Around The Primary

Dear Families

These first two weeks of school have been a positive and happy start for us all, with new students settling-in, children re-connecting with friends and staff and little ones commencing Pre-Kindy or Kindy for the very first time. Our classroom learning opportunities are now in full swing and we are deeply committed to supporting your child’s learning while also encouraging the students to continue nurturing their friendships and enjoying the many opportunities that come their way.

As parents and caregivers, you can support your child to have a calm, happy, and successful term here at school by ensuring they:

• arrive at school on time, ready for a calm transition to the school day
• have a consistently good night’s sleep
• are not over scheduled after school – leaving enough time for them to relax, do their reading homework, and participate in unstructured and active play
• have limited technology after school, and more personal connection, conversation and affirmation
• enjoy some quality family time 

Next week we will be hosting our Parent Information Sessions, and these are great opportunities to meet your child’s teacher, receive important College updates, key dates, and other relevant information for the year ahead. They also help strengthen the partnership between home and school, ensuring the best outcomes for our students. We understand that some parents with students in multiple classes will not be able to attend all sessions and the PowerPoint presentations will be available through SEQTA Engage after the sessions.

The Primary Picnic is a fantastic way to start the school year and a great opportunity to experience our school spirit, meet new people, catch-up with those you already know and connect with our school community.

I look forward to seeing many families at this fun family event tomorrow.

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Primary Picnic Update

• There will be no ticket sales or food orders available at the door.
• The fantastic ‘Foam Frenzy’ is back again this year. Please remember to bring a towel and change of clothes for your children as they will get wet!
• Please do not bring any glassware onto the ovals.
• Parents/caregivers ae responsible for their children throughout this event.
• Parents/caregivers are required to accompany their children to the toilet facilities.
• Please remember to wear your Parent badge. 

Parent Information Sessions

Our College Principal, Mr Mahon will be presenting in the Lecture Theatre at 6:00pm, concluding at 6:25pm.  Everyone is encouraged to attend. This will be followed by the sessions in classrooms. 

Dates to Remember 

Please check the College website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar. 

By subscribing to the College calendar, you are automatically alerted when details of an existing event are changed. 

Sacraments

Do you have a child in Year 3, 4 or 6?

Parishes are now finalising enrolments for their sacrament programs. It is imperative for children to be enrolled in a parish program, even though they will be prepared for the sacraments in their Religion classes.

Each parish has its own unique Sacrament Program. Information from some local parishes is provided below. 

DOUBLEVIEW – OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

Enrolments close: Friday, 21 February. doubleview@perthcatholic.org.au

See here for enrolment information.

NEDLANDS – HOLY ROSARY

Enrolment evening for parents/carers

Tonight! Friday, 7 February, 6:00pm. 

Parish Centre, 45-47 Tyrell Street, Nedlands.

nedlands@perthcatholic.org.au

SCARBOROUGH – IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Enrolments close: second week in February.

See here for enrolment information and details on each of the sacraments.

SUBIACO – ST JOSEPH’S

Expressions of interest for the 2025 sacrament program close at the beginning of February.

Further information here.  

elaine.eng@stjosephssubiaco.org.au

Parents often have questions about the Sacrament program, so don’t be afraid to ask:

• Your parish priest or Sacrament Coordinator
• The Archdiocesan website: Parishes & Mass Times
•  Mary-Anne Lumley on email of via phone on  08 9383 0513

NAPLAN

We are beginning to prepare for The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy which will take place in Weeks 6 and 7 this term. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be assessed in the areas of Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. 

In the coming weeks, Years 3 and 5 classroom teachers will be spending time with their students teaching them how to navigate the screen when using the Online Assessment platform. 

We endeavour to make the assessment experience one that simply becomes part of the students’ day where the environment is calm and well-managed. We encourage the students to approach the assessments with a positive mindset and to try their best.

NAPLAN Timeline

Week 4: Wednesday 26 February              

Practice Tests – To provide an opportunity for students to become familiar with using the test platform.

Weeks 6 and 7:  Wednesday 12 March – Monday 24 March

NAPLAN online testing window

2025 Primary NAPLAN Testing Schedule

Primary Music 

Please see below for rehearsal times for ensembles in Week 3

*String Orchestra - Years 4 to 6 Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses

**Year 6 Band - Year 6 Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones and Percussion

Wanju Voices

Wanju Voices is open to all Years 4 to 6 students who love to sing and it’s not too late to sign-up! The next rehearsal is at 7:30am on Monday 17 February in the Osborne Room with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. All Years 4, 5 and 6 students are welcome.

Primary Singers

Primary Singers is open to all Years 2 to 3 students who love to sing and it’s not too late to sign-up! Rehearsals are on Thursday mornings at 8:00am in the Osborne Room with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. All Years 2 and 3 students are welcome.

Chapel Choir:

Chapel Choir is open to all Year 1 to 12 students who love singing, with a focus on liturgical music. Rehearsals commence at 7:30am on Fridays in the Chapel with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. Chapel Choir then sings at Community Mass (commencing at 8:00am). 

Year 5 Band:

Instrumental lessons for students in the Year 5 Band Program will commence next week. Tutors will contact students’ parents individually to inform them of lesson times. Year 5 Band rehearsals on Wednesday mornings commence in Term Two.

If you have any queries regarding Primary Music, please contact me via email: catherine.haydon@johnxxiii.edu.au

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Sports News       

Swimming

Whilst the conditions at Cottesloe Beach weren’t as glorious as they normally are for the Years 4 to 6 swimming lessons, our students gained valuable experience with wind and swell at the beach.  The enthusiasm to get into the water and take on the challenging conditions was admirable. 

Swimming training for Years 3 to 6 begins on Tuesday 18 Feb from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.  Students are invited to come along and help prepare for the Years 4 to 6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 5 March.  Whilst the Year 3 students are not involved in the Carnival, they are welcome to come along and experience the training and start to practice some racing strategies.  No need to book or come to all the sessions, just come along to the College Pool on whichever Tuesdays or Thursdays you can.  

If you have any queries about anything sport-related, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au

Netball Registrations 

Primary netball registrations are open until the end of February.

John XXIII College Netball Club is an inclusive club that welcomes players of all abilities. The philosophy of our Club is to encourage participation while striving for excellence; emphasis is placed on having fun while remaining competitive. 

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Extend 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.

Enrolment Interviews Kindy 2027

If you have a child entering this year group and would like them to be considered for a place at John XXIII College, please ensure you have completed an Expression of Interest.

If you are unsure if you have submitted an application, or if you have any questions about the enrolment process, please contact our College Registrar, Allison Falconer. 

Address Collection Notice 

The Australian Government Department of Education would like to notify parents that we have requested for your child’s school to provide residential address and other information. 

Under the Australian Education Regulations 2023, the College is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the College:

• names and residential addresses of the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s) 
• student residential address (excluding student names)
• whether the student is a Primary or Secondary student (education level) 
• whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status). 

The school collects the above information by generating a unique and unidentifiable student reference number (SRN) for each student record. The school only uses the SRN for this collection. The SRN cannot be used for any other purpose. The number only indicates to the department that each record provided is for one student.