Around The Primary

Dear Families

We are now moving into the second week of Lent and we continue to focus on growing our relationship with God through acts of repentance, prayer and almsgiving.  The students often talk about ‘giving up’ something during Lent. We are encouraging them to think about ‘taking something on' or ‘doing something extra’ during Lent, for example, showing more kindness toward their siblings or to be forgiving when others upset them. It is also wonderful to see our ‘giving tree’ in the library flourishing as students continue to collect coins to raise money for Project Compassion.

All the Year 6 students are leaders in the Primary school. At today’s assembly we commissioned our Year 6 leaders for 2024 and presented them with their Leaders' badge. The Year 6 students have participated in various leadership activities to explore what leadership means and identify ways they can develop their skills as leaders. They have also worked on the Student Code of Conduct and shared this with the younger students. The aim of this Student Code of Conduct is for students to have a common understanding of our school rules to make sure our school is a safe and happy place for all who work and learn here.

Being a Year 6 Leader is an honour and a privilege and provides the students with a sense of responsibility and service leadership in their final year of primary school. 

Congratulations to all our leaders who are now proudly wearing their leadership badges. 

At Kindy this week each child was given an olive tree sapling. We look forward to seeing the children (and their olive trees) grow and flourish throughout their Primary years. We would love to receive some photos of the trees planted this year (and in previous years) in their home gardens. Please email the photos to nancy.petsos@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Special thanks to all the families who have:

• ensured children are in the correct uniform – they look very smart!
• visited the office to 'sign-out' their child/ren for appointments
• informed us of their child's absence from school
• enrolled their Years 3, 4 and 6 children in Sacramental programs at their home Parish

John XXIII is a great community, and it is hoped all families will support the following events:

• Interhouse Swimming Carnival Years 4-6, Tuesday 27 February at Bold Park Aquatic Centre
• Parents’ Association Meeting, Tuesday 5 March
• Music Assembly, Friday 8 March

 Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Wellbeing Framework

We are happy to inform you that the College has developed a new Wellbeing Framework. It is based on the Ignatian concept of Cura Personalis, which centers on the care of the whole person as a unique child of God. This Framework aims to facilitate the creation of a safe and respectful environment where genuine connections flourish, the spiritual, physical, and mental health of community members is supported, and individual growth and meaningful accomplishment is nurtured. 

Within the Framework are four key elements that will guide the exploration of opportunities to evolve and consolidate a strong sense of wellbeing at the College. Whilst the elements will remain the same, initiatives in support of these will change over time. Below are some of the focus initiatives for 2024:

Serving someone or something greater than yourself for the benefit of others:

• Sustainability projects 
• Gardening Club
• Development of the Reconciliation Action Plan
• Fundraising projects for Project Compassion, LifeLink and St Vincent de Paul and 
• Muffin Monday for ShopFront

Nurturing an inclusive community through positive relationships and experiences: 

• Wellbeing programs, including URStrong Friendology and Keeping Safe Curriculum
• Development of the Student Code of Conduct by Year 6 leaders

Support individual growth and meaningful achievements: 

• Focus on the use of data to inform effective teaching practices and support the   learning progress of each student

Fostering optimal spiritual, physical and mental health:

• Celebrations with families e.g. Masses and Liturgies; Family Picnic; Grandparents’ 
• Lunch; Assemblies
• Sacramental Reflection Days
• Daily prayer and Examen

Super Stars

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

Keep Students Safe

The beginning and end of the school day are busy times for pedestrians and drivers outside our school campus. You can help keep students safe by remembering the following:

• Slow down around the College and drive safely.
• Be aware, be courteous and be responsible.
• Drop your child off and pick them up in designated pick-up areas
• Always take extra care in 40km school zones.
• Observe and adhere to all regulatory signage and follow all parking signs - these help keep your child as safe as possible.
• Never double park - it is illegal and puts children at risk.
• Model safe and considerate pedestrian and driver behaviours.
• Always give way to pedestrians particularly when entering and leaving driveways.
• Please make sure you carefully read the parking signs before you park your vehicle.
• Vehicles on the College campus must be parked within marked bays at all times.
• Vehicles may not park in no parking areas, no stopping areas, access ways or any area not officially set aside for parking, including verges, gardens and pathways.
• Please use the John XXIII College carparks only. We need to respect our neighbours, as parking, even if for five minutes during morning or afternoon pick-up is causing inconvenience.

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 

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

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy will take place in Week 7. Students in Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be assessed in the areas of Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. 

Assessments are a normal part of the teaching and learning cycle so there is no need for students to feel under added pressure during NAPLAN. Year 3 and 5 classroom teachers are spending time with their students teaching them how to navigate the screen when using the Online assessment platform. 

We encourage the students to approach the assessments with a positive mindset and to try their best.

NAPLAN Timeline

Week 5 (commencing 26 February)

Practice Tests – Provides an opportunity for students to become familiar with using the test platform.

NAPLAN online testing window 

Wednesday 13 March to Monday 25 March

NAPLAN Testing Schedule and Window

Sacramental Program – Students in Years 3, 4 and 6

Parishes have begun enrolling for their Sacrament Programs and parents are encouraged to enrol their child in their ‘home’ parish. 

The program is family-focused, parish-based, Catholic school-supported. This means that parents are respected as first educators in the faith of their children. 

The family is supported by the College Religious Education program. In Year 3, students are taught the content for First Reconciliation; in Year 4, the content for First Holy Communion and in Year 6, the content for Confirmation. Students celebrate these sacraments in their parish. 

Each Parish has a unique Sacrament program. As they become available, details from the parishes located nearest to the College will be updated on the College website. 

Parents often have questions about the Sacrament program, so don’t be afraid to ask:

• Your parish priest or Sacrament Coordinator
• The Archdiocesan website
• Email Mary-Anne Lumley mary-anne.lumley@johnxxiii.edu.au or phone 9383 0513.

Sport Update

Excitement is building for the Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Tuesday, 27 February at Bold Park Aquatic Centre.  Please note that races commence at 11:05am.  We have extended the program to allow more students the opportunity to swim in the 50m events.  More than ever the day will be about celebrating participation, individual effort and students really challenging themselves.  Remember your House shirts and swimming caps!

Tennis trials 

It was great to see so many keen tennis players from across the years trying out for our teams to compete in the SSWA Academy Plate competition in Week 6.  The teams are on display on the Year 6 sports board, for those who didn’t make the team, keep practicing and there will be another opportunity next year. 

A special congratulations to Niko Cha (Year 4G) who has been selected in the U10 State Tennis team.  Well done, Niko!

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

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Music Update

Save the Date

Wanju Voices and Primary Singers will be performing at the upcoming Assembly on Friday 8 March. We look forward to seeing families of choir members at the choirs’ first performances for the year.

Rehearsals 

Choir and instrumental ensemble rehearsals next week are as follows:

Instrumental Lessons

It is wonderful to see so many students enrolled in instrumental lessons at the College. To maximise your child’s enjoyment and progress, regular practice at home is essential. Younger students often need assistance in working out when they can fit practice into their daily routine, and all students benefit from the encouragement of their families. While it is appreciated that many families have busy schedules, shorter, regular practice sessions throughout the week (rather than a long session on one day) will help your child to get the best out of their lessons, as well as learning the important skills of perseverance and discipline. 

Practice Tip

One practice idea for students finding time or motivation difficult is ‘can you play that song once for me?’ Often, the hardest part about practising is getting started. Knowing that the expectation is ‘just one song’ helps students to feel that this is a more manageable task. Additionally, once they have started, students tend to want to keep playing!

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Counsellor’s Corner

All Primary staff are trained in the delivery of the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum. The program will be taught across the Primary school in Years K-6 throughout the year.

The KS:CPC is based on two main themes which are presented through topics and activities of increasing complexity. The two KS:CPC Themes are:

• Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe
• Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.

The two KS:CPC Themes are explored through four focus areas, which are examined in growing complexity in accordance with the age of the students. The four KS:CPC Focus Areas are:

• Focus Area 1: The right to be safe
• Focus Area 2: Relationships
• Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse
• Focus Area 4: Protective strategies

This term across the Primary School we are exploring the first Focus Area of the Keeping Safe Program: 

The Right to be Safe

Topics covered are: Feelings; Being safe; Warning signs; Risk-taking and emergencies.

• Children develop skills to identify their own feelings and the feelings of others and develop awareness of body language. 
• Children explore the concept of safe and unsafe and the characteristics of safe places and unsafe places, including online safety. In upper primary students explore their own safety and situations that might be scary, fun, unsafe or a combination of these. Students consider strategies to identify and assess risks and what to do to minimise risk.
• Students learn the concept of early warning signs and the three components: physical indicators (body messages); emotional indicators (feelings); and external signs (clues). Warning signs are discussed in familiar and safe environments to help children recognise a situation where there may be a risk of harm.
• Children develop understandings about emergencies and risk-taking by exploring and examining consequences and making decisions. The concept of personal emergencies is introduced, whereby children may need to break the normal rules in order to remain safe. 

The attached article from Happy Families is a helpful read about how to manage technology at home. 

If you have any concerns about your child, come past my office for a chat or you can phone or email me anytime. I am available at school Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday mornings.  My direct number is 9383 0469 and I can be contacted anytime by email: anne.murphy@johnxxiii.edu.au 

Anne Murphy

Primary Counsellor

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.