Around The Primary

Dear Parents

Welcome to the start of an exciting new term! I hope that you enjoyed spending quality time together with family and friends over the break. 

The children have returned to school well rested, happy, healthy, and keen to embark on the next ten weeks of learning and fun with peers, staff, and families!

Time certainly flies, so let us all make the most of the time we have in this second half of the year. This term we have many special events to look forward to, including the Cross-Country Carnival (Years 3-6), John XXIII Day Mass and celebrations, Music Eisteddfod, Year 4 Musical, Book Week, Father’s Day Mass, Athletics Carnival (Years 3-6), Dance Showcases and various Assemblies. More information will follow about these events and families are reminded to regularly check the Primary Calendar for updates. http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-parents/calendars

As we head into the weekend, here are some questions to ask your child/ren about their return to school:

What made you smile at school? 

What are three things went well for you at school?  

What made you laugh at school?

We look forward to seeing many parents and grandparents around the Primary for the busy term ahead.

Kind regards

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

COVID Update

As Premier Mark McGowan recently communicated, WA is seeing an increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the community. As such we are being encouraged to take preventative measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. The wearing of masks is an effective measure to lessen the risk of both spreading and becoming infected with COVID-19. Therefore, our staff and students are encouraged to wear masks where physical distancing is not possible. 

It is important that the College continues to be notified of student positive COVID cases.  Please inform us via this LINK.  Please also register any positive COVID-19 RAT results on the WA Health RAT Register, as is required by the WA Government. 

Dance Lessons

Next week the Pre-Primary to Year 6 students will commence their dance lessons with Mrs Holly Allen next week. On their allocated dance days, students will need to wear their house shirts and sports shorts or tracksuit pants. 

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

Bishops' Religious Literacy Assessment

This term our Year 3 and Year 5 students will be participating in the Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment (BRLA). This assessment will occur on the following days:

The BRLA measures students’ knowledge and understanding of the content in the Religious Education Curriculum. It provides a ‘point in time’ snapshot of student performance.  As with all assessments, we encourage students to approach the online assessment with a calm and positive mindset. 

Eucharistic Retreat

At the end of last term, the Year 4 students celebrated a Eucharistic Retreat with 24.7 Ministry to assist them in their preparations for the Sacrament of the Eucharist and to reflect on receiving Jesus in Holy Communion.

It was amazing how kind the leaders interacted with us, and it made the experience a whole lot more fun. I enjoyed learning about the acronym ALTAR and how that helps us to write prayers to Jesus. I also loved the acting out of the Last Supper.

Asha Bowers 4G

I loved interacting with our school community when we were taking part in our Liturgy. It was great singing the songs and listening to the readings and the reflections of my friends. 

Hugo Smith 4G

I really liked our Retreat.  I had so much fun learning about Jesus and God, and I felt like one of Jesus's disciples while acting out The Last Supper. The group leaders were very kind. Thank you to all the teachers for organising such a great day.

Avalei Edwards 4B

Reconciliation Retreat 

On the last Friday of Term 3, the Year Three students presented a beautiful liturgy centred on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This was a lovely way to consolidate the learning of this Sacrament that took place throughout Semester 1. The students then enjoyed a fun afternoon with 24.7 Youth Ministry that engaged them in fun games and enriched their understanding of forgiveness.  The Year 3 students are very excited about taking the next step in their faith journey. 

Primary Music

Choir Rehearsals

A reminder that choir rehearsal times for Week 2 are as follows:

Wanju Voices - 7:30am Monday 25 July (Osborne Room)

Primary Singers - 8am Thursday 28 July (Osborne Room)

With upcoming performances, it is essential that students are punctual and attend all rehearsals.

Catholic Performing Arts Festival

The Catholic Performing Arts Festival takes place next term, with over 20 000 students from 158 Catholic schools in Western Australia taking part in various categories including instrumental and choral performances. Students performing solos have been emailed regarding their session information and are required to arrange their own transport to and from these performances. 

The choral performances for Wanju Voices and Primary Singers will take place on Thursday 25 August in the 9:30am session at the Vasto Club, Balcatta. Students will be transported by buses from the College to and from this event. Further information with all details will be communicated to the parents/guardians of students involved. 

Please note that tickets for audience members (including parents) need to be pre-purchased online. 

Parents may wish to purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. Try Booking ticket links for all sections of the festival may be found under the ‘Performing Arts Festival’ tab www.spiritofthearts.com.au. Students who are performing do not require tickets.

Music Eisteddfod

Entries for the annual Music Eisteddfod have now closed. Session days and times will be finalised upon the collation of these entries, and communication regarding these details will be sent to students involved in this special event. 

If you have any queries regarding Primary Music, please contact me via email: catherine.haydon@cewa.edu.au

Mrs Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Teacher

Sports Update

Term 3 is a huge term of sport with cross country and athletics!  

Athletics time trials for Year 3 to 6 took place today and these times will be used to place students into appropriate races for our Interhouse Athletics Carnival on Friday 9 September.  Students will begin to learn and practice the different athletics events that they will be participating in at this Carnival.  For additional coaching and practise,  athletics training for Years 3 to 6 students will commence in Week 3 every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm on the Secondary ovals.  

I have been very impressed with the dedication to training for our upcoming Interhouse Cross Country Carnival taking place on Friday 29 July.  A reminder that the final training session in on Tuesday 26 July at 7:30am outside the St Louis Sports Centre.  From the Carnival, the top 8 boys and 8 girls will qualify for the IPSHA Interschool Carnival being held on Thursday 4 August.  This year we will be taking a team of Year 3, 5 & 6 runners to the School Sport WA Interschool Cross Country Carnival at UWA Sports Park in Mount Claremont!  It is very exciting for our top runners to have another opportunity to represent the College and the focus will continue to be to try their best and feel proud of their achievement.  

If you have any queries about anything sport related, please contact me via email steve.williams@cewa.edu.au 

Mr Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Counsellor’s Corner

URSTRONG is an internationally recognized Social Emotional Wellbeing program, that empowers children with the skills, language, and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. Friendship is such an important part of children’s lives and across the primary school children are learning practical useful strategies to help children make this a positive, happy part of their life.  This video by URSTRONG founder Dana Kerford gives a great outline of the URSTRONG program. https://urstrong.com/language-of-friendship-intro/

Parents are invited to take advantage of a FREE Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources – including an 8 session video series. This will allow you to learn the same language & strategies being taught in the classroom through the Friendology 101 curriculum. We hope that, as a family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.

As a next step:

• Click here to view an overview of URSTRONG 
• Activate your FREE Parent Membership and explore all the resources available to your family.

We believe that empowering our students with these skills will create a culture of kindness at our school and we hope that, together, we can support your children to have healthy, feel-good friendships.

If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  I am available at school Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday mornings.  My direct number is 9383 0469 and I can be contacted anytime by email:  anne.murphy@cewa.edu.au 

Mrs Anne Murphy

Primary Counsellor

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.

Updating Medical and Contact information

Medical Information 

Please inform the College Nurse if there are any changes to your child’s medical information via email: jenny.hill@cewa.edu.au 

Contact Information

Please inform Primary Administration if there are any changes to your contact/emergency information via email: nancy.petsos@cewa.edu.au