Around The Primary

Dear Families

Our Interschool Athletics team had a fantastic day yesterday at the IPSHA Athletics Carnival, hosted by All Saints College. There were various wonderful individual performances with many of our athletes winning ribbons in their events. Well done to all participants for all their efforts! Thanks to Mr Williams, Miss Eisenmann, Miss Kuyler and Mrs Thompson for their organisation and hard work on the day. 

There is a sense of excitement surrounding the Primary disco, where I anticipate seeing many impressive dance moves! This event serves as an excellent platform for our students to hone their dancing abilities while also fostering their social skills in a safe and enjoyable environment. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated staff members who will remain at school late this evening to provide supervision and ensure everything runs smoothly. Please remember that all Pre-Primary to Year 2 students should be collected promptly at 6:00pm from the Exhibition Centre, while students in Years 3 to 6 should be picked up at 7:45pm. 

All grandparents or significant others are warmly invited to visit the College to spend some special time with their grandchildren.  Bring along a picnic lunch to share with your grandchildren and a picnic chair if you can. Tea and coffee will be available.  The Wanju Voices, Primary Singers and Instrumentalists will be providing some lovely open-air entertainment. RSVP by Tuesday, 14 October to www.trybooking.com/1457379 

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

2026 Class Placements

Each new school year brings the excitement and change of classes, teachers and classmates.  It is normal for children to have some apprehension about this.  It is also inevitable that changes to friendship groups occur as children move through the grades.  Meeting new and different people is a part of life and it is our role as parents and educators to support children through change rather than protect them from it.

I ask all parents to trust that the class your child is going into next year is one in which they will thrive.  It is important to note that parental requests can only be met in exceptional circumstances and requesting a particular teacher or placement with a best friend does not constitute an exceptional circumstance.

If there is an exceptional circumstance that the College needs to be aware of, this needs to be sent directly to antoinette.depinto@johnxxiii.edu.au by Friday 26 September (last day of Term 3).  No late requests will be considered.

While written parent requests to the Head of Primary for a child to be in a particular class are considered, parents need to understand that this request may not always result in the desired outcome.

Early notification of class lists will not be provided. Parents can feel confident that their children will always be in good hands and receive an excellent education at John XXIII College. 

Please note: 

Families will receive an email confirmation of acknowledgement from Mrs Petsos.  If you do not receive a reply, the College has not received your request for Class Placement consideration.

Staff News

Next term Mrs Cayley King (Kindy teacher) and Mrs Bernadette Holmes (Pre Kindy Education Assistant) will be taking a term’s Long Service Leave. We wish them both a relaxing and well-deserved break.

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. 

Birds of Prey

On Tuesday, the Year 4 students had an unforgettable incursion exploring the world of raptors! We met incredible birds of prey including Micro the Wedge-tailed Eagle, Twiggy the Tawny Frogmouth, Biscuit the Australian Kestrel, Pandora the Black Kite, and a beautiful Barn Owl. Nigel, our expert presenter, shared fascinating facts about each bird- including how some were rescued and rehabilitated.

Students were thrilled to pat some of the birds and even had the chance to hold Micro, the majestic Wedge-tailed Eagle! We also dissected casts to investigate what these birds eat, linking perfectly to our Biological Science unit on how living things depend on each other and their environment to survive. We explored the special adaptations that help raptors hunt and thrive in the wild. It was a hands-on, high-flying learning experience!

The birds were absolutely amazing. It was one of the most fun incursions I have ever experienced. The wedge -tail Eagle was so cool. Benjamin Bourke 

I loved holding micro (eagle) whose wingspan could get up to 3 meters. I also liked to feel the birds’ feathers.  Florence Anderson 

We learnt about the birds life as a baby and how they got their names, what they ate and where in Australia they came from. It was so interesting, I think it was the best incursion ever! Zari Spiccia

Wellbeing Weekly

Helping Children Cope with Disappointment

Disappointment is a natural part of growing up, and children often face moments when things don’t go as they hoped—whether it’s not winning a race, missing out on a part in the school play, or receiving a lower mark than expected on a test. These experiences, while tough, are valuable opportunities to help children develop resilience. As parents, we can support our children by listening with empathy, validating their feelings, and gently encouraging a growth mindset. Remind them that setbacks are a normal part of learning and that their worth isn’t defined by achievements. Sharing your own stories of times you didn’t succeed—and what you learned from them—can help children feel understood and supported.

Praise Effort and Build Resilience

One of the most powerful ways to build resilience is to praise effort, persistence, and problem-solving rather than just results. For example, instead of saying “You’re so smart,” try “I’m proud of how hard you worked on that project.” This helps children see that their actions make a difference and encourages them to keep trying, even when things are hard. You can also build resilience at home through simple activities like playing board games that involve taking turns and handling loss, encouraging your child to try something new (like a recipe or craft), or reflecting together on a challenge they overcame. These small moments help children learn that it’s okay to stumble—as long as they keep moving forward.

If you have any queries, please contact me via email: natalie.alach@johnxiii.edu.au 

Natalie Alach

Primary Counsellor 

Sports Update

We are very proud of our Interschool Athletics team that took part in the IPSHA Interschool Athletics Carnival.   There were some incredible individual efforts in both the track and field events and as aways the spirit that the JTC students showed was outstanding! 

This was the first year that points were recorded and an overall Champion School announced.  It was an extremely tight tussle between Newman and John XXIII College all day and it was Newman that led by 30 points going into the final events, the 4 x 100m relays - were worth double points!  The depth and determination of our teams shone through winning 3 of the 4 relays put us ahead of Newman by 20 points at the end of the day! 

Well done to everyone in the JTC team!

Term 4 Extra Curricular Sports 

UWAHC Junior Summer Hockey 

• 7-a-side (Minimum of 3 Females per team): NO ALL BOYS TEAMS FROM J5/6 & UP
• Games are (two 20-minute halves)
• All teams must be mixed
• This is a social competition, and all levels of skill and experience are welcome
• Modified rules apply
• Wednesday nights on the turf
• ENTRY DEADLINE is Sunday, 12 October
• Secure your team by clicking ‘Register’. You will need to provide a team name, age group, contact person and pay the team fee.
• For any queries or requests, please contact David Albrecht at gm@uwahockey.org.au

Location - UWA Turfs 1 and 2

Dates - Wednesday 15 October to Wednesday 3 December 2025

Individual Registration - Don’t have enough people for a team? That’s ok! You can register as an individual and we’ll do our best to find you a team.

If you have any queries about anything sport-related, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: steve.williams@johnxxiii.edu.au  

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator 

Music 

Rehearsal Times

Please see below for rehearsal times for ensembles next week:

City of Nedlands Citizenship Ceremony

Congratulations to all the students who represented the College at the City of Nedlands Citizenship Ceremony on Wednesday 17 September.

It is an honour for our students to be part of this ceremony, using their voices to welcome and celebrate those who are embarking on a new journey as Australian citizens. The choir received many compliments from those in attendance.

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Containers for Change

As part of our care for our common home, the Primary classes will be running a 'Containers for Change' collection during the final 2 weeks of this term (15 to 26 September). We invite all Primary students to bring recyclable containers and deposit them in the designated bins outside their classrooms. Every container collected will generate funds to support Caritas Australia.

For over 60 years, Caritas Australia has been part of one of the world's largest humanitarian networks, reaching nearly a million people annually. Their vital work spans emergency relief, food security, clean water initiatives, education access, women's empowerment, and community development, supporting those living in poverty and affected by injustice both in Australia and around the globe.

Teaching children about recycling creates lasting environmental benefits by reducing landfill waste, conserving natural resources, and preventing pollution. Beyond protecting our planet, recycling education fosters responsibility, collaboration, and empowers students to see themselves as agents of positive change. This initiative embodies our Ignatian calling to be 'people for others.' Pope Francis's Laudato Si' encyclical reminds us of our shared responsibility to care for our common home and those most vulnerable to environmental challenges. By collecting containers for Caritas while protecting our planet through recycling, our students demonstrate the compassion, justice, and stewardship that lie at the heart of both Ignatian education and Catholic social teaching.

Let's work together to fill our collection bins, care for the Earth, and support those in need. Every container makes a difference!

Adrian Sims

College Sustainability Coordinator 

Sacramental Certificates

Parents are requested to email a copy of their child’s Sacramental Certificate (Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation) to Mrs Petsos in Primary Administration nancy.petsos@johnxxiii.edu.au for our College records.

Thinking ahead to 2026?

As we begin planning for the year ahead, we understand that family circumstances can change, and sometimes this means a move to a new school.

If you believe your child may not be returning to John XXIII College in 2026, we would appreciate hearing from you as early as possible. This helps us to ensure a smooth transition for your family and allows us to offer places to other students on our waiting list.

In line with our College’s Withdrawal Policy, we kindly ask for written notice to the College Registrar at least one term (ten school weeks) before the anticipated departure date.

Where notice is not received, the policy provides for one term’s fees in lieu of notice.

If you are unsure about your plans or have any questions, our Enrolments team is here to talk things through and support you. You can contact our enrolments team via email or call 9383 0449.