Junior School Bulletin - Term 3, Week 2

Dear Parents and Carers

This term I am very much looking forward to our annual VERSE-atality poetry recital competition. I am impressed by how well students learn their lines, then practice frequently to build their delivery skills. This event helps to build confidence in our students which is one of our school values.

A supportive way that parents can help their children to develop confidence in themselves is by increasingly providing opportunities for independence across their daily schedule. This will vary across year levels and age ranges. In Year 2 it may be expecting that children pack and unpack their school bag at the end of the day, and putting reading folders in an allocated place and lunchboxes (hopefully empty) back to the kitchen. For students in Year 5 it may involve them having greater autonomy over getting ready for their sports and activities before and after school. This could include packing the appropriate clothing and equipment and leaving it in a suitable place to collect before training.

These may appear to be only small expectations but children will gain a sense of responsibility and develop greater confidence in themselves and that is of course what we would like every St Mark’s graduate to become.

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students completed NAPLAN testing back in March, and we are pleased with the progress of students since this time. The NAPLAN reports will be coming home with Year 3 and Year 5 students this Friday, so please be sure to ask them to retrieve this from their bag once home from school. If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN, please contact your child's class teacher.

Kind regards

Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School

There’s a buzz of excitement building as our Years 2–5 students prepare for the second annual VERSE-atility Poetry Competition! Each child has selected a poem to recite and is encouraged to practise regularly at home - especially with a focus on memorisation, expression, and confidence.

The first stage of the competition - the Class Round - will take place in classrooms by Wednesday 20 August (exact dates will be determined by each class teacher). From these in-class performances, three students will be chosen to represent their class in the year-level finals.

The winners from each class will go on to compete in our 2025 VERSE-atility Grand Finals on Wednesday 27 August. Finalists will perform on stage in front of a live audience of their peers. We’re thrilled to welcome up to two family members per finalist to attend and enjoy the celebration of poetry and performance.

Invitations will be sent to finalist families shortly after the Class Round has concluded.

General Rules of our VERSE-atility Competition

• Poem Selection: Poems must be pre-approved by class teachers for appropriateness.
• Respect and Inclusivity: All poems and performances must respect the school's values of inclusivity and diversity.
• Originality: While students are performing works by others, they should aim to bring their own unique interpretation to the performance.
• Encouragement: All participants should be encouraged and applauded for their effort and bravery in performing.

Rules for Participants

• Poem Selection: Choose a poem that you connect with and is appropriate for your age. All poems must be pre-approved by your class teacher.
• Time Limit: Each performance should be no longer than 2 minutes. Practice to ensure your poem fits within this time frame.
• Respectful Content: Your poem should not contain any offensive or inappropriate language and must adhere to the school's values of respect and inclusivity.
• Originality in Performance: While you are reciting someone else's work, bring your own unique style and interpretation to your performance. There may be a few students who choose to write and perform their own poem, which has been approved by their class teacher.
• Dress Code: Formal school uniform is expected for this event.
• Rehearsals: Take time to rehearse your poem, paying attention to your voice, gestures, and facial expressions.

Natasha Robertson
Primary School Literacy and Numeracy Coach

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

Each year, our Year 12 students and Old Scholars celebrate the life of Kristian Hoogenkamp, a member of the Class of 2020, who in 2019 tragically lost his battle to a rare type of cancer - rhabdomyosarcoma, with the Kristian Hoogenkamp Memorial AFL Match.

The aim of the game is not only to honour our mate but also to raise awareness of this rare cancer. Our current Year 12 students are proudly continuing the fundraising tradition started by the Class of 2024, with the Hoogenkamp Inspire Cup Raffle, and raising money for Sock It to Sarcoma. They’re now seeking prize donations to help make this fundraiser a success. If you can contribute, please get in touch and support a great cause!

If anyone from our School Community can help by donating a raffle item, such as gift vouchers or hampers, we would be extremely grateful! Your donation will also be acknowledged through our School's media platforms.

For more information or to find out where to drop your items, please contact Amanda Kemp in the Marketing/Community Relations Office - akemp@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Come and find out more about our Little Lions Playgroup at our Open Day on Friday 1 August 2025. Contact trina.bourke@playgroupwa.com.au to register your interest and find out more.

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

The 2025 Anglischools Piano Competition will be held on Friday 29 August at Peter Moyes Anglican Community School from 9am until 2.15pm. Students can enter the following categories:

Novice - Beginners (comments given, no adjudication)

Faith - AMEB Preliminary and Grade One or similar

Justice - Grade Two and Grade Three or similar

Integrity - Grade Four and Grade Five or similar

Respect - Duet/Ensemble

Inclusion - Composition/Arrangement/Improvisation

Courage – Sight Reading

Excellence - Grade Six, Grade Seven, Grade Eight and Diploma or similar

Music Scores ARE NOT required for this year’s Piano Competition, and private students may enter as well. Please complete the following form for your registration: https://forms.office.com/r/Hvv1iqXr1U

Closing date for registrations is Monday 4 August, and no late entries will be accepted.