Senior School Bulletin - Term 2, Week 4

“SAVE THE DATE” for the Secondary School Eisteddfod, Week 6, Sunday 26 May from 2pm onwards. Open to all music students from Year 6-12 who learn an instrument at school or privately. You can enter either as a soloist or as part of a small ensemble. More information to come!

Secondary students are invited to participate in fundraising activities for IDAHOBIT DAY, with money raised being donated to Rainbow Community House (an LGBTQIA+ charity for homeless young people) on Thursday 16 May.

Students can donate a gold coin to wear their usual winter uniform with a solid-coloured item (e.g., a shirt, scarf, or socks) or a rainbow item.

Students will be encouraged to get together at lunchtime to complete the rainbow for photographs.

There will also be a bake sale outside the library and music in the quad.

Reminder: Please ensure your fee account is up to date.

Thank you.

We’d like to take a moment to remind all families about the importance of keeping children at home when they are unwell, especially when they have a fever or contagious symptoms.

Recently, we’ve had instances where parents have requested their children be allowed to remain at school despite having a fever. For the health and safety of all our students, it is essential that if your child is showing signs of illness, particularly a fever, they must be kept at home and arrangements should be made for their prompt collection if they are already at school.

Additionally, we would like to remind all families that if your child has experienced gastro symptoms, they should stay at home for a minimum of 24 hours after the last bout of symptoms to prevent spreading the illness to others.

We truly appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that our school remains a safe and healthy environment for everyone. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Health Centre Team

The Cancer Council are hearing from parents and community members who are raising their concerns about children and young people vaping, and asking what can be done.  

With support from partners across the health and education sectors, the Cancer Council have developed an easy online form to help people find and write to their federal representatives, and express their support for vaping reforms currently going through parliament. 

You can find the form at the link here.

The Cancer Council are encouraging members of the community to write to their federal representatives to express their concerns about vaping and show their support for the reforms.

If you have any questions or for more information, please contact the Cancer Council at actiononvaping@cancer.org.au.

JOIN US FOR A CHAT OR A ‘HOW TO SESSION’ RUN BY ST MARK’S STUDENT VOLUNTEERS.

We have some good news. Based on the wonderful connections we made during our Kindness Campaign with Soul Gestures and Westfield Whitford City, we are excited to launch "Tech Talk and Community Chat".

Drop by the pop-up shop opposite Best & Less at Westfield Whitford City to have your tech questions answered or just to chat. St Mark’s Anglican Community School students will be available every Friday for a three-week period commencing 31 May 2024.

This project aims to connect the community, particularly the elderly, with the students. It’s especially important in times like these to let the elderly know they’re not alone when they are more likely to feel isolated.

Please encourage the seniors in your life to come by!

• WHEN: 31 May | 7 June | 14 June
• TIME: 12.30pm - 1.00pm
• WHERE: Westfield Whitford City, in the mall opposite Best & Less
• TECH TALK HELP:
  ~ How to set up your email
  ~ How to download an App on your phone/iPad
  ~ How to take a photo on your phone
  ~ or just come by for a chat

St Mark's is again looking for volunteers to assist with supervision for the upcoming Year 11 & 12 exams from Tuesday 20 May to to Friday 6 June.

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.

The St Marks Busy Bee is scheduled for 11th May - 8.30am to 12.00pm.

This event is a great opportunity to bring our community together to support the school, and will be followed by a sausage sizzle.

Please bring your own tools on the day, including:

- paint brushes and containers for paint

- wheelbarrows

- shovels, forks and spades

- cleaning products, sponges, buckets and squeegees.

Please meet at the Quadrangle at 0830 and don't forget to bring gloves, hats and water bottles

Parent commitment hours are available for families that attend or for those wishing to provide food/drink donations for the event.

Please email busybee@stmarks.wa.edu.au if you are able to attend or have food/drink donations for the day.

P&F Committee

Our St Mark's community are invited to join us for our next P&F General Meeting.

Date: Tuesday 14 May 2024

Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Venue: PAC

Guest Speaker: Jeffery Beckitt (Microsoft) - ThinkUKnow Volunteer.

ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence-based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child sexual exploitation.ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The program is delivered in collaboration with policing partners New South Wales Police Force, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Western Australia Police, and Neighbourhood Watch Australasia. The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming, sexual extortion, and importantly encourages help seeking behaviour. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology. For more information, you can visit www.thinkuknow.org.au or contact Nirbhay Gupta [president.pf@stmarks.wa.edu.au]

Attending the General Meeting will allow families to claim 2 hours towards Parent Commitment Hours (PCH).