Secondary

Dear Families

Our Years 11 and 12 students embark on a big couple of weeks with exams and work placements commencing next week. Being the culmination of the semester’s coursework, exams can be a challenging time for students and their families supporting them. To help them navigate this period with confidence and achieve the best results, the following tips provide a guide on how to approach the exams with a clear mind, keep stress in check and optimise performance. 

Plan and organise

• Create a study schedule: Break down study material into manageable chunks and allocate specific time slots for each subject.
• Prioritise tasks: Identify the subjects or topics that require more attention and allocate more study time accordingly.
• Set realistic goals: Establish achievable goals for each study session, such as completing a specific chapter or solving a set number of practice questions.

Study smart

• Understand the exam format: Be familiar with the exam structure, question types and any specific instructions provided by your teachers. 
• Review class materials: Go through notes, textbooks, and other relevant resources. Focus on key concepts, formulas, and important details. 
• Practice regularly: Solve past exam papers, sample questions, or quizzes to test understanding and identify areas for last-minute improvement. 
• Seek clarification: Don't hesitate to ask teachers or classmates for help or need further explanation on certain topics. 

Take care of yourself

• Get sufficient sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night to enhance concentration, memory, and overall cognitive function.
• Eat a balanced diet: Fuel the body and mind with nutritious meals that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to stay refreshed and maintain optimal brain function.
• Engage in physical activity: Take short breaks during study sessions to exercise or engage in activities that help relieve stress.
• Practice mindfulness or meditation: To help with the feeling of being overwhelmed or anxious, take deep breaths to calm the mind and regain focus.
• Positive self-talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations of the work that has been done to prepare and be ready for the exam to boost confidence and maintain a positive mindset. 

On the Day

• Review key points: Quickly go through notes or summaries to reinforce an understanding right before the exam.
• Arrive early: Plan to reach the exam venue well in advance to avoid unnecessary stress caused by rushing.
• Read instructions carefully: Take a few minutes to read through the exam instructions thoroughly before starting to understand what is required.
• Manage your time: Allocate appropriate time for each section of the exam and stick to it. 

Remember that exams are just one measure of students’ academic progress and their wellbeing is of utmost importance. Take breaks when needed, maintain a healthy balance between studying and leisure activities, and reach out to support systems if feeling overwhelmed. More information on how to manage the exam period effectively can be found at headspace: 

For students embarking on work placements, this can be a time of excitement to be out in the workforce but also overwhelming in a new environment among adults. Wishing them a successful placement; we hope that they enjoy the experience and learn new skills to assist with their Years 11 and 12 journeys. 

Congratulations to our Year 9 Drama students for their creative Drama Night performances last night. Also, to all students who competed in the School Sport WA Cross-country carnival yesterday and today's ACC Inclusive Sport Activity Day who represented John XXIII with distinction. All the best to the musicians involved in Sunday’s Autumn Soiree, we look forward to a fabulous afternoon of performances. 

Term 2 key dates

Shani Andrews

Vice Principal - Head of Secondary

LifeLink Launch 

Valentina Kuruc, Charlie Haines, and Joshua Mengler accompanied Ms Cinini to the launch of LifeLink's appeal on Thursday.

Archbishop Costelloe, Bishop Sproxton, and Dr Debra Sayce spoke about the real need that exists in our community and how our Church agencies, through LifeLink, respond to the need. Our representatives were able to meet with students from other Catholic schools and discuss ways they are able to support LifeLink. The College will be raising funds to support the appeal with our annual Comfy Day on the last day of Term 2. 

Additional information regarding Lifelink can be found at their new website: LifeLink | Catholic Caring Agencies

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal of Faith and Mission

John XXIII College tree planting

The College will be planting native trees and shrubs and weeding on Saturday 20 May, 2023, starting at 8:00am and finishing at 9:30am. The aim of the planting is to offset carbon emissions from the College, provide food and habitat for native bird species focusing on the endangered Carnaby Black Cockatoo.

We invited interested parents and students to join us. The meeting point is on the north end of E-Block near the netball courts. Here is a link to a campus map.

All equipment will be provided, please ensure you wear comfortable clothing and suitable closed footwear. Also don’t forget to bring a hat and sunscreen.  

Adrian Sims

Sustainability Coordinator

SPORTS

School Sport WA Cross-country Carnival

Congratulations to all students who represented John XXIII College at the 2023 School Sport WA Cross-country Carnival this week. We were down on several runners due to illness and injury, however, we still managed to come home as the Overall Runner Up School for the day. Our team result was amazing, but, what was more impressive was the determination of our members to post some incredibly competitive times.

Times will now be used from our Interhouse and ACC Cross-country Carnivals, along with any challenge sessions at training to finalise our 2023 ACC Cross-country team. This team will be released in SEQTA notices on Monday.

Winter NAS Competition

All teams are to be commended on their games against Newman College this week. It was a fantastic first round of our Winter NAS season.

Next week, our teams will battle it out against Sacred Heart College. We wish all teams the best of luck in these games.

Important Years 7-10 NAS information

• Years 7/8 play on Tuesday 4:00pm-5:00pm.
• Years 9/10 play on Wednesday 4:00pm-5:00pm.
• Teams playing away have permission to change into their PE uniform at lunchtime.
• Teams playing at home must get changed after school (between 3:10pm-4:00pm).
• Teams travelling to Sacred Heart and Chisholm College will leave period 6 at 2:50pm for an early bus departure. These teams will return to the College between 5:30pm-6:00pm. 
• All remaining teams will depart the College for away games at 3:15pm and return to the College by 5:30pm.
• Remember, all teams are awarded an MVP later on in the year. MVP's are awarded based on leadership, assistance, and sportsmanship displayed throughout all games and training.

Please find the Years 7-10 Fixtures below:

First XVIII AFL

Our team played their third away game this Wednesday against Shenton College. All team members are to be commended for their incredible performance for another well-deserved win. 

Thank you to Mr Campbell Tirant for stepping in to coach our team this week. 

Interschool jumpers

All ACC Interschool swimming jumpers are back from the embroiders. Students are welcome to collect these from the uniform shop. 

Cross-country training

Please see the next two weeks of training and what the commitments look like for students who will be named in our ACC Cross-country Team on Monday afternoon. 

All ACC team members are highly encouraged to make it down to these final training sessions in particular Thursday 25 May where students will be able to run the ACC course before the big day.

Thursday 25 May students will need to make their own way to Alderbury Reserve meeting at the point on the map below. There will be a bus to transport students back to the College as well as a breakfast voucher for after the session.

Interhouse Cross-country Carnival

We were blessed with perfect running conditions at our recent Interhouse Cross-country carnival. The competitive atmosphere, House spirit and passion were evident, with students running the course and competing in the spirit events. Congratulations to Koolyangarra House for taking out the Fr Gaetan Pereira Shield and Loreto House for winning the Spirit Award.

Sara Kononen

Head of Sport