Around The Primary

Dear Families

Special thanks to all those who provided the delicious treats for the staff morning tea today and to those who often take the time out of your busy lives to send an email or a note of appreciation to staff – a sincere thank you!

Your children watch and hear everything you do and when they see you showing gratefulness and thoughtfulness, it is powerful modelling for their own lives.

To teach a child is such a special privilege and it takes skill, knowledge, patience, kindness, creativity and much more to bring out the very best in them, so they grow and flourish, as both a learner and as a person.

When teaching is done in partnership, that is, a dedicated and caring teacher and a devoted and loving parent or caregiver, it makes for a very powerful foundation upon which a child feels happy to have-a-go, safe to take risks and make mistakes and feels supported to learn. 

Let’s continue to work together to share the gift of learning.

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.

Read, Read, Read

National Simultaneous Storytime

On Wednesday we celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS).  NSS is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many 

other places around the country!

Now in its 23rd successful year, it is a fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

This year’s book is ‘The Speedy Sloth’, written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie, is a wonderful story about a sloth called Spike who runs in the Great Race, determined not to give up just because sloths are slow animals. It teaches children to keep trying and celebrates all winners, especially those who don’t come first. The primary students enjoyed listening to such an inspiring story.

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2023

In 2022 the Premier’s Reading Challenge was introduced to encourage students to read more books and enjoy reading. To register please click on the link below. 

https://www.premiersreadingchallenge.wa.edu.au/

Each week, students who log their reading achievements will be eligible to win a prize. The weekly prize could be an experience, a fun day out, or a mystery technology prize.

The 2023 challenge runs from Monday 8 May to Friday 8 September and is open to all students from Kindy to Year 10.

Sasha Cattapan

Primary Library Teacher

Counsellor’s Corner

URSTRONG is an internationally recognized Social Emotional Wellbeing program, that empowers children with the skills, language, and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. We are proud to run the URSTRONG program. Friendship is such an important part of children’s lives and across primary school, children are learning practical useful strategies to help them make this a positive, happy part of their life.

This video by URSTRONG founder Dana Kerford is a great introduction to the URSTRONG program. https://urstrong.com/language-of-friendship-intro/   and you can click here to see an overview of URSTRONG. 

Parents are invited to take advantage of a FREE Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources – including an 8-session video series. There are many resources to help you support your child through the ups and downs of friendship. This will also allow you to learn the same language & strategies being taught in the classroom through the Friendology 101 curriculum. 

If you have any concerns about your children’s friendships, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email anne.murphy@cewa.edu.au or phone 9383 0469.

Anne Murphy

Primary Counsellor

Sacramental Certificates 

Parents are requested to email a copy of their child’s Sacramental Certificate (Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation) to Mrs Petsos in Main Administration nancy.petsos@cewa.edu.au for our College records.

Primary Sport

The cross-country season is upon us!  It begins on Tuesday 30 May and takes place every Thursday and Thursday morning on the Secondary ovals.  The training is open to all students, however Year 2 and below must have an adult running with them.  We meet outside the St Louis Sports Centre and if it is too wet, we will be training in the gymnasium. 

We will begin with a fun movement game to warm up. Then the aim is to run continuously for 20 minutes and gradually build up our running fitness.  Towards the end of the term, we will start practicing the course and focus on race strategies.  Our Interhouse and Interschool events are at the beginning of term 3 so it’s a great time to start training now.

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

Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Music Update

Opera Incursion

The Year 2 to 6 students attended an incursion on Thursday with Freeze Frame Opera, viewing an operatic rendition of Rapunzel in English. The students thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining performance, which included College alumnus Ruth Burke as Rapunzel. The show exposed the students to the wonderful world of opera, with humour and modern references making it accessible and entertaining to both children and adults. Freeze Frame Opera is offering students the opportunity to take their families to watch the show again in Liberty Theatre, with free tickets (while they last!) using the code school tour on the booking website: FreezeFrameRapunzel 

Australian Girls Choir

The Australian Girls Choir will be holding an open day on Saturday 17 June. This is a great opportunity for girls from Pre-Primary to Year 5 to experience a choir outside of school. For more information, please visit their website https://ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc/

Congratulations

Congratulations to Cecilia Natale (Year 4G) for her outstanding performance at the Fremantle Eisteddfod this week. Cecilia placed second in the 13 and under Classical Vocal section, and third in the 13 and under Sacred/Art Vocal section. 

If your child participates in performing arts examinations/performances outside school, please forward the details so they can be published in the newsletter.

Primary Choir Rehearsals

Choir rehearsals for next week are as follows:

Please note that attendance at all rehearsals is compulsory as the students are preparing for various performances.

Chapel Choir

Chapel Choir is open to all Year 2 to 12 students who love singing, with a focus on liturgical music. Rehearsals commence at 7:30am in the Chapel with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. Chapel Choir then sings at Community Mass at 8:00am). The next Community Mass is Friday 2 June 

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher