Around The Primary

Dear Families

Many thanks to all families for your ongoing support, encouragement and care of your children, staff, and one another throughout the term. Students and staff have worked hard and have so much to feel very proud of! We are all ready for a good rest and a change of pace – as no doubt you are too! 

These years with your primary school aged children will go by very quickly and the holidays are a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy all the special little things of life. Children are often happiest when parents can spend extra time with them ... going for a walk, playing a board game, making a cake, watching a movie together. These simple activities are often the best memories in a child’s life. All in all, holidays are the ideal time for children to have fun with family and friends - and to relax! 

Wishing you all a happy, safe, and relaxing holiday break.

All the very best for the next two weeks and see you on the first day of term, Tuesday 10 October.

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

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 and subscribe to the Primary Calendar.

Musical Melodies 

In Science, the Year 1 students have explored different ways that sound is produced and compared sounds made by musical instruments using characteristics, such as, loudness and pitch. 

As part of the Design & Technology unit, students designed and created their very own musical instruments. They enjoyed using different recycled materials and had fun striking, blowing and shaking their instruments to create sound vibrations.

Sonia Thomas & Lauren Pillera

Year 1 Teachers

AQWA

The Year 4 students visited AQWA on Wednesday to explore marine life ecosystems and deepen their understanding of the relationship between living things. The students were able to see the wonderful exhibits including ShipWreck Cove, Coral Coast, Danger Zone and the Marina and had a look at the diverse marine life. 

My favourite part of AQWA was going through the underwater tunnel because we got to see Goblin Sharks and one even swam right above us! We also went into the ‘Behind the Scenes’ and it was amazing to see all of the tiny seahorses. The tour guides showed us Dusty, the baby rescue turtle too. Daisy Hewer, 4G

I really enjoyed the excursion to AQWA, especially the Danger Zone and seeing all the deadly animals like the blue-ringed octopus and the mantis shrimp. I also enjoyed the outdoors tank and naming all of the fish. The baby turtle feeding was very great too and I learnt a lot from the person feeding the baby turtle, Dusty. It was a wonderful and educational experience. Finnbar Bourke, 4B

Emma Eisenmann and Sonja Goss

Year 4 Teachers

Spelling Bee!

Year 5 students were excited to join classes for a Spelling Bee this week. It was a fun way to revise some of their focus words and extend their thinking with words of varying degrees of difficulty. After several rounds leading to the final set of words, Pearl Bovell was declared the Year 5 Spelling Champion.  Congratulations Pearl!

Teresa Fontaine and Madison Levy

Year 5 Teachers

Music Update

Choir Rehearsals 

A big thank you to all choir and ensemble members for their dedication to rehearsals this term. We hope you enjoy a restful break!

Choir and instrumental ensemble rehearsals for Week 1 next term are as follows:

Year 2 Music

The Year 2 students have been studying woodwind instruments in music this term and this week, they were treated to a special session with the Year 9 Wind Quintet. The students heard the flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone and bassoon playing together, and learnt that a traditional wind quintet normally has a french horn instead of a saxophone. The students viewed and discussed the differences and similarities between the instruments and were given opportunities to ask questions. Thank you to Ms Jennings (woodwind specialist) for preparing the Year 9 Wind Quintet for this wonderful performance.

Year 3 Music

The Year 3 students have been studying the recorder instruments in music this term. The students have learned the correct recorder posture and have composed and performed their own pieces using ‘B’ and various rhythms. The students are looking forward to learning new notes and repertoire next term.

Year 6 Music

The Year 6 students have been studying music throughout history. This week, the students were given the opportunity to view and play a harpsichord. This beautiful instrument was donated to the College by Caitlin Cassidy’s family (Alumni, Class of 2005) and can be found in the Chapel near the organ and piano. The students were fascinated by the beautiful artwork and discussed the differences between this harpsichord and a piano, including the size, different coloured keys, and the plucking action used to produce sound (as opposed to the hammer action of a piano). 

Year 1 Mini Music Performance

Please save the date for the Year 1 Mini Music Performance ‘Cookies’ next term: 

Year 1B – Tuesday 7 November at 9:00am in the Osborne Room

Year 1G – Wednesday 8 November at 9:00 in the Osborne Room

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Sport Update

It has been a huge term in sport with cross country, interschool hockey and athletics!  We certainly won’t be slowing down next term with our Junior Primary Athletics Carnival, Interschool touch rugby, Interschool cricket and swimming lessons for Pre-Primary to Year 2!  

We are also starting an alternate sports program for our Year 5 and 6 students.  They will participate in rock climbing, archery, dance and circus skills across 4 weeks to help broaden their sporting experiences and highlight how sport and physical activity can take many different forms.  Further information to follow. 

Stay safe and active over the holidays!

Before and after school sport information for Term 4:

• Tuesdays J&J soccer sessions - Year 1-6, Junior Primary Oval, 3:30pm to 4:20pm commencing in week 2.  Booking and payment required. Email Coach Adi at juricadi@hotmail.com We are looking to have an all-girls group, please contact Coach Adi if your daughter/s are interested. 

• Thursdays Basketball with Redhage Basketball - Year 2-6, St Louis Sports Centre, 3:20pm to 4:20pm commencing in week 2.  Bookings and payments required.  Enrol at www.redhagebasketball.com

• Monday Tennis sessions - Pre-Primary-Y6, College Tennis Courts, 7:45am to 8:30am.  Booking and payment required. Enrolments via www.costaltennis.com.au .  For enquiries, please call Nick – 0419 923 495

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

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator