Around The Primary

Dear Parents

It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around the Primary school!  On Monday evening we hosted our Music Soiree, this is always a very special musical event with performances from the Primary Bands, Primary Singers, Mini Minors, Wanju Voices, and concluding with Christmas carols. This Soiree is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the many creative talents of our students and staff. Congratulations to all involved!

This week our Kindy, Pre-Primary and Year 1 students shared the Christmas story in a variety of delightful ways with their family and friends in our community. This gives us an opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ and the joy and hope that this beautiful season offers us all. In doing so, they helped us think about the real reason we celebrate Christmas and reminded us to be a kind, patient, loving and generous to each other.

The time has also come to farewell our wonderful Year Six students. Next Tuesday 7 December, they will celebrate with an end of Primary school Mass, followed by morning tea with their parents. This is a special time to remember and commemorate their journey through the Primary years.

Regarding class placements for next year, we cannot stress enough, the importance of downplaying which of their peers may or may not end up in your child’s class. While staff have once again worked very hard on creating class lists that take a myriad of factors into account, in the end, all children need to learn to navigate their way through different teaching styles and different class make-ups.

It was great to see so many excited and happy faces at the close of the day as the children shared the good news of who their teachers and classmates were going to be.  Our job as significant adults in a child’s life, is to model confidence in their ability to work through any perceived worries or challenges and to let them know we are all here to support them. 

 Let’s make the end of Term 4 a great one!

Kind regards,

Antoinette De Pinto

Head of Primary 

Presentation Night 

Congratulations to the Year 6 students who received an award at Presentation Night. We are very proud of their wonderful achievements.

The Outstanding student award is presented to the student who achieves excellence across all Learning Areas.  Congratulations to Sophie Litic!

The Simon Casey Sports Award recognises outstanding participation, sportsmanship, enthusiasm, commitment and encouragement of others during Sport and shows the same life-long interest in sport as shown by Mr Simon Casey.  Congratulations to Sam Gooch!

Primary Staff 

Next year we welcome Miss Emily Driscoll, Miss Taylah Howard and Miss Lucy Ricciardi to our teaching team. They will be visiting the College on Monday 6 December to meet their classes.

Class Teachers

Christmas Newsflash

On Thursday 9 December, the students can come to school dressed in Christmas colours or wear a Christmas t-shirt, hat etc… If preferred, students can come in their House shirt and sports shorts.  (No coloured hair spray or face paint please).

On this day we hope to raise the students’ awareness of how fortunate we are to have access to everyday privileges at Christmas. All students are asked to bring along a gold coin donation for St Vinnies. Thank you in anticipation of your generous support.

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

Term dates for 2022 have also been updated on the College Website Parent Information | Dates | John XXIII College

Semester Two Reports

Semester Two Reports for Pre-Primary to Year 6 students will be available through the College’s online communication platform ‘SEQTA ENGAGE’ from 3:30pm on Thursday 9 December.

Instructions

1. Please log in to your SEQTA Engage account at: https://parent.johnxxiii.edu.au
2. Click on the REPORTS link located on the menu at the left side of screen
3. Select Student
4. Select 2021P, Semester Two

Mobile Devices

It is also possible to download the SEQTA Engage App from your provider (e.g. Google Play Store; Apple App Store) if you wish to do this.

If you experience any technical difficulties accessing your child’s report, please email ithelpdesk@johnxxiii.edu.au

Zen Japanese

This week, the Year 5 students enjoyed lunch at Zen Japanese Restaurant in Subiaco. It was great to see so many students using chopsticks and speaking Japanese to the staff.  By all accounts, lunch was delicious and comprised of tempura vegetables, sushi, gyouza, miso soup as well as a choice of either chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, chicken katsu or karaage.  

First Lego League 

Last Saturday the Year 6 GATE students competed in the First Lego League Cargo Connect 2021 Regional Competition at St Stephens, Carramar. This is a friendly competition engaging students in research, problem-solving, coding, and engineering.  For more information on the ‘First Lego League’ follow this link - https://firstaustralia.org/programs/first-lego-league/

Our ‘Magic Movers’ team researched how to improve access of medical supplies to remote communities. The ‘JTC Cargo Crew’ researched how to improve the efficiency of getting fresh groceries to remote communities without getting damaged.  Both the teams research, prototypes, presentations, and robotics were fantastic!

The Magic Mover team received the “Motivation Award” This award celebrates a team that embraces the culture of FIRST LEGO League through team building, team spirit and displayed enthusiasm!

Both teams did an amazing job, well done!

Mrs Tara Purcell

Primary GATE Teacher

Bricks 4 Kidz

We have just a few spots remaining for the Bricks 4 Kidz after school classes in Term 1, 2022. Lessons will take place on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30pm to 5:00pm for 8 weeks commencing in Week 2 and concluding in Week 9.  Please refer to the attached flyer for further information.

Construction Craze WeDo 2.0 Junior Robotics (Years 2-3)

BRICKS 4 KIDZ® is thrilled to be offering Construction Craze combined with WEDO® 2.0 Software Programming. This program is an excellent introduction to basic concepts of robotics and computer programming.  Please book here for Years 2-3.

Contraption Concepts MINDSTORMS® EV3® Advanced Robotics (Years 4-6)

GET INTO GEAR with Contraption Concepts.  Experience the cutting edge of technology with the introduction of LEGO® MINDSTORMS EV3 Robotics.  Please book here for Years 4-6.

Our intention is to offer the program again in Term 2 for another group of students and to extend the Junior Robotics program to Year 1 students in Term 2. 

(Please note Year 3-6 Swimming Training will also take place on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30pm to 4:30pm during Term 1, 2022)

Sport Update

Year 4 Interhouse Tennis Tournament

Our Year 4 students had a Friday afternoon packed full of tennis action!  The games were competitive and scores were kept but the focus was on participation, with students trying their best and earning points for their House.   It was extremely pleasing to see the maturity of the students when dealing with the highs and lows of competitive games.  Well done Year 4s!

Mr Steve Williams

Primary Sport Coordinator

Music 

Congratulations to the students who performed in the Primary Soiree on Monday. The students in Year 5 and Primary Band, Mini Minors, String Orchestra, Primary Singers and Wanju Voices delighted the audience with a selection of festive themed repertoire. Congratulations also to Wanju Voices for their outstanding performance with Treble Choir at Presentation Night.

Music Enrolments and Withdrawals

Applications for instrumental lessons in 2022 are now open. Please see the Music section of the Newsletter for further details. Students wishing to withdraw from lessons must complete the online withdrawal form by 4pm on Thursday 9 December. 

Final Choir Rehearsals

A big thank you to the parents of Wanju Voices and Primary Singers for assisting students in attended rehearsals throughout the year. Final choir rehearsals for 2021 are scheduled as follows:

Wanju Voices – 8am Monday 6 December 

Primary Singers – 8am Thursday 9 December

2022 Rehearsals

In 2022, Wanju Voices (Years 4-6) will rehearse on Monday mornings at 7:30am, and Primary Singers (Years 2-3) on Thursday mornings at 8am. I look forward to seeing existing and new members in the choirs next year.

Please contact the Music department for any information via email music.secretary@johnxxiii.edu.au

Mrs Catherine Haydon

Primary Music Specialist 

2024 Enrolments for Kindy

It’s hard to believe, but in the new year we will be interviewing for siblings entering Kindy in 2024! 

Please ensure your child/ren are enrolled to secure their sibling place. 

The Enrolment Application, along with the Parish Priest Reference and other key details, can be found via this link.  Please direct further questions to Lizz Schollum, Enrolments Manager lizz.schollum@cewa.edu.au or 9383 0449

A Message from Discovery Kids

It's hard to believe that we have come to the end of another year.  Time has flown and we are grateful that you have entrusted us with your beautiful children at the end of the school day. 

 A reminder that Vacation Care bookings are open. Vacation care will operate from Holy Rosary Primary School from Monday 13 December to Wednesday 22 December. We will close for a short period and recommence care on Monday 10 January 2022.

We wish you a restful holiday and memorable times with your children. 

On behalf of the Discovery Kids Team, thank you for the support throughout the year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Josephine, Jessica and the Discovery Kids Team