Secondary

Dear Families 

Our Years 11 and 12 students embark on a big couple of weeks with examinations and work placements commencing next week. Being the culmination of the semester’s coursework, exams can be a challenging time for students and their families supporting them. To help them navigate this period with confidence and achieve the best results, the following tips provide a guide on how to approach the exams with a clear mind, keep stress in check and optimise performance.  

It is important to remember that exams are just one measure of students’ academic progress and their wellbeing is of utmost importance. Take breaks when needed, maintain a healthy balance between studying and leisure activities, and reach out to support systems if feeling overwhelmed. More information on how to manage the exam period effectively can be found at headspace:  How To Reduce Stress & Prepare for Exams | headspace. 

For students embarking on work placements, this can be a time of excitement to be out in the workforce but also of overwhelm in a new environment among adults. We wish them a successful placement and hope that they enjoy the experience and learn new skills to assist with their Years 11 and 12 journeys.  

Secondary Assembly  

We welcomed Professor Simon Forrest, a highly respected Noongar elder, to yesterday’s Secondary Assembly to give a Welcome to Country and address students in preparation for Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week, commencing on Sunday 26 May. His emphasis on the need for understanding, empathy and mutual respect served as a reminder for the need for each of us to commit ourselves to the principles of reconciliation so we can indeed ‘seek justice’. 

National Reconciliation Week takes place from 27 May to 3 June. A range of activities will be organised for staff and students to continue learning about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements and to explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort. 

Congratulations to all students who have competed in numerous Magis competitions over the recent weeks, in particular, our Year 12 Senior Ethics Team, who last weekend won gold at the Australian division of the Ethics Olympiad! This team has competed together for a number of years, winning silver and bronze in previous competitions. They will now represent the College at the International final next term, competing against teams from Canada, the USA, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Congratulations also to students who competed in yesterday’s School Sport WA Cross-Country competition, all representing John XXIII College with distinction. All the best to our musicians involved in tonight’s Autumn Soiree, we look forward to a fabulous evening of performances.  

Term 2 Dates 

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

25th Anniversary of LifeLink Day: Celebrating Generosity and Divine Hospitality

On Thursday 16 May 2024, Joseph Nankivell and Addi Papantoniou from Year 10 St Louis Homeroom, joined representatives from Western Australian Archdiocesan Schools at Aranmore Catholic College for the Secondary Schools Forum, marking the official launch event for the 25th Anniversary of LifeLink Day.

The forum featured an address from Archbishop Timothy Costelloe on the importance of generosity, emphasising how acts of kindness and support are vital expressions of our faith. The theme for this year's forum, 'The Disciples of Jesus called to the mission of divine hospitality,' resonated deeply with attendees, reinforcing the values of compassion and service within our community.

LifeLink Day, established in 1999 as a collaborative initiative between The Catholic Archdiocese of Perth (LifeLink) and Catholic Education Western Australia, remains a cornerstone of both education and fundraising efforts. This day is dedicated to raising awareness among young people about the needs within our community and showcasing how our Church agencies respond through LifeLink.

Through interactive engagement, students had the opportunity to participate in relationship-building activities and teamwork exercises. The highlight of the event, 'The Panel,' provided a platform for students to share their feedback, ideas, and suggestions. The open question time, a favourite among students from previous forums, allowed for a dynamic exchange of thoughts and inquiries.

LifeLink Day has inspired generations to reach out with love and compassion. Since its inception, our Archdiocesan Catholic Schools have donated over $3 million to support the social services of the Church. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the collective efforts and generosity of our school communities.

As we celebrate this special anniversary, we are reminded of the profound impact of our actions. By extending love and support to those in need, we embody our faith in action and truly reflect the face of Jesus. Let's continue to uphold the spirit of LifeLink Day, fostering a culture of generosity and divine hospitality in all that we do. We have been able to contribute to the work of LifeLink through various House activities throughout the term and Comfy Day on the last day of Term 2.

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

Year 9 Media Excursion

Earlier this week, Year 9 Media Production students visited the North Metropolitan TAFE campus in Northbridge for a ‘Career Taster’ workshop centred around photography. We learned about the technology behind the earliest method for taking pictures, by making our very own ‘pinhole cameras’ and manually exposing photographs using photo-sensitive paper. Our guide, experienced lecturer and photographer, Des Birt, then walked us through the traditional photo-chemical development process, and we were able to take home a collection of our own snaps.

Of course, current technology affords us the ability to quickly take high-quality photos and videos on our phones with instant results; in contrast, the care and patience required during the photo development process that we witnessed gave us all a deeper appreciation for what many of us take for granted today!

Rob Di Giallonardo

Media Teacher  

Year 10 Asian Food Trucks

Join us on Tuesday 21 May, for a culinary adventure brought to you by our Year 10 Food Technology class! Get ready to tantalise your taste buds with a variety of delectable treats from our food trucks. Truck 1 will be serving up mouthwatering Pork Dumplings, while Truck 2 will offer crispy Pork Spring Rolls. If you're in the mood for something spicy, Truck 3 has you covered with delicious Samosas. And for those craving comfort food with a twist, don't miss out on Truck 4's Fried Chicken Bao Buns.

Remember to place your orders in advance to ensure you don't miss out on these savoury delights during recess!

$5 per serve

The pick-up location will be the courtyard outside Circle of Friend Café at recess.

Order now.

Creating a healthy relationship with food for the family

Dr Kyla Smith, a Perth-based paediatric dietitian with 18 years of experience, will share evidence-based tips to help your children love their food and feel good about eating.

• Tuesday 11 June 2024
• 7:30am - 9:00am
• Gonzaga Barry Lecture Theatre
• Light breakfast provided
• RSVP by Friday 7 June: https://www.trybooking.com/1225400

Hosted by INSPIRE Parent Association.

Building Courage and Resilience in Children and Adolescents

Join Karen Young, founder of 'Hey Sigmund' and author of bestselling books, for an informative session on helping children build courage and resilience. Learn practical tools and strategies to support your children in overcoming adversity and fostering a brave mindset.

• Monday 22 July 2024
• 6:00pm - 7:30pm
• Gonzaga Barry Lecture Theatre
• RSVP  https://www.trybooking.com/1225467

Hosted by INSPIRE Parent Association.

Calling all artists – Christmas art competition

Students of John XXIII College are invited to create an original artwork on the theme of ‘Christmas’.  The winning entry will appear on the Principal’s 2024 Christmas card. 

Artwork Specifications 

• Size: A4 or A3 
• Medium: 2D (drawing, painting, collage, digital) 

How to Enter 

• Secondary: submit entries at Student Reception and include name, Homeroom and year. 
• Primary: drop off entries at the Library and include your name and year. 

Submission deadline: Monday 10 June, 3:30pm. 

Entries will be evaluated by the Art Department and the Principal. 

Terms and Conditions 

Artwork must reflect the theme of Christmas and align with the Catholic nature of this time. Entries must adhere to the College’s ethos and values. Only original artwork will be accepted. Each student can submit only one entry. Winners will be notified via email.

Good luck to all participants!

SPORT

SSWA Cross-Country Carnival

We had a fantastic day at the School Sport WA Cross-Country Carnival. Congratulations to all students who represented John XXIII College. This year, we took a team of runners from Years 7 to 10 due to our senior students being on flexi leave before their examinations. This means we were unable to be in the running for the overall aggregate shield. That being said, we had fantastic individual efforts today by all team members. They showed grit and determination and posted some very competitive times, which makes us really excited for the upcoming ACC Cross-Country Carnival. 

Congratulations to the following students who finished in the top 25 for their races:

• Under 12 Girls - Vivienne Barley – 5th
• Under 12 Boys – Noah Summers – 22nd
• Under 14 Boys – James Mann – 18th 
• Under 14 Boys – Ethan Soh – 19th 
• Under 14 Boys – Bailey Vincent – 23rd 
• Under 15 Boys – Joshua Standen – 22nd 
• Under 15 Boys – Tighe O’Toole – 24th 
• Under 15 Girls – Claudia Gnech – 15th 
• Under 16 Girls – Harrison Delmotte – 20th
• Under 16 Boys – Noah Boruff – 24th 

ACC Cross-Country

Please see the next two weeks of training and what the commitments look like for students who have been named in our ACC Cross-Country Team.

All ACC team members must attend these final training sessions, particularly on Thursday 23 May, when students will be able to run the ACC course before the big day.

Year 8 Northern Associated Schools (NAS) 

Year 8 NAS Trials will commence next week. All students are encouraged to trial for a spot on a team for the Carnival taking place on Tuesday 18 June. Students who don’t make a NAS team will have the option to attend the day as a helper or participate in the Lightning Carnival. 

We would love to see everyone involved. 

Below are the NAS Trial Schedule and the NAS Training Schedule, which will commence after the trials. 

Trial Schedule

Training Schedule

Interhouse Surfing/Body Boarding: Years 10 to 12

Thank you to all the senior students who attended the meeting and signed up for the Interhouse Surfing/Body Boarding competition. The carnival will be held on Thursday 27 June. If you missed the meeting and are still interested, please complete the nomination form. If you are on Pilgrimage but would still like to be a part of the interschool team, please also complete the nomination form and email Mr Kowal and Mr McLaughlin.

There will be a meeting in the next two weeks for Years 7 to 9 students, so stay tuned!

Interhouse Cross-Country Carnival

Perfect weather set the stage for an epic day of running and fun at our Interhouse Cross-Country Carnival! The House spirit was electric, with students giving it their all in the races and novelty events. The battle for the Fr Gaetan Pereira Shield was intense, especially during the Senior student races. Loreto House emerged victorious this year! Huge congratulations to all students for their outstanding performance, and congrats to St Louis House for earning the Spirit Award.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Angelina Smythe, Year 10, for her outstanding performance at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa Zone 7 Games! Angelina swam amazingly and emerged as the best-performing athlete, winning an impressive haul of medals: 5 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze, plus 4 relay bronzes! It’s been a whirlwind of new experiences for her, including interviews with the local TV news station, post-race video interviews, and seeing her photo all over the local papers and social media! We're incredibly proud of you, Angelina! 

Congratulations to Luka Dillon (Year 12) for his outstanding performance at the recent State Lacrosse Championships in Victoria! Not only did Luka proudly represent WA, but he was also named MVP for one of the matches!

We are incredibly proud of Luka's dedication, sportsmanship, and achievements. He is a shining example of the talent and commitment our students possess. 

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport