Volume 12

Most loving God

We thank you for the example of Saint Mary MacKillop,

who in her living of the Gospel,

witnessed to the human dignity of each person.

She faced life’s challenges with faith and courage.

We pray through her intercession for our needs….

Amen

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

During my leave at the end of last term, I had the privilege of spending some time “following in the footsteps” of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. I visited several significant sites between Adelaide and Melbourne where Mary was instrumental in providing education to children who otherwise may not have had access to schooling. Today, there are more than 100 schools across Australia and New Zealand connected to the Sisters of St Joseph, a testament to her enduring legacy. She was truly a remarkable person. While visiting Penola, where Mary established her first school, I came across a beautiful prayer displayed as part of a memorial in front of a stained-glass window. It was a meaningful reminder of her faith, courage, and commitment to serving others.

I hope all families enjoyed a restful holiday break and had the opportunity to spend quality time together.

As we begin Term 3, we look forward to the many opportunities ahead for students and families to engage with our vibrant school community. Highlights this term include the Catholic Performing Arts Festival, our annual Sports Day, and Open Night. Please refer to the Important Dates section of this newsletter for further details.

Holiday Works – First Nations Artwork and Perimeter Trees

You may have noticed that our staff are now wearing new sports shirts featuring a design created by a local First Nations artist. The artwork was commissioned specifically for St John Paul II Catholic Primary School and tells the story of our school and community. The artist has provided an explanation of the symbolism within the design, which is now displayed in our Assembly Area. The installation includes a summary of the story and a QR code that families can scan to read the full version.

During the holiday break, we also planted 80 mature trees around the school grounds, including along Grandis Boulevard, Laricina Bend, outside the Year 6 classroom, and in the area where our fruit trees are growing. These trees were made possible through a Let's Grow Grant, which I successfully applied for earlier this year as part of a government initiative to increase tree canopy coverage across Western Australia.

A special thank you to Mark from Alkimos Landscaping and Irrigation for his expertise and support in completing this project. Remarkably, it has only been a year since he transformed our Naturescape area, which continues to be enjoyed by students every day.

Playgroup Continues

We are keen to continue our Playgroup program this term; however, its future will depend on participation numbers. If you are interested, please join us on Fridays from 8:30am to 10:30am in the Kindy room.

This free program is open to all families with children aged 0–4 years. It provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with other families while enjoying a relaxed, welcoming, and engaging environment for young children.

2027 Kindergarten Enrolments

Interest in our 2027 Kindergarten program continues to grow, and we are receiving a steady number of enquiries and enrolment applications.

If you have not yet enrolled your child, or know of a family who may be interested in joining our school community, please encourage them to contact the office as soon as possible. Children eligible for Kindergarten in 2027 must turn four years of age on or before 30 June 2027.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a wonderful term filled with learning, growth, faith, and community spirit.

In Harmony

Martin Tucker
Principal

We are committed to building a school community where every child can flourish. The new CEWA Parent and Carer Code of Conduct articulates our shared expectations for respectful engagement, safety and support. By working together in partnership, families and staff help create a welcoming environment where all students are valued and empowered to succeed.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics will be conducting the five-yearly national Census of Population and Housing on Tuesday 11 August 2026.

Please refer to the Media Release from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference encouraging Catholics to identify themselves in the Census.

Please note that Perm-A-Pleat Schoolwear will be closed for mid-year break in July.

Closed: Friday 10th July 2026

Reopen: Monday 27th July 2026.

SCHOOL TIMES

Start: 8:25am

Finish 3:00pm

Monday - Finish 2:00pm

KINDERGARTEN TIMES

Start 8:25am

Finish 2:45pm

Monday - Finish 2:00pm

BREAKFAST CLUB

Monday to Friday 8:00 - 8:20am

HUNGRY JPs CANTEEN

Thursday Recess & Lunch

TERM 3

21 July - 25 September 2026

TERM 4

13 October - 11 December 2026

In Catholic primary schools across Western Australia, students enrolled in Years 3 and 5 participate in an online assessment in Religious Education. The 2026 REA will be held on Tuesday 4 August for our Year 3's and Wednesday 5 August for our Year 5’s.

The purpose of the REA is to measure student learning of the mandated content in the Religious Education Curriculum. Students’ faith is not assessed. Formal student and school reports are produced from the data generated from the REA. The reports are made available to schools in Term Four. The information provided by the REA reports aims to complement school-based assessment programs in Religious Education. As a system-wide assessment, the REA informs teaching and assessment practices in Religious Education by providing classroom teachers, school and system leaders with a ‘point in time’ snapshot of student achievement. Over time, the REA also provides information about student progress in Religious Education.

Please contact your child’s teacher or myself if you have any enquiries regarding the administration of the Religious Education Assessment.

JULY IS THE MONTH OF GRATITUDE

Just like a beautiful garden, friendships don't grow by accident. They flourish when they're nurtured with kindness, trust, respect... and gratitude.

This month, encourage your children to pause & notice the wonderful friends, family and teachers who brighten their lives.

Who makes you laugh? Who includes you? Who has your back when things get tough? Who makes you feel like you belong?

In Friendology, we know that gratitude isn't just about saying "thank you." It's about noticing the people who make our lives better & letting them know they matter.

A kind word. A thoughtful note. A genuine compliment.

These small moments can help friendships bloom in the most beautiful ways!

Gratitude has the power to transform friendships & boost your own wellbeing at the same time. A win-win all around!

Nic Bigwood

Assistant Principal

MASS TIMES

Mon - Fri: 7:45am

Sat: 9:30am & 6:00pm

Sun: 9:30am

RECONCILIATION, BAPTISM & WEDDINGS

By appointment via the Parish Office at St John Paul II Catholic Church.

PARISH PRIEST

Fr Christo Okoro

PARISH OFFICE

PH: 6300 3800

The WA State Government has introduced a one off $100 Fuel Support Payment to help eligible Western Australians with fuel costs. The payment is available to all holders of a valid WA driver's licence and is part of the Government's support to assist households with ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

If you haven't claimed the Fuel Support Payment already, the fastest and most convenient way to claim is through the ServiceWA app. For help setting up ServiceWA visit wa.gov.au/servicewaapp.

Alternative claim options are also available for people who are unable or do not wish to use the ServiceWA app. More information on eligibility and how to claim can be found at wa.gov.au/FuelPayment.

All Western Australian school students in Kindergarten to Year 12, with a valid WA student number, are eligible for this cost-of-living payment.

You can claim $250 for each secondary student and $150 for students attending primary school or Kindergarten.

The payment will be available through the ServiceWA app, with parents and carers encouraged to set up or update their ServiceWA account and have an active Digital ID.

Claims open on Monday 20 July 2026.

All claims must be received by Friday 25 September 2026.

Read more about eligibility and claiming.

Your child's WA student number can be found by logging into SEQTA Engage:

To do this please visit the site: https://sjpiicps.engage.cewa.edu.au/

WA Student Numbers for Kindergarten students will be provided through their classroom.

For support and general information about ServiceWA, including assistance to download the app and set up your Digital ID, visit wa.gov.au/servicewaapp

Alternatively, you can call ServiceWA Customer Care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 13 33 WA (13 33 92) or email support@digital.wa.gov.au during business hours.

TERM 3 2026

• 30 July - Mac N Cheese
• 6 Aug - Satay Chicken
• 13 Aug - Lasagna
• 20 Aug - Butter Chicken
• 27 Aug - Mac N Cheese
• 3 Sept - Satay Chicken
• 10 Sept - Lasagna
• 17 Sept - Butter Chicken
• 24 Sept - Mac N Cheese

Irene McCormack Catholic College is pleased to announce the introduction of the Panthers Swimming Program, the full program will be commencing in Term 3 of 2026 with applications open now.
This new program will provide students with the opportunity to further develop their swimming through a before-school training program designed to support young swimmers already involved in the community.
The program will be available to students in Years 7 to 12, and students will also be able to participate in another Academy sport alongside Swimming.

The program is also open to trial for Year 5 and Year 6 students for future placement in Year 7. Trials for Year 5 and Year 6 students will be arranged on an individual basis. Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who may be interested.

The Panthers Swimming Program will be led by IMCC staff experienced in swimming at elite levels and will focus on providing students with additional opportunities for training, development, and representation.

Families can find further information about the program, including application details, by visiting the link below: https://imcc.wa.edu.au/education/panthers-swimming-program/

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the College at jeremy.carbone@cewa.edu.au

St John Paul II Catholic Primary School

6 Kurrajong Blvd, Banksia Grove, WA 6031

Phone: 9303 7101

Absentee Line: 0471883524