ELC Updates & Reminders - 29.4.25
PLEASE NOTE THAT SEVERAL ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION.
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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
It has been wonderful to have our students back on campus to start the new term and I am sure everyone is enjoying the cooler weather that has welcomed us back to school. I thank all parents for their support in getting children ready to come back to class and I can see many new haircuts, along with winter uniforms that have been unpacked. As has been communicated previously, the Primary School moves straight into winter uniform unlike the Middle and Senior Schools that have a transition period. The long pants and blazer in particular, can be quite warm for Middle School students, however, our uniform change is much simpler. Thank you for your support with this.
On Friday this week we will have our annual Interhouse Cross Country Carnival for students in Years 2 to 5, with the ELC cross country event taking place before the Lapathon next week. I know the students are excited to see which House will win this year. Our venue is being moved back to Mawson Park due to the construction currently being undertaken at St Mark’s. This is of course the venue for the Interschool Cross Country and previously was the location for our Interhouse Cross Country as well. Students will be walking to and from the park under supervision, something that used to occur for many years. There are some changes to the timetable for Friday as we try to adjust for the predicted wet afternoon, so please carefully read the article in this Bulletin from Mr Barton.
Cross country running can be challenging (I am glad there is no teacher race for this!) and I am always impressed with the resilience and enthusiasm our students show when representing their House. Whilst they will be out of breath and tired at the end of the race, this soon passes and they're back to themselves in no time. This year we have encouraged the children to ‘charge into challenges’ and for many students, cross country running is that challenge. I thank all parents for their support in encouraging their children to push themselves while enjoying the carnival.
Kind regards
Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School
NOTICE FROM DEPUTY HEAD OF PRIMARY – EARLY LEARNING
Welcome back for Term 2
We are off to a busy start this week! Alongside the routines within our classrooms, Pre-Primary and Year 1 students will attend the Primary school ANZAC Day service on Thursday and on Friday the ELC children will meet the first round of Buddies from our Secondary School, who will join our classes over our lunchtime.
Welcome
We welcome Miss Casey McIntyre from Edith Cowan University. Miss Casey has been selected to receive an ECU Internship at St Mark's ELC. This involves Casey completing her final teaching practical experience with us in Pre-Primary Logan this term and then returning in Term 3, to coordinate a special project across the ELC. Once qualified Casey she will have the opportunity to do some relief teaching for us. The children are already familiar with Miss Casey as a relief Education Assistant and as a dance teacher on our House Activity days. Please welcome Miss Casey if you see her around.
Throughout the remainder of the year our ELC classrooms will be hosting some enthusiastic work experience students. Some of these students will be completing Certificate Courses to work with young children. Class teachers will inform you of the names of these students when they are working in your child's classroom.
Nurturing Curiosity and Growing Knowledge
At St Mark’s, we believe that a sense of awe and wonder is a powerful spark for learning. When children are inspired by something amazing or new, it often leads to curiosity — a natural desire to explore, ask questions, and understand more about the world around them.
Our educators intentionally create engaging, meaningful learning environments that capture children’s interests and invite exploration. Through open-ended questions, playful inquiry, and hands-on experiences, we support children in developing their thinking and building their knowledge in deep and lasting ways.
This week, the children will be introduced to Noa, our ELC Value Lion who represents the value of Knowledge. As the children recognise their own learning and growing understanding, they’ll add “blossoms of knowledge” to our Values Board at Reception.
Cultivating a sense of awe and wonder in children
THIS IS NOA
Noa knows a lot!
She represents the value of KNOWLEDGE.
She has a pocket full of seeds ready to grow.
As we learn, our knowledge grows too.
Linda Sweet
Deputy Head of Primary – Early Learning
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.
TERMS 2 AND 3 ARE WINTER UNIFORM TERMS
In the Early Learning Centre, the school tracksuit may be added to the summer uniform on cooler days (children should wear their ELC shorts and shirts underneath). Please make sure all items that come to school are clearly named as track tops and bottoms are often removed if children get too warm.
TERM 2 EVENTS
- FIRST DAY OF TERM 2 – Tuesday 29 April
Kindy Starfish first day will be Tuesday 29 April
Kindy Turtles first day will be Thursday 1 May - 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-Y5 ANZAC Service - Thursday 1 May 9.00-9.30am
Pre-Primary to Year 5 students will attend a special service in the Junior School. - PP & Y1 IH CROSS COUNTRY – DATE CHANGED for PP & Y1 to Friday 9 May (St Mark’s Day)
commencing at 10.45am on the Secondary Oval
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. (The St Mark's Day Lapathon for Y2-5 students will take place afterwards.)
Unfortunately, due to building works at St Mark’s this year we were not able to have a combined PP-Y5 IH Cross Country Carnival. (The Y2-5 students will participate in their IH Cross Country event on Friday 2 May at Mawson Park.) - 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 – Commencing Monday 12 May
Orders are online only - see separate item in this Bulletin for details.
Kindy Starfish - Monday 12 May 9.45am
Pre-Primary and Year 1 - Tuesday 13 May 9.15 to 11.30am
Kindy Turtles - Wednesday 21 May 9.15am - K-Y1 RED CROSS INCURSIONS - 20 & 22 May
Kindy Starfish and Year 1s - Tuesday 20 May (morning)
Kindy Turtles and Pre-Primaries - Thursday 22 May (morning) - KINDY HEALTH CHECKS WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE – Term 2, Weeks 7, 8 and 9
Paper copies of Government forms have been sent home at the start of the year for parents to complete and return. Thank you, I think completed forms have now been received for all participating students. - PP & Y1 HOUSE ACTIVITIES - Friday 27 June
Pre-Primary and Year 1 students will participate in various activities in House Groups.
House shirts will need to be worn on this day. - SEMESTER 1 SCHOOL REPORTS
Semester 1 Reports will be made available to parents via SEQTA towards the end of term. (Kindergarten students will only receive formal reports at the end of Semester 2.) - LAST DAY OF TERM 2 - Friday 27 June
Parents are reminded that we have a three-week break at the end of Semester 2 each year.
