ELC Bulletin - Term 3, Week 1

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you for your patience with the wet start to the term. The inclement weather did not dampen the enthusiasm or spirit of the students this morning as they greeted their classmates and teachers with smiles and gusto. I often talk about opportunities and achievements of the students, but there is no doubt it was the warm welcome everyone receives that makes our school environment special.

As I toured the classrooms this morning, I could hear many students avidly sharing their holiday adventures with their classmates and teachers. While there were undoubtedly many exotic and interesting places students ventured to, it always brings a smile when children at first say they did nothing at all during the holidays, then after some subtle prompting, going on to list a hectic schedule of activities and events they attended. I'm sure it was all appreciated at the time!

With one eye on the weather, please ensure all winter attire is correctly labelled. It certainly felt like arctic conditions this morning but a majority of students still shed their warmer clothes as they ran around at lunch time. Our lost property vortex does like unlabelled jumpers.

Finally, our students thrive with the routines of school. The sooner our ‘term time’ routines are back underway, the more successful the students are when learning during the day. Technology, sleep times and morning routines all help make schooling successful for our students.

Kind regards

Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School

• ELC CHAPEL – Wednesdays 1.15pm to 1.45pm in the Chapel
  K-Y1 students will attend Chapel Services in the Chapel on most Wednesdays
  There is a possibility that ELC Chapel will be at a different time during Term 3 in order to have Chapel follow on after Class Assemblies.
  
  
• Y1 100 DAYS CELEBRATION FOR STUDENTS – Thursday 31 July
  Movie in the PAC followed by Sausage Sizzle in ELC. More details provided by class teachers in Seesaw.
  
  
• ELC CLASS ASSEMBLIES
  ELC Class Assemblies will take place in Term 3 commencing from Week 3. Unfortunately, there has been limited availability of the Performance Art Complex this year. The first Assembly will be for Mrs Well's Year 1 class which is currently scheduled for Wednesday 6 August (10.15 - 11.00am). This and other Assembly dates and times will be confirmed next week. Parents are welcome to attend their child's Class Assembly.
  
  
• EMERGENCY DRILL
  The whole School will participate in an emergency drill on Tuesday 19 August.
  
  
• PRIMARY INTERHOUSE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL PP-Y5 – DATE STILL TO BE CONFIRMED
  Pre-Primary to Year 5 students will participate on Friday 29 August – date TBC.
  Selected Year 3-5 students will also participate in jumps and throws on Thursday 28 August – date TBC.
  
  
• ELC FATHERS' DAY CELEBRATION - Friday 5 September, 8.30-10.30am – DATE STILL TO BE CONFIRMED
  Dads or other significant family member of Kindy, Pre-Primary and Year 1 students are invited to attend.
  Kindy Starfish are also invited to attend this event.
  
  
• R U OK Day - Thursday 11 September
  
  
• KINDY HEALTH CHECKS CONTINUE THIS TERM - 9 to 19 September
  The Community Health Nurse will be visiting the ELC to complete the Kindy health checks.
  
  
• ELC HOUSE ACTIVITY DAY - Friday 26 September
  Pre-Primary and Year 1 students will participate in their House Groups. House shirts will need to be worn.
  
  

LAST DAY OF TERM 3 - Friday 26 September

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 - Term 3 dates added)
  ELC Outdoor Enviro Volunteer Roster
  
  
• OTHER ELC PARENT HOUR OPPORTUNITIES (Opportunity added for 6 x Y1 parents on 31 July)
  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

On Friday 1 August 2025, Non-Government schools will participate in the Australian Government’s Department of Education 2025 Census. The annual Census collects information about schools, staff and students and is used by the Government to calculate funding and create informed and tailored policies. The census also informs the My School website, helping parents and the community to learn more about Australian schools and the needs of each school’s students.

This communication is to inform you that the Census will be taking place and to also provide you with the attached Privacy Notice, which explains the information collected for the Census, why it is collected, how the data is used and how the information will be handled. The communication is for information purposes only - you DO NOT need to take any action.

The WA Government Dental Health Service has requested from the school some personal information about our students in Pre Primary – Year 12, inclusive, to allow them to provide their service to families. The information they require is:

• Family Name
• Legal Given Name
• Preferred Given Name
• Date of Birth
• Gender

The School Dental Service provides free general dental care to eligible school children at school-based Dental Therapy Centres. More information about the service provided to children may be found HERE.

The Dental Health Services’ Privacy Statement may be found HERE.

St Mark’s has conducted due diligence in respect to the Department of Health’s policies with regard to their collection, use, retention and storage of personal information and are satisfied that it complies with the Australian Privacy Principles outlined in the Privacy Act.

St Mark’s is engaging with the WA Department of Health for the benefit of our students’ oral health. Should you not wish the School to provide the information requested by the WA Government Dental Health Service please contact the School Nurse by email at nurse@stmarks.wa.edu.au to let us know of your decision.

Unless we hear otherwise from you, the School will provide the information for your child to the The WA Government Dental Health Service on Friday 8 August 2025.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the Nurse at the School on 9403 1300.

Yours sincerely

School Nurse

Got an old key lying around that no longer opens anything? We’d love to take it off your hands!

We’re on the lookout for keys of all shapes, sizes, and colours for an upcoming writing session. Whether they’re big, tiny, rusty, shiny, or completely mysterious—we’ll gladly take them!

If you’ve got a few to spare, please drop them off at Middle School Reception.

Thanks for helping us unlock some creative inspiration!

BOGAN BINGO IS BACK!

… and tickets are selling faster than hot chips at a footy game – so round up your crew and lock it in!

Ticket Options:

• Individual – $30 (We’ll match you with fellow legends)
• Table of 6
• Table of 8 – Email laurenmanton@outlook.com to book

What to Expect:

Hosted by the hilarious crew at Bogan Bingo, this night’s packed with belly laughs, classic tunes, wild competitions, epic raffle prizes, a photobooth to capture your inner bogan in all its glory, and a DJ to keep the good times rolling after the bingo wraps.

Don’t forget to dress in your bogan best!

BYO snacks and beer/wine.

It’s shaping up to be an absolute ripper – so don’t miss your chance to be part of it! Book your tickets today!

Get your tickets here.

As part of our upcoming Book Week celebrations in Term 3, you are invited to get creative with your photography and reading skills during the July school holidays.

What: Extreme Reading Competition

How: Capture yourself reading a book in “an extreme position or location”

Who: All St Mark’s students K – 12

Deadline: Before August 1^st, 2025

Email: Attach a photo less than 5MB to Mrs Hamer rhamer@stmarks.wa.edu.au

More Info: Look at the attachment for ideas and information

When you email your entry, please include your full name and class code, as your entry will be printed and displayed around the school and on our social platforms.

View the flyer and entry details here.

Notification of the Old Scholars' Association's Annual General Meeting.

Notice is hereby given under the Constitution of the St Mark's Anglican Community School's Old Scholars' Association (Incorporated) of the Annual General Meeting to be held at St Mark's Anglican Community School, on Tuesday 19 August 2025, commencing at 7pm.

All positions will be declared vacant, and nominations are called for a new Committee. All current members of the Association are encouraged to come along to the AGM, and any member may nominate to join the committee. Nominations can be submitted to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 15 August. Nominations can also be taken from the floor at the AGM.

Any members who are not able to attend may select a proxy to vote on their behalf at the AGM. Completed proxy forms should be emailed to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 15 August.

Members are welcome to submit items for the agenda by emailing emailed to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 15 August.

The Agenda, Nomination Forms and Proxy forms are available by request to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au.