Around The Primary

Dear Parents

This week the students have been learning about the significance of Remembrance Day and reminded that on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 an armistice was signed that stopped the fighting in World War I. Since then, and after World War II, this day of remembrance became known as ‘Remembrance Day’ so we can remember the people who have died in all wars.

 As a school we acknowledged this important occasion with an outdoor ceremony for Years 3-11. Special thanks to May Verleg (6B) and Tom King (6G) for both sharing their reflections for Remembrance Day. The Junior Primary classes also participated in a lovely Remembrance Day prayer time within their classrooms.

Next Thursday 16 November, the College is hosting a ‘Volunteers Thank You’ evening at Wembley Golf Club to thank all the parents who have assisted with school activities throughout year.  All parents who have helped in the canteen, classrooms, excursions, carnivals, music events or in any other way during the school year are invited to join us. We recognize that parents are a very important link between home and school and we greatly value and appreciate the support that has been provided to the staff and students of John XXIII.

We have a well-established 1-1 iPad Program within the Year 5 and 6 classes and the iPad has become an educational tool in the students’ toolkit to help meet curriculum requirements. To assist parents with this transition and to provide some further information and detail we will be holding a Parent Information Meeting for our current Year Four parents on Wednesday 22 November 2017. This will be held in the MacKillop Room commencing at 9.00am. All current Year Four parents are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting. Information presented will include how the day to day use of technology enhances the learning for all children, an outline of the BYOD program and further information on Cyber safety. Jenny Jongste, a Leading Lights Consultant from CEWA will also be available on the day to answer any questions.

It is hard to believe that there is a little over 6 weeks until Christmas! Teaching programs, reports, end of year celebrations, parent information meetings are all happening this term!   As term 4 is so hectic, please make sure the following important events are included on your family calendar:

Kindergarten Parent Information Evening 2018

This will be held on Thursday 23 November in the Early Companions Centre commencing at 6.45pm.  This is for all parents of children attending Kindergarten in 2018. 

Pre Primary Parent Information Evening 2018

This will be also be held on Thursday 23 November. This is for all parents of children attending Pre Primary in 2018. Please meet in the MacKillop Room at 6.45pm.

EduDance Showcases

All ‘G’ classes will be showcasing their dance moves on Monday 4 December at 2.00pm in the Gym.

All ‘B’ classes will be showcasing their dance moves on Wednesday 6 December at 2.00pm in the Gym.

Swimming Lessons

The Junior Primary swimming lessons begin on Monday 20 November. See below for lesson times at Claremont Pools.

Year 2                   12.45 – 1.25            

 Pre Primary       1.25 – 2 05              

Year 1                   2.05 – 2.45

 Yesterday our Year 6 students represented the College exceptionally well at the IPSHA Touch Rugby Carnival.  Special thanks to all the students involved in this sporting event.

JTC 1 BLUE                                                          JTC 2 BLUE

Alex Petsos (Co-Captain)                               Charlie Hodge (Co-Captain)

Summer Burton (Co-Captain)                     Charley Laver (Co-Captain)

Lawrence McNeilly                                           Elizabeth Edwards

Gus Kenny                                                            Emmeline Bosnich

Joel Margaria                                                      Evelyn Arundell

Amelia Worner                                                   Conor McCormick

Jessica Jahn                                                       Patrick Eastwood

Amerie Chai                                                        Bryn Chapman

JTC 1 GOLD                                                          JTC 2 GOLD

Marshall Lalor (Co-Captain)                            James Mitchell (Co-Captain)

Marie-Claire Hickling (Co-Captain)              Jasmine Slatter (Co-Captain)

Luke Seery                                                               Lux Quinlan

Ben Mignacca                                                         Thomas King

Elizabeth Newton                                                 Sophia Defrancesco

Liam Stewart                                                          Sandy Smith

Tiffany Cesare                                                        James Brierley               

This Sunday Mrs Purcell (GATE teacher/ICT specialist), Mrs Gardner (Numeracy Specialist) and our Year 6 GATE students are heading to Curtin University for First Lego League Hydro Dynamics Challenge. We wish our competitors every success in this exciting competition.

Kind Regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary

Dates to Remember

Thursday 16 November                 Volunteers Thank You Evening

Friday 17 November                       3B Assembly 9am (RH)

This week the Year 5 children continued their food journey to Canada, home of maple syrup. The maple tree is a symbol of Canada and the maple leaf can be found on the Canadian flag.  As well as cooking and enjoying some delicious pancakes with maple syrup, the Year 5’s trialled a variety of different maple syrups which can be purchased at the supermarket, learning that some are not maple syrup at all! They investigated how food packaging and labelling can influence consumers, as well as the importance of checking ingredients when purchasing food items. Next week the Year 5s’ are off to Venezuela to try “La Tizana’, a traditional drink enjoyed by Venezuelans in summer. 

NEWSFLASH

Congratulations to Joel Margaria (6B) who won a prize in the Colour Your Classroom Writing competition. The students were required to write about an invention that would improve the world in some way and Joel wrote a wonderful piece about an ocean gate that filters rubbish out of the sand and water.

Joel wins a prize for himself and the school also wins a prize hamper worth $1000 of our writing products.

Well done Joel!

Reflections for Remembrance Day

This year, Year Six went to Canberra on a camp. While we were in Canberra we visited the Australian War Memorial. At the War Memorial we learnt about the many soldiers who were killed or injured during World War I and the importance of remembering the many heroic deeds they did for our country. From their constant fear for their lives and surviving the horrible conditions of the trenches with minimal supplies of food, if it wasn’t for their bravery and sense of spirit, our country of Australia and the wonderful life we live today would be very different. We are forever in their debt and keep them in our hearts each Remembrance Day.

May Verleg (6B)

On our Year 6 trip to Canberra, we visited the Australian War Memorial and learnt about Australia's contribution to several wars and how much the soldiers had to undergo to protect our homeland. We found out about the heroes who went out into the frontline of war and fought for our freedom as a country. We saw pictures of trenches in World War One where inexperienced young men and women had to live and sleep to give us the luxuries that we take for granted. I can only imagine the suffering of not seeing your comrades come back from the wilderness of war at the end of the day. One of the most important things going to the War Memorial taught me was that our freedom came at a price, and those that paid that price are heroes and will never be forgotten.

Tom King (6G)