ELC Bulletin - Term 3, Week 3

WONDERFUL ME AND THE WORRYWOO MONSTERS

Emotional wellbeing is now largely accepted as being fundamental to happiness, academic progress and future success in life. In Term 3 we are continuing using the Wonderful Me - WorryWoos program for our students in the Early Learning Centre. Many of the PP and Y1 children met the characters last year and will be revising the strategies associated with them throughout this term.

The Wonderful Me - WorryWoos program is a series of children’s books, plush characters and an evidence-based curriculum dedicated to social and emotional learning. Each WorryWoos story concludes with an uplifting message that provides the perfect opportunity for us to openly discuss emotional dilemmas and strategies to overcome them.

The class teachers will let you know through the Learning Intentions which character and emotion will be the focus each week. I encourage you to discuss these with your child to strengthen empathy, resilience and the understanding of both complicated and basic emotions.

• WINCE - Worry
• NOLA - Loneliness
• TWITCH - Frustration
• ZELLY - Envy
• RUE - Insecurity
• FUDDLE - Confusion
• SQUEEK - Innocence/Change
  
  Worry/Anxiety (Wince) and Anger/ Frustration (Twitch) are the emotions that often cause young children’s difficulties at home and school. We have some parents support resources that tackle these emotions that we can loan out. If you think that you and your child would benefit from these please contact your class teacher and we can arrange for them to be sent home with your child.

I have also included the links to the websites for further information

Wonderful Me https://www.wonderfulme.com.au/

Worrywoos https://www.worrywoos.com/woomission

Kind Regards
Linda Sweet
Deputy Head of Primary School - 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
  There is a possibility that ELC Chapel will be at a different time during Term 3 in order to have Chapel start closer to the Class Assembly times.
  
  
• ELC CLASS ASSEMBLIES – Wednesdays in the PAC – most at 2.15pm
  Unfortunately, there has been limited availability of the Performing Arts Complex this term and we apologise for the late confirmation of times and dates for the ELC Assemblies. Teachers will provide more information regarding your child’s class assembly via Seesaw closer to the date. Parents are welcome to attend their child’s Class Assembly.
  Confirmed ELC Assembly dates and times are now included below.
  1WEL Assembly: Wednesday 6 August 2.15pm
  PPL Assembly: Wednesday 13 August 2.15pm
  1HAR Assembly: Wednesday 20 August 2.15pm
  KGS Assembly: Wednesday 27 August 9.15am (Turtles)
  PPN Assembly: Wednesday 10 September 2.15pm
  KGT Assembly: Wednesday 17 September 2.15pm (Starfish)
  
  
• EMERGENCY DRILL
  The whole School will participate in an emergency drill on Tuesday 19 August.
  
  
• K-Y5 PRIMARY BOOK WEEK PARADE – Wednesday 20 August
  Primary students are invited to dress up as a character from their favourite book. Kindy Turtles will have their turn on Friday 22 August (DATE CONFIRMED)
  
  
• PRIMARY INTERHOUSE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL PP-Y5 – Wednesday 3 September - DATE CONFIRMED
  Pre-Primary to Year 5 students will participate in track and novelty events on Wednesday 3 September on the Secondary Oval.
  House shirts will need to be worn on this day. Selected Year 3-5 students will also participate in jumps, throws, 200m and 800m events on Tuesday 2 September.
  
  
• ELC FATHERS' DAY CELEBRATION - Friday 5 September, 8.30-10.30am – DATE 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. More details will be provided closer to the event date.
  
  
• 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 DANCE CELEBRATION – Wednesday 24 September, 4.30-5.30pm.
  All ELC classes will be participating in this event and parents are invited to watch. More details will be provided closer to the event date.
  
  
• 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 on this day.
  
  
• 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

Week 6: 25 - 29 August is Book Fair

• Once again, we will have Book Fair running in the Primary School Library. We encourage parents to accompany their children before or after school. It is a great time to buy some birthday and Christmas gifts!
• Book Fair opening hours:
  - Monday: after school 3.15pm to 3.45pm
  - Tuesday to Thursday: before school 8.15am - 8.45am, lunch time 12.55pm until 1.15pm, and also after school 3.15pm to 3.45pm
  - Friday: before school 8.15 - 8.45am and lunch time 12.55pm until 1.15pm.

Our Primary Interhouse Athletics Carnival will be held on Tuesday 2 September (jumps, throws, 200m and 800m) and Wednesday 3 September (this will be the main event day - novelty events and 100m).

Further detailed information will be sent to parents via Consent2Go in due course. Students are to wear Sports uniform with House shirt and School hat, and please apply sunscreen before school. Parents are welcome to attend. Wednesday 3 September is an all day event and will be held on the Secondary Oval. Students must bring a packed lunch and water bottle on this day as lunch orders from the Canteen will be unavailable.

We have been informed that the traffic warden employed by the Police Children’s Crossing Unit is NOT AVAILABLE at the designated children's crossing on Endeavour Road, near Banks Avenue on the afternoon of Wednesday 6 August.

Please be extremely vigilant when crossing the road on Wednesday afternoon, as no traffic warden will be present.

Last week the Pre-Primary and Year 1 students were invited to wear their pyjamas to school to celebrate 100 days of school this year. This celebration was combined with the official Pyjama Foundation Fundraiser which provides crucial support for kids in foster care.

The final total for our ELC Pyjama Foundation Fundraiser was $1,033. Your generosity is very much appreciated.

According to their website a total of $674,072 has been raised during this year’s Pyjama fundraiser and 258,689 Pairs of PJs have been worn.

If you still want to donate, it may not be too late. Follow the link provided or copy and paste into your browser: https://fundraise.thepyjamafoundation.com/fundraisers/stmarksearlylearningcentre

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

We want to inform you of an important update regarding the St Mark’s Community Participation Program, formerly known as the Parent Commitment Hours Program.

St Mark’s takes pride in fostering a strong sense of community, and the Community Participation Program plays a vital role in sustaining and enriching our community spirit.

The Community Participation Program is a policy of the School and is administered by the Parents & Friends’ Association. Over the past 6 months, the School has worked closely with the P&F Association to refine the Community Participation Program Guidelines, which are publicly available on our website.

Please note: The form to log your participation hours has also been updated and is available here.

If you have any questions about the program or would like clarification on whether an opportunity is eligible for Community Participation Program Hours, please contact cpp.pf@stmarks.wa.edu.au

The Community Participation Program will continue to offer opportunities for families to contribute time and talents in ways that enrich the life of the School, whether through volunteering, attending community learning sessions and other events, providing catering or supporting initiatives that bring our community together.

We thank you for your continued support and involvement. If you have any questions or would like more information about the program or the P&F transition, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

In response to the many enquiries we receive regarding Family IDs, St Mark’s has introduced a new semesterly email to all parents and guardians. This email provides each parent with their Unique ID to use when logging Community Participation Hours.

Following the release of this semester’s email, we’ve received feedback that some families are confused about the difference between a Family ID and a Unique ID, particularly since families have historically used their Family ID to log Community Participation Hours.

To help clarify, here’s a quick guide to how the two types of ID numbers work—and how they are both used in our system.

What Is a Family ID?

The Family ID is a core identifier that links to your family’s central record in our school system. It is:

• Linked specifically to Parent 1

• Consistent and unchanged year to year

• Displayed on financial statements and invoices

Due to privacy protocols, the Family ID is only sent to Parent 1.

What Is a Unique ID?

Each parent or guardian receives their own Unique ID:

• Parent 1’s Unique ID is the same as the Family ID.

• Parent 2’s Unique ID is different from the Family ID, but it still links back to the same family record internally.

Logging Community Participation Hours

You can use either your Family ID or your Unique ID when logging Community Participation Hours.

We will automatically reconcile all entries to the correct Family ID, ensuring that:

• No hours are lost

• Each family’s contributions are accurately recorded

• Both parents can log hours independently and with confidence

We hope this explanation helps clarify the difference between Family and Unique IDs. If you need assistance or have further questions, please reach out to us at community@stmarks.wa.edu.au

As valued members of the St Mark’s Anglican Community School community, we understand that many of our families are looking forward to continuing their journey with us by enrolling siblings in the years to come. St Mark’s recognises the importance of keeping families together and prioritise sibling placements.

What You Need to Do

Please note that all prospective students—including siblings of current or past students—must complete the following steps:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest

If you are considering enrolling a sibling at St Mark’s and have not yet submitted an EOI, we encourage you to do so at your earliest convenience. This step registers your interest, lets us know your desired entry year, and places your child in the Waiting Pool.

At this stage, we collect basic information along with a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate. EOIs can be submitted at any time through our School website.

If you have already submitted an EOI (previously known as an application), you do not need to complete this step again.

2. Complete a Formal Application When Invited

Approximately two years before your child’s intended start date, you will receive an invitation to complete a formal application. This step confirms your continued interest in a place and requires the submission of additional documentation, including your child’s recent school reports (2 years, 4 reports).

More information regarding the 2028 enrolment window will be released in Term 4.

3. Attend an Interview (if applicable) and Accept an Offer:

Once the Enrolment window has closed and complete applications have been assessed, families will be invited to attend an interview. Following the interview, a place may be offered which will require formal acceptance within the required timeframe, to confirm the place.

It Is Important to Note

• Sibling priority is considered, but a place is not guaranteed.

• All enrolment steps must be completed within the designated timeframes for your application to be considered.

• Demand for key intake years, particularly Kindergarten, and Years 2, 4, and 6, is increasing. Therefore, we strongly encourage current families to submit EOIs and respond promptly to formal application invitations to avoid missing out on being considered.

• Parents are encouraged to keep their details and intention to attend the School up-to-date in the Parent Dashboard.

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.

Our amazing Arts Show is on again this October, and we need your help to make it a truly unforgettable event!

If you are, or know of, an emerging or professional artist and want to exhibit at this year’s show, we’d love to have you along. Please fill out the link below! There’s a $500 People's Choice Award up for grabs, and every artist gets a free ticket to opening night, too!

https://forms.gle/AFcHWtm68WdEGXwc7

Want to get your Community Participation Program hours knocked off with an awesome crew at a fun event? Check out the signup link below and choose a slot (or two). Get your parent friends to do the same! Food donations are also part of the signup sheet, so register those as well to make the night even better! Spots are filling quickly, so secure yours today!

https://signup.com/go/wtQfwVZ

And after all that volunteering, you deserve a night out, so get yourself a ticket to opening night at the link below. We’ve reduced the price this year, so bring a friend or two for what is always an excellent night with live music, amazing MC, raffle prizes, and even a live artist painting on the night! You don’t want to miss this event!

https://events.humanitix.com/opening-night-st-mark-s-art-show-2025

Lastly, we are also seeking sponsors for this year's show. If you have a business or know of one that would like to support this amazing event, please reach out to Richard at Artshow@stmarks.wa.edu.au to discuss donation and sponsorship opportunities.

To stay up-to-date, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved, complete your volunteer hours, and play a meaningful role in our vibrant St Mark’s Anglican School community.

Let’s come together to support the arts and our school. Thank you for being part of something special!

PLEASE NOTE: BOGAN BINGO IS NOW - BYO BEER & WINE!

Tickets are getting snapped up quicker than snags at a Bunnings sausage sizzle - so rally your crew and lock in your spot for a night that’s guaranteed to be a beauty!

Ticket Options:

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

What’s On: Hosted by the outrageous team from Bogan Bingo, this night promises belly laughs, big tunes, ridiculous competitions, top-tier raffle prizes, a photo booth to capture your finest bogan moment - and a DJ to keep the dance floor buzzing after bingo wraps up!

Don’t forget to dress the part - mullets, flannies, ugg boots and double denim are highly encouraged!

This one’s shaping up to be an absolute cracker - don’t miss your chance to be part of it.

Grab your tickets here.

Looking for an easy way to make up a few Community Participation hours (previously Parent Commitment hours) We would love a had with setting up and packing away for this event – please contact: laurenmanton@outlook.com for more information.

We are delighted to be back in Term 3 and would love to welcome your child to our Friday 7:30-8:30 am soccer program.

Mark and his professional coaching team will engage, inspire, and provide energetic coaching sessions.

Children from Kindy to Year 6 are welcome and are placed in age-appropriate groups.

Please let Mark know if you would like your child to be taken safely to class after the session.

• Dates Friday 8^th August to Friday 12^th September
• Time 7:30-8:30 am
• Cost $129 per child for 6 week program

Simply call, text or email Mark to register your child.

• 0430 788 703
• mark@mlfc.com.au