ELC Bulletin - Term 2, Week 3

This week the ELC children will formally be introduced to our Values Lion, Community Colin. He helps the ELC children to feel safe, secure, and supported, as they connect with their community in a celebratory and fun environment.

“THIS IS COLIN

Colin loves to work and play with others in the Community.

He helps us to join hands together to make a circle.

A circle of community.”

Encouraging Children’s Sense of Community

Our School Community

Within our school the ELC children learn to be a part of several groups or mini communities.

For example – the class group, the year level group, the ELC community, the Primary School community, the House group and the whole school community.

Excursions

We help our ELC children feel connected with this local community by visiting and engaging with buses/trains and by visiting local shops, the post office, swimming pools, churches, beaches, parks and the library.

Incursions

We have incursions to our School from local community organisations and individuals who help share their skills and experiences with us. Our visitors include theatre productions, emergency services, a range of diverse culture leaders, sporting stars, war veterans, Old Scholars, dental and health professionals and church leaders.

Places of Significance

We research parks, historic areas and cultural landmarks. We may visit places such as the zoo, Herdsman Lake or the museum. Understanding our broader community helps us to create a deeper connection with our past, present and future.

Community Events

In our big school we are blessed to have the opportunity to create or to be included in many school events such as sports carnivals, assemblies, charity fund-raisers, fetes, art shows, camp sleepovers, discos and more. Our P&F and Parent Rep’s encourage families to connect with one another and the community simultaneously.

Celebration and Support

Within our school community we celebrate our students and families in times of success and triumph. Equally we can rally together in times of challenge, tragedy and grief.

Linda Sweet

Deputy Head of Primary – Early Learning

• ELC CHAPEL – Wednesdays 1.15pm to 1.45pm in the Chapel
  K-Y1 students will attend Chapel Services in the Chapel on most Wednesdays
  
  
• K-12 SCHOOL PHOTOS – Commencing Monday 12 May
  Orders are online only – please order as soon as possible to avoid late fees.
  More details available in separate item regarding online orders, Old Scholars Photo and sibling photographs.
  Kindy Starfish photo day: Monday 12 May 9.45am
  Pre-Primary and Year 1 photo day: Tuesday 13 May 9.15 to 11.30am
  Kindy Turtles photo day: Wednesday 21 May 9.15am
  
  
• K-Y1 RED CROSS INCURSIONS - 20 & 22 May
  More details will be provided via Consent2Go or Seesaw closer to the event date.
  Kindy Starfish and Year 1s: Tuesday 20 May (morning)
  Kindy Turtles and Pre-Primaries: Thursday 22 May (morning)
  
  
• Y1 INCURSION: ‘PLAY IN THE PAST’ – Wednesday 28 May
  More details will be provided via Consent2Go and Seesaw closer to the event date.
  Students are encouraged to dress as children from the past for the day.
  1HAR: 12.30-1.30pm (TBC)
  1WEL: 1.45-2.45pm (TBC)
  
  
• KINDY HEALTH CHECKS WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE – Term 2, Weeks 7, 8 and 9
  Paper copies of Government forms were sent home to Kindergarten families at the start of the year for parents to complete and return. Thank you, 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, normal finish time
  Parents are reminded that St Mark’s has a three-week break at the end of Semester 2 each year.

Please follow the links provided below to add your name to one of the rosters if you are able to assist. Thank you.

These are shared documents which all ELC parents are able to view.

• ELC UPCYCLING ROSTER (no opportunities at the moment)
  ELC Shared Upcycling Roster
  
  

• ELC WATERING AND OTHER OUTDOOR TASKS (ongoing roster)
  ELC Outdoor Enviro Volunteer Roster
  
  
• OTHER ELC PARENT HOUR OPPORTUNITIES (no opportunities at the moment)
  Parents will be advised via the Weekly Bulletins or Class SEESAW pages when opportunities do become available. Parents will be able to access the shared roster via the link provided below to add their names for the advertised task(s).
  ELC Various Tasks Roster

If your child will be arriving late, attending an appointment during the school day or leaving early, it would be very much appreciated if the procedures listed below could be adhered to. Thank you.

• Please notify the School via email to absentee@stmarks.wa.edu.au or via the School App before 9.00am of the relevant day so that the information can be recorded on our absentee system and teachers made aware. This is helpful for staff in case your child’s class will be elsewhere in the School at the time of arrival or departure. You are welcome to also include your child’s class teacher in the communication but they may not get a chance to read their emails before the start of the school day.
• Students will need to be signed in if arriving after 8.45am and be signed out if leaving before the end of the school day. Use the sign in/out sheet available in ELC Reception so that we are aware of what time students actually arrived or left.
• In all emails to the School, please include your child’s first name, surname and class in the subject line to ensure notifications are recorded for the correct student.

• K-Y1 Contacting the Early Learning Centre: email elcreception@stmarks.wa.edu.au or phone 9403 1398 (voicemail available).
• K-Y12 If your child will be late, absent or leaving early: email absentee@stmarks.wa.edu.au or use the App (before 9am).
• K-Y12 Notifications of holiday absences during school terms of three days or more: email principal@stmarks.wa.edu.au
• K-Y12 Please include your child’s first name, surname and class/form in the subject line of all emails to the School.
• K-Y1 Any changes to ELC child collection arrangements should be emailed to elcreception@stmarks.wa.edu.au (before 2.15pm). If possible, please try and establish a regular routine for collections so that changes are kept to a minimum.

K-12 School photos will take place during Term 2, Week 3.

Please note all orders are to be placed online and can be ordered here www.3p.net.au using the Shoot Key: C4E3K

ON PHOTO DAY:
• Please ensure your child is in the correct uniform, with hair neat and tidy
• Preferably no large side/high ponytails

SIBLING PHOTOS:
• Students must present to the photo area either before or after school
• Students cannot be collected from class
• Please place order using your eldest child‘s details

Please also take a look at the following flyer, which contains more detailed information: 2025 Photo Day flyer

Students must wear the formal winter uniform for school photos.

Please download the photo schedule here.

Book club catalogues are going home this week. Orders can only be made online so there is no need to send any paperwork back to school. Orders are due WEDNESDAY 14 MAY.

How to order Book club online:

1. Log in, or create a new account at https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx
2. New parents can follow the wizard to set up a child’s profile.
3. Click the ORDER tab and select the child’s school and issue of Book club.
4. Select your child’s name.
5. Enter the product item number from the Book club catalogue.
6. Apply promotional codes that children may have earned from previous issues.
7. Make a payment via credit card.
8. Feel great about the scholastic rewards that have been earned for the school!

If you have any queries, please email primarylibrary@stmarks.wa.edu.au. Thank you.

The Parents Prayer Group (PPG) meet fortnightly to pray for the students, staff and school community.

We will be meeting every second Friday 9am in the school chapel, starting 9 May. Please sign in at reception. All are welcome.

Please share any prayer requests by emailing parentsunitedforprayer@gmail.com or call Wing Shattock on 0433 002 151.

St Mark's is again looking for volunteers to assist with supervision for the upcoming Year 11 & 12 exams from Tuesday 20 May to to Friday 6 June.

Sessions are broken up into two time slots, morning (08:00am to 12:00pm) and afternoon (1:00pm to 4:30pm).

Please sign up here. Please only choose 1 session time per family to allow all families a chance at helping.