Secondary

Dear Families

Whilst everyone loves the holiday break, a school isn’t its whole self without the energy that students and staff bring, and it was wonderful to see students return this week ready to commence Term 4. I hope that families enjoyed a safe and happy break with loved ones. For our Year 12 students, the holidays saw the commencement of their trial WACE examinations and the final few weeks of their time at John XXIII College. We welcomed them back on campus today, and we look forward to sharing the special week ahead with them in the lead-up to their Day of Invitation and Valete ceremonies.

Summer Uniform

The new term will see students transition into their summer uniform. As the weather can still be cool at the beginning of the term, students will have the option of wearing the correct summer or winter uniform until Monday, 27 October (Week 3, Term 4). The Uniform Code can be found here and staff are guided by the Positive Behaviour Framework to address instances when students do not wear the uniform correctly. We thank parents for their support in helping us maintain a high standard of grooming and uniform among students.

Visual Arts Exhibition

Everyone is invited to view our talented students’ artwork on display at the annual Visual Arts Exhibition, which opens on Monday. We are blessed with incredibly talented Visual Arts staff who inspire students to their creative best across a range of mediums. The exhibition is in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre and will continue throughout the week.

Homework Club

Our popular Homework Club continues until the end of the term, 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.

Term 4 Key Dates

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

Community Planting Day

We invite all parents, students, and alumni of the John XXIII College community to join us for our Community Planting and Weeding Day on Saturday 18 October, from 8:00am to 9:30am, meeting behind the Science Garden at B8. This is a hands-on opportunity to care for our campus environment by planting native trees and shrubs, weeding, and maintaining earlier plantings. Tools will be provided, just bring comfortable clothing, closed shoes, a hat, and sunscreen. Students can also count their participation towards their Roncalli Service hours. Together, we can show our commitment to caring for our common home while setting an example for future generations. 

Adrian Sims

Sustainability Coordinator

Visual Arts Exhibition

Join us for the 2025 John XXIII College Visual Arts Exhibition in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre. 

This year’s exhibition showcases the creativity and skill of our Visual Arts students, with an inspiring display of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and ceramic works.

Exhibition Dates

• Monday 20 – Friday 24 October: 9:00am – 4:00pm

• Saturday 25 October: 11:00am – 2:00pm

   

Opening Night

Monday 20 October, 5:30pm – all are welcome to attend, however registration is essential. Register here. 

Celebrate excellence in the Visual Arts and take part in the People’s Choice Award by voting for your favourite piece.

Kiri Moore

Coordinator - Visual Arts

Buon Appetito

On Thursday 25 October, the Years 11 and 12 Italian students, along with Prof Cinini, Cocco and Polizzi, went for an authentic Italian meal at The Secret Italian. The meal commenced with shared antipasto boards of cold meats, cheese, bread, olives and caprese salads. Next, the group enjoyed a variety of pizza and pasta dishes. The meal was concluded with gelato. It was a great opportunity to celebrate and to put into practice their Italian in a more casual, relaxed atmosphere with their peers.

Bon appétit

In September, our ATAR French students enjoyed a fabulous French meal at Chez Pierre with Madame Griffin-Appadoo and Laure, their French native speaker. Students took the opportunity to converse in French together in a French restaurant. 

Pierre, the restaurant owner, is a former student from John XXIII, and he came out and greeted and chatted personally with the students. Students enjoyed a delicious truffle soup, and several students were brave enough to try the escargots – snails. 

Merci beaucoup to Madame Griffin-Appadoo for organising this event. 

Melissa Polizzi

Head of Learning Area - Languages

Asian Street Food Stall

Get ready for a delicious recess adventure! The Year 10 Food Truck is rolling into the Café Courtyard with an Asian Street Food Stall on Tuesday 28 October 2025.

Enjoy a variety of mouthwatering dishes from across Asia for just $5 per dish — including spring rolls, Kazakh samsas, satay chicken, Mongolian chicken, and sticky pork with rice. Don’t miss this tasty cultural experience!

Order here.

South American Street Food Stall

Spice up your recess with bold South American flavours! The Year 10 Food Truck returns to the Café Courtyard on Wednesday 29 October 2025 (during recess) for the South American Street Food Stall.

Grab your friends and enjoy a taste of Latin America for just $5 per dish — featuring crispy corn and chorizo, Guatemalan chicken salpicon, Mexican beef tacos, Honduran baleadas, and classic arroz con pollo.

Order here.

SPORT

Year 7 Summer NAS

Well done to all Year 7 students who trialled for Summer NAS Teams. All teams have now been posted on the College notices. Students should be listed in one of the three categories

• NAS Team
• Social Volleyball Competition
• Student Helper

We now move onto the final three training sessions in the lead up to the carnival day. All students must be present for training if they have been selected into a team. Please note that there is no training for the Social Volleyball Carnival.

• Trainings Weeks 2, 3 and 4
  • Pay attention to all training dates and times, as it may not be the same each week
  • If you cannot make a training session, you must let your team teacher know

  • At the Week 4 training, there will be a sausage sizzle for all teams

     

• Carnival - Week 4, Thursday, 6 November, 7:45am - 3:00pm

Staff and Teams

Trial and Training Schedule

Year 8 Summer NAS

Year 8 NAS Trials will commence next week. All students should have completed the nomination form that was in the notices. All students must be involved on the day, you can nominate to be involved in either a NAS Teams to trial for, a student helper for the day, or to play social volleyball.

Nomination Form

• Trials Weeks 2 and 3
  • If you are unable to make a trial, please inform Miss Pillera or Mr Kowal
  • Teams will be posted at the end of Week 3
• Training Weeks 4 and 5
  • Pay attention to all training dates and times as it may not be the same each week
  • If you cannot make a training session, you must let you team teacher know
• Carnival - Week 6, Thursday, 18 November, 7:45am to 3:00pm

Staffing

Trial and Training Schedule

Years 9/10 Water Polo

Students interested in representing John XXIII College in the upcoming SSWA Water Polo Tournament are to complete the form attached. Please note that this carnival falls in the same week as the Outdoor Education Camp for the Year 10 students. Trials and training are as follows at the HPC Indoor Dive Pool. Students are to make their own way to the pool, and there will be a bus to transport students back to school following training. 

Trial

• Monday 27 October, 7:00am - 7:45am

Training

• Monday 3 November, 7:00am - 7:45am

Carnivals

• Boys - 12 November
• Girls - 13 November

Nomination Form

Calling all Basketball Enthusiasts – ACC Senior Boys Championship 2026 - Years 10 to 12

Based on performance data from the past seven years (including recent Junior results from 2023–2025), schools have been provisionally placed into divisions for next year’s championship. This is your opportunity to compete against the best and showcase your skills on a bigger stage in a weekly competition.

What’s happening:

• Our College has been allocated a Division 1 spot for 2026.
• We’ll be part of a structured season with scheduled matches, semi-finals, and a grand final.

Why you should get involved:

• Represent the College in an interschool competition.
• Compete in a full season of games with finals.

• Gain experience, build team spirit, and have fun doing what you love. 

   

Key game dates – Term 1, 2026:

• Round 1: Friday 13 February (Week 2)
• Round 2: Tuesday 17 February (Week 3)
• Round 3: Tuesday 24 February (Week 4)
• Round 4: Tuesday 3 March (Week 5)
• Round 5: Tuesday 10 March (Week 6)
• Semi Finals: TBC (Week 7/8)

• Grand Final: Tuesday 31 March (Week 9) 

   

If you're interested in trying out or learning more, please complete the Registration Form.

Training will commence on Wednesday 29 October, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in the St Louis Sports Centre. If you would like more information, please see or email Miss Pillera or Mr Carrello.

NAS Golf

Practice sessions will commence next Monday morning 20 October, for our NAS Golf selection. All participants are welcome to come and enjoy an introduction to golf. We meet at the equipment sheds at the north-west corner of the oval space (near the athletics track) at 6:45am. The tournament is scheduled for Monday 3 November and is an 18-hole competition against fellow NAS schools. Wembley Golf Complex is the venue, and students will be out for the day. Practice session will continue as follows:

Volleyball Club Term 4

This term we will be starting a Volleyball Club for all students interested in improving their skills and learning about the wonderful game! It will run every Monday afternoon starting in Week 2, Monday 20 October in the SLSC from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.

Year 12 Coaching Expression of Interest - 2026

Year 12 students interested in giving back to the wonderful world of sport at John XXIII College in 2026 are invited to complete this registration form.  There are many opportunities to come back and coach, umpire, and support sports. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask, jessica.pillera@johnxxiii.edu.au.

Congratulations

Verity Pekin and Ashlyn Otway (Year 8), who represented WA at the U/14 Australian Hockey Championships.

Isla Strong (Year 9), who was selected as part of the U14S Fever In Time Squad- Netball WA’s formal talent identification program. A great achievement, and we wish you all the best.

Congratulations to the Pallis sisters for their outstanding performances at the Fuel to Go & Play Endurance Championships! Sasha (Year 11) took out first place in the Under 17 Female category, while Chantal (Year 9) secured third place in the Under 15 Female division.

Jessica Pillera

Head of Sport