Around The Primary

Dear Parents,

We have spent this glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. Ms Cattapan and the library team have done a great job creating vibrant displays, running competitions and reading books to highlight the importance of reading. The students and staff have enjoyed visiting the Book Fair, as well as, listening to visiting authors at school or at the Nedlands library.

The highlight of the week was the Book Week Parade! Thank you to all our students and staff who got involved and had some fun. The costumes this year were amazing! Special thanks to parents (and grandparents) for organising the outfits for the variety of colourful characters - there were some very creative and unique costumes on show and this was the source of much laughter and cheering.

We have enjoyed celebrating reading as a school community - please enjoy some photos from our Book Week celebrations.

Our Kindy to Year 2 students are getting very excited about their Athletics Carnival next Thursday 29 October. All parents are requested to wear their College badges and to social distance on the day.

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

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

Book Week  Round Up

What a fun and amazing Book Week we have enjoyed this week! It all started on Monday with our wonderful Book Parades. The students and staff all looked spectacular in their book character costumes. There were lots of very original creations and it was great to see everyone getting into the Book Week spirit. 

Our Scholastic Book Fair has been very popular and it has been fantastic to see the children so excited about books. Thank you to our Library Staff who ensured everything ran smoothly.

The Year Five students thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Nedlands Library to hear Australian author, Dianne Wolfer. The students were particularly interested to hear that some of Dianne’s books are based on historic events and are set in Western Australia. Dianne talked to the students about her inspirations for her books, gave an insight into the researching process and showed interesting photos and memorabilia that she collected for her books. 

I really enjoyed our excursion to Nedlands Library and talking to the author Diana Wolfe. I liked learning how she based her books on World War One and World War Two. It was interesting to learn how she did the research for her books and what inspired her to write them. 

Zack Barley 5G

Dianne Wolfer told us about how she had started all her books and why. We were lucky that she shared many interesting stories with us. I think she has convinced many of us to read her books.

Stella Fullerton 5B

We were very lucky today to have Australian author, Jonathan Macpherson, visiting our Library to talk to the Year 1, 2, 3 and 4 students. The students loved hearing all about how he wrote his ‘Rotto!’ series after visiting Rottnest Island with his young family. Jonathan showed us his inspiration points for writing his stories and characters. He also explained how he designed the front covers for his books.

‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’ Book Week Poster Competition

The library team and I have been so impressed with the creativity and effort that everyone put into their posters. Congratulations to everyone who entered the competition. The prize winners will receive their prizes next week. All entries will be on display in the Library.

Ms Sasha Cattapan

Primary Library Teacher

Great Minds

Our Year Five GATE students are to be congratulated on their Great Minds presentations this week.

Students presented themselves as their ‘Great Mind’ and gave a brief speech and answered questions as their chosen person.  Each ‘Great Mind’ set up, created stalls, posters and digital displays as well take away gifts for visitors. The quality of their work and responses were a testament to their enthusiasm and hard work.  All students put in an amazing effort into their costumes as well. 

We were graced by Shakespeare, Gandhi, Coco Chanel, Galileo, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Henry Ford, Mother Teresa, Charles Darwin, Fred Hollows and Charlie Chaplin!  By researching these ‘Great Mind’ it is hoped that they will be inspired to develop their own gifts and talents.

Mrs Tara Purcell

Primary GATE Teacher

Japanese Wonders

On Tuesday the Year 3 classes embarked on an incredible excursion to the Japanese Hyogo Cultural Centre. We had a great time learning about the culture, language and food of Japan!

We learnt that Hyogo and Perth have been sister cities for 39 years and that the Japanese Cultural Centre in Perth has been around for 29 years.

Then, we made some origami, which is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. The origami was very challenging but fun. We created a butterfly, a fish and a traditional Japanese happi coat. We also made a Japanese fan each and we decorated these with Japanese letters which are known as ‘hiragana’. 

Finally, it was lunch time and we each received a delicious bento box which is a traditional Japanese meal. It was cool because we got to eat using chopsticks!

We had a fantastic excursion and now we know even more about Japan!

By Madeleine Grainger (3G)

Tim Winton Award for Young Writers

Congratulations to Layla Travis (4B) on being awarded second place in The Tim Winton Award for Young Writers for the Middle Primary category! Overall, there were 1350 entries from all over Western Australia.

Layla’s story “Invisible Me” is on display in the Subiaco Library.  Layla got to meet Tim Winton himself whom she said was “funny and great to talk to.”

We also had two Highly Commended students in the Upper Primary category. Congratulations Elise Kwei (6G) and Georgette Watson (6G).

Mrs Tara Purcell

Primary GATE Teacher

Primary Music News

Primary Recitals

Due to unforeseen clashes in the calendar, we have had to make some changes to the Primary Recital timetable. The Strings/Guitar recital has been moved to Friday in Week 5, and the Piano Recitals have had a change in the year group dates. Please see below for the updated timetable. 

Entries for the Winds, Brass, Percussion and String Recitals are due to Mrs Haydon by Friday 30 October (Week 3) and entries for the Piano Recitals are due to Mrs Haydon by Friday 13 November (Week 5). Students who receive instrumental lessons at school will be entered by their tutor.

We look forward to celebrating the dedication and talents of the primary students at these special recitals.

Beethoven Poster Competition

To celebrate 250 years since the birth of Beethoven, students in Years 3-6 are invited to participate in the Beethoven Poster Competition. Entries must be hand-drawn (ie not printed) and students may enter a solo or group entry. Students are encouraged to use their imagination and create a poster that either celebrates this important musician or share information about his life and achievements. Posters need to be handed in to Mrs Haydon in the Primary Music Room (clearly labelled on the back with name and class) by lunchtime on Thursday 29 October (Week 3). We look forward to seeing the students’ creative and beautiful work.

Mrs Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Specialist

email: catherine.haydon@cewa.edu.au 

Sports Update

Athletics 

We are very excited for our upcoming Junior Primary Athletics Carnival on Thursday 29 October.  The students have been busy practicing for the events and we look forward to seeing you there. 

This year there will be extra shade tents for parents and an on-site coffee van (with cakes!).  There will be additional parking available on the lawn off Mooro Drive and also on the Secondary ovals, please follow the signage. Please wear your badge and ensure social distancing requirements are followed on the day.

Swimming 

Swimming lessons at Claremont Pool begin for Pre-Primary to Year 3 on Monday 23 November. Detailed information along with the registration form will be sent to all families in the coming weeks.

Mr Steve Williams 

Primary Sport Coordinator 

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.