Middle School Bulletin - Term 1, Week 4

To ensure the safety and security of all students and staff, we ask all parents and carers to follow the procedures below when visiting the school site.

Signing In

• All parents must report to Parent Reception upon arrival.
• Parents must sign in at Parent Reception before entering the school grounds for any appointment or visit.
• A visitor name badge will be issued and must be worn at all times while on site.
• Visitors must sign out at Parent Reception before leaving.

These procedures help us maintain a secure and well-managed environment for everyone in our community.

Dropping Off Items

• All items for Middle School and Senior School students must be dropped off at Parent Reception.
• Students will be contacted to collect their belongings during the school day.
• Parents are not permitted to go to Middle School Reception or Senior School Reception. These areas are designated for student use only.

We appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines and thank you for helping us maintain a safe and orderly school environment.

There are a number of Kiss ‘n Drive drop-off points around the School, including Whitfords Avenue entrance (Gate 4), Early Learning Centre (via Gate 3), Eastern Access Road (via Gate 3) and outside the Performing Arts Complex (via Gate 3 or Gate 2). There is an additional Kiss ‘n Drive bay on St Marks Drive (travelling east to west).

To ensure the safety of all pedestrians, please ensure you adhere to the following:

• Kiss ‘n Drive bays are strictly ‘no parking’ areas whether or not you are in your vehicle.
• Students must exit from the passenger-side doors as quickly as possible.
• Students must use the designated crosswalks located at each Kiss ‘n Drive within the School grounds.
• Do not overtake vehicles who are ahead of you in the Kiss ‘n Drive queue.
• Please be patient, drive slowly and be aware of other road users.
• At pick-up time, If your child is not at the Kiss ‘n Drive when you arrive, please follow the Traffic Warden’s directions and move forward to rejoin the queue.
• For parents with children in Years 6-12, we kindly ask that you refrain from joining the Kiss 'n Drive queue too early. Doing so blocks access for Primary traffic to the drive-thru area. We have staggered end-of-day times across the campus to facilitate smoother traffic flow.

All Year 3 students and all new students in Years 4 – 12 to St Mark's Anglican Community School have had their SmartRiders ordered and delivered to the School.

If your child has not yet received their SmartRider, please ask them to check with Junior, Middle or Senior School Reception.

If an existing student requires a replacement SmartRider, these can be purchased from Parent Reception at a cost of $5.00. Please note that payment is card only, and there is a 1% surcharge on credit cards ($5.05).

Transperth has asked schools to remind families that students must have a SmartRider to access free student travel. Student SmartRiders in WA provide primary and secondary students with free travel on all Transperth services from Monday to Friday during the school year.

Students must remember to tag on and tag off when travelling. Please note that concession fares apply on weekends and during the summer holidays.

The SmartRider also acts as a student ID, enabling discounted travel, and a photo is required for high school students.

If you have any questions, please contact Parent Reception.

Please see attached flyer with parent information regarding NAPLAN which begins Wednesday 11 March. For information, NAPLAN is for all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students.

Under WA road safety laws, only individuals aged 16+ can use eRideables or eBikes with the motor engaged.

To manage safety and ensure road safety laws are followed, from the start of Term 1 of 2026 (2 February), eRideables and eBikes will not be permitted on school grounds by students under 16 years old.

More information

To learn more about eRideable and eBike laws, penalties, buying guides and safety, visit the Road Safety Commission website at: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/roadsafety-commission/erideables

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, we’re thrilled to invite our School Community to the Marnjamoortup Festival — our premier birthday event — taking place on Friday 6 March on Marnjamoortup, affectionately known to many Old Scholars as the Quad.

Expect a relaxed evening filled with community, celebration and a healthy dose of nostalgia. Enjoy live music from our incredibly talented student bands, followed by tunes from Red’s Tribe featuring vocals from our amazing Ms Guelfi. Add roving entertainment, substantial food offerings, a cash bar and plenty of opportunities to reminisce, and you’ve got a celebration worth breaking the rules for.

EVENT DETAILS:

• Friday 6 March 2026
• 6.00pm – 10.00pm
• Marnjamoortup (The Quad), St Mark’s Anglican Community School
• Dress: Smart (with your dancing shoes!)
• Parking: Junior School Oval, enter via Gate 4 on Whitfords Avenue
• Please note: this is an 18+ event
• RSVP by Friday 20 February 2026
• Tickets: $30 - Includes a complimentary drink on arrival and substantial finger food
  https://events.humanitix.com/marnjamoortup-festival-st-mark-s-40th-celebrations

Come celebrate 40 years of St Mark’s — we can’t wait to see you there.

The Secondary Assistance Scheme is available to parents/guardians with children enrolled in Years 7 to 12 who hold an eligible concession card (a Pensioner Concession Card or a Health Care Card).

The SAS consists of two allowances:

• $235 Education Program Allowance (payment made to the school); and
• $115 Clothing Allowance (payment made to the parent/guardian).

Parents/guardians in receipt of the ABSTUDY School Fees Allowance from Services Australia (Centrelink) are not eligible for the SAS, but they may apply for the ABSTUDY Supplement Allowance.

Applications open at the commencement of Term 1 2026 and close on 2 April 2026. Forms are available from Main Reception during Term 1 between 8am and 4pm.

Please check the eligibility criteria here.

If your child will be absent, arrive late, or need to leave early, please notify the School with a reason for the absence via the St Mark’s App, SEQTA Engage, or by emailing absentee@stmarks.wa.edu.au. This applies to all year groups; notifications sent to other email addresses may not be received.

When emailing, please include your child’s first name, surname, and class/year level in the subject line.

Absences of three or more consecutive days require a medical certificate. Requests for extended leave or holidays during the school term must be submitted in writing to principal@stmarks.wa.edu.au for consideration.

Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. Over the next term, you're invited to join their parent webinar series, where you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they're learning at school.

In Term 1 we’ll cover:

1. How to Get (And Keep!) Your Child Motivated- 11th February @6:30 (AEDT)

2. How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time - 25th February @6:30 (AEDT)

3. How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!) - 11th March @6:30 (AEDT)

4. How You Can Help Improve Your Child’s Memory- 25th March @6:30 (AEDT)

Click here to register for free

The Health Centre would like to welcome you back to a new school year.

Please update the health records for your child on Consent2Go. It is important to provide us with current Action Plans for diagnosis where relevant. Please update permissions for Non-prescription medication if you wish for your child to receive them in school.

Parents are reminded that students are not permitted to self-administer medication or bring it to school. The Health Centre provides medications such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, and antihistamine for student needs. If your child requires any of these during school hours, they may attend the Health Centre to see the nurse (Tracey or Laura) for assessment.

Any further questions please don’t hesitate to email us, nurse@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

Kind Regards

Health Centre Team

Year 12 Drama presents a Site Specific performance of scenes from ‘Dear Evan Hansen’.

This musical about a high school senior with severe social anxiety who lies about being best friends with a classmate, Connor Murphy, who recently died by suicide. After a therapeutic, self-addressed letter is mistaken for a suicide note, Evan creates a fabricated, viral friendship, finding himself in a whirlwind of lies that ultimately lead to a journey of self-discovery, guilt, and the pursuit of connection.

Note: Sections of this performance will take place in various locations such as the Senior Academic Centre and Outdoors. Some walking to venues will be required and no stairs will be accessed. The performance will take place in one level

Content Warning: This Performance Contains Mature Themes and references to mental illness and self-harm.

BOOK HERE

Meet our two Galileo Figaros as St Mark's Theatre Company gets set to light up the stage with the epic Queen Musical 'We Will Rock You' featuring a cast of 60 Year 6-12 students, as well as Old Scholars!

Ticket information available soon, but save the date for 21-24 April. You won't want to miss this!

As we get ready to celebrate 40 years of education and community at St Mark’s, we’re calling on a few wonderful parent volunteers to help make the evening run smoothly.

Date: Friday 6 March
Location: St Mark’s Anglican Community School

We’re currently seeking support in two areas:

Traffic Management & Parking (approx. 4 volunteers)

Time: 5.00pm – 8.00pm
You’ll assist our Maintenance and Grounds teams by guiding vehicles to parking areas and helping manage entry gates, including VIP and rideshare access.
Yes — you’ll be rocking the most fashionable high-vis attire and wielding a light sabre to swoosh guests safely in the right direction!

Food Service (4–6 volunteers)

Time: 5.00pm – 9.30pm
You’ll be supporting our external catering company to ensure food service runs smoothly. Duties may include serving food and assisting the catering team during busy periods.

If you’re able to lend a hand in either role, we would truly appreciate your support. Volunteers play such an important part in the success of events like this, and we couldn’t do it without you.

To put your hand up, please email Amanda Kemp, akemp@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Thank you in advance for supporting this very special community celebration.

P.S. Community Participation Program hours can be claimed!

Students in Years 8–11 are invited to explore the exciting world of engineering these April school holidays through hands-on workshops hosted by Edith Cowan University’s School of Engineering.

These engaging sessions provide students with practical experience tackling real engineering challenges, while developing problem-solving and teamwork skills. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet current university students and academic staff and explore future pathways in engineering.

Workshop dates, costs and registration details can be found on the attached flyer.

St Mark’s Netball Club is dedicated and passionate club and we are on the hunt for keen, energetic Year 6 netball players to join our Junior U12 team this season. If you love being active, playing with friends, and giving it your all on court, we want you!

Registrations are now open — sign up via the link below and get ready for an awesome season.

https://www.trybooking.com/DJOOV

Get ready to colour, cut or shave for a cause that truly matters. On Tuesday 24 March 2026, St Mark’s will once again take part in the World’s Greatest Shave, proudly supporting the Leukaemia Foundation.

This is a powerful opportunity for our community to come together, show compassion, and make a real difference. Last year we came so close to our fundraising target — and this year, we’re aiming even higher with a goal of $23,000. Let’s hit it together!

What’s happening on the day?

• Hair spraying and a Bake Sale at recess, run by our Year 12 students

• Main shaving event during lunch in the quad

Get involved

Students and staff are encouraged to take part by shaving, cutting, colouring, or fundraising. Families can support by donating or spreading the word.

Join or donate via our St Mark’s Team Page:
https://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/join/StMarksAnglicanCommunitySchool2180

Calling all hairdressers!

If you have a family member or friend who is a hairdresser and would be willing to donate their time on the day, we’d love to hear from you. Please email Mrs Parsons: lparsons@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Let’s start building excitement, spreading the word and encouraging our students to get involved. Together, we can make 2026 our biggest and best World’s Greatest Shave yet!

The Parents Prayer Group (PPG) meet fortnightly to pray for the students, staff and school community.

We will be meeting every second Friday at 2pm in the school chapel, starting 13 February. Please sign in at reception. All are welcome.

Please share any prayer requests by emailing parentsunitedforprayer@gmail.com or call Wing Shattock on 0433 002 151.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

​​​​​​​Our newly formed P&F Association is hosting its first Annual General Meeting on WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2026 and we'd love to see you there.

The evening will commence with our Sundowner in the PAC foyer, followed by the AGM.

• 6pm - Sundowner | PAC Foyer
• 7pm - AGM with special guest performance by Verve Vocal Ensemble (formerly True Voices) | Performing Arts Complex

Nominations for committee positions are open! If you would like to join our committee, please complete the nomination form attached and send it through to the secretary (Secretary.pf@stmarks.wa.edu.au).

• Download the Nomination Form here
• Download the invite here

We look forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards,

St Mark's P&F Association

The St Mark’s P&F have locked in the date for the Term 1 Busy Bee!

• DATE: Sunday, 22 March 2026
• TIME: 8.30am - 12.30pm

We’d love for you to join us at the Term 1 Busy Bee! Come along, roll up your sleeves, and help us create a beautiful native garden outside the School’s Main Reception. It’s a fantastic opportunity to earn Community Participation Hours, connect with other families, and make a lasting difference to our school environment. Everyone’s welcome, no gardening experience needed, just your enthusiasm and community spirit!

We are also seeking the support of any St Mark’s families who have a landscape gardening or landscape design business and would be willing to support the project. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated as we shape this new garden space.

We’ll also be firing up the BBQ for lunch, so if gardening isn’t your thing but you enjoy cooking up a snag, we’d love for you to help out at the BBQ station. Volunteers are needed for both gardening and BBQ duties, so there’s a spot for everyone!

Volunteer Your Time. Earn Community Participation Hours. Make a Difference.

What to Bring

• Gardening Equipment – shovels, wheelbarrows, general gardening/landscaping tools (If you have any)
• Gardening gloves (if you have them)
• Hat & sunscreen
• Water bottle

If you have any questions, please contact our team at busybee@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Otherwise please sign up here:

https://signup.com/go/QQpvhdw

We're using SignUp (the leading online SignUp and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming SignUps.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp: https://signup.com/go/QQpvhdw

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.

3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.

Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Together, we can create a vibrant outdoor space for our community to enjoy for years to come.

Hosted by the St Mark’s P&F Association