Around The Primary

Dear Families 

Grandparents’ Picnic – A Day of Love & Laughter

Yesterday, our school grounds were filled with smiles, hugs and the joyful chatter of generations coming together. Grandparents enjoyed sharing stories, watching their grandchildren perform songs, and listening to our talented ensembles and bands. The picnic tables overflowed with delicious treats, and the wonderful sense of community was heartwarming.

There is something very special about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Grandparents bring love, wisdom, encouragement and a beautiful connection between generations. It was a joy to see our students proudly sharing their school, their friendships and their talents with such important people in their lives.

Days like these remind us that our school is so much more than a place of learning. It is community strengthened by family and a genuine sense of belonging.

We sincerely thank all the grandparents and significant others who joined us and made the day so memorable. Your presence and encouragement are truly a gift to our school family, and we hope you enjoyed this special celebration as much as we enjoyed having you with us.

Our annual Visual Arts Exhibition is always a wonderful celebration of student creativity, and we look forward to welcoming families next week. Featuring artwork from Pre-Kindy to Year 12, the exhibition provides a special opportunity to appreciate the talent, imagination and artistic growth of our students across the College.

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Dates to Remember

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. 

Visual Arts Exhibition

The College’s Visual Art Exhibition runs from Monday 19  to Saturday 24 October in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre. The Exhibition features artwork from both the Secondary and Primary School.

Students participating in specialist Visual Art lessons from Years 3-6 will have a piece of artwork exhibited and a small selection from the Early Years will also be displayed. It is a great opportunity for families and the community to view artwork across all years and for students to showcase their artwork.

Everyone is invited to come and celebrate the students design and creativity with both 2D and 3D work from a range of forms being exhibited. 

We look forward to seeing many of you throughout the week.

Fiona Blaauw

Primary Visual Art Specialist Teacher

Keeping Safe Curriculum – Protective strategies

In Term 4, Primary students will continue to participate in lessons from the Keeping Safe Curriculum, with a focus on strategies to stay safe.  This includes learning about community services which can help like 000 and a range of problem-solving strategies using relevant age appropriate scenarios. 

Assertive communication, persistence and resilience are all explored, and persistence is reinforced so students understand that they need to keep telling until someone listens and takes action.

Students are also participating in lessons about the URSTRONG program. URSTRONG is an internationally recognized Social Emotional Wellbeing program, that empowers children with the skills, language, and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. Friendship is such an important part of children’s lives and across the primary school children are learning practical useful strategies to help make this a positive, happy part of their life.

Gratitude Evening

You are warmly invited to our thank you sundowner – an evening dedicated to celebrating the generosity, commitment and spirit that make our College community so special.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
• Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
• Venue: 1st Floor Main Administration, John XXIII College, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont

We want to thank you for the many ways you’ve supported College life. Whether you’ve cooked a barbeque, assisted with photo day, helped at an event, done make-up, worked backstage, assisted at carnivals, or contributed in any way, big or small, your time and energy have made a real difference.

This evening is our way of saying thank you. It’s a chance to come together, share stories, and celebrate the vibrant community you help create.

Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP here https://www.trybooking.com/1636227 by 28 October.

We hope you can join us.

Wellbeing Weekly 

A warm welcome back to all students and families. Term 4 brings with it a sense of excitement and anticipation as the year draws to a close. With this in mind, I thought it would be helpful to share some information about emotional regulation and supporting our children.   

Emotional regulation is the ability to manage our feelings in a way that suits the situation. It doesn't mean avoiding emotions or always staying calm. Instead, it's about recognising what we're feeling and responding in a healthy and helpful way.

Children are not born knowing how to regulate their emotions. This is a skill that develops over time and can be strengthened through guidance, practice, and support from the adults around them.

One of the first steps is helping children to identify and name their emotions. The more accurately they can describe how they are feeling, the easier it becomes to understand and manage those emotions. A child who can say, "I'm disappointed" or "I'm frustrated" is already building important emotional awareness.

One of the most powerful ways we can teach emotional regulation is by modelling it ourselves. I often talk to parents about how important modelling is for our children. It may feel strange initially; however, you can quickly get into the habit of saying things like, "I can feel I am starting to get angry, so I am going to take three big breaths." When children hear us naming our emotions and using healthy strategies to manage them, they learn that big feelings are normal and manageable.

Simple regulation strategies such as deep breathing, taking a break or stepping away; can help calm the body's stress response. It is also helpful for children to understand that emotions are like waves. They rise, they feel intense for a while, and then they pass. Knowing this can make difficult feelings feel less overwhelming.

A concept I often discuss with children and parents is that feelings are not facts. Emotions provide us with important information, but they do not always reflect reality. We can acknowledge our feelings while still choosing how we respond.

When a child is overwhelmed, our calm presence can help them regain control. Before responding, take a moment to regulate yourself. Then acknowledge what you see: "It looks like things are really tough for you right now." Offer support, give them time to process their feelings, and work together to solve the problem once they are calm.

Like any skill, emotional regulation improves with practice. Every challenging moment is an opportunity for children to learn, especially when they have a calm and supportive adult by their side.

For those of you who have watched the parenting documentary ‘SEEN’ that the College hosted last year, there is now an opportunity to join monthly SEEN CIRCLES for free.  This is for parents and caregivers to reflect on their parenting journey in a supported environment, more information and booking at Monthly Circles — Seen Circles

Natalie Alach

Primary School Counsellor

Primary Sport

Extra-curricular sports start next week.  There are still places available, please check the details below.

Tennis 

Nick Kirkbride from Coastal Tennis begins again.  Mondays from 7:45am to 8:30am on the secondary tennis courts, commencing in Week 2.  Sign up at Schools | Coastal Tennis | Western Australia

Fun Fitness Foundations

Dave from FFF returns with his fun and engaging program to keep students moving.  Wednesdays from 3:15pm to 4:15pm, commencing in Week 2 Sign up for Term 4 here

Soccer

Tuesday soccer with J and J is back in Term 4 from Week 2. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays from 3:30pm to 4:20pm on the Junior Primary oval. Please see the attached flyer for further details.  

Basketball

Redhage Basketball is back on Thursdays, commencing in Week 2 from 3:30pm to 4:20pm in the school gym. Registrations can be made via Redhage Basketball - Shawn Redhage Perth Wildcats NBL.  

If you have any queries regarding Primary Sport, please contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Steve Williams 

Primary Sport Coordinator 

Primary Music 

Ensemble Rehearsals 

Grandparents Picnic

Congratulations to the students in Years 5 and 6 Band, Mini Minors, String Orchestra, Primary Singers and Wanju Voices who performed at the Grandparents Picnic. Everyone enjoyed the fantastic music entertainment as part of this wonderful event. A special thank you to ensemble directors and accompanists for preparing the students and to the audiovisual and maintenance staff who worked hard to prepare sound and staging.

Save the Date

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

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.