Secondary

Dear Families

Koolyangarra House Day

The House system is an integral part of our College community, providing students with a sense of history/founders, an opportunity to develop relationships with students other than their year group and the development of House spirit and pride. This week saw the celebration of Koolyangarra House Day, an opportunity for members of Koolyangarra House to reflect on the House values of strength, spirit, and justice. The white dove of Koolyangarra House represents the peace which the Christian message offers the world. The motto of Koolyangarra House is ‘Strength, Spirit and Justice’. The name Koolyangarra comes from the former Loreto Primary School campus on Bindaring Parade, Claremont. Sr Peg Flynn, the Principal of the primary school was the driving force behind building the primary school campus, and suggested the name Koolyangarra, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘meeting place of happy children.’ 

 Across the week, students and staff engaged in a range of meaningful activities that not only strengthened their House spirit but also endeavoured to make a tangible difference in the wider community. Celebrations began on Wednesday morning with a vibrant bake sale, where students contributed delicious homemade treats to raise funds for Caritas. In the afternoon, a dedicated group of senior students took part in a service initiative, preparing meals to be donated to Shopfront.

Thursday was a day of House pride and togetherness, where during the Cura Peronalis period, all Koolyangarra House staff and students gathered to reflect on the significance of the day and celebrate their shared identity. The festivities continued with a much-anticipated shared lunch, bringing the House together in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.

The week concluded on a reverent note with Community Mass on Friday morning, prepared by Koolyangarra Student Leaders, which allowed an opportunity to gather in prayer and reflection and give thanks for the opportunity to serve and support others.

Koolyangarra House Prayer

Koolyangarra, the meeting place of happy children, is not just a house, but a family.

Let us give thanks for the friendships Koolyangarra gives us,

As our green shirts unite us to triumph and reach for greater things.

Let us remember the symbol of the dove, which represents peace and life,

As we strive to serve others, guided to lead lives of strength, spirit and justice.

Gratitude for our supportive community

We pride ourselves on being a community of ‘people for others’, particularly during times of challenge to support one another. Throughout the past year, numerous families have been impacted by illness and bereavement and, in their time of need, have been supported in many ways by the College community, for which they are truly appreciative.

A practical way to support others is through our Roncalli roster that facilitates the delivery of home cooked meals to members of the College community experiencing hardship and loss. The primary purpose of the roster is to provide meals in a timely and consistent manner while maintaining the privacy and anonymity of the recipients and volunteers alike. If you or someone you know could benefit from the service provided by the Roncalli Roster, please get in contact by emailing roncalli@johnxxiii.edu.au. Please note that consent is required from the meal recipient before the roster can begin.

Homework Club and Extended Library Hours

Our new Homework Club commenced this week, with lots of students taking advantage of the teacher and tutor academic support available. 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.

• When: Every Monday to Thursday
• Where: Ignatius Centre Library
• Time: The library will close at 6pm but the students may leave at any time beforehand. Years 7 to 10 students who remain past 5pm will need to be collected by a parent/guardian from the library.
• Start Date: Monday February 24 (Week 4)
• Signing in and out: Students are required to sign in and out using the kiosk. Students will need a phone or laptop to scan the QR code.

For students to make the most of their time at Homework Club, please remind them to bring the following items:

• Homework and assignments: Ensure students bring any current homework or assignments they are working on.
• School books/materials: Textbooks, notes, and any relevant materials they may need for study or research.
• Charged device: If applicable, students can bring a laptop or tablet to access online resources or work on assignments. Charging stations are available in the library if required.
• Stationery: Pens, pencils, calculators, and any other necessary stationery to help with their work.
• Headphones: If students need to listen to audio or watch videos for assignments, they should bring headphones.

Support available:

• Teachers will be available until 4:30pm to help students with homework and assessment tasks. 
• Academic tutors will be available until 6pm to assist with any questions students have about their work or study techniques.
• Students can also work independently or collaborate with their peers in a quiet, focused environment.

We hope Homework Club will become a regular part of students’ study routine. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jean Redfern, Library and Learning Services Educator.

Ash Wednesday Liturgy: Extended Homeroom

Please note that next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and students will participate in a liturgy to mark the commencement of Lent during Homeroom. We will also launch this year’s Project Compassion campaign in support of Caritas Australia. In reflection of this year’s Jubilee theme: Pilgrims of Hope, Project Compassion encourages us to ‘unite against poverty’. Students can use the Lenten period to reflect on how they can improve the experience of those less fortunate than themselves. More information can be found here.

Term 1 Key Dates

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Year 7 - Community in Christ

On Wednesday the Year 7s came together for their first Reflection Day. The theme for the day was ‘Community in Christ’, and we were happy to have the wonderful facilitators from 24/7 guide us through an exploration of the various communities in which we are a part.

The day was filled with games, stories, discussions, and time for reflection. We explored the role we play in our family and among those who support us. We looked at how we can be a positive influence among our peers and ways we can get involved to build our connections with our school community. We also heard about how God calls us to participate in our church community and spent some time together in prayer.  

Ellen Fortini

Assistant Deputy Principal - Year 7

Roncalli Service - Christian Service Learning

This year our Year 9 students will continue to engage with the residents at Montgomery House for their Roncalli Service, building connections with residents through meaningful engagement. We are excited to extend this program to include working with our primary students, fostering relationships across different age groups within our College community.

Year 7 Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN

The annual National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing window is approaching for our Year 7 and Year 9 students. 

NAPLAN assesses students' skills in reading, writing, numeracy, and conventions of language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation). These assessments provide valuable insights into student progress and help the College identify areas of strength and opportunities for growth. 

There will be one practice session for students on Tuesday, 11 March. This is to familiarise students with the online platform and test format. 

The official testing window schedule is below:

Catch-up sessions will run after each of the NAPLAN components if students are absent on the day. 

In preparation for these tests, we kindly request that students bring the following items: 

• A fully charged laptop - We highly recommend students do a full shutdown/reboot of their laptop the night before the test days 
• Headphones
• Pen/pencil

For more information relating to NAPLAN please visit the following website.

Wishing students all the best throughout the next couple of weeks. 

Chris Morris

Deputy Principal - Teaching & Learning

Year 7 Starting 2028 Enrolments Now Open!

What you need to know:

Children born between July 2015 - June 2016

Applications close: Friday 7 March 2025

Apply online via Expression of Interest form 

Read our enrolment policy

College Musical 2025 - High School Musical

Get ready for a spectacular performance as John XXIII College proudly presents High School Musical at Roncalli Hall!

Join us on a thrilling journey as they navigate the ups and downs of high school life. This beloved classic tells the story of friendship, ambition, and the courage to be true to oneself. With catchy songs, vibrant dance numbers, and a heartwarming message about embracing individuality, this production promises to be a hit for audiences of all ages.

Dates and times:

Tuesday 29 April, 7pm

Wednesday 30 April, 7pm

Thursday 1 May, 7pm

Friday 2 May, 7pm

Saturday 3 May, 2pm and 7pm

Location: Roncalli Hall, John XXIII College, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont 

SPORT

Interhouse Swimming Carnival 

Years 9/10 NAS 

Congratulations to all students who have trialed; all teams have been published in the SEQTA notices with all students taking part in some way. There are two weeks left of training. Please see the schedule below. Information regarding venues and times for the Carnival Friday 14 March will be sent home next week.  

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

Years 11/12 NAS

Students in Years 11 and 12 are to keep an eye on the College notices for their upcoming trials for their Summer NAS Carnival. The carnival will be held on Monday 7 April. 

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 Liam Smith and Mr Luke Bostelman.

NAS Swimming 

• Thursday 6 March (Period 2 to Period 6) 
• Students will attend classes during Period 1 and head to the St Louis Sports Centre directly after Period 1 to prepare and head to Newman College
• The NAS Swimming Meet will provide an opportunity for all Years 7 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

NAS Swimming Team

Congratulations to all the students below for making our 2025 NAS Swimming team. 

First XI Cricket 

John XXIII College competed in the first round of the Graeme Wood Shield T20 format competition. Well done to all the boys who came away with the win against Prendiville Catholic College! 

John XXIII College - 4/123 after 12.1 overs

Prendiville - 7/119

A big shout out to the whole team, and particularly the following students. 

• Jacob Holmes 62 runs 
• Max Brooks 26 runs and 3 stumpings 
• Ollie Syminton took 2 wickets for 10 runs 

We are looking forward to next Tuesday's home game against John Forrest Secondary from 2:00pm - 4:30pm. Thank you to the staff involved and for all their work with training and game days: Miss Jessica Pillera, Michael Reynolds, Tom Syminton and Asher Aylmore– JTC Alumni.

Introduction to Cross-Country 

Every Wednesday we will hold introductory Cross-Country running sessions at the College oval. These sessions are open to all Years 7 to 12 students, regardless of running ability, and will continue for the next four weeks.

Students are to meet Mr Tremayne and other supporting staff in the Pavilion at 7:00am.

Congratulations

When 2024's Rottnest Channel Swim was cancelled due to dangerous conditions, student Gemma didn't give up. She trained harder, swimming up to 30km weekly for 12 months straight.

Last Saturday, she conquered the full 19.7km solo swim in under seven hours despite challenging conditions! 

Special shoutout to fellow student Lily, her dedicated paddler, for the amazing support! 

We would like to congratulate Isla, Year 9, who recently represented Western Australia in the U14 team at the Junior Indoor Netball Nationals. Over an exciting week of competition, Isla and her team participated in both 6-aside and 7-aside netball, showcasing their skills and teamwork. Their outstanding performance culminated in a commendable 6th-place finish in the 7-aside competition. We are proud of Isla's dedication and achievements, and we look forward to seeing her continue to excel in the sport.

Also, congratulations to students Abby, Izzy, Eli, and Josh on their selection to represent WA in hockey. It's a tremendous achievement that speaks to their talent, dedication, and hard work.

Representing your state in a sport is a significant honour and a wonderful opportunity. Wishing them the best of luck in their upcoming competitions!

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport