A Note from the Acting Principal
As we begin a new School year, there is always a sense of anticipation and fresh possibility but this year feels especially significant as we continue celebrating 40 years of St Mark’s.
One of the most memorable moments of our opening week was gathering together as a whole school community, Kindergarten to Year 12 to sing Happy Birthday to St Mark’s. Standing there, looking out at our students and staff, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. Pride in who we are, pride in how far we have come, and pride in the remarkable young people who fill our classrooms each day.
To share that moment in the presence of our CEO, Reverend Peter Laurence OAM, and Mrs Lynne Thomson, Chair of the AngliSchools Board, made the occasion even more special. Together, we cut the birthday cake and celebrated not just the years behind us, but the future ahead. Forty years represents generations of families, staff and students who have shaped this School into the vibrant community it is today.
The year has begun with great energy and purpose. Before students returned, our staff came together for professional learning focused on collaboration and strengthening our positive school culture and climate. The time invested in working together, reflecting on practice and refining how we support students ensures that our community continues to grow not only in excellence, but in connection and belonging.
Our campus is also looking rejuvenated and inspiring. The refurbished Administration Building feels light, welcoming and contemporary and we eagerly anticipate the installation of a beautiful stained glass window, generously gifted by AngliSchools, which will further honour our Anglican heritage.
Our expanded and modernised Technology area is another exciting development. This space ensures that every student in Years 6–12 will have the opportunity to engage in woodwork or metalwork at some stage in their secondary schooling, building practical skills alongside creativity and problem-solving.
The Senior Academic Centre has also been refreshed with new furniture designed to support flexible learning; allowing for independent study, group collaboration and focused academic work in a contemporary environment.
Perhaps most exciting is the continued growth of our diverse and dynamic elective programme. Students are engaging in industry-connected learning experiences such as:
- Creating AI agents, exploring emerging technologies and future-focused innovation
- Project Runway, combining sustainable fashion with design thinking
- Places and Spaces, where students design learning environments, under the mentorship of architects and town planners, and will present their work at the Learning Environments Australasia Conference later this year
This year also marks the beginning of the implementation of our School-wide approach to teaching and learning. This work represents the culmination of extensive staff research into best practice, professional dialogue, and our partnership with Dr Lorraine Hammond, a leading expert in Explicit Instruction. This shared approach ensures consistency and clarity in teaching across the School, so that every child, in every classroom, in every lesson, every day is actively engaged in learning and supported to achieve their very best. By grounding our practice in evidence-based strategies, we are strengthening both academic outcomes and student confidence, ensuring that all learners are challenged, supported and successful.
These opportunities reflect who we are as a School: innovative, outward-looking and committed to preparing students for the world beyond our gates.
As we look ahead to the year before us, we do so with gratitude for our history and excitement for our future. Our 40th year is not just about celebration — it is about continuing to build a community where every student from Kindergarten to Year 12 feels known, supported and inspired to pursue their passions.
It is a privilege to serve this community as Acting Principal. I look forward to all that we will achieve together in 2026.
Ms Roseanne Madden
Principal (Acting)