From the Principal
Happy St Patrick's Day everybody!
Open Day last Saturday was a huge success with 1160 visitors checking in. Many others attended but did not register. Events like this do not happen without the coordinated effort of many people. Thank you to staff for their efforts in the months leading up to the event and for the huge commitment on the day. A special thank you to all parent volunteers. I have previously written about the amazing support provided by the parent body. This was again evident on Saturday and our visitors certainly appreciate the opportunity to speak personally to both parents and students. It is something that sets our Open Day - and our College - apart.
Many of us have become accustomed to our wonderful grounds. However, visitors to the College are amazed by our beautiful campus. Alumni also comment on how much the grounds and facilities have developed since they were at school. The efforts and expertise of our grounds staff are much appreciated.
The foresight of our predecessors was truly remarkable. This year is the twentieth anniversary of the commissioning of the geothermal bore at HBF Stadium. The stadium uses the hot water from the bore to heat its pools. The cooled water is then pumped back to John XXIII and stored in the lake that is situated in the North-Eastern corner of the College. Here the water is purified to ensure it will not cause any staining and then runs through our reticulation system. It is a valuable addition to the water we are allowed from the College bore and one of the key elements in the College being able to maintain such beautiful grounds. How lucky we are to have such a significant sustainable program, a practice that was introduced long before sustainability became a topical issue!
On Friday, as part of the landscaping design, the College planted a mature Illawarra Flame Tree at the meeting point of our main car park and new walkway into campus. Once it has overcome the shock of its move and taken root it will provide a stunning bright red contrast to the beautiful green canopies of the London Plain trees fronting our new Administration and the Thomas More Exhibition Centre.
Our Sustainability Club - capably led by our College Sustainability Coordinator, Adrian Sims and Sustainability Captain, Airlie Barry - has been busy planting a variety of trees on the embankment on the Western boundary of the College. The trees will provide food and habitat for native fauna. A particular focus has been to provide food for the endangered Carnaby black-cockatoo. Carnabys often traverse the College as they make their way from Bold Park to Lake Claremont. We have planted marris, blackbutts, banksias, bottlebrushes, macadamias, almonds, acacias and hakeas, all of which are important food sources for this unique, beautiful West Australian bird.
In his encyclical, Laudato Si': On the Care for our Common Home, Pope Francis urges us to stop and think about how we are living on our planet. Both Loreto and the Jesuits have highlighted this area as vital for our world today. Schools across the globe have been discussing and reflecting on the importance of forming students who understand that being persons for and with others today also means embracing the care of our common home as a fundamental dimension of our humanity. We do this individually and collectively, both locally and globally, with the spirit of faith and joy for a sustainable and hope-filled future.
Together let us seek justice.
Kathleen Negus
Principal
John XXIII College Bursary 2024
John XXIII College has a strong and proud tradition of providing education to students who otherwise couldn’t attend the College. Thanks to the generosity of the John XXIII community, the Foundation is offering a Bursary to commence in 2024 for a student in Year 7 or above. The Bursary will cover the student’s standard fees and charges for the duration of their schooling at John XXIII College.
The Bursary is available to current and future families. Applications close 3pm Friday 28 April 2023. Please contact Kate Murphy for further information on 0403 345 662 or foundation@johnxxiii.edu.au
Applications and more information are available at https://foundation.johnxxiii.edu.au/bursary
To gift the gift of education by donating to the Bursary Fund go to
https://foundation.johnxxiii.edu.au/donate
The College Fees and Charges for 2022 are available at
https://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/view/for-parents/fees-and-charges