Secondary

Dear Families

As a significant milestone in their adolescent journey, the transition to high school is a time of mixed emotions: excitement, anticipation, hope, nervousness and sometimes a sense of overwhelm, which is why an effective orientation program is essential to set the foundation for a successful start to Year 7. Led by Dr Ellen Fortini and Year 7 Homeroom Teachers, the transition program has focused on supporting students to establish relationships with peers and teachers, develop a sense of place within the broader campus and adjust to the routine and rigour of the Secondary School. As an integral part of the transition experience, Life Skills lessons have provided students with valuable support to develop organisational strategies, and last week’s Reflection Day built knowledge and understanding regarding the College founders and students’ responsibilities as members of our community. Year 7 students are to be commended for how well they have settled into Secondary School life, established new friendships, and have started to explore the variety of co-curricular opportunities on offer. A huge thank you to Dr Fortini, Homeroom Teachers, teaching and support staff for creating a warm and welcoming environment that has facilitated the effective transition for students.

Paul Dillon

This week we welcomed Paul Dillon back to the College for his annual presentations to Years 10, 11 and 12 students. Paul has been working in the area of drug education for almost 30 years. Through his own business, Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA), he spends much of his time working with schools and other agencies to raise awareness and provide education on current drug trends. Always well received by students, Paul provided an insightful and informative presentation to provide current statistics and research on drug use and help students make informed choices regarding their own and their friends’ health, wellbeing and safety. Paul also presented to parents for our first Inspire parent network session for the year, and his informative and engaging approach was greatly appreciated by the audience.

NAPLAN

Commencing next week for Years 7 and 9 students, NAPLAN might be a topic of conversation in some households but shouldn’t be an experience that causes excessive angst for students or parents. NAPLAN is just one aspect of the College’s assessment and reporting processes. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments and judgements made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress. We know that for some students, assessments such as NAPLAN generates genuine worry and fear that they won’t do well. Reassuring them that NAPLAN is part of their broader school program and is an opportunity to demonstrate their learning strengths can be helpful in normalising the experience of the next couple of weeks. Some other strategies to help reduce the ‘NAPLAN nerves’ include:

• Ensure that students get a good night’s sleep and have a wholesome breakfast so that they have the energy to perform at their best.
• Eliminate external stressors on the day so that students can focus on feeling organised, calm and ready. Avoid rushing in the morning, help them get to school on time and remain calm and centred yourself to minimise any nervous energy they might pick up on.
• Encourage them to read the question carefully to avoid rushed errors.
• Focus on the important things: students’ long-term learning is more important overall than any isolated test, NAPLAN or otherwise. Remind them that whatever the outcome, their personal best and continuous improvement over time is the most important thing.

Much work has been done to familiarise students with the NAPLAN procedures and testing environment, with practice runs taking place prior to each assessment, and communication has been provided to parents regarding assessment timetables. Please work with your child to ensure they are organised for each test by bringing their charged device, headphones and pencil to each assessment.

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 an interim gauge of students’ work habits and progress in their courses.

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. 

Homework Club and Extended Library Hours

Our new Homework Club commenced last week, 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

Design and Technology - Wood

Our Design and Technology - Wood classes have been buzzing with creativity and hands-on learning!

Year 11 students have been exploring the art of timber surface finishes. Through research and hands-on trials, they’ve gained valuable insights into the textures, scents, and appearances of various finishes. By applying these finishes by hand, students are developing a deeper understanding of how to select the perfect finish to complement their unique designs.

Meanwhile, our Year 9 students have been hard at work mastering the precision craft of finger joints. Using rulers and tri-squares for accurate marking, they’ve been removing bulk material with a Forstner bit on the drill press, making straight cuts on the bandsaw, and refining their work with chisels and mallets. Their dedication to detail is truly inspiring!

Jeremy Hill

Technologies Technician 

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

Years 9/10 NAS

Well done to all students and coaches who have been training in preparation for the Carnival. The final training sessions will occur at the start of the week, which will be a great lead into the Carnival on Friday, 14 March. All teams will take on the NAS schools at various locations. 

All information can be found in the document attached, including the venues for each sport and the staff who will be accompanying these students. An excursion consent form will go home this weekend for the upcoming carnival. Please ensure this is complete by Wednesday, 13 March.

Training sessions Week 6

NAS Swimming 

Our Years 7 to 10 Swimming Team competed in the NAS swimming meet yesterday against Newman, Sacred Heart, Servite and Chisholm Colleges. The day was a huge success, and our team posted some very exciting times in preparation for the ACC A-Division Swimming Carnival. The ACC Swimming team will be posted in the College notices next week.

SSWA Tennis 

What a scorching day to make our John XXIII debut at the Herbert Edwards Cup (Tennis tournament) for our Years 7 to 9 boys. Yesterday we had 26 students across Years 7 to 9 form six teams to showcase their tennis excellence on the grass and hard courts in Alexandar Park, led by Mr O’Hara and Mr Harris. The students put their all into the rounds, hitting fantastic serves, beautiful winners, and showing great teamwork in doubles. This resulted in one of our teams advancing into the quarterfinals, whilst two teams narrowly missed out. It’s amazing to witness the growth of our budding tennis stars and we look forward to watching this grow next year. 

First XI Cricket

With our second game of the series complete against John Forrest Secondary College, John XXIII have come away with their second win.  

JTC - 6/158

John Forrest - 5/135

Some stand out performances for round two: 

• Hunter Bovell 48 runs and two wickets
• David Gardner 36 runs 
• Max Brooks 24 runs 
• James Miller taking the wicket on his first ball 

Next week we play away against Shenton College on Wednesday, 12 March  2:00pm - 4:30pm. Good luck to all our players. 

Cross-Country 

We have two Wednesday sessions remaining for our cross-country introduction on the College oval. These sessions are open to all Years 7 to 2 students, regardless of running ability. Following these remaining sessions, training will move to Tuesday and Thursday mornings. 

Meet Mr Tremayne and other supporting staff in the Pavilion at 7:00am.

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport