Secondary

Dear Families

The significance of a strong school community cannot be overstated. It forms the bedrock of a successful educational experience, where students not only thrive academically but also grow emotionally and socially. I continue to be moved by the profound sense of community that is evident at John XXIII College. John XXIII Day presents a perfect example of such spirit, bringing staff and students together to honour our inspirational Founders: Ignatius of Loyola, Mary Ward and Pope John XXIII, as well as fundraise for our College charities. A day such as this could not run without the incredible planning and effort from a wide range of people from across the College: House Coordinators, teachers, student leaders, performers and technical crews, and support staff, all giving their best to make the day as successful as possible.

Presided by Fr Frank Brennan and Fr Mark, the invitation to join each other in being people for others through a joyful and reverent Mass was a fitting start to the day. Thank you to the many students who participated in the service as readers or performers to make this a very special celebration of the Eucharist. The traditional Running of the Colonnades was hotly contested by a number of Year 12 students. Congratulations to Finn O'Donnell and Ruby Verleg for their impressive run to have their name join previous champions on the Colonnades Honour Board. A highlight of the day, the food and fete stalls raised in excess of $10,000 to donate to our College charities, Mary Ward International and Jesuit Missions, in support of their work with vulnerable communities. In addition, our inaugural SRC and Staff Ice Plunge raised more than $10,000 and students were entertained by our daring SRC and staff who took the plunge! A special acknowledgement to our College Principal, Mr Mahon, whose involvement in the Ice Plunge added to the excitement and spirit of the occasion. Thank you to those in our community who donated in support of the vital work of Jesuit Mission. Our Alumni network is an important part of our community, and it is always wonderful to welcome past students back to the College to battle it out with senior students for the football and netball matches. The highly anticipated Variety Concert delivered a creative and entertaining end to the day with staff and students showcasing their musical, comedic and dancing talents. Congratulations to Drama Captain, Madeleine Nankivell and Music Captain, Joshua Mengler, for their skilful compering of the concert, as well as the incredible efforts of Multimedia Captain, Henry Gooch, Jack Purkiss and the AV Crew for their behind-the-scenes planning and support.

High Achievers’ Breakfast

Students’ commitment to their learning was acknowledged on Wednesday with the High Achievers’ Breakfast to celebrate the achievements of students in Years 7 to 12 from Semester One. Students enjoyed a morning of collegiality and hospitality as they listened to the experience and wisdom of Alumni, Grace Barbour (Class of 2021). A regular member of the High Achievers' Club and a recipient of the prestigious John XXIII Award, Grace’s advice on the importance of having a well-rounded view of life provided students with a thought-provoking and encouraging message. Congratulations to the following students for their hard work and dedication to their learning last semester:

Yokoso!

A warm welcome to our Japanese visiting students and accompanying staff, Takako Yamada and Nobuyuki from Osaka Kasugaoka, for their exchange experience this week. Throughout the week, they enjoyed a variety of cultural and linguistic activities, including an excursion to Caversham Wildlife Park and a performance at today’s Variety Concert. 

Term 3 Key Dates

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Speak for Faith Competition 2025

We are delighted to share the outstanding achievements of our students in this year's Speak for Faith competition, a joint initiative between the Catenian Association in Western Australia and Catholic Education Western Australia. This prestigious program provides students in primary school and Secondary Year 11 and 12 with the opportunity to participate in a public speaking competition that challenges them to engage with important contemporary issues.

Year 12 Competition Theme

This year's theme for our Year 12 students focused on current issues for the Catholic Church and how the Church stays both authentic and relevant to changing attitudes and values in society.

Congratulations to Our Participants

We proudly congratulate Bianca Petsos and Luke Green for their exceptional participation in the competition held on Tuesday, 22 July at CEWA Leederville.

Bianca Petsos delivered a compelling speech addressing the need for the Church to remain morally authentic to its teachings whilst responding with relevance to changing attitudes and values through the introduction of generative AI in society. Her thoughtful exploration of this contemporary challenge demonstrated remarkable insight and maturity.

Luke Green spoke passionately about the need for the Church to remain relevant to today's youth, highlighting how Pope Francis has achieved this through his encyclical Laudato Si', successfully upholding Catholic teachings whilst maintaining contemporary relevance.

Finals Results

The final heat occurred on Wednesday, 30 July, in which Bianca was successful in participating in the heat. We are pleased to announce that Bianca achieved third place in the final competition.

Both Bianca and Luke are to be congratulated on their outstanding achievements in this competition. Their thoughtful engagement with complex theological and social issues reflects the high calibre of our students and their commitment to exploring faith in the modern world.

Serena Percudani 

Teacher - Religious Education 

Angelico Exhibition 2025

The Angelico Exhibition is a prestigious annual event on the Catholic Arts calendar. The exhibition provides a broad public forum through which students throughout Western Australia are able to exhibit their dynamic artistic talent.

This year John XXIII College has six students exhibiting work at the Angelico Art Exhibition. 

Angelico Exhibition is held at the Forrest Centre, 221 St Georges Terrace, Perth from Monday, 11 August to Friday, 29 August. There is also a Saturday viewing session for families of the artists involved on 23 August from 1:30pm-3:00pm.

Kiri Moore

Visual Arts Coordinator

Osaka Japanese Exchange 

On Saturday, 2 August, 18 excited Japanese students, accompanied by two staff members, Takako Yamada and Nobuyuki Futagami, arrived from Osaka, Japan. Families from John XXIII College and from around the community have hosted our exchange group. 

During the week, the Osaka exchange students participated in a range of cultural and linguistic activities and classes at the College. On Tuesday, they were welcomed by Year 11 students, Lily, Jude, Charlotte and Felicia in Japanese and then joined the Year 10 Japanese students in a get-to-know-you activity. 

Other activities included immersion with the Years 8, 9 and 11 Japanese language classes at the College, where our visitors had the opportunity to exchange information in Japanese, dance alongside Japanese music, enjoy a picnic in the sunshine, and share a cultural presentation. Special thanks to Ms Kiri Moore for providing them with an art lesson, Ms Shane Glass for conducting an English lesson and Ms Antoinette De Pinto for coordinating a special immersion with the Primary school students. 

On Thursday, 7 August, the Japanese exchange group with the Year 10 Japanese students from John XXIII College, along with Glass Sensei and Aghdasi Sensei, spent the day immersed in the Australian culture. The morning was spent at Caversham Wildlife Park and the afternoon was spent playing SupaGolf. It was a great opportunity for our students to get to know them on a more personal level and practice their Japanese.

Highlights included being a part of the John XXIII College spirit by partaking in John XXIII Day festivities and showcasing a special dance routine from Japan during the Variety Concert. Friday evening will conclude with a farewell with their host families at the College, prior to heading to catch their international flight back home.

Thank you to Glass Sensei and Aghdasi Sensei for all their efforts and passion in coordinating this wonderful experience for our Japanese language students. Lifelong international friendships and memories have been created. International Exchanges are not possible without the support of our whole community. A special thanks also to Jim Pearson and his awesome Grounds and Maintenance team, as well as the AV and ICT teams.

Alliance Française Examination

On Tuesday, 5 August, five Year 11 French ATAR students and four Year 12 French ATAR students sat the prestigious annual French Alliance Française examination. This examination is sat by all high school students studying French in Western Australia. This examination covers the themes and concepts in the ATAR Western Australian syllabus, and students complete reading, listening and writing sections in French. It is a great opportunity to put into practice their French skills in a formal, examination scenario. 

Bravo to the students and merci beaucoup to Madame Griffin-Appadoo for the preparation and guidance she has provided to the students. 

Melissa Polizzi

Head of Learning Area - Languages 

A QBD Book Fair is Coming, Let’s 'Book an Adventure'

Get ready to 'Book an Adventure' at our upcoming Book Fair, just in time for CBCA Book Week. 

• Book Fair Dates & Times:
• Tuesday 19 August – Thursday 21 August
• Before school: 8:00am – 8:30am
• After school: 3:15pm – 3:45pm
• Location: Ignatius Centre Library

Please note that we can receive card payments only.

If you cannot attend in person, the adventure is available online. Visit our Digital Book Fair here.

If you have any questions about the Book Fair, please contact:

Jean Redfern

Jean.redfern@johnxxiii.edu.au

Book Launch - Sir Gerard Brennan's articles and speeches

John XXIII College warmly invites you to an enriching networking event with a law focus, welcoming alumni from all industries, current Year 12 students, current parents, past parents, and the broader John XXIII College community.

Launched by The Hon. Chief Justice Peter Quinlan

Join us as we celebrate the release of the two-volume set of Sir Gerard Brennan's Articles and Speeches, a remarkable collection honouring the legacy of the late Sir Gerard Brennan, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and one of our nation's most distinguished jurists.

This event provides a unique opportunity for our College to welcome alumni from all industries, current Year 12 students, current parents and past parents, and the broader John XXIII College community for an inspiring evening centred on law, faith, and public life. Fr Frank Brennan SJ, a distinguished Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer, and academic, will share personal insights and reflections. Books will be available for purchase on the night, a wonderful opportunity to have your copy signed.

SPORT

Fr Kevin King Cup 

We could not have asked for a better day once again this year for our Interhouse Athletics Carnival last Friday 1 August. The weather was truly on our side and this set the stage for a beautiful day. The Year 12 parades, dances and war cries were once again a grand opening to the carnival and a huge highlight for the day. Our Year 12's this year led the day with so much spirit, it was wonderful to see their energy filter down to all the year groups. The spirit was evident throughout the whole day, with chants consistently filling the stands. Well done to all involved, House Co's and HPE staff for their hard work in the lead-up.  This day cannot happen without the help of everyone involved. 

The competition for the Fr Kevin King Cup was very close throughout the day. However, Campion House was victorious in the end for the third year in a row. This year, St Louis House took out our Spirit Award, and also won best-dressed.

There were 6 records broken this year which is a wonderful effort. 

NAS Athletics 

Our Years 7 to 10 NAS Athletics team was posted in the notices this week, and all students and families have been emailed. This team will attend Period 1 on Tuesday, 26 August, and then travel by bus to the WA Athletics Stadium to compete in the NAS Athletics Carnival. This day will provide a competitive environment for our team and provide them with an opportunity to secure their position in our 2025 ACC A-Division Athletics team.

Important NAS Athletics Information:

Please note the NAS Athletics team is not eligible to purchase the interschool jumper - 

this is only the final ACC team. 

• All students in the NAS Team are encouraged to attend at least two training sessions in the lead-up to the day.
• Students attending may wear their PE uniform to school on the day.
• Attend Period 1 as normal.
• At the end of Period 1, meet in the St Louis Sports Centre ready to depart at 10:00am.
• It is preferable that athletes run in the College Athletics singlet (can be purchased from the Uniform Shop). A College Navy shirt is also acceptable for this day
• If you are in field and track events that are on at the same time, make sure you are at your track events as they will run strictly to time. You can go to your field event after completing your track events

Athletics

Athletics training is still in full swing on Tuesday and Thursday on the College Ovals and is open to all students, not just the Interschool teams. There will be an opportunity for students to challenge their results for a spot in the final ACC team. Please see dates below:

Tuesday 26 August - NAS Athletics Carnival

• The top five athletes from each event will be selected for this day 

Wednesday 27 August, 6:30am to 7:30am:  WA Athletics Stadium 

• 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m, Hurdles
• Long jump, High jump 

Thursday 28 August, 7:00am to 8:00am: College Ovals 

• 1500m and throwing events 

Events and Coaches: 

• All events will run both Tuesday and Thursday
• Sprints - Miss Pillera
• Distance - Mr Tirant 
• High Jump - Zahra Amos
• Long Jump - JTC PE Staff
• Hurdles - Lyn Foreman- Tuesday/Leila Barker-Thursday (Alumni Class 2023)
• Javelin - Jamie Floyd (Alumni Class 2022) /Leila Barker 
• Shot and Discus - Tim Lyons 

Training Schedule 

Spikes hire

Students interested in renting spikes from the College for the remainder of the school Athletics season are to head to the PE Office before school and at recess to see Miss Kuyler (HPE Assistant).  

We require a $50 deposit to hire the spikes; this needs to be dropped off at Student Services before heading down to the PE office. 

• Money must be in a sealed envelope with your name and homeroom written on the front. 
• Once the spikes are returned, this deposit is returned to you. 
• It is a first in best dressed on sizes available.

Years 9/10 Winter NAS

Our Senior Years 9 to 10 NAS Trials completed their first week of trials, and next week will be the final trial for students before all teams are released.  

Please see the dates and times below for each sport - Lock them into your diaries. If you are unable to make the trial, please contact Miss Pillera or Mr Kowal. 

College Sporting Photos

John XXIII College Sports photos will take place on Monday, 11 August, and Tuesday, 12 August, in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre. 

• All students are to arrive five minutes before their scheduled photo. 
• Students must be in full College Sports Uniform with white socks (tracksuit pants and shorts required).
• Students have permission to be in their sport uniform for the day
• Students not in correct uniform will not be allowed to feature in the photo
• All teams thus far can be found in the schedule attached. 

ACC Soccer

Our Senior Girls' Soccer Team took on Mercy College for round 16 game. It was a close game throughout with the scores level at 1-1 at half-time. Unfortunately, the girls went down 4-1 in the end; however, the score most certainly wasn't reflective of the effort and intensity of the game. Thank you to Mr Cameron Tremayne, who coached the team along the way!

Congratulations 

We had a number of students compete in the State Short Course Swimming Championships on 1 to 3 August. Well done to all students who competed for themselves and their clubs. 

• Jemma Nolan
• Tighe O’Toole 
• Taj Dorrington 
• George Galvin -  4th 100m Fly final 
• Grace Czajko - Gold in 50m, 100m and 200m Breaststroke

Isobel Robinson

Well done to Isobel, who competed at the School Sport Soccer tournament, where WA came home with Silver amongst a highly competitive field. 

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport