Secondary

Dear Families 

Welcome to the 2024 new year! It has been wonderful to welcome students as they have returned this week from what I hope has been a safe and enjoyable summer break. A particularly warm welcome to our new Year 7 students, new Year 8 to 10 students and their families; we hope that you have enjoyed the first week and feel settled within the community very soon.  

We also welcome the following new staff to the Secondary School:  

 In addressing students this week, I spoke of three ways in which they can commence the new year with a positive resolve for a successful year: 

Thank you for your support in upholding high expectations and standards for our students. Together, we can set a positive tone for the year ahead to ensure that students have every opportunity to flourish at school and achieve their personal best.  

The beginning of the year is always timely to remind families of key dates and relevant policies. Please find below a summary and links to relevant documents to help assist with the transition to the new term. Wishing all students a successful start to the new year.  

Term 1- Key Dates 

Parent Information Evening: Tuesday 13 February, 5:30pm – 8:30pm 

All Secondary parents, guardians and caregivers are welcome to attend this year’s Parent Information Evening. The event will start at 5:30pm with a welcome and presentation from College Principal, Daniel Mahon. Following this, there will be a diverse selection of information sessions and guest speakers that parents will be able to book individually based on their interests and the age of their child. Assistant Deputy Principals from Years 7 to 12 will be presenting information relevant to their year group. Sessions can be booked via www.trybooking.com/1162192 

This year, parents will have the opportunity to pre-order a sausage sizzle from 5:15pm onwards in the Chisholm Pavilion. Proceeds will support the fundraising efforts for this year’s Pilgrimage in July. 

The evening’s program can be found here: 

Uniform  

The uniform is a symbol of membership to the College community and assists students to develop a sense of unity and belonging as well as pride in their presentation. Students are expected to uphold a high standard of uniform and grooming at all times and adhere to the Secondary Uniform Code. Unauthorised jewellery items worn by a student will be confiscated by the teacher and handed to the Assistant Deputy Principal to be collected at the end of the term.   

Mobile Phones

Unless for extenuating circumstances, students do not need to use their mobiles through the school day and phones must be kept securely in locked lockers between 8:30am and 3:10pm. Students needing to contact parents through the day are welcome to use a phone in the Student Wellbeing Centre and canteen purchases can be made using cash or debit card. Students using their phones without teacher permission between 8:30am and 3:10pm will have their phone confiscated.  

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

John XXIII Rowing Club Movie Fundraiser

The Rowing Club has organised a movie fundraiser, featuring the film adaptation of ‘The Boys in the Boat’, a true story that has inspired generations of rowers. The event is a great opportunity to come together as a community as well as fundraise for equipment required by the College's rowing program.

• Date: Thursday 8 February 2024, 6:30pm to 8:45pm.
• Venue: Luna Palace Cinemas, Leederville.
• Tickets: $25 per person. Special discounted drinks will be on offer.

Dungeons and Dragons Club will be operating again in 2024

Do you feel like roaming an expansive, imaginary landscape?

Do you feel like slaying wild beasts or other NPCs?

Do you feel like being a Dungeon Master and running a campaign?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES....Then you need to attend a meeting next week.

• When: Wednesday lunchtime (1pm)
• Where: Library

Please be prompt!

Damien Connellan

D&D Club Coordinator

Free Public Transport for students

From Monday 5 February 2024, any primary and secondary school students with a valid Student SmartRider will be able to travel for free on Transperth services for any journey Monday to Friday, until the end of the school year.

Please remind students they need to tag on and off, or they will receive a default fare. If their SmartRider goes into negative balance as a result, they will not have access to free travel.

What if I don’t get my Student SmartRider until the end of February?

Given some students don’t get their SmartRiders until the end of February, if a student does not have a SmartRider on 5 February they will be allowed to travel for free without a valid ticket, however, from 1 March students must have their Student SmartRider to travel for free or purchase a cash ticket. When students have received their Student SmartRider they should start using it immediately by tagging on and off each journey to avoid their SmartRider failing to activate.

Year 7 E block tree

In Year 7 E block, you may have observed the absence of the large tree. Following a notable limb failure and under recommendations from the arborist following inspection, it was deemed necessary to remove the tree due to the safety hazard it presented in its prominent location. To maintain the ecological balance, the removed tree will be replaced with Western Australian native trees.

SPORTS

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

Our 2024 Sister Mary Murray Cup Swimming Carnival will take place on Monday 12 February in the indoor pool at HBF Stadium. Parents and family members are welcome to attend. 

• As a compulsory school day, all students should be in attendance.
• Students are to make their own way to the carnival, entering through the McGillivray Oval gate. Students may arrive as early as 8:00am. All must be in attendance by 8:20am.
• Students must make their way to House areas and be seated ready for roll call with their Homeroom teacher at 8:30am.
• Students should wear House shirt with PE uniform.
• Students must wear only College bathers/quick dry shorts and House swimming caps during competitive swimming events. Students incorrectly dressed will not be allowed to race.
• Dressing up is not appropriate at this event. Students may wear House coloured zinc.
• Students will need to provide their food/drinks for the day. The kiosk will not be available for students.
• Students unable to participate should bring a note and inform their House Coordinator and Assistant Deputy Principal. Assistance with catering and marshalling will be required during the day.
• Students are responsible for finding their own transport home. Pick-up is to be made from the back of HBF stadium.

The carnival format is as follows:

Novelties schedule

Northern Associated Schools (NAS) Trials

NAS schools are very excited to get the new format underway. The schools involved in this competition are John XXIII College, Sacred Heart College, Chisholm College, Newman College and Servite College. Up first for Summer NAS will be the Years 7/8 Training and Carnival. 

Important information to note:

• One Day Carnival Date – Tuesday 27 February.
• Trials Week 2 – please see the schedule below.
• All students will be involved in the day as either a team member, a student helper for a team or participating in the social grass court Volleyball Tournament at JTC.
• Training afternoons will be Tuesday and Thursday 3:30pm-4:30pm, Week 3 and 4. If you are unable to make all training days this must be communicated with the team coach.
• All students are asked to meet in the pavilion before their trial in their PE uniform.

If students are unable to attend a trial, this must be communicated to Miss Pillera (Jessica.pillera@johnxxiii.edu.au) or Mr Kowal (Darren.Kowal@johnxxiii.edu.au).

Swimming Training

Our swimming training sessions are set to commence next week in the College pool. Training will take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:00am to 8:00am in the lead-up to the ACC A-Division Swimming Carnival. All students are welcome at our morning training sessions, whether the aim is for fitness or making our interschool team.

Please see the attached training schedule. 

Years 8/9 Boys Rugby 7’s Carnival 

All students interested in participating in the Years 8/9 Rugby 7's Tournament need to complete a nomination form. All levels of experience are welcome and students must be available to train one morning a week. The Carnival takes place on Tuesday 20 February. Please complete the form below by Tuesday 6 February.

SSWA Tennis Tournament

Thank you to those students who attended the Tennis meeting today. If you missed the meeting but are interested in trialling please make contact with Miss Power at jodi.power@johnxxiii.edu.au or Mr O’Hara at conor.ohara@johnxxiii.edu.au

Trials will be held at the College courts from 7.00am-8.00am 

• Wednesday 7 February - Girls
• Thursday 8 February -  Boys

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport