Around The Primary

Dear Families

Children’s Book Week throws the spotlight each year on Reading and on the importance and joy of being able to read.

In the Primary school we have the privilege of supporting children in the early years to discover how letters carry meaning and when formed together in certain combinations, create sounds and words.

As educators, we read class books together and we hover over words of interest and pictures that capture the imagination; we hold groups of students in suspense and on the edge of their seats; we talk about characters and how they often point us to a new idea or a feeling; we laugh, we cry, we are stirred to act; we imagine, we create pictures in our heads…

Of course, as parents, you are in the unique position to join all the above with an even more personal experience and cuddle time. There is nothing quite so special as relaxing on a couch with a beautiful book and your loved ones.

Our challenge as educators and parents is to make every week a book week and by example, give your children the wonderful gift of reading for pleasure!

Happy reading!

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Year 6 Assembly

This term the Year 6’s visited the Maritime Museum and at today’s assembly they creatively and enthusiastically shared their knowledge. The audience was captivated by their songs and dances and the passionate pirates reminded us of some important 'pirate qualities' through an acrostic poem.

Persistent

Inquisitive

Resilient

Adventurous

Team players

Energetic and entertaining

Sensational singers!

Special thanks to our Year 6 leaders and to Mrs Haydon, Ms O’Connor and Miss George for coordinating this wonderful presentation. 

Remember to Book!

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 and subscribe to the Primary Calendar.

Men of John XXIII present a session with Jon Haines - Rock Solid Character

Wednesday, 30 August 2023 

Cambridge Bowling Club, 39 Chandler Ave, Floreat 

6:30pm onwards 

Tickets: $25 RSVP: www.trybooking.com/1075996 

Super Stars

Well done to all the students who received a certificate at today’s Assembly.

Library News

Special Guests for Book Week

We had a fantastic start to Book Week last Friday with a visit from author and illustrator, Sean E Avery. The students in Pre-Primary, Years 1, 2 and 3, thoroughly enjoyed listening to his stories about perseverance and resilience, having a go at drawing characters and finding out how he thinks of ideas for his books. 

The students especially enjoyed his book ‘Frank’s Red Hat’, one of the shortlisted books for Picture Book of the Year 2023. Sean was so impressed by our students and College. He commented on how polite the students were and how welcomed he felt. This might have had something to do with the special reserved parking sign organised for him! 

Next Monday and Tuesday we have an amazing visual storyteller, illustrator and comic maker, Aśka, coming into the library to run sessions with the Year 4, 5 and 6 students. We are very excited to meet her!

Book Week Bake Off

The Book Week Bake Off on Tuesday was a sight to see! An amazing array of fabulous creations from so many talented students. The library was buzzing all day with staff and students having a good look at all the entries and voting for their favourites. We would like to congratulate all the students who entered with their creative cake-decorating talents. The votes are in, and congratulations to the Primary winners below!

Book Face Competition

We have had so many hilarious and clever entries in our Book Face Competition that we decided to extend the due date. Final entries need to be sent in by Monday, 28 August. Please email to libraryhelpdesk@johnxxiii.edu.au. Winners will be announced next Friday.

Sasha Cattapan

Primary Library Teacher

Book Buddies 

As part of their Book Week activities, Pre-Primary and Year 5 students read some stories together and spend some quality time getting to know each other. A fun afternoon with plenty of smiles was had by all!

Music Update

Choir Rehearsals 

Choir rehearsals for next week are as follows:

*Please note that there is NO Chapel Choir rehearsal this week due to the Father’s Day Mass at 7:30am on Friday 1 September. Students in Wanju Voices and Primary Singers will be required to sing from the choir rises during this Mass.

Catholic Performing Arts Festival 

Congratulations to the Wanju Voices and Primary Singers students who performed in the primary choral section of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival on Thursday. The students were wonderful representatives of the College and received glowing reports from the adjudicator. It was also wonderful to see many parents and grandparents at this special performance. 

Thank you to Ms McKeague, Mrs Christine Scott, and Mrs Thompson for assisting the choirs at the excursion, and to Mr Peter Johnston for his expert accompanying skills and assistance throughout rehearsals and performance day.

Parents and grandparents are invited to a special performance on Thursday 7 September in the Osborne Room where Primary Singers and Wanju Voices will perform their pieces from the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. The performances will occur as follows:

8:20am – Primary Singers

8:30am – Wanju Voices

Student Achievement

Congratulations to our Year 4 students who received a Certificate of Excellence from the Performing Arts Committee for their recent performance of Little Shop of Horace, Primary Musical in the Festival.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Sport Update

Athletics season is well underway, and preparations have been running smoothly for our upcoming Year 3 to 6 Interhouse Athletics Carnival on Friday, 8 September).  In PE lessons and sports sessions, students have been learning a range of techniques and practicing the different track and field events.  

Some of the pre-carnival events began this week!  Our Year 5 and 6 students took part in the High Jump qualifying (with the finals to follow) and completed the 400m race.  Next week will see the Year 3 and 4 students run their Triple Jump and High Jump (Year 4 only), and Year 5 and 6 students will run events in Long Jump and High Jump finals.  Points earned from these events will kick start the points race for the 2023 Interhouse Athletics Champion House!

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

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator