Around The Primary

Dear Families

We have had a very busy week around the Primary school. On Thursday the Year 1-12 students and staff gathered to celebrate our Opening School Mass. We were so proud of our students for reading so confidently in front of the large congregation. It was also wonderful to see the Primary choir alongside the Secondary choir leading the singing throughout the liturgy.

These prayerful times are an important part of building our community and celebrating that we are all part of God's family. All families are invited to join us in the Chapel each Friday at 8:00am for our Community Mass.

Our Years 4-6 students have enjoyed taking part in swimming lessons at Claremont Pool and Cottesloe Beach. After-school swimming training for students in Years 3-6 commences on Tuesday 14 February. This will under the guidance of Mr Williams.  

The teachers are now finalising preparations for the Parent Information Evenings next week. This is a good opportunity for families to meet class teachers and to find out about the programs and procedures for this school year. I encourage at least one parent to be represented at the Parent Information evenings (see below for specific meeting dates/times).

We have sold over 600 tickets for the Primary Family Picnic. I look forward to seeing you there from 5:00pm tomorrow. Aloha!

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Helpful Hint 

At the end of the school day, rather than asking your child ‘What did you do at school today?’ and often being frustrated with the lack of response, below are some questions that you can ask your child to support them in developing a growth mindset:

1. What did you do today that made you think hard?
2. What did you try hard at today?
3. What mistake did you make that taught you something?
4. What will you do to challenge yourself tomorrow?

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.

Kindy 2025 Interviews

Kindy 2025 Interviews are commencing in Term 2.  If you have not submitted an Application Enrolment Form, please do so by the end of Term 1.  For your convenience, please use this link:  New Submission (johnxxiii.edu.au)

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will take place in Week 7. The testing window falls between Wednesday 15 March and Monday 27 March.   

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in online assessments in the areas of Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy.  The Year 3 writing assessment is the only assessment that will be completed on paper.

To keep parents informed, a parent information leaflet will be sent home today with the students in Years 3 and 5 and further information will be provided as we approach this testing period.

Assessments are a normal part of the teaching and learning cycle so there is no need for students to feel under added pressure during NAPLAN.  Prior to the assessments, students will spend some time learning how to navigate the screen when using the Online assessment platform. 

Sports Update

Tennis

Calling all tennis player in Years 3 to 6! 

This year we are entering teams into the SSWA Academy Plate Tennis Competition (girls play on Tuesday 7 March and boys on Wednesday 8 March).  With the assistance of Nick Kirkbride, we will be holding trials on Wednesday 15 February at 7:30am on the College tennis courts.  There is no guarantee of selection into the team; however, if you are interested, I encourage you to come along and have a go.

Swimming Lessons 

Our Year 4, 5 and 6 students thoroughly enjoyed swimming lessons at Cottesloe Beach this week.  With swimming lessons and time trials now completed, swim training will take place in the College pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays (3:30pm to 4:30pm) for Year 3 to 6 students for the next two weeks.  The Interhouse Swimming Carnival takes place on Tuesday 28 February. Students are encouraged to come along to practice racing, starts and finishes.  

A range of extra sporting opportunities will be available before and after school in Term 1, please refer to the list below. 

• Monday morning tennis with Nick Kirkbride (PP-Y6) – JTC Tennis Courts, 7:30am commencing in Week 2. Booking and payment required, enrol at www.coastaltennis.com.au
• Tuesday afternoon J&J soccer sessions (Y1-Y6), Junior Primary Oval, 3:30pm-4:30pm commencing Week 3.  Booking and payment required. Email Coach Adi at juricadi@hotmail.com 
• Thursday afternoon Basketball with Redhage Basketball (Y2-Y6), St Louis Sports Centre, 3:20pm-4:20pm commencing Week 2.  Booking and payment required, enrol at www.redhagebasketball.com
• After school Swimming training in College pool (Y3-Y6) on Tuesdays and Thursdays commencing Week 3 from 3:30pm-4:30pm.  Thursday 23 February is final swimming training. 

The 2023 Extra Curricular Primary Sports Parent Communication is available to view on SEQTA Engage under the Primary Sport tab.

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

Primary Choirs

Both primary choirs for primary students commenced this week, with excellent attendance. It is not too late to join, please see below for choir rehearsal details.

Wanju Voices

Wanju Voices is open to all Year 4 to 6 students who love singing. Rehearsals are at 7:30am on Mondays in the Osborne Room with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. All Year 4, 5 and 6 students are welcome!

Primary Singers

Primary Singers is open to all Year 2 -3 students who love singing. Rehearsals are at 8:00am on Thursdays in the Osborne Room with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. All Year 2 and 3 students are welcome!

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 on Fridays in the Chapel with Mrs Haydon and Mr Johnston. Chapel Choir then sings at Community Mass (commencing at 8:00am). The next Chapel Choir rehearsal and Community Mass is Friday 16 February 2023. Please contact Mrs Haydon for more information. 

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

Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Counsellor's Corner

Protective Behaviours/Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum

As part of their registration standards all schools in WA are required to deliver to students a developmentally appropriate protective behaviours curriculum. The curriculum covers what the boundaries are between appropriate and inappropriate interactions and when, how and who to tell when a boundary is crossed.

To meet this standard, all Primary staff are trained in the delivery of the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum. The KS:CPC is an evidence based, best practice curriculum developed collaboratively with child protection experts, teachers, educational leaders and other professionals. It will be taught across the Primary school from Kindy to Year 6 throughout the year.

The KS:CPC is based on two main themes which are presented through topics and activities of increasing complexity. The two KS:CPC Themes are:

• Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe
• Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.

The two KS:CPC Themes are explored through four Focus Areas, which are examined in growing complexity in accordance with the age of the students. 

The four KS:CPC Focus Areas are:

• Focus Area 1: The right to be safe
• Focus Area 2: Relationships
• Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse
• Focus Area 4: Protective strategies

This term across the Primary School we will explore the first Focus Area of the Keeping Safe Program: The Right to be Safe

Topics covered are: Feelings; Being safe; Warning signs; Risk-taking and emergencies

• Children develop skills to identify their own feelings and the feelings of others and develop awareness of body language. 
• Children explore the concept of safe and unsafe and the characteristics of safe places and unsafe places, including online safety. In upper primary, students consider strategies to identify and assess risks and what to do to minimise risk.
• Students learn the concept of early warning signs and the three components: physical indicators (body messages); emotional indicators (feelings); and external signs (clues). Warning signs are discussed in familiar and safe environments to help children recognise a situation where there may be a risk of harm.
• Children develop understandings about emergencies and risk-taking by exploring and examining consequences and making decisions. The concept of personal emergencies is introduced, whereby children may need to break the normal rules in order to remain safe.

Attached are some suggestions on how parents can support this learning. If you have any concerns or queries, please contact me on 9383 0469 or by email anne.murphy@cewa.edu.au 

Mrs Anne Murphy

Primary Counsellor