Secondary

Dear Families

The House system is an integral part of our College community, providing students with an understanding of our founders, an opportunity to develop relationships with students other than their year group and the development of House spirit and pride. Yesterday we celebrated Campion House Day. Named after the English Martyr and Saint, Edmund Campion (1540 – 1581), Campion’s House motto is 'Faith and Courage'. Born in London to Catholic parents who later became Protestant, Edmund Campion converted to Catholicism and became a Jesuit priest in 1573. Soon after his ordination in Prague, Campion was assigned to his homeland of England in support of a newly founded Jesuit mission. This was a dangerous time for Catholics in England who were persecuted for their faith. In his mission, Campion would stay at a Catholic house for one or two nights or visit households where Catholics were employed. His pattern was to arrive during the day, preach and hear confessions during the evening, and then celebrate Mass in the morning before moving on to the next location. In July 1581, Campion’s freedom to minister to Catholics ended when he was arrested, imprisoned and tortured before being found guilty at trial for high treason and condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered.

From our Year 12 students on what it means to be in Campion House …

To be in Campion is to be a person of faith and courage, like Edmund Campion. To have courage means standing up for what is right and true, even when it requires strength and sacrifice. And to have faith, particularly in God, to inspire us to face challenges with hope and determination, just as Edmund Campion did.

Erin

Being in Campion House to me means knowing that you always have a family that is there to support you, have fun and create memories. Campion is the most incredible house filled with amazing people and an unmatched culture.

Luke

Yesterday Campion students and staff came together to celebrate as a House. The assembly period involved a liturgy where students expressed gratitude towards their wonderful Homeroom teachers and participated in some games and activities. An important part of the day was the sharing of lunch together to strengthen bonds between Homerooms. The day finished on a high with Campion students coming together to cook meals for Shopfront. This was an opportunity for them to think about those who are less fortunate, helping to reinforce that Campion students are ‘men and women for others’. A huge thank you to Mr Tom Hooker, Campion House Coordinator, all Campion student leaders and staff, as well as support staff for their help on the day.

Campion House Prayer

God of all people

Throughout the ages you inspire heroic individuals like Edmund Campion.

You called him to use his education and his influence to speak out boldly.

We pray that his example inspires us to listen to our conscience, stand up for what is right, and have courage to speak the truth.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, and with the intercession of our founders:

Pope John XXIII Pray for us

Ignatius of Loyola Pray for us

Mary Ward Pray for us

Interim Reports

To assist with preparing for Parent Teacher Student Interviews on Thursday, 27 March (3:45pm – 6:00pm) and Friday, 28 March (9:00 – 3:15pm), Interim Reports will be released on Thursday, 20 March via SEQTA. Now that Term 1 is well underway, the Interim Report provides a useful gauge on students’ work habits and progress in their courses. Parents will be able to book interview times for Parent Teacher Student Interviews once Interim Reports have been published on Thursday, 20 March.

Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

Thursday, 27 March: 3:45pm – 6:00pm

Friday, 28 March: 9:00am – 3:15pm

Parent-Teacher-Student interviews provide a valuable opportunity to assist you and your child to speak with their teachers about their academic progress and work habits. Over these two days, Parent-Teacher-Student interviews will be held both online and face-to-face. Parents will be able to make a booking to meet with teachers once Interim Reports have been published on Thursday, 20 March until Monday, 24 March. Information regarding bookings will be provided closer to this date. 

Uniform Shop

To coincide with the upcoming Parent Teacher Student interview meetings, the Uniform Shop will be open on Friday, 28 March from 8am to 4pm. With Term 2 approaching and the need for blazers as part of the winter uniform, this will be an opportunity for parents to visit the Uniform Shop for fittings and purchases. Appointments are not necessary.

Homework Club and Extended Library Hours

Our new Homework Club is well underway, with lots of students taking advantage of the teacher and tutor academic support available. Homework Club is available for Secondary students every Monday to Thursday, from 3:30pm to 6:00pm in the Ignatius Centre Library. Please see below for more information and when specialist support is available.

• When: Every Monday to Thursday
• Where: Ignatius Centre Library
• Time: The library will close at 6pm but the students may leave at any time beforehand. Years 7 to 10 students who remain past 5pm will need to be collected by a parent/guardian from the library.
• Signing in and out: Students are required to sign in and out using the kiosk. Students will need a phone or laptop to scan the QR code.

For students to make the most of their time at Homework Club, please remind them to bring the following items:

• Homework and assignments: Ensure students bring any current homework or assignments they are working on.
• School books/materials: Textbooks, notes, and any relevant materials they may need for study or research.
• Charged device: If applicable, students can bring a laptop or tablet to access online resources or work on assignments. Charging stations are available in the library if required.
• Stationery: Pens, pencils, calculators, and any other necessary stationery to help with their work.
• Headphones: If students need to listen to audio or watch videos for assignments, they should bring headphones.

Support available:

• Teachers will be available until 4:30pm to help students with homework and assessment tasks. 
• Academic tutors will be available until 6pm to assist with any questions students have about their work or study techniques.
• Students can also work independently or collaborate with their peers in a quiet, focused environment.

We hope Homework Club will become a regular part of students’ study routine. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jean Redfern, Library and Learning Services Educator.

Term 1 Key Dates

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Year 11 General Geography 

The Year 11 General Geography students had an enriching and hands-on learning experience at Rottnest Island. From sustainability practices to studying coastal landforms, it was the perfect blend of education and adventure! It was great to see the efforts being made for flora rehabilitation and fauna monitoring—it’s an important reminder of the impact and care we can have on our environment. Much appreciation to Mrs Kalo Bell and everyone involved for making it such a memorable outing. What a wonderful way to bring Geography lessons to life!

Nitasha Horner

HASS Teacher

Maths Week

This week we celebrated Maths Week, having moved it to incorporate Pi Day, which we held on Friday. Students were able to participate in a number of competitions, including Minty Wrapper and Lock Box challenges, Towers of Hanoi, and Morning Homeroom quizzes. The enthusiasm and problem-solving skills on display were fantastic, with students of all year levels getting involved and testing their mathematical thinking in fun and creative ways.

In addition to the competitions, there were engaging classroom activities, interactive puzzles, and even a Pi recitation challenge for those who dared to memorize as many digits as possible.

 A big thank you to the Mathematics staff as well as to the students who embraced the spirit of Maths Week. Your enthusiasm and participation made the event a huge success!

Matthew Stanton

Head of Learning Area - Mathematics

Year 11 Food Studies General: A fresh approach to canteen nutrition

Year 11 Food Studies General students have had an exciting and engaging start to the year with two incursions from freshSNAP, the Fresh School Nutrition Advisory Program. Alex and Romi from FreshSNAP have been working closely with students to explore ways to enhance the nutritional value of items on our canteen menu.

As part of this initiative, students selected existing canteen menu items and reimagined them by creating healthier, nutrient-rich versions without compromising on flavour. These new recipes were then tested and refined, with the most promising dishes undergoing further development and analysis.

Taste tests were conducted to gauge student interest, and participants voted on whether they would purchase these new menu options if made available at the canteen. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as reflected in the table below.

freshSNAP has been delighted to be a part of this student-led initiative to promote healthier food environments at John XXIII College. This project demonstrates best practice in making positive change to the school food environment by adopting a whole school approach that includes the dedicated leadership of teaching staff, willingness of canteen staff to adopt changes and of course the active involvement of students in preparing and voting for the proposed new food options. We look forward to this next stage of the project and continuing to support the College on their work towards healthier food environments. 

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue working towards healthier and more delicious selections!

Mindy Toleman

Technologies Teacher   

Year 11 Drama

Our talented Year 11 Drama students brought Tennessee Williams' masterpiece to life. They navigated the emotional complexity and raw power of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' with impressive maturity and skill. So proud of these young performers stepping into such challenging roles and making them their own.

George Tsakisiris

Head of Learning Area - Drama

College Musical 2025 - High School Musical

Get ready for a spectacular performance as John XXIII College proudly presents High School Musical at Roncalli Hall!

Join us on a thrilling journey as they navigate the ups and downs of high school life. This beloved classic tells the story of friendship, ambition, and the courage to be true to oneself. With catchy songs, vibrant dance numbers, and a heartwarming message about embracing individuality, this production promises to be a hit for audiences of all ages.

Dates and times:

Tuesday 29 April, 7pm

Wednesday 30 April, 7pm

Thursday 1 May, 7pm

Friday 2 May, 7pm

Saturday 3 May, 2pm and 7pm

Location: Roncalli Hall, John XXIII College, John XXIII Avenue, Mount Claremont 

SPORT

ACC A-Division Swimming 

Congratulations to all students who have been selected for our 2025 ACC A-Division Swimming Team!

We had a fantastic first relay session yesterday morning, with all team members fine-tuning their relay changeovers and starts. These are double points on the big day and contribute to our successes on the day. It is so wonderful to see the excitement and energy of the team. 

Please take note of the following:

•  All team members must attend one swimming training per week from Week 6 if they are not training out of school.
• Thursday, 20 March is a compulsory swimming training for all RELAY members at JTC College Pool at 7:00am-8.00am.
• Monday, 24 March: there will be a compulsory team session after school 3:30pm-4:30pm followed by our team dinner in the TMEC 5:00-6:15pm 
• Please complete the Trybooking form to RSVP by Monday, March 17: Team Dinner Form
• If you cannot attend please email Miss Pillera or Mr Kowal

Wednesday, 26 March - ACC A-Division Carnival 

• All team members are encouraged and eligible to purchase an interschool jumper and swimming cap from the uniform shop. 
• All team members must compete in College bathers. Girls on the team are welcome to purchase our race bathers. 
• We can't wait to show everyone what JTC can do. Let's train hard and stay healthy!

Years 9/10 Summer NAS

All Years 9/10 John XXIII College teams hit the courts and fields today for the first of the NAS Carnivals. All students represented the College with pride and showed 'Sport in the right Spirit'. We are proud of all the efforts they have shown in the lead-up, and this wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful staff, alumni student coaches and parents and guardians for early morning drop-offs and late finishes. We look forward to sharing all the results with you in next week's newsletter.

Years 11/12 Summer NAS

Congratulations to all Years 11/12 students who continued to trial this week. All teams will be posted in next week's notices.  

Please note that there are still a few places available on the Years 11/12 Boys Ultimate Frisbee team. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate Senior NAS Coach to join a team or volunteer as a helper on the day.

First XI Cricket

This week's game against Shenton College came down to the wire losing in the last couple of overs by six runs. It was a brilliant team effort by all and so exciting to watch. Once again, there were some stand-out performances. The team is still hopeful of making finals and will play their last home and away game next week against Eastern Hills Secondary College. 

• Max Brooks 40 runs 
• Ollie Syminton 22 runs 
• Wickets spread between Jacob Holmes, Hunter Bovell, Luca Robson and Ollie Syminton

SSWA Tennis Mursell Shield – Senior Boys and Girls 

We had two teams compete in the Years 7 to12 Girls Mursell Shield tennis competition run by SSWA and Tennis West on Thursday, 13 March. The girls had a great day, displaying some good tennis play and excellent sportsmanship. Both teams had some wins in their pools with our first team making the Division 2 finals of the Mursell Shield. The girls defeated John Forrest 1 in the semi-finals, 4 rubbers to 2, and had just played a few minutes of the final against St Hilda’s 3 when play was stopped due to the weather. We hope to reschedule the final in the coming weeks. Well done, girls and coach Miss Jodi Power, for her support along the way. 

Our boys competed today, and we look forward to sharing the results in next week's newsletter. 

Congratulations

State Athletics Championships

Congratulations to all students from John XXIII College who competed in last weekend's State Athletics Championships. The following students achieved great results, all qualifying for the National Championships to be held in Perth. 

Sade Hewes 

• U16 Girls 100m Silver
• U/16 Girls 200m Gold 

Ethan Soh 

• 400m National qualifier

Kayden Prosper 

• U/17 Boys 200m Silver 

Verity Pekin 

• U/15 Girls Hammer Throw Silver

Sasha Pallis 

• U/17 Girls 400m Hurdles Bronze

Ciana Rio Torto

• U/15 Girls Discus Silver
• U/15 Girls Shot Put Silver 

Surf Life Saving 

Congratulations to all students from the College who competed in last weekend's State Surf Life Saving Championships. 

Tighe O'Toole 

• Gold in the Under 17 Male Surf Race (swim) 
•  Silver in the Under 17 Male Board Race. 

Hugo Smith 

• Four Gold Medals - Board race, 1km race, board rescue and Cameron Relay
• Silver - Surf Teams 
• Two Bronze - Sprint relay and board relay

Poppy Finucane 

• 3 Person Board Relay - Silver

Jonah Thompson and Tom Townsend 

Congratulations to our John XXIII College community members who excelled at the SLSWA Surf Boats State Championships. Stevo Vincent (Class 2017) secured SILVER in the Reserve Men Surf Boat Race, while current Year 12 students and JTC Rowers Jonah and Tom claimed GOLD in the U19 Male Surf Boat Race and SILVER in the Open Mixed Surf Boat Relay. What makes this achievement even more special? Stevo coached these talented students in Years 7 and 8.

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport