From the Principal

COVID-19

Given the government updates released in the last few days, we will provide a John XXIII College specific update to our families via a letter on Monday.

Resources are being developed to assist teachers with their conversations with students and much of the advice that is being provided resonates with good parenting strategies.

Some of the key messages are as follows:

• Being calm and reassuring to give young people a sense of security.
• Listening to the concerns of children and acknowledging the feelings they are expressing.
• Putting the virus in perspective – it is unlikely they will get sick and if they do they will go to the doctor. Most children have mild symptoms and will be well again.
• Doctors and others are working on solutions.
• Empowering children with what they can do; washing their hands and being careful with personal hygiene.

We are appreciative of the calm and sensible approach being exhibited by our staff and families. I will provide a more complete update early next week.

John XXIII College Open Day

Last week’s Open Day was a resounding success with over 700 people in attendance. On these occasions, I am often asked to give an opinion on the relevant merits of co-education and single gender schools. I always explain that it is a great to live in a part of Perth where we are blessed for choice and there are lots of excellent schools.

In recent decades there has been a move towards more co-educational Catholic and Independent schools. Historically, there have been pragmatic reasons for those changes. In the Catholic sector the declining number of teaching Religious Priests, Brothers and Sisters has meant that the amalgamation of schools has made good economic sense.

At John XXIII College we believe that co-education provides a comfortable environment in which students learn and grow. Gender is a core element of our identity and the formative years of childhood and adolescence are the right times to establish respectful, collaborative patterns of understanding and behaviour. One of the reasons our students are successful and comfortable in the tertiary sphere is because they are accustomed to co-education.

I have had the pleasure of working in co-educational and single gender Catholic and Independent schools and have thoroughly enjoyed each experience. It really comes down to an individual choice for each child and family.

There are wonderful co-educational schools and single gender schools throughout Australia and the world. It is brilliant that we live in a society where families can make informed choices. We are very proud of our Loreto and St Louis heritage and thrilled that we now offer the benefits of over 40 years of co-education at John XXIII College.

Robert Henderson

Principal