Secondary

Dear Families

Congratulations to Campion House for winning the Fr Kevin King Cup at today’s Interhouse Athletics Carnival. The Year 12 dances, positive energy and high level of student participation today is a testament to the strength of our House system at the College and it was wonderful to see our Year 12 students lead and encourage the younger students in generating fantastic House spirit - well done to Loreto House for winning the Spirit Award for best House spirit throughout the day. Congratulations, also, to students who achieved a personal best in their events. We look forward to recognising these students at assembly next week and to hearing of the College team’s success at the upcoming Interschool ACC A Division Carnival on 13 September. 

Congratulations also to students who attended yesterday’s High Achievers' Breakfast to acknowledge their academic effort and achievement through Semester 1. Their accomplishments are a result of commitment and an impressive work ethic towards their studies, and they should be proud of their achievements. Wishing students involved in Sunday's Music Eisteddfod every success for their performances. 

John XXIII Day - Friday 4 August 

A highlight of the College calendar next Friday is John XXIII Day where students will engage in various activities in celebration of our College founders. This is a compulsory school day and students are to wear sport uniform with their House shirt. Students will enjoy the following program throughout the day: 

Purchases from the food and fete stalls will be in cash. The Canteen will not be open on the day for students to purchase recess or lunch. 

Health Centre pick up

The Health Centre has relocated to the newly refurbished Student Wellbeing Centre. Parents collecting Secondary students should now park in the short-term bays out front of Thomas More Exhibition Centre when collecting their child from the Health Centre. 

College Photos and Sport Photos

This week students received their photo orders from Photo Hendricks during Homeroom. Please be in contact with your child’s Homeroom Teacher if you have not received your order.

Sport Photos are scheduled for Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 August. Photos will take place in the Thomas More Exhibition Centre, a reminder for students to arrive 5 minutes before their scheduled photo. The timetable for the day will be released next week. 

A reminder that students must be in correct sport uniform with College sports shirt, College sport socks, College sport shorts and tracksuit pants. Students not in correct uniform will not be allowed in the photo.

Term 3 Key Dates 

Warm regards 

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

High Achievers' Breakfast

Over 140 students from Years 7 to 12 were recognised as being a ‘High Achiever’ from their Semester 1 Report and subsequently invited to attend yesterday's High Achievers' Breakfast.

To be a ‘High Achiever’, students must meet the criteria in Years 7 to 10 of achieving a 6.0+ GPA, or in Years 11 to12, five A grades in ATAR courses or minimum four A grades in General courses as well as have 'good standing' in up to two Certificate courses.

Students enjoyed a wonderful breakfast spread prepared by Cupid Catering (Alumni of the College) and were privileged to hear from Miles Lockwood (Dux 2018). Mile’s message was one of congratulations and humility, to be open to new opportunities by saying ‘yes’ and to find the courage to take the first step.

Thank you to all students and staff who attended and helped make the High Achievers' Breakfast a success.

Cameron Haines

Assistant Deputy Principal – Year 8

Pilgrimage student reflection

At 4:00am on Day 1, we arrived at the airport ready to start our journey to the Northern Territory. Our first adventure was the Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River, where we faced the giant jaws of Brutus and hundreds of other terrifying crocodiles. 

The next day we were up early, travelling to the first homeland. Upon our arrival in Banatjarl, we received a warm Welcome to Country and got a chance to meet some of the people from the homeland. Over the next two days, we were introduced to some traditional roles and tasks in these communities. The boys went on hikes and learned to make spears, while the girls learned how to make bush medicine and weave baskets. We were amazed at how all these methods and stories have been passed down through the elders for hundreds of years. 

We concluded our stay at Banatjarl with a big dinner with everybody from the homeland. They shared with us traditional stories, and the Traditional Owner’s gave us all skin names, which are names Indigenous people use to work out bloodlines and the relationship between people; this was very special and made us feel like one big family.

On our fifth day, we travelled to the community of Nauiyu and began our stay with a Welcome to Country on the edge of the Daly River on the land of the Malak Malak people. 

During our stay, we participated in many activities such as a barbeque with the local people, watching the local footy match, visiting a Jesuit mission, learning traditional dances and cooking kangaroo tails over the fire, as well as picking and eating water lilies with the traditional owners, which was very fun and muddy! We were also lucky enough to meet and talk with Miriam Rose, who was named senior Australian of the Year in 2021 and listen to some of her wise words. 

Each night we concluded with both a group and personal reflections; this provided us with an opportunity to reflect on our own personal faith. We learned the idea of ‘seeing God in nature’ and how the Indigenous people there can relate to Catholic Teaching through experiences in nature. When we were picking the water lilies from the billabong, one of the women explained to us how the life cycle of the water lily can be used to explain the death and resurrection of Jesus. This offered us an alternative perspective on how we see God in the world and encouraged us to look for other examples of our faith in nature. 

Throughout our time on Pilgrimage, we made many strong connections not only with the Indigenous peoples we met but also with our peers and teachers. Our stay in the community and homeland allowed us to get to know and make genuine friendships with the local people, leaving us with memorable connections and making the experience a lot fuller. Additionally, our group of 30 became very tight-knit, where we established new friendships and strengthened old ones.

Embarking on this Pilgrimage was an eye-opening experience that left a profound impact on each of us. As we travelled through communities, we learned about the deep connection the Indigenous people have with nature and their appreciation for every aspect of their surroundings. We returned with a newfound appreciation for the blessings we often take for granted. This Pilgrimage not only deepened our spiritual understanding but helped us be responsible for future generations to come. We also want to thank our teachers who accompanied us on our Pilgrimage. Without their generosity, we would not have been able to have this experience.

Eloise, Tenley, Georgia, Arabelle and Millie

Year 11 pilgrims

STEM Drone Club

The Drone Club has purchased its first FPV (First Person View) drone with money donated to the Drone Club from Ms Patricia Ho. Flying First Person View uses an onboard camera that relays live video to goggles–it lets you become your drone… and it’s as fun as it sounds. 

Damien Connellan

Drone Club Coordinator

Engineering students visit Western Power

Western Power recently hosted engineering students in Years 10 and 11. This included guided tours at two Western Power sites, exposing students to some of the work Western Power do. 

Students were provided a wealth of knowledge – and a preview of their potential future careers – kicking off with an introduction from Carla Basden, Engineering & Design Services Excellence Manager, and Michael Thornton, Principal Metering Consultant who spoke on the role that Western Power plays in managing the network, and in delivering a decarbonised future for WA.

They then visited Network Operations for a sneak peek and run down of the control room, by Stephen Stannard, Network Control Room Manager.  After an engaging session on the challenges of real-time operations.

Finally, after getting geared up in PPE, the tour took to the road for a site visit to Cook Street Substation, led by Carla and Daniel Edgar, Principal Solution Engineer. There the students learnt about an upcoming project, and about the design, operation, and maintenance of primary and secondary transmission assets.

Nathan Munns

Design & Technologies teacher

Year 11-12 Media Excursion 

Earlier this week, our Year 11 and 12 Media Production & Analysis ATAR students visited the ‘Pictures in Motion’ Museum of Film & Television in Dalkeith to gain an insight into the technologies preceding the current digital age of filmmaking. Many people previously involved in the WA cinema and television industries, including projectionists and cinema curators, volunteer their time to rescue, restore and maintain a wide range of equipment, and it was fascinating to see such an impressive collection given so much attention and care. The volunteers were extremely generous with their time, escorting us through and chatting to us about the ways things were, and possibilities for the future.

Students then attended a screening of the film ‘Oppenheimer’ by Christopher Nolan. We have been examining Nolan’s ground-breaking filming techniques and signature style, the strong subject matter and themes of this particular film, as well as the artistic and cultural benefits and significance of his work. Year 12 students will be studying Nolan’s earlier work later this year as a major part of the theory component of their course. The screening ties into the earlier museum visit, since Nolan has chosen to utilise a film format that is no longer standard, mainly due to its aesthetic quality and the immersive experience it affords the viewer.

SPORTS

Senior Girls Netball

Congratulations to Miss Power and her Senior Girls Netball team for their victory against La Salle College in the ACC Netball Championship of Wednesday this week. They had an impressive lead in the end of 36-21. 

The team will now progress through to the next round of the competition in the coming weeks.

Eagle Schoolboys Cup

Congratulations to the John XXIII students for winning the Division 2 Eagle Schoolboys Cup. Students were undefeated on the day. Thanks to Mr Matthew Stanton and Campbell Tirant for coaching the team to victory. 

Athletics Training

Athletics training is takes place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:00am-8:00am with our specialist athletics coaches.

A detailed schedule of all sessions can be accessed below. 

State Sporting Representation

Any students representing their state this year are encouraged to complete the form below. This information will be used next term when we create our special State Sporting Representation video.

Sara Kononen

Head of Sport