Junior School Bulletin - Term 3, Week 4

Dear Parents and Carers

After much anticipation, our brand-new Year 2/3 playground is almost ready, and will open for students this week with an official opening next week. The space has been designed to provide a wide variety of play opportunities, encouraging creativity, cooperation, and physical activity. From climbing and balancing to imaginative play areas, every feature has been thoughtfully planned to cater to different interests and abilities. My favourite aspect is how the walkway weaves through the trees which will make the students feel they are up amongst the canopy.

The playground includes monkey bars and multiple slides but also has disability access, with an accessible carousel and basket ensuring all children can enjoy and benefit from the space together. Creating an engaging environment has been a key priority, and we look forward to seeing the joy it will bring to our students.

A big thank you to our Parents and Friends (P&F) Association for their generous support and commitment to making this project a reality. Your contribution has helped create a space that will be loved by our school community for many years to come.

Kind regards

Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School

Thank you to all the families that raised an enormous amount of money during the Lapathon earlier this year. As outlined at the time, a portion of these funds would be donated to the Ping Pongathon fundraiser. The Ping Pongathon supports seven different charities that help rescue children from slavery in South-East Asia and beyond. $3000 has been allocated for this fundraiser and will go a long way in helping free children from slavery. Children will learn more about this worthy cause in CAVE this week and in Chapel from Ping Pongathon activist and volunteer, James Cooper.

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.

The Salvation Army Great Cook Up initiative is on again in Term 3. 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, 28 August 2025
Time: 3.40pm (after school) until approximately 5/5.30pm
Where: St Mark's Home Economics rooms
Who: Only 12 x family places are available (two groups per meal batch) - parents will be notified via email
Sign-up link: Salvation Army Great Cook Up - Term 3 2025

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) / 0415 862 907.

Once again this year, 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 shoe-boxes 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 bar of soap, 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 or balms 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.

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.

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

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!

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.