Around The Primary

Dear Families 

This term has been a busy time for the College as we move towards the close of another school year. Our students have continued to show a wonderful commitment to their learning and various events. 

On Wednesday evening we welcomed parents and caregivers into the Early Companions classrooms for the Kindy and Pre-Primary Information sessions for 2026.  It was lovely to see so many new and existing parents spending some time together and learning more about our wonderful Early Years' programs.  Thank you to our dedicated staff for their considerable efforts to prepare for these sessions.

From an upper Primary perspective, we were delighted to welcome our new Year 5 2026 cohort and their families to an orientation session this week too. This session provided an opportunity for our current Year 4 students and the new students to gather as a whole group and enjoy team building activities. 

We greatly appreciated the engagement of families at these important sessions and look forward to you becoming involved in our school community. Engagement, of course, goes beyond attending school events; it includes creating a supportive home environment, encouraging high aspirations, and maintaining open communication with teachers. These actions foster motivation, confidence, and resilience in learners, which are critical for long-term success.

Music students are preparing for the upcoming Christmas Concert next Friday 28 November.  Including instrumental and vocal ensembles from Years 1 to 11, this concert will feature both showcase items and community carols for singing, as families anticipate the festive season that accompanies the final weeks of the school year. Everyone is welcome to join us from 4:30pm in the Library Courtyard.

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary

St Vinnies Christmas Appeal 

Every year, the Society of St Vincent de Paul organises hampers for families in need of assistance.

Families are invited to select from the following list and bring items to school by next Friday 28 November.  There will be collection baskets in all the classrooms.

Donation items:

Thank you for your support. 

2026 Term Dates

The 2026 Term Dates have now been published and are available to view on the College Website - Parent Information | Term Dates | John XXIII College 

Dates to Remember

Please check the College Website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar - Calendars | John XXIII College 

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

Primary PALs 2026 

A very warm welcome to our Primary PALs for 2026:

Day of Discovery

On Tuesday, the Year 2 students had an incredible day of discovery at Scitech! Students had fun exploring their senses in the ‘Hands-On Science Lab’, discovering how animals use their sense of smell, touch, sight, and sound to adapt to the environment they live in. We then all ‘blasted off’ into space during the Planetarium Show, learning fascinating facts about planets and stars. 

‘The Elementary Science Theatre’ show wowed everyone with exciting chemical reactions.  There was time for students to explore the General Exhibition area, trying out interactive exhibits and experimenting with the different science displays on show. On our return to school, students were buzzing with excitement, full of new ideas and eager to share their discoveries back in the classroom.

Lauren Pillera & Sian Cruise 

Year 2 Teachers

Milk Matters!

The Brownes Dairy Factory was amazing! First, we watched a video of how the milk from the cows gets to us. I learnt that there is a difference between the milk we drink and the milk that cows produce. Before we can drink the milk from the cows, the milk is heated at 72ºC. This kills the bacteria that can be harmful to drink.   There were two activities we participated in.  In the first activity, we toured the factory and saw how the milk was changed from raw milk to drinking milk. The second activity was a ‘Food Science’ activity. The excursion was lots of fun and a great educational experience! Donato 4B

 This excursion was a great opportunity to think about how the food gets from the factory to your fridge. We saw a giant robot arm that moves boxes of dairy snacks to different locations, and it takes 6 full pages of coding to get the robot to move just one stack of boxes.  We tried a surprise scoop of yogurt and then had to guess the flavour.  We also had a great time milking a cow.  It was one of the best experiences ever! Madison 4G

Wellbeing Weekly

Why Every Achievement Counts

As Term 4 draws to a close, it can feel overwhelming for parents and children alike. But it’s also a wonderful time to pause and reflect—because the school journey is filled with so many moments worth celebrating! Achievements aren’t just about academics. They include kindness shown to a friend, persistence in learning a new skill, or the courage to try something new. These moments shape who our children become and build the confidence they need for the years ahead.

When we notice and celebrate these everyday wins, we send a powerful message: “You are valued for who you are, not just what you achieve in class.” This helps children develop resilience, a positive self-image, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Why It Matters

• Confidence Grows: Children feel proud when their unique strengths are noticed.
• Effort Is Encouraged: Praise for trying hard motivates them to keep going, even when things get tough.
• Wellbeing Flourishes: Recognising social and emotional growth helps children feel secure and supported.

Easy Ways to Celebrate at Home

1. Spot the Little Things: “I saw how you helped your brother—that was really thoughtful.”
2. Praise the Process: Instead of “You’re so smart,” try “I love how hard you worked on that puzzle.”
3. Start a ‘Proud Moments’ Jar: Write down achievements—big or small—and read them together at the end of the month.
4. Share Your Wins Too: Tell your child about a time you learned something new or helped someone. It shows growth never stops!
5. Use Encouraging Language: Focus on effort, kindness, and creativity as much as results.

Celebrating the whole child helps them feel confident, capable, and ready to take on new challenges. Let’s make sure they know that every step forward matters!

Toilet Training Online Workshop

Ngala have a free online workshop on Monday, 15 December, exploring the issues and discussing practical strategies and resources to assist with children acquiring the toileting milestone.  Please click the link to join - Successful Toileting - Ngala

If you have any queries, please contact me via email: natalie.alach@johnxiii.edu.au 

Natalie Alach

Primary School Counsellor

Sports Update

Swimming Program – Building Skills for Life

Next week, our Pre-Primary and Years 1-3 students will commence their swimming program at Claremont Aquatic Centre. Each day, students will travel to the venue for their lessons, which are an essential part of our Health and Physical Education curriculum.  Swimming is more than just a sport in Western Australia—it’s a critical life skill. With our state’s beautiful beaches, rivers, and pools, water safety is vital. These lessons equip students with the skills to enjoy aquatic environments safely while promoting fitness, resilience, and wellbeing.

On Monday, instructors and managers from Rare Indigo Swimming will assess all students to ensure they are placed in the most suitable level. This step helps every child gain maximum benefit from the program and develop confidence in the water.

What to bring:

• Bathers
• JTC rashie
• Goggles
• Towel
• Thongs or slides for travel to and from the pool

Thank you for supporting this important program. Together, we are helping our students build skills that last a lifetime.

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

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator 

Music 

Rehearsal Times

Please see below for rehearsal times for next week -

Strings and Band Program Applications

This week, the Years 2 and 4 students were treated to instrument demonstrations by various tutors on string and band instruments, in preparation for the 2026 string and band programs. Parents of students in Year 2 and Year 4 will be emailed information regarding applications for learning a string (Year 2) or band (Year 4) instrument as part of the ensemble programs in 2026.

Christmas Concert 

The annual Christmas Concert will be held in the Library Courtyard bringing together musicians from Years 1 to 11, performing a mixture of Christmas-themed, celebratory and holiday repertoire. Families are invited to bring a picnic blanket, chairs, and food to enjoy, dress for the season and celebrate together! Pre-show entertainment commences at 4:30pm. All are welcome to attend!

Primary Instrumental Recitals 

The Primary Instrumental Recitals are an exciting opportunity for students to showcase their hard work from throughout the year. This performance opportunity is open to students who learn an instrument at school or privately. Performance schedules will be emailed to families of students involved and published in next week’s newsletter.   

Save The Dates

Please note the following music performance dates for this term:

Western Australian Young Voices

Enrolments for the 2026 season of WAYV – West Australian Young Voices – are now open! WAYV offers vocal training, performance opportunities and the chance to work with some of WA’s foremost choral educators and conductors, performing a wide range of repertoire. Auditions are open for students in Years 6 – 12, for placement in intermediate and advance ensembles. For students in Years 1 – 5, a beginner ensemble offers an introduction to choral singing with no audition required. Registrations via the following link: https://wayoungvoices.com.au/auditions 

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Dads’ Christmas Choir

Dads and father figures — it’s time to tune up (or just turn up!) and join the Dads’ Christmas Choir to perform the much-loved carol O Come All Ye Faithful at the Christmas Concert on Friday 28 November. Backed by the brilliant 110-strong Christmas Band, this is your chance to swap the audience for the action and bring some festive flair! No auditions, no solos — just laughter, lyrics, and loads of Christmas cheer.

To join the fun and for further information, please contact Kevin Hewitt  khewitt@hotmail.com

Sacramental Certificates

Parents are requested to email a copy of their child’s Sacramental Certificate (Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation) to Mrs Petsos in Primary Administration, nancy.petsos@johnxxiii.edu.au, for our College records.