Secondary

Year 9 Economics and Business Trade Fair 

Last week the Thomas Moore Education Centre came alive as the second annual Year 9 Trade Fair took place. Year 9 Economics and Business students have been investigating Australia's interdependence with other economies, with a focus on trade. The task was for each pair to create a trade stall that showcased the major goods and services that their allocated country trades with Australia. 

The creative and informative displays were viewed by students from the primary and secondary school who learnt about Australia’s major trade partners in an engaging and interactive manner. The Year 9 students are to be commended on the tremendous pride and effort they put into their stalls, as well as for demonstrating a detailed understanding of the bilateral trade relationships between Australian and their country.

Tom Hooker

Humanities & Social Sciences teacher

Year 8 Geography

Construction of new cities has been underway in Year 8 this week, or at least models of new cities. As part of the geography unit, students have been studying urbanisation and have examined real situations that require thoughtful urban design. After extensive research, students have applied urban geography theory to design urban models. Students built on their topographic mapping skills to consider the specific physical geography of locations and then the urban construction began. 

Here is a snapshot of some of the projects:

Marli, Parker, Neva and Charlotte were planning a new capital city for Egypt. Charlotte said 

We really wanted to consider sustainability and designing a more socially equitable city than what they currently have in Cairo. We based our design on the superblock plan of Barcelona to alleviate the problems of overcrowding and air pollution. We can still have high-density housing, but all people would have access to public space and transport networks would be more efficient.

Isabelle, Darcy, Verity and Jack designed a new major city for Australia. Verity said 

We wanted to solve the problem of urban sprawl and car-dependency that is common in Australian cities. We organised our city into functional nodes that will be linked by high-speed, low carbon transit.

Ultimately the groups had to present their cities to the class to justify the design choices they implemented. Overall, this was a fun and creative way for the students to engage with the topic. 

Declan Sharp

Humanities & Social Sciences teacher

Visual Arts

It’s full steam ahead in the Visual Arts department this term as we prepare for our up coming Visual Arts Exhibition on Monday 18 October. Our Semester One art students have created a diverse and creative range of artworks that will be showcased, including Kehinde Wiley self-portraits, Rosenquist inspired macro paintings, ceramic busts, Egyptian lino prints and beautiful banksia drawings. Our Semester Two art students have a tight deadline and are working hard to finish their artworks ready for the exhibition. 

Earlier in the term, upper school Visual Arts students Lucinda Tassone, Amalia Olsen and Bailey Arundell (College Visual Arts Captain) represented the College in the annual St George’s Art Show. Their artworks deliver a commentary into the issues and concerns facing contemporary society and have been executed with sophisticated detail and refinement. Bailey’s artwork Effeminate Flamboyance was created using Prisma coloured pencils and explores how the heteronormative social paradigms that supported the persecution of Macaronis (an effeminate group of men in the 18th century) still heavily prevails in society today.

In August, the Angelico Art Exhibition was displayed at the Forrest Centre in Perth. Named after Blessed Fra Angelico, Patron before God of Artists, the Angelico Exhibition is a prestigious annual event on the Catholic school calendar. We had six student artworks on display, including a group project by Year 7 students. Congratulations to the following students for representing the College with your wonderful artworks:

• Abbey Chapman (Year 12)
• Amalia Olsen (Year 12)
• Toryn Leach (Year 12)
• Violet Seah (Year 11)
• Indi Korczynskyj (Year 11)
• Year 7 Group project: Lily Lucas, Felicia Zhao, Ruby Bogoias, Sara Pavlinovich, Odetta Jackson, Oliver Van Ast and Felicity Finch.

In recent news, Lucinda Tassone, Kirsten McCormick and Jasmine Slatter are amongst 30 high school-aged students from around Australia to be chosen as finalists in The Lester Prize’s Youth competition – WA’s premier fine art prize. Formally known as the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture, this award is now in its fifteenth year. All three girls have painted striking realistic portraits using oil paints as their medium.

In her artwork Class Clown, Lucinda explains 

I have critiqued the treatment of the average working class in contemporary society. By depicting the average worker as a clown, the facade of the ‘working hero’ is deconstructed and instead presents the bitter reality. The working class is treated as dispensable, valueless and foolish – a clown of sorts in the modern context.

The Youth finalist works will be on display at Brookfield Place’s Tower 2, 123-125 St Georges Terrace Perth from18 Oct – 12 Nov 2021, with the winners announced on 27 October 2021.

Louise Hoy

Visual Arts Coordinator 

John XXIII College Sustainability Award - Applications are now open

Applications for the John XXIII College Sustainability Award are now open to Year 12 students who intend to pursue an aspect of environmental or sustainability studies at tertiary level and who are committed to improving the world we live in. Examples of courses include: Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Law, Architecture Urban Design, Town Planning, Public Health & Urban Design etc.

This award was initiated by Dr Margaret Yoon in 2012 and is further supported by the John XXIII College Foundation as a way of inspiring and supporting students, as well as to act as an incentive for them to pursue tertiary studies in the areas of sustainability. 

Submissions close Friday 17 September 2021

• The award recipient will receive $500
• The recipient will be announced at the start of Term 4, 2021.
• A certificate will be given to the student in recognition of this award.
• Payment will be made once proof of admission to a tertiary institute is submitted.

SPORT

ACC A Division Athletics Team

Congratulations to all students who attended our official challenge day this morning at the HBF Athletics Stadium. A final team will be posted in the pavilion on Monday 6 September for all students to view. All named team members are encouraged to attend the morning athletics training sessions with our specialist coaches. All students are reminded that, to receive an athletics badge, they need to have attended at least five morning training sessions. 

There are only four training sessions left until the ACC A-Division Athletics Carnival on Wednesday 15 September. We look forward to seeing our athletes at as many of these sessions as possible.

Water Polo Trials 

There will be a second water polo trial for all interested Years 9/10 students from 7:00-8:00am in the John XXIII College pool on the following dates:

• Boys – Wednesday 8 September
• Girls – Thursday 9 September

State Sporting Representation

Thank you to all the students who attended our information sessions regarding our State Sporting Representation video. These students will have received an invite for our interview day on Monday 6 September. 

Congratulations

Congratulations to Bianca Petsos (Year 8) , Sylvia Czajko (Year 8) and Charlie Hodge (Year 10) who have made the Swimming WA State Swimming Team and will be competing at the 2021 Duel in the Pool. http://ow.ly/YXA950G3vhk . 

Congratulations also to Angelina Smythe (Year7) on being selected for the 10 – 12yrs School Sports State Swimming Team. https://www.schoolsportwa.com.au/10-12-yr-swimming-state-team-announced/?fbclid=IwAR1pUfjYzEeCWFBPAMnXFeHg9fvTj5qHrkIYbEfWGiMpa2khJsTpyEGoyqc   

Sara Kononen

Head of Sport