Junior School Bulletin - Term 3, Week 5

Dear Parents and Carers

It is wonderful to see students now enjoying the new playground with all the different types of play it enables. They have been very patient during the build and the playground will see a great amount of use over the coming months. Before school we have teachers on duty but we do not have any staff members monitoring the playground at this time. Can I remind parents that students cannot play unsupervised during this time. The exception is the basketball court which has considerably less risk. Our staff begin their duty at 8.15am.

This week I watched some very confident Year 5's deliver their presentation for the Speakers Challenge. They wrote their own speeches and delivered them with gusto. Parents and teachers should be very proud. Selected students from Years 5 and 6 will represent St Mark's at the Interschool event in a few weeks time and I am sure they will do their very best. Students have also been working on their Versatility poem and I have seen some enthusiastic recitals over the last few days. The final is next week and is one of the highlights of the year for all of the children involved. I feel the standard is even better this year, so a huge thank you to all the students for their efforts in this area.

Next week we have our Interhouse Eisteddfod. This is a chance for our young musicians to shine and each year I am amazed at how talented they are, knowing full well just how much practice and dedication has gone into the mastery of their instrument. Good luck to all competitors and may the best House win!

This week will see the departure of our much-loved Mrs Robertson who is moving to Carmel College as Deputy Head of Primary. Mrs Robertson has taught hundreds of children in her time at St Mark's and has done a brilliant job as our Literacy and Numeracy Coach in recent years. I wish Mrs Robertson the very best in the next part of her leadership journey and welcome Mr Keenan into the role of Literacy and Numeracy Coach of the Primary School.

Kind regards

Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School

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.

Rhyme, rhythm, and a touch of flair…

Our VERSE-atility finalists are nearly there!

Most classes have now wrapped up their classroom rounds of the VERSE-atility competition, and what a display of talent it has been! Our teachers had the tricky task of selecting the top performers - no easy feat when every student brought such energy and expression to their poetry recital.

The Grand Finals will be held on Wednesday, 27 August, where our finalists will step into the spotlight and perform for the title. Each finalist can have up to two family members attend to cheer them on, with an email to these families going out by this Friday. We’re excited to see our young performers light up the stage!

As I get ready to begin an exciting new chapter at my next school, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the St Mark’s community. I will carry so many fond memories with me - our enthusiastic children who approach their learning with such energy and curiosity, the warm smiles and support from parents, and the privilege of working alongside a truly dedicated staff who give their all to provide the best for our students, while embracing new learning and ideas with such openness. It has been an honour to be part of this school, and I will always treasure the connections, laughter and shared moments that have made my time here so special.

Kind regards

Natasha Robertson
Literacy and Numeracy Coach (Primary)

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.

St Mark's is again looking for volunteers to assist with supervision for the upcoming Year 12 exams from Tuesday 23 September to to Friday 10 October.

Sessions are broken up into two time slots, morning (08:00am to 12:00pm) and afternoon (1:00pm to 4:30pm).

Please sign up here. Please only choose 1 session time per family to allow all families a chance at helping.

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.

Date: Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Time: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Venue: Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Centre

Join us for our upcoming P&F General Meeting, followed by an engaging and informative presentation from Mrs Ella Pearce, St Mark’s Head of Careers.

Mrs Pearce will share exciting updates on the Career Curiosity Series, Career Tasters, Senior School Pathways and recent changes to SCSA WACE requirements.

• Career Tasters – Designed for Year 9 students, this program offers hands-on experiences in different trade-based careers, helping students make informed choices about their future.
• Career Curiosity Series – Tailored for students in Years 10–12, this inspiring series brings in professionals from a wide range of industries. Students hear firsthand about each profession and have the chance to ask questions. Launched in 2024, the series has grown rapidly, with this year’s students meeting experts from eight industries across eight events.
• SCSA WACE Changes – Following the early August announcement, Mrs Pearce will break down the new requirements and explain what they mean for students.

Come along to connect with the St Mark’s community, gain valuable insights, and be part of an evening that will inspire and inform both parents and students, and collect Community Participation Hours at the same time!

When you buy an Entertainment Membership this month, you’ll receive a FREE upgrade to a Multi City Membership (valued at $120!) AND a $30 VISA eGift Card.

That means for just $70, you’ll score access to up to 50% off dining, activities, shopping, and travel across Australia, NZ, and Bali.

It’s the perfect Father’s Day gift, that will keep giving all year round. With over $20,000 in savings – from Rebel Sport, Supercheap Auto, and BCF, to fuel at Shell, plus amazing dining deals your dad will love!PLUS… $14 from each Membership will be donated directly to All Saints Anglican School, Samoa. Helping provide opportunities for students and making a meaningful difference, not only to their school, but to the wider community.

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!

The Resilience Project has an upcoming Connected Parenting Webinar with Lael Stone on Thursday 4th September, 8:00-9:15pm (75 minutes) AEST or 6:00pm-7:15pm AWST.

What they’ll deliver
Grounded in the latest research, this 75-minute workshop provides parents and carers with practical strategies to raise resilient children. Author, TEDx speaker, counsellor and parenting educator, Lael Stone, will discuss how to: ​​​​​​

• Build stronger connections with your children.
• Support them through challenging and frustrating situations.
• Create a culture of cooperation in simple ways.
• Manage your own triggers as a parent.
• Understand and support big emotions in a way that helps children become emotionally resilient.

About Lael Stone
Lael Stone is an author, TEDx speaker, counsellor and parenting educator who specialises in navigating trauma and disconnection in families. She has spent the better part of two decades working with families, as well as running programs in secondary schools about relationships and wellbeing. She is a mother of three adult children and the co-founder of Woodline Primary School – a new, innovative school focused on supporting emotional intelligence in children.

Individually register for the webinar using this link.

Workshop Details:

📅 Date: Tuesday 26 August 2025
🕤 Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
📍 Location: The Spiers Centre, 2 Albatross Court, Heathridge
💵 Cost: Free (with free crèche available)

Why this program matters:
The Protective Behaviours program is a valuable child protection education tool that helps parents and caregivers learn practical ways to build children’s confidence, resilience, and awareness. It supports families in creating a culture of safety, empowering children to recognise when something isn’t right and know they can talk to someone about anything — no matter what it is.

This interactive session provides practical tips, language, and strategies that can be used at home to help keep everyone in the family safe.

Whitfords Junior Cricket Club invites boys & girls aged 8-17 to come & try Junior Cricket after school on Wednesday 3rd September.

This is a free event at James Cook Park in Hillarys, from 3.30 - 4.30pm.

Please use the QR code to register.

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.