Students Shaping the Future of St Mark's

This year has marked an important milestone, not only for St Mark's but for the wider AngliSchools community.

Schools across the system have united around a shared set of values that reflect who we are and who we aspire to be. These values—Faith, Inclusion, Respect and Excellence (FIRE)—provide a common foundation across every AngliSchools school, guiding the way we learn, lead and care for one another.

Each value represents an important part of what it means to belong to an AngliSchools community. Faith encourages us to live our Anglican identity and the teachings of the Gospel. Inclusion reminds us to promote diversity, celebrate difference and welcome all. Respect calls us to compassionately respect ourselves, others and our world, while Excellence challenges us to pursue high personal standards in all our endeavours.

Together, these values encourage every member of our community to develop "a FIRE within, a light for others."

At St Mark's, these values are already becoming part of everyday school life. One of the most exciting examples is a student-led initiative that will help shape the culture of our School for years to come.

Over recent weeks, our Middle School Leaders and prospective 2027 Year 12 Student Leaders have come together for the first in a series of collaborative workshops to develop a new Student Code of Conduct. Rather than having expectations written for them, students are taking the lead in defining what positive behaviour, respectful relationships and a thriving school culture should look like through the lens of the FIRE values.

Working in mixed groups, students have explored questions such as: What does inclusion look like in the playground? How can respect be demonstrated in the classroom? What does excellence mean beyond academic achievement? How does faith influence the way we care for one another? Through thoughtful discussion and collaboration, they have begun translating these shared values into practical expectations that will guide student life at St Mark's.

This important initiative also supports the School's registration requirements by ensuring students play an active role in establishing the behavioural expectations that shape their learning environment.

By involving students in the process, the final Code of Conduct will become much more than a list of rules. It will be a shared commitment, created by students, for students, that reflects the culture they want to build and the community they aspire to be part of.

The workshops also provide valuable leadership opportunities, encouraging students across different year levels to listen to diverse perspectives, respectfully challenge ideas and work collaboratively towards a common goal. These are skills that extend well beyond the classroom and prepare them for life beyond St Mark's.

As the workshops continue, the new Student Code of Conduct will take shape, grounded in the AngliSchools values of Faith, Inclusion, Respect and Excellence while reflecting the unique spirit of St Mark's.

It is an exciting opportunity for our students to leave a lasting legacy—one that will help guide future generations of Lions and ensure that the FIRE values continue to shine brightly across our community.