Around The Primary

Dear Families

A very Happy New Year to you all! I hope the school holidays were a great opportunity for you and your family to have some fun and spend some quality time together.

The staff are all feeling refreshed and ready for the year ahead! The start of a new school year is always a time of excitement, anticipation, and possibilities. Our dedicated team of staff have worked hard to ensure everything is all set for the students’ smooth return to school routines.

We are confident that 2024 will be another positive, productive, and happy year of learning and teaching! We are very much looking forward to once again partnering with families. Building strong relationships and a supportive network is integral to creating an environment where your children can thrive, both academically and personally. May each of us continue to be committed to fostering a sense of unity, respect, and understanding among our school community.

As always, we continue to remain committed to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student can thrive, explore their interests, develop their gifts, and reach their personal best.

We look forward to getting to know new students and families and working together with our community to make this another memorable and successful year for all our students.

It is hoped that many families will join us at the ‘Primary Summer Picnic’ next Saturday 10 February.  Tickets can be purchased using the link www.trybooking.com/1161772 

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Ticket sales including pre-ordering for Delisio Pizza closes on Wednesday 7 February.  Please note there will be no ticket sales at the gate.

Important Information 

Staff Update

This year we welcome two new staff, Stephanie Micale (3B Teacher) and Briony Hooper (6W Teacher). 

Please log in to SEQTA Engage under the General Primary TAB to view the email addresses for Class and Specialist Teachers.

All staff have a new email address.  This email address generally follows a pattern – the first name followed by the surname and then @johnxxiii.edu.au e.g. firstname.surname@johnxxiii.edu.au

Staff will respond to emails within a 48-hour period.  For urgent matters families will need to phone the College on 9383 0401.

Student Absences 

Absentee Notification

The College is to be advised of absentees by 8:30am via email to primary.absentees@johnxxiii.edu.au or via the College Website Online Absentee Form under the ‘For Parents’ Tab.  Please include date; student’s name; student’s class; parent’s name and reason for absence from school.

SEQTA SMS Notification

Where the College has not been notified by 9:00am of a student absence, a SMS will be sent requesting an explanation for the absence. 

Planned Absences

Where students are absent from school for a planned period (exceeding 2 days), written notification must be given to Head of Primary via email antoinette.depinto@johnxxiii.edu.au and primary.absentees@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Physical Education

The students need to wear their sports uniform on the following days for Physical Education and Sport. 

Please Note:  During the swimming lesson period, Years 4 to 6 are able to wear their Sports uniform each day. 

Library Days

Please note below Library Days: 

Online Calendar

Please check the College Website for all important Primary school events. Calendars | John XXIII College By subscribing to the College calendar you are automatically alerted when details of an existing event are changed. 

Parking 

All Primary parents are welcome to park in the following areas:

1. Carpark located off Heritage Lane and Mooro Drive (near the John XXIII statue)
2. Carpark located off Heritage Lane and Mooro Drive
3. Carpark located off John XXIII Avenue (near the new Administration building)

Please note: The Early Years Carpark is only for families of children in Pre-Kindy, Kindy and Pre-Primary.   

It is hoped all Year 1-6 students will use the ‘loop drive thru’ as soon as they have settled into new school routines.  Please have your ‘drive thru car label’ ready on display.  Please email nancy.petsos@johnxxiii.edu.au if you require a new drive thru label or extra labels. 

Parent Information Sessions 

Please save the date for these important information sessions:

Before the start of these meetings, College Principal, Daniel Mahon will be hosting a session to share the College’s strategic goals.  This session will commence in the Lecture Theatre at 6:00pm and conclude by 6:20pm.  This will allow plenty of time for parents/guardians to return to classrooms. Everyone is encouraged to attend. 

Smart Watches

Primary students are not permitted to bring or wear any sort of Smart watch, Apple watch, Garmin, Fitbit or similar personal device to school.  Our priority is for the students to maintain focus on learning throughout the day and not be distracted by these items.

Students who do wear these items to school will have them collected by their class teacher to be stored safely until the end of the school day. 

Badges

Please wear your parent name badge when visiting the College. 

Dates to Remember

Please check the College Website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar. http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-parents/calendars 

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

Sport Update

As always, we start the year at full speed with the Year 4, 5 & 6 swimming lessons taking place at Cottesloe Beach.  The students are learning some essential beach and surf awareness skills whilst further developing their swimming skills.  In preparation for the Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 27 February at Bold Park Aquatic Centre, the swimming time trials take place on Friday 9 February and will be conducted one class at a time at Claremont Aquatic Centre. 

Sports Uniform 

Next week the students need to wear their Sports uniform on the following days:

• Wednesday        -              Year 2
• Friday                   -              Years 1, 2 and 3

Due to swimming lessons, Years 4 to 6 students can wear their Sports uniform each day. 

Swimming training Year 3 to 6

To help develop technique, speed, stamina starts and finishes in preparation for the Year 4 to 6 Interhouse Swimming Carnival. From Tuesday 13 February to Thursday 22 February. 

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30pm to 4:30pm, College Pool

Cross Country training  

Open to all children and adults (Year 2 and below must be accompanied by an adult) and a great healthy way to start the day! Commences Tuesday 13 February. 

• Tuesday and Thursdays, 7:30am to 8:00am, Secondary ovals.  Please meet outside the gym

Extra-curricular sport 

Starts in Week 2 - there is still time to book in, see details below.

If you have any queries about anything sport related, please contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Music Update

Primary Choirs

Choirs for primary students commence in Week 2. 

Wanju Voices

Wanju Voices is open to all Year 4 to 6 students who delight in singing. Sign-ups are at 7:30am on Monday 5 February in the Osborne Room with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. All Year 4, 5 and 6 students are welcome!

Primary Singers

Primary Singers is open to all Year 2 to 3 students who love singing. The first rehearsal is at 8:00am on Thursday 8 February in the Osborne Room with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. All Year 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 in the Chapel with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. Chapel Choir then sings at Community Mass (commencing at 8:00am). The next Chapel Choir rehearsal and Community Mass is on Friday 16 February. Please contact Mrs Haydon for more information.  

Primary Instrumental Lessons and Ensembles 

Students involved in instrumental lessons and ensembles will be contacted individually by their ensemble director or tutor regarding the commencement of lessons and rehearsals.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

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.