Around The Primary

Dear Families 

Congratulations to our swimmers who represented the College at the IPSHA Swimming Carnival hosted by Guildford Grammar. This year we were awarded the inaugural ‘Champion School' Shield.  The individual efforts, teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship displayed by our squad have made our community proud. We extend our thanks to Mr Williams for his dedication in preparing the students. 

As we move towards Holy Week and Easter, the most significant period in the Church’s calendar - this is such a valuable time for reflection and prayer.  Our Year 5 students presented the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, and a thoughtful retelling of Jesus’ Passion through the Stations of the Cross. These liturgies offered students meaningful moments to reflect on the significance of this sacred season.

Special thanks to Ms Allen for coordinating these reflective liturgies and to Mrs Fontaine, Miss Allen, Ms Chapman and Mrs Haydon for preparing the students for these important Easter reflections.

The joy of Easter brings us hope and strengthens our faith. Pope Leo reminds us to take time to listen—listen to God in Scripture and prayer, listen to people who are hurting, and listen to what is happening in our own hearts.

We wish everyone in the John XXIII community a happy and hope filled Easter.  I hope you enjoy a relaxing holiday break and some special time with your families.

We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday 21 April for the start of Term 2.

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary

Dates to Remember

Please check the College Website to note all the important Primary school events for your family calendar. https://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-families/calendars By subscribing to the College calendar you are automatically alerted when details of an existing event are changed. 

Primary Sport

IPSHA Swimming

On Tuesday the interschool swimming team travelled to Guildford Grammar to compete in the IPSHA Swimming Carnival.  The team was well prepared for their races and their hard work paid off with a dominant performance from start to finish.  The outstanding individual efforts and the depth and spirit the team showed in the relays culminated in the inaugural Champion School shield being awarded to JTC.     

Top 3 schools

Cross Country

Cross Country training will continue next term from 7:30am to 8:00am on the Secondary ovals on Tuesdays and Thursdays commencing on Tuesday 21 April. There will also be training on Tuesday 28 April.  All students are welcome to attend; however, students in Year 2 and below must be accompanied by an adult. 

Term 2 Extra-Curricular Sport

All before and after school sport begins Week 2, Tuesday 28 April.

Soccer 

Tuesday soccer with J and J commences on Tuesday 28 April on the Junior Primary oval from 3:30pm to 4:20pm.  See the flyer for details. 

Basketball

Redhage Basketball is back on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 4:20pm in the school gym from Thursday 30 April. Registrations can be made via Redhage Basketball - Shawn Redhage Perth Wildcats NBL

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 

Primary Music 

Palm Sunday Mass 

A special thank you to all the students who sang so beautifully at the Palm Sunday Mass at St Joseph’s on Sunday. We have received many compliments from parishioners and Monsignor Long. A big thank you to the families who joined us to make it such a special celebration. 

Catholic Performing Arts Festival 

Entries are now open, for the Catholic Performing Arts Festival! Students learning through the College can enter via their tutors, while students learning from external tutors can lodge their entries through the Music Office. (Please note that scans/copies of sheet music are also required). Entries into the Catholic Performing Arts Festival close on Thursday 7 May.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Join the 2026 Premier's Reading Challenge 

The Premier’s Reading Challenge encourages students to discover the joy of reading, improve their literacy skills and enjoy amazing stories. The challenge runs for 12 weeks from 23 March to 12 June 2026. To complete the challenge Kindergarten to Year 6 students are required to read 12 or more books, either independently or with a parent/guardian.

• How to register your child 
• Visit the website Premier's Reading Challenge - Premier's Reading Challenge and create a parent account. You can then add your child/children to your profile. 

Remember to log your child's weekly reading to go into the running to win a prize. 

Happy reading!

LEGO & DUPLO Donations Wanted

Our Library is seeking donations of LEGO and DUPLO bricks for use in a range of student activities. These resources will support:

• Primary and Secondary Library activities
• Secondary Wellbeing activities

• Creative play and hands‑on learning projects

   

If you have any spare LEGO or DUPLO at home that is no longer being used, we would be very grateful to give it a new life at school.

Donations can be dropped off at the Library at any time.

Thank you for supporting our students’ creativity and wellbeing.

Jean Redfern

Library and Learning Services Educator

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.