carnival was a fantastic day, such a great way to start the College sporting year! Every student who participated in both the official swimming events and the novelty activities deserves applause for their efforts. The atmosphere, as always, was at an all-time high, even receiving feedback from our Livestreaming Staff that it was the loudest carnival they had been a part of.  

The high level of participation was impressive and showcased the deep-seated passion for sports within our school community. This collective enthusiasm only amplified the day's excitement, making it even more memorable.

Our Year 12 House Captains, strongly backed by the other Year 12 students, led the cheering and support efforts from start to finish. The roar from the stands during the final relay races was truly electrifying. The strong sporting spirit among our students added an extra layer of excitement to the day. The scoring for the coveted Spirit Award was highly competitive, reflecting the strong House spirit. Points were awarded for novelty races, stand decorations, cheering, substitutions, and efficient marshalling. Congratulations to St Louis, the 2026 Spirit Award winners.

The competitive races were closely contested, and the performances were outstanding. We had five records broken on the day. For the first time, we had the carnival livestreamed by TwoMonkeys. The relays and the races streamed on the big screen gave the students that extra push to do their best. It was especially heartening to see the determination and excitement in our Year 7 students' eyes as they enthusiastically participated in every race. Mrs Veronica Brennan-Poland did an exceptional job as poolside announcer. She was accompanied by Guest Announcer Year 8 St Louis Student - Andrew Fanowrios, who did a wonderful job. 

Congratulations to Loyola House, who defended their title in a very tight finish with Ward, smashing the field by almost 500 points. 

Year group Champions and Runner-Up Champions will be announced at the next Secondary Assembly on 12 March.

A draft version of the Senior ACC Team will be published next week. 

NAS Swimming

NAS Swimming Meet information (Years 8-10)

Tuesday 3 March (Period 2 to Period 6) 

• Students will attend classes in Period 1 and head to the St Louis Sports Centre directly after Period 1 to prepare and head to Stirling Leisure Centre, formerly Terry Tyzack Pool. 
• The NAS Swimming Meet will provide an opportunity for all Years 8 to 10 students selected to race again and help secure their place in our ACC A-Division Swimming Team.
• All NAS Schools will be present to allow for a competitive environment (Sacred Heart, Newman, Chisholm and Servite College).
• A reminder that interschool jumpers are not available for purchase until the final ACC team has been announced

YEAR 7 NAS Swimming 

Unfortunately, due to a change in the NAS Swimming Venue and date, which was out of our control. The NAS Swimming Meeting clashes with the Year 7 St Omer Camp. For this reason, there is an alternative Challenge Morning for Year 7 NAS Team students. If your name is listed below, you have been selected for the NAS Swimming Team. 

Date: Friday, 27 February

Time: 8:30am to recess. 

Location: Claremont Pool

Students will meet at the College bus stop at 8:30am for departure to Claremont Pool. All students will be back in time for recess. 

NAS Swimming Team

Congratulations to all the students below for making our 2026 NAS Swimming team. 

Year 9/10 NAS

We had a fantastic first week of trials, with so much enthusiasm out on the fields and the courts. We continue next week with trials and training in the lead up to the carnival on Tuesday, 10 March. 

A reminder that all students will be involved on the day as either

• NAS Team member
• Student helper for a team 
• Social grasscourt volleyball tournament 

For any queries regarding NAS, please email Miss Pillera or Mr Kowal.

Years 11/12 Senior NAS 

Years 11/12 students are to keep an eye on the College notices for their upcoming trials for their Summer NAS Carnival. The carnival will be held Week 9 on Monday, 29 March.

Students will have three options for the day: 

1. Part of a NAS Team
2. Helper for a NAS Team

3. Taking part in a Wellbeing Day at school with a range of activities organised by Mr Tim Chaney and Mr Luke Bostelman.

    

ACC Basketball Championship

Our ACC Senior Boys Basketball team took on a quality outfit in John Septimus Roe. This was our first home game of the series and it was pleasing to see a good deal of support to watch teams go at it. Although the boys were soundly beaten, they are to be commended on their persistent effort. Special mention to Oli Summers, who continued to attack the basket against much taller opposition, and to Tom Goodman for splashing a couple of three-pointers to give the team an early lead. 

Their next game is an away fixture against Kingsway, with an early start at 3pm.

First XI Cricket

On Wednesday, John XXIII’s first XI Cricket team played their first game of the season against Sacred Heart in a closely contested match.

JTC were put in to bat first. Scoring steadily, JTC put up a target of 78 runs with a late flourish from Sam Gardener, scoring 19.

At the start of the bowling innings, JTC took advantage of the new ball, taking five early wickets in the first 10 overs. Wickets were spread evenly amongst the bowlers, but Sacred Heart chased the total with six balls left in the innings. 

Despite the loss, the team remains positive about future games, taking the positives away from the game. 

Thank you to our Coaches, Michael Reynolds and Tom Syminton, both Alumni of the College, who do a fantastic job coaching the team. 

• JTC 8/78 off 18 overs
• SHS 6/79 off 17 overs

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport

Congratulations

Congratulations to Cooper, Year 8, who joins Perth Azzuri as the only WA team in their age group to play at the Mina Cup in Dubai. This prestigious international youth event brings teams from all over the world together to compete, learn, and grow through the global language of football. 

Share your child’s achievements

We love celebrating the wonderful achievements of our students in this section of the newsletter. If your child has recently represented at a regional, state, or national level, or been part of a team that has achieved a significant result (such as a premiership or championship), we’d love to hear about it!

Families are invited to share details and a photo by emailing newsletter@johnxxiii.edu.au.  Please include your child’s name, year group, event or activity, and a brief description of the achievement.

To ensure fairness and consistency, we can only feature information received directly from families that meets the above criteria. If no image or details are provided, we may not be able to include your child’s achievement in the newsletter.