A message from the Head of Primary School
Dear Parents and Carers
It's great to have the 2026 school year underway! Over the next few weeks, through class emails, notices, the Bulletin and parent evenings, the class routines and school processes will become clearer and this makes each day much easier for students and parents alike. The ebbs and flows of the school year do bring a calming influence once the familiar routines of the school week are back in place.
Our students look immaculate in their uniforms, and I thank parents for helping their children start the school year looking their very best. One area I ask for your assistance is to please check the type of earrings your child is wearing when they come to school. As outlined in our uniform policy, earrings should be plain studs or sleepers in gold or silver, ensuring a consistent and safe approach across the school.
This Bulletin has information about our Year 5 Bike Education program, Clubs, etc and I encourage you to use the St Mark's App to access this information source each Tuesday afternoon. Could I please ask everyone to mark in their calendar with these key Meet the Teacher dates for the Primary School:
ELC (K-1): Tuesday 10 February from 6pm - 7.30pm
Year 2 - 5: Tuesday 17 February from 6pm - 7.30pm
Please read the separate article included in this Bulletin for further information regarding Meet the Teacher evenings.
As we begin the year, I am delighted to welcome several new staff members to our school community. Mr Jayden Carr joins us as our new Year 5 teacher. A local to the Hillarys area, Jayden brings a wealth of teaching experience and a strong commitment to engaging, high-quality learning for students. We are thrilled to have him on board.
We also warmly welcome Ms Reem Alwash, who joins Year 2 as an Education Assistant. Reem brings a rich and diverse background of experience from Western Australia, the eastern states, and abroad, and we look forward to the valuable perspectives and support she will provide our students and staff. Ms Rebecca Delaney has joined our Learning Diversity and Inclusion team, coming to us from Sacred Heart. Rebecca will be supporting students from Kindy to Year 2, and her expertise will be a wonderful asset to our early years and inclusion programs.
At the same time, we say a fond farewell to Mrs Michelle De Silva, who has served our Primary School community as an Education Assistant for the past nine years. Michelle has been renowned for her outstanding professionalism, boundless energy and unwavering positivity, always lifting up those around her. She has made a lasting impact on our students, families and staff. We wish Michelle every success and happiness as she begins her new role at Carmel School.
Please join me in welcoming our new staff members and in thanking Michelle for her wonderful contribution to our community.
Mark Pressley
Head of Primary School (Acting)
