ELC Updates & Reminders - 25.3.25
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ELC events are listed at the bottom of this article.
ACCESSING LINKS WHICH MAY BE PROVIDED IN THESE BULLETINS
If you are not able to access links via your phone, please contact our IT Department at it@stmarks.wa.edu.au as it is important that all our families are able to access various links when they are provided. Alternatively, the School App can be downloaded to another device (tablet or pc).
NOTICE FROM HEAD OF PRIMARY
Dear Parents and Carers
The term has flown by and next week we will enter the two week period of in-term swimming. This program is always met with a mixture of emotions. Bus rides with friends are overall very fun, whereas the nervousness that may come with the swimming lessons, particularly at the start, are a challenge to be overcome.
Swimming lessons in Australian schools are in decline. A March 2025 report from the Royal Life Saving Association of Australia highlighted some startling facts. 31% of schools do not offer any swim lessons for their students. 48% of Year 6 students cannot swim 50 metres and tread water for two minutes, and a staggering 84% of 15–16 year olds are unable to swim 400m and tread water for five minutes.
As the statistics show, our two week swimming block is important for students to not fall into the above statistics. Many children, however, will require more practice and additional lessons and I hope the skills learnt in this swimming block can be built upon outside of school time. Dr Steve Georgakis, from the University of Sydney, an expert and advocate in this field, says that being able to swim 25 metres by the end of primary school as well as having the skills to float to save their lives, helps them to become adults who can successfully participate in the many water based aspects of Australian life. With Perth right on our beautiful coastline, this is really important for the students of St Mark's.
Lost goggles, wet towels left in bags, lost swimmers - there is always a large learning curve on organisation for the students. Rather than being viewed as a difficulty, I believe that this is one of the benefits. Part of the important learning in childhood are both organisational skills and independence. Swimming and surfing lessons are an opportunity to build these skills. Some children may also have butterflies in their stomachs before the first lesson. This is normal and getting through this helps character development. We encourage the children to charge into this challenge and enjoy their swimming experience.
Kind regards
Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School
REMINDERS
- K-Y1 Contacting the Early Learning Centre: Email elcreception@stmarks.wa.edu.au or phone 9403 1398.
- K-Y12 If your child will be late, absent or leaving early: Email absentee@stmarks.wa.edu.au or use the App.
- K-Y12 Please include your child’s first name, surname and class/form in the subject line of emails to the School.
- K-Y1 Any changes to ELC child collection arrangements should be emailed to elcreception@stmarks.wa.edu.au.
If possible, please try and establish a regular routine for collections so that changes are kept to a minimum. - K-Y1 Apply sunscreen to your child before school every day. School hats are required every day.
NO LUNCH ORDERS FOR PRE-PRIMARY & YEAR 1 DURING SWIMMING LESSONS PLEASE
Please do not order lunches from the Canteen during swimming lessons from Monday 31 March to Friday 11 April. This is due to lunch times having to be different from normal arrangements. Please send in lunches with your child each day. Thank you.
Canteen lunch orders will still be available for Kindy children during these two weeks if needed.
PP-Y4 SWIMMING LESSONS FROM NEXT WEEK – Scarborough Beach Pool (outdoor pool) – 31 March to 11 April
All students in Pre-Primary to Year 4 will participate in daily swimming lessons from 31 March to 11 April.
- Paper copies of the Government Swimming Lesson Enrolment Form have already gone home with your child.
Please complete and return the form to class teachers THIS WEEK. Thank you. Each child will need a completed form on Day 1 of Swimming lessons which will be given to swimming staff. - In addition, the school will need permission for your child/children to attend the swimming lessons. Invites were sent out via Consent2Go last week – please check your emails. Parents will need to respond to the invite for each of their children in Pre-Primary to Year 4. Please respond to the invite or invite reminder THIS WEEK. Thank you.
PP & Y1 HOUSE ACTIVITY DAY – Friday 28 March
Pre-Primary and Year 1 children to wear House shirts on Friday please.
TERM 1 EVENTS
- ELC CHAPEL – Wednesdays 1.15pm to 1.45pm in the Chapel
K-Y1 students will attend Chapel Services in the Chapel on most Wednesdays - PP & Y1 HOUSE ACTIVITY DAY – Friday 28 March – PP & Y1 to wear House Shirts
This usually takes place on the last Friday of Terms 1, 2 and 3 but will need to be a few weeks early this term due to swimming lessons. The Pre-Primary and Year 1 students will need to wear their House shirts on this day. They will participate in various fun activities in their House groups.
- PP-Y4 IN TERM SWIMMING LESSONS – 31 March to 11 April
Information was sent out via Consent2Go (C2G) on 18 March – please check your emails.
Parents will need to respond to the C2G invite – please do so as soon as it is received.
Paper copies of Government consent forms went home previously for parents to complete and return to teachers prior to lessons commencing.
- KINDY OT AND SPEECH ASSESSMENTS – 31 March to 11 April
Detailed information has been provided including links to forms which will need to be completed and returned directly to the OT and Speech Therapists.
- KINDY HEALTH CHECKS WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE – Term 2
Paper copies of Government forms have been sent home for parents to complete and return as soon as possible.
ADVANCE NOTICE OF EARLY TERM 2 EVENTS
- PP-Y5 IH CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL – Friday 2 May, 9.00-10.15am for PP & Y1 (approximately)
All Pre-Primary and Year 1 students will be participating in this event on the Secondary Oval – House shirts required. Parents are welcome to watch. Due to building works at St Mark’s, the event for Y2-5 students will take place at Mawson Park this year.
- ELC MOTHERS’ DAY CELEBRATIONS – Wednesday 7 May, 8.30-10.30am
All K-1 Mums or other special person are invited to attend. Kindy Starfish are also invited to attend the celebrations.
- K-12 ST MARK’S DAY CELEBRATIONS – Friday 9 May
Students will participate in special activities or events
- K-12 SCHOOL PHOTOS – Monday 12 to Thursday 15 May
Class schedule still to be confirmed. Individually named photo envelopes with specific identification bar codes will go home with each student early in Term 2 for parents to complete and return. For identification purposes, each student (K-Y12) will need to have their individual photo envelope at school on photo day even if photos are not being ordered.