Around The Primary

Dear Parents,

As we continue our Lenten journey, students are still very busy collecting coins for Project Compassion. Next Monday 22 March, our Year 6 leaders are holding a ‘Monster Cake Stall’ to raise further funds. The Year 1-6 students are welcome to bring along a gold coin/s to buy a special treat for morning tea, prices range from 50c to $2.00.  Our Pre-Primary students will be able to purchase a cupcake on the day too.  Our normal nutrition guidelines are relaxed on this day, but parents may like to provide instructions on the day for their children regarding their purchases.  If preferred, you are welcome to send along a special treat for your child to enjoy at recess rather than making a purchase at the cake stall.  If your child has food allergies, it would be best for you to provide a special treat on the day.

Our prayers continue in class and as a whole school for those who have less than we do. A prayer shared together before sleep is a very powerful way to reflect with your child/ren on all the good things God has done for us. I encourage you to find time to pray with your child during Lent.

Congratulations to our Interschool Swimming Squad for their amazing efforts at the IPSHA Swimming Carnival on Thursday. It was great to see the high level of competition and sportsmanship at the carnival and also the wonderful leadership of the Year 6 students. Thank you to Mr Williams, Mrs Taylor, Miss Donovan and all our parent volunteers for their hard work on the day.

It is hoped that the upcoming Parent/Teacher Interviews will be helpful in giving you a clearer picture of your child's strengths, challenges and current progress. For some of you, the conversation may require more emphasis on your child's application and attitude, for others it may be about the development of important social skills or work habits, while for other children, the teacher may communicate academic areas the child is receiving support or enrichment. Remember that a little genuine encouragement and words of thanks is always greatly appreciated by teachers. 

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

Counsellor's Corner

It is hard to believe we are now heading towards the end of Term 1. It has been wonderful to see the students transitioning successfully into new classes and reconnecting with their friends. Over the term, I have had a number of opportunities to collaborate with many parents and teachers to work towards the shared goal of assisting children to thrive at school. This includes success in the classroom, fulfilling healthy friendships, as well as the social emotional skills to deal confidently with challenges. 

The Parent/Teacher interviews next week give parents (and teachers) further opportunities to understand challenges and to identify goals for next term. I will be at school next Friday if anyone would like to pop in after their interviews to discuss any concerns. This article by parenting expert, Michael Grose is a good reminder of how the best outcomes for children come from relevant adults working together to achieve shared goals.

Please contact me via email anne.murphy@cewa.edu.au or phone 9383 0469 if you have any queries. 

Mrs Anne Murphy

Primary Counsellor

'Be More' - Kindness

This week our Project Compassion focus was on the virtue of ‘Kindness’.

In what has been a very busy week, students and staff have taken the time to reflect on the importance of showing kindness and love to others.

When someone shows kindness, they show love. A person who is kind has a sympathetic, affectionate, warm hearted and considerate nature. Kindness is being gentle, thoughtful, helpful, and forgiving at times when it would be so easy to be angry.

Sculptures by the Sea

Students in Years 3 to 6 visited ‘Sculptures by Sea’ and participated in focus tours, where expert tour guides (some being sculptors themselves) helped them to view, discuss, think and learn about many of the sculptures in the exhibition. Their knowledge and enthusiasm sparked the students’ interest in sculpture. 

We are so lucky to experience art on an international level in our own environment and from our follow up activities back during Art lessons, the students have been enriched and inspired by this excursion. 

I was very proud of the students’ engagement, participation and excellent behaviour.  Many thanks to the parents who helped and supported the students on this excursion.

Ms Fiona Blaauw

Primary Art Teacher

Sports Update

Congratulations to all our swimmers who represented our College in the IPSHA Interschool Swimming Carnival on Thursday.  A fantastic effort and impressive swimming by all!  We started our morning with a team talk from Bill Kirby (Olympic gold medallist and World record holder!!!) who gave us some tips on how to perform as best you can and the importance of a positive and encouraging team environment.  

It was great to see our students cheering loudly and supporting each other throughout the morning.  Every swimmer should be very proud of their efforts and achievements in both the individual events and the relays. 

We are now looking forward to the IPSHA Basketball Tournament to be held on Thursday 25 March.  

Mr Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Primary Music

Our students have had the opportunity to see and play a real harp! This is not an instrument normally found at school, so it was a very special opportunity. (Thank you to Christina Rogerson for lending us this beautiful instrument). The students observed different features, classified the instrument as a member of the string family, and discussed how longer, thicker strings make lower sounds, while shorter, thinner strings make higher sounds. Students were given the chance to try playing a ‘glissando’ and reflect on what they imagined upon hearing this sound. 

If you have any queries regarding primary music, please contact me via email catherine.haydon@cewa.edu.au

Mrs Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher