Around The Primary

Dear Families

As we are now at the end of Term 1, I would like to thank you for your support of staff, and other families throughout the term.  Every kind word, generous offer, smile, positive email all helps to build our community and keep it strong. I also extend my thanks to all the staff for their efforts to ensure students have had a positive and productive start to the year. 

Holy Week is the most important week in the Church’s year. It is a time when we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We remember Jesus’ actions, reflect on his messages, and recommit to living as Christians. Easter is also a wonderful opportunity for us all to reconnect with our loved ones, to reassess and to re-prioritise our lives. 

The Year 5 students lead the Primary community in prayer through the Palm Sunday, Last Supper, and Good Friday prayer liturgies. They really took their roles to heart, making their words, actions and songs carry so much meaning. 

Special thanks to Miss Allen, Mrs Fontaine, and Mrs Levy for working so hard alongside the students to create a moving and reflective dramatisation of the journey of Jesus.

We also extend our thanks to Wanju Voices, Year 6 Strings Ensemble and Mrs Haydon for the beautiful singing and music. 

I hope you have a joyous Easter and a peaceful break with your delightful children. I look forward to welcoming you back to a new term. 

May we all be peace-makers this Easter

May we be light to all we meet 

And may we be grateful for the little things

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Easter Reflections

Our Year 4 students have shared some lovey thoughts about Easter:

What is the focus of Good Friday?

Jesus died for our sins to show how much he loves us. 

Karl Da Costa 4G

Jesus gave up a lot because he loves us. 

Beatrice Reed 4G

Jesus died for our sins, and this shows how much he cares.

Thea Barboutis 4G

How will I show forgiveness to others?

Give them a second chance in life; pray for them. 

Luella Fennessy 4G

Keeping in mind no-one is ‘perfect’; knowing that everyone makes mistakes; showing mercy and praying for them. 

Reggie Bowers 4G

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.

Constable Care

Last Thursday the Year Six students explored bike safety during a Constable Care excursion in Maylands. They discussed real life transport risks and practiced road, bike and pedestrian safety. The students were able to put their biking skills into action and practiced using signals, reading road signs and how to navigate safely when cars are around. This was a great excursion and the students had so much fun!

Year 4 Brownes Dairy Excursion 

On Tuesday the Year 4 students had the opportunity to visit Brownes Dairy Factory in Balcatta. They learnt all about dairy production and received a special tour around the Brownes Dairy factory by farmer Damian and food scientist Joe. The students able to sample some yoghurt and also explored the process of cheese making in the innovation kitchen. They also had a peek inside the dairy factory and the giant machinery and ended the day by having a go at milking Belinda the dairy cow. It was a fabulous day. Thank you to all those involved for their support.

The excursion to Brownes Dairy was a huge success as we all got to milk a cow, make cheese (the first step) and see how products come ‘from moo to you’. Farmer Damian and food scientist Jo made the outing fly by! Therapy dog Curly Sue was great for petting, and we all had a blast! Thank you to the parent helpers and staff that helped the excursion come together. Daisy Hewer 4G

We learnt a lot from our excursion to Brownes Dairy.  We tried out a science experiment in the kitchen making cheese; saw how milk was bottled; learnt about the process of turning raw milk into fresh milk as well as a lot of other cool things we wouldn’t normally get to see. David Chan 4G

Stock Market Update

On Monday afternoon, the Year 5 GATE students enjoyed a visit from our own College Business Manager Mr John Cumming. He was invited to talk to students about investing in shares and the stock market. The Year 5 Students are completing a $2,000,000 project in which they must invest $30 000 in different companies.

Mr Cumming came very prepared with a powerpoint and excel spreadsheet! He made shares and the stock market interesting and easy for the students to understand with a sprinkle of humour.  Thank you, Mr Cumming, for sharing your great wealth of knowledge with the students.

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.

Sports Update

Term 2 Sport

This term students have been refining passing and receiving with their hands whilst playing lots of modified netball, basketball and European handball games.  Next term we start using our feet to pass and receive soccer balls and AFL balls.

Have a safe and sporty break!

Cross Country 

Training begins in Week 6 of Term 2 every Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:30am.  If it is too wet to run, training will take place in the gym.  Students in Year 2 and below must be accompanied by an adult throughout the session. 

Extra-curricular opportunities

Tuesdays - J&J soccer sessions 

• Years 1 to 6 – begins Week 2, Tuesday 2 May in the Junior Primary Oval (3:30pm to 4:30pm).  Booking and payment required.  To enrol email juricadi@hotmail.com

Thursdays - Redhage Basketball 

• Years 2 to 6 – begins Week 2, Thursday 4 May in the St Louis Sports Centre (3:20pm to  4:20pm).  Bookings and payments required.  Registrations open Sunday 26 March, please enrol at www.redhagebasketball.com

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 Practice Incentive Program

Congratulations to all students who participated in the Primary Practice Incentive Program. Tutors and parents have reported that many students took advantage of this program to increase their dedication to practice. To ensure all students’ raffle entries are accounted for, the raffle winners will be announced next term.

Many students will now have a break from practice over the school holidays. While it is important to rest, encouraging your child to play their instrument (even once or twice a week) during the holidays will help them to keep in touch with their learning from Term One. Social gatherings are also a great opportunity where parents can encourage students to play a song for their visitors, and perhaps discover hidden talents or musical stories from their extended family and friends! 

Primary Singers and Wanju Voices

Thank you to all students in Primary Singers and Wanju Voices for your dedication to rehearsals this term. Rehearsals recommence in week two next term.

Palm Sunday Mass at St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco

Congratulations to the students from Wanju Voices who represented the College by singing at the 9am Palm Sunday Mass at St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco last weekend. The Church was full, and it was especially appropriate to have our young choristers lead the congregation in singing “To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring". We received many compliments from parishioners and the parish office regarding the choir’s wonderful singing. Thank you to the parents of Wanju Voices for your support.

Chapel Choir

Thank you to the students in Chapel Choir for their dedication throughout the term. Chapel Choir will resume next term. 

Chapel Choir is open to all Year 2 - 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 8am.  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

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)

Bricks 4 Kidz

Bricks 4 Kidz will be running After School Classes in Term 2 and bookings are now open on TryBooking.

Please refer to attachment for further information.