Junior School Bulletin - Term 3, Week 5

This week we are recognising Bullying No Way Week, an important opportunity to reinforce the values that sit at the heart of our school community.

Across the Primary School, students explore these ideas through programs such as Worry Woos and Friendology, which help children understand emotions, build healthy friendships and develop the skills to navigate social challenges. A key message within Friendology is helping children understand the difference between friendship difficulties, conflict and behaviour that is genuinely "mean on purpose", repeated and intended to cause harm.

While we never want children to experience unkind behaviour, we also recognise that learning to manage disagreements, repair relationships and seek support are important life skills. Schools are communities where children learn not only academic skills, but also how to navigate friendships, misunderstandings and conflict. These experiences, while sometimes challenging, provide valuable opportunities for growth and learning.

I would also like to thank the many parents who attended our Friendology Information Session last week. It was wonderful to see such committed parents taking the time to learn more about the program and explore ways they can support these important messages at home. When school and home work together, children receive consistent guidance and are better equipped to build healthy, positive relationships.

As educators, we know that children will experience friendship bumps and moments of conflict as they grow. These experiences are not always comfortable, particularly when our own child is involved, but they are often where the richest learning occurs. By working together and maintaining a shared focus on helping children learn from these experiences, we can support them to become more capable and confident in their relationships.

Andrew Johnston

Head of Primary

At Friday's assembly, we had the pleasure of celebrating thirty Year 5 students who participated in the Adopt-a-Bushland service-learning program run by the City of Joondalup. We were also delighted to welcome Councillor Vinciullo, who joined us to recognise the students' efforts and present certificates and gifts to our Year 5 representatives, Arya and Logan.

Over four weeks, students deepened their understanding of local ecosystems and Noongar connections to Country through a range of cultural and environmental learning experiences. They then applied this learning in a very practical way, working alongside City of Joondalup Nature Officers at Littorina Reserve in Heathridge to rehabilitate the area and plant native species.

The results were impressive, with students contributing to the planting of 170 native plants and playing a meaningful role in the restoration of this important local bushland. Their learning was also shared more broadly through a display at Whitfords Library, showcasing both their environmental stewardship and commitment to service.

Programs such as this provide rich opportunities for students to connect their learning with real-world action, developing a sense of responsibility for the environment and the community around them. Thank you to Mrs Toovey for facilitating this wonderful initiative and for creating such a valuable opportunity for our students to learn, contribute and make a lasting difference.

I am writing to inform you about the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) that your child/children will be learning throughout the year. The KS:CPC is a Department for Education responsibility under the Children’s Protection Act 1993 and the Child Protection in Schools, Early Childhood Education and Care Services policy to ensure that effective abuse prevention programs are implemented and that all children and young people have access to the approved child protection curriculum. Although parent permission is not required under the Education Act 1972, we encourage parents to seek further clarification if required and to provide the teacher with any relevant information about their child that could alleviate any concerns.

The KS:CPC is an evidence based, best practice curriculum developed collaboratively with child protection experts, teachers, educational leaders and other professionals.

This term the students in Year 4 will be exploring the following information:

Focus Area 1: The right to be safe

• The rights of a child
• Physical warning signs of unsafe situations

Focus Area 2: Relationships

• Definition of power
• Role play power scenarios
• Tricks andbribes
• Pressure
• Trust networks

Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse

• Naming the parts of the body (with correct terminology)
• Our bodies are private
• Safe and unsafe touching
• Definition of abuse
• Sexual and physical abuse

When discussing sexual abuse the students will watch the following video

Focus Area 4: Protective strategies

• Assertive responses
• Networks

More information can be found on the KS:CPC website.

Please contact Mark Pressley at mpressley@stmarks.wa.edu.au if you have any questions about the curriculum.

Yours sincerely

Year 4 Teaching Team,
Jane Upson, Karen Hues, Paul Mason and Meagan Kruenert

As per the email sent to Year 5 parents, please click on the following link to open a letter from Mrs Duff: Y5 Graduation save the date letter - Photos from Parents

SALVATION ARMY 'GREAT COOK UP' (Parent Commitment Hours Opportunity)
The Term 3 Salvation Army Great Cook Up is fast approaching! This is a fantastic initiative for a very worthy cause, run by the St Mark's Old Scholars Association once a term and gives students from Years 2 to 5 the opportunity to come together with their parents, work alongside each other and cook meals for the Salvation Army at the Alan Cadby Senior Academic Centre (Home Economics rooms in the Secondary School). It is always a great afternoon and the kitchen is continually a buzz with St Mark's community spirit. The St Mark’s Old Scholars Association will be providing all the food and ingredients, all you need to do is simply turn up and help prepare and cook the meals. Further details are as follows:

Date: Thursday 27^th August 2026
Time: 3.40pm (after school) until approximately 5/5.30pm
Where: St Mark's Home Economics rooms
Who: Only 11 x family places are available (two groups per meal batch) - parents will be notified via email
Sign-up link: Cooking for the Salvation Army - 2026 Term 3 Parent Help needed – Fill in form

This initiative is being organised by The St Mark's Old Scholars Association and should you require any further information regarding this activity then please email Andrew Coffin (andrewcoffin@bigpond.com) / 0415862907

Once again, the Year Three classes from St Mark’s will be participating in a project called Operation Christmas Child. This is a charity project run by Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organisation which supports children in need around the world.

We are seeking donations to fill shoeboxes which will be given to children less fortunate than ourselves. Items can be placed in the large boxes set up in the Year 2/3 open area. All items must also be new, as per the charity guidelines.

Donations are for children aged 2-14 years old and can include items from the following categories:

• Something to love (eg. a small soft toy or doll)
• Something for school (eg. pencils, sharpener, eraser, pencil case, notebook)
• Something for personal hygiene (eg. a flannel, a hairbrush, a toothbrush)
• Something to wear (eg. any new clothes, hats, shoes or underwear)
• Something to play with (eg. a ball, a small toy, a yoyo, a skipping rope)
• Something special (eg. a bag to carry their box, a bracelet or necklace, small books)

For postage and safety reasons, we cannot accept liquids, pastes, gels, soaps or any items related to war.

Thank you in advance for your support of this important project. Please contact Mrs Greaves via email egreaves@stmarks.wa.edu.au should you have any further questions.

Week 6 24 -28 August is Book Week! “Symphony of Stories”

• Wednesday 26 August the Primary School will celebrate Book Week by dressing up as their favourite book character. Kindy Starfish will dress up on Tuesday 25^th August. Please talk with your child/children about characters from the books they have read this year, or even some of your own favourite characters from books you have read. Children should come to school in their chosen dress up.

Week 7 31 August - 4 September 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

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students, it is important that play occurs only when appropriate supervision is available. Staff supervision is provided between 8:15am and 3:15pm. As such, all playgrounds and oval areas are out of bounds outside these hours.

Before School
This morning, a number of students arrived at school before 8:15am. Unless students are participating in a supervised before-school activity, they should not be on campus before this time.

We ask families to ensure that students arrive from 8:15am onwards, allowing them to be appropriately supervised as they begin their school day.

After School
Please note that all playground equipment and oval areas are also out of bounds after school.

To support families with after-school collection, teacher supervision is available in the following locations:

• PAC Drive Through
• Year 2/3 Gate Kiss 'n' Drive
• Inside the Library

Students who are waiting to be collected should remain in one of these supervised areas.

The safety and wellbeing of our students is always our highest priority. We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations with your children and thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe environment before and after school.

Please click on the following link to open the schedule for the Junior School Clubs this term: 2026 Junior School Clubs - Term Three. Please note, the schedule contains sign-up links for these clubs and spaces go very quickly.

The Parents Prayer Group (PPG) meet fortnightly to pray for the students, staff and school community. We will be meeting every second Friday 2pm in the school chapel, starting 31st July. Please sign in at reception. All are welcome.

For enquiries or prayer requests, please message Wing Shattock on 0433 002 151.

Brush out your mullet, pull on your finest flanno, and prepare for a ripper night out! Following a sell-out event in 2025, the St Mark's Parents & Friends' Association is bringing back Bogan Bingo for another night of laughs, music, and bogan brilliance.

• When: Saturday 22nd August 2026
• Doors Open/Pre Show: 6:00pm
• Bingo Starts: 7:00pm sharp
• Where: St Mark's Ken Fairfield Hall – the only place legends gather!

It's half game show, half party, and 100% bogan fun. Expect hilarious bingo calls, epic air guitar contests, and dancefloor-worthy rock anthems blasting between rounds. Then, when the bingo wraps up, the DJ will keep the good times rolling with all the classic 80's rock tunes.

Don't miss out! Secure your table today!

For further info and ticketing options click here: https://events.humanitix.com/smacs-p-and-f-bogan-bingo-2026

All Old Scholars are invited to attend the 2026 Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, 18 August, in the SAC Staffroom.

Drinks and nibbles will be served.

Parent Commitment Hours can be claimed.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

All positions will be declared vacant, and nominations are called for a new Committee. All current members of the Association are encouraged to attend the AGM, and any member may nominate to join the committee.

• Nominations can be submitted to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 14 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 14 August.
• Members are welcome to submit items for the agenda by emailing emailed to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 14 August.
  
• The Agenda, Nomination Forms and Proxy forms are available by request to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au.