Secondary

Dear Families 

Valete is the Latin term for ‘goodbye to a group of people’. We have farewelled our beloved Year 12 students over the past week with numerous Valete events to acknowledge their contribution and achievements to our College community. This significant milestone always brings mixed emotions: excitement and anticipation about the future, but also nostalgia and a tinge of sadness to be saying goodbye to the familiar environment that has been school for the past years. We congratulate the Graduating Class of 2023, and we wish them every success in their future endeavours as they heed the words of St Ignatius of Loyola, to 'go, set the world on fire'.   

Part of the Year 12 Valete proceedings is the handover of the Student Representative Council. This year’s Year 11 leadership process was rigorous and competitive, and all candidates are to be commended for their commitment and courage in nominating for a leadership position next year. Nominating students enjoyed a celebratory lunch on Wednesday to acknowledge their candidacy, and whilst not all were successful in being appointed to the 2024 Student Representative Council, we consider them to be leaders in their own right.   

Congratulations to the following students who have been appointed to represent the student body as the 2024 Student Representative Council. We are confident that they will do all they can to be a ‘person for others’ in leading their peers and in continuing the excellent work of this year’s Student Representative Council’s contribution to our College.  

Student Achievements 

Last weekend, Tom Syminton (Year 11) and Lola Kenny (Year 10) cycled 200 km over two days as part of the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research’s MACA Cancer 200, Ride for Research. Since its inception in 1998, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has made significant discoveries to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, diabetes and cancer in Western Australia. Lola participated as the youngest rider and placed first in her category. Well done to both Lola and Tom for embodying the spirit of making a difference!  

So that we can shine the light on student achievements, please share the good news by emailing me Shani.Andrews@cewa.edu.au.  

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

2023 Visual Arts Exhibition 

The Visual Arts Exhibition provides our students with the opportunity to showcase their artworks and be recognised for the time and effort they have dedicated to their art studies this year. Congratulations to our talented art students and wonderful Visual Arts staff for an outstanding exhibition. 

The 2023 Visual Arts Exhibition was officially opened on Monday, 16 October by special guest artist and College parent Shannon Hamilton. In her opening address, Shannon generously shared her journey to working full-time as an artist. She shared how different stages and experiences of life change your focus and priorities. 'You need to grow the ability to be flexible and allow your artistic expression to adapt to the ever-changing world around you.' We thank Shannon for her inspirational words and for sharing her journey with our students.

The Exhibition is a special occasion for our Year 12 General and ATAR Visual Arts students. We congratulate our students on their incredible work this year and feature their work as a centrepiece of the Exhibition. The Year 12s have been an extremely committed, gracious and creative group, the Art Department is incredibly proud of the work they have produced and the ideas communicated in their art-making. We also thank our outgoing 2023 Visual Arts Captain, Ruby Kaye, for her wonderful speech on behalf of the Year 12 Art students.

2023 Visual Arts Exhibition Award Winners

The John XXIII College Art Competition:  Lyla Stewart (Year 9) 

The Sister Theresa Elliott Encouragement Award: Remi Twite (Year 8)

The Arlene Nedeljkovic Rising Star Award: Elizabeth Levey (Year 9)

The Loreto Sisters’ Award: Lizzie Newton (Year 12)

The John XXIII College Staff Award: Jasmine Slatter (Year 12)

The Principal’s Award: Jasmine Slatter (Year 12)

Kiri Moore

Visual Arts Coordinator

Media Night 2023

Media Night 2023 was held here at the College on Thursday night last week and was a resounding success! The Gonzaga Barry Lecture Theatre was packed, and the people in attendance contributed to an amazing atmosphere of celebration and wonder at the skills and talents on show from this year’s media students. The AV Team helped to make the setting particularly special, with decorations and appointments installed to create an authentic ‘cinema’ vibe (complete with popcorn and slushies, which were new additions this year and proved very popular!) Many thanks to the students, staff, family members and friends involved in making the night possible and an enjoyable one for all. Congratulations also to our award winners in recognition of their exemplary work over the year, and farewell to our wonderful Media Captain, Caelan Morris, who truly excelled in his role throughout the year. Keep an eye out in future newsletters for a link to a showcase of student works from the night. Until next time! 

2023  Media Night Award Winners

Best Art Direction in a Short Film: Kate Shirley, Year 11 (Haywire)

Best Cinematography in a Short Film: Caelan Morris, Year 12 (A Quiet Embrace)

Best Editing in a Short Film: Summer Rule, Year 12 (Life On Mars)

Best Sound Design in a Short Film: John Edwards, Year 12 (Retribution)

Best Acting in a Short Film: Hannah Dale, Year 11 (A Quiet Embrace)

Best Short Film: Caelan Morris, Year 12 (A Quiet Embrace)

People’s Choice Award: Caelan Morris, Year 12 (A Quiet Embrace)

Robert Di Giallonardo

Media Teacher

West Coast Eagles Soar program

Year 9 students have just wrapped up the West Coast Eagles Soar program, and it's been an incredible journey. Today we were thrilled to receive a signed Pride round jumper and football from West Coast AFLW players Charlie Thomas, Aimee Schmidt, Aisling McCarthy, and Krystel Petrevski.

The SOAR program is part of the West Coast Eagles Wellbeing Series for youth girls that has empowered our students with valuable skills, knowledge, and strategies to help them foster healthy attitudes and practices and inspire them to take charge of their wellbeing and unlock their full potential. We are grateful for the guidance and inspiration from these AFLW role models and thank them for motivating our students to stay active and thrive.

Jodi Power

Health & Physical Education Teacher

House Shield

The Interhouse Shield recognises the House with the most consistent performances in a variety of competitions across the school year. House are awarded points for their performances based on their placing for each competition, so it's not just a matter of coming first but placing well in all events. Congratulations to each of the Houses for their enthusiam and participation throughout this year.

Congratulations to Campion House for taking home the 2023 House Shield.

SPORTS

Sports Awards Night

On Tuesday we celebrated the sporting achievements of our Secondary students. It was an outstanding night where all students involved are to be commended for their exceptional representation of sport.

Thank you to our compere for the evening, Mr Glenn Mitchell, for once again enhancing the wonderful night. We were delighted to have Harry Taylor, former Geelong Australian Rules footballer, who provided some inspirational messages to our students. Other highlights of the evening included a panel allowing for student reflection on our year in sport, as well as a variety of special videos that captured the breadth of sporting opportunities on offer to students at our incredible college.

Congratulations to all the students on their fabulous achievements and sporting participation throughout an amazing year of sport. A very special congratulations to Bianca Petsos and Sylvia Czajko who were awarded their ACC Letters for swimming.

NAS Golf

Our NAS Golf program is underway with games taking place each week against Newman College. Thank you to Mr Darren Kowal for all his work with our players.

Touring Sports Teams

The countdown is on before our touring teams leave for the Gold Coast (Volleyball teams) and the USA (Basketball team) to showcase our sporting abilities on an interstate and international stage.

All teams have some exciting preparation games scheduled in the upcoming weeks.

USA Basketball Team

Playing:              Aquinas College

Date:                   Friday 27 October

Time:                   3:30-4:30pm

Location:            Aquinas College

Gold Coast Volleyball Teams

Playing:              Greenwood College

Date:                   Wednesday 1 November

Time:                   3:45-5:00pm

Location:            John XXIII College

Spectators are more than welcome to attend and support our teams.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our amazing young talents, Abbie and Izzy Prosser from Year 7, and Chris Cooney and Scott Stynes from Year 8, who proudly represented WA in the National Hockey Titles in Newcastle during the holidays.   To Alessia Di Girolamo from Year 8 for representing WA in U/14 Soccer team at the 2023 National Youth Championships in NSW and also to Charlie Harris from Year 8 also in making the U/14 WA Surfing Team who will be competing in the Nationals in Phillip Island Victoria next month. 

Something in the Year 8 Koolyangarra Water 

Charlie Harris (left - Surfing), Alessia Di Girolamo (middle - Soccer) and Scott Stynes (right - Hockey) all won state selection this year for their respective sports and are all proudly from the same Homeroom.  

Sara Kononen

Head of Sport