ELC Bulletin - Term 3, Week 8

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NOTICE FROM DEPUTY HEAD OF PRIMARY – EARLY LEARNING

Late Arrivals
Schools are required to record attendance and promptly start teaching and learning to meet educational requirements. This is particularly important as the year levels progress. Parents are reminded that the Kindy and Pre-Primary doors are open from 8.40am and the Year 1 doors from 8.30am. The Year 1 doors will now be closed after 8.40am. Students arriving after this time will need to enter through ELC Reception and be signed in. Thank you.

Hats
Hats are required EVERY DAY at school. Your support to reinforce this, even in the cooler weather, is appreciated.

Linda Sweet
Deputy Head of Primary – Early Learning

ELC OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT ROSTER

We need volunteers to sign up on this roster for watering ELC plants please. The normal term-time watering days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week. We have had very few volunteers so far this term. The Spring Holiday roster has just been added to the end of Term 3. Please follow the link provided in the next section 'Parent Commitment Hour Opportunities in the ELC' and add your name to the roster if you are able to assist for a day or two during the next five weeks. Your help will be very much appreciated. Thank you.


TERM 3 – ELC EVENT DATES

• ELC CLASS ASSEMBLIES – Most Wednesdays at 2.00pm in the PAC
  Parents are welcome to attend their child’s Class Assembly.
  More details will be provided by Teachers via Seesaw closer to their Assembly date.
  1WEL – 7 August (Week 4)
  1HAR – 14 August (Week 5)
  PPL – 28 August (Week 7)
  PPN – 4 September (Week 8)
  KGT – 11 September (Week 9)
  KGS – 18 September (Week 10
  

• R U OK DAY – Thursday 5 September (Week 8) – DATE CORRECTION: Thursday 12 September (Week 9)
  Primary students are invited to add something yellow to their usual school uniform on this day if they wish, i.e. a yellow hair ribbon or yellow socks.

• Y1 EXCURSION TO PERTH ZOO – Thursday 5 September (Week 8) - DATE CHANGE: Tuesday 17 September
  4/9/24 UPDATE: Unfortunately, due to unfavourable weather conditions, this excursion has been cancelled for 5 September and has been rescheduled for Tuesday 17 September. Emails have been sent to Year 1 parents.
  
  
• PP EXCURSION TO HERDSMANS LAKE – Tuesday 10 September (Week 9)
  Details have gone out via Consent2Go. Parents will need to respond to the invite as soon as possible.

• KINDY: COMMUNITY NURSE VISITING KINDY FOR HEALTH CHECKS
  Starfish – Tuesday 10 September
  Turtles – Thursday 13 September (apologies for date error in last week’s Bulletin)

• PP & Y1 HOUSE ACTIVITY DAY – Friday 20 September (Week 10)
  Pre-Primary and Year 1 students will need to wear their House shirts on this day.

• LAST DAY OF TERM 3 – Friday 20 September (Week 10)
  Students will finish at their normal time on this day.

• FIRST DAY OF TERM 4 – Monday 7 October
  Kindy Starfish will attend on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 1
  Kindy Turtles will attend on Thursday and Friday of Week 1

NEW LINKS CREATED 18.9.24. FOR UPCYCLING AND WATERING ROSTERS:
Please follow the links provided below to add your name to one of the rosters if you are able to assist. Thank you.

These are shared documents which all ELC parents are able to view.

• ELC UPCYCLING ROSTER (Term 4 roster available):
  ELC Shared Upcycling Roster
  
  

• ELC WATERING AND OTHER OUTDOOR TASKS (Term 4 roster available):
  ELC Outdoor Enviro Volunteer Roster
  
  
• OTHER ELC PARENT HOUR OPPORTUNITIES (None at the moment)

Parents will be advised via the Weekly Bulletins or Class SEESAW pages when opportunities do become available. Parents will be able to access the shared roster via the link provided below to add their names for the advertised task(s).
2024 ELC Various Tasks Roster

The Annual POSTMEN Games Day is on again! Saturday, September 14th, from 1pm to 5pm, presents an opportunity for Dads and Father Figures to bring along their kids to try some fun and interesting board games. Adam from BoardGamesDirect.com will help us again by bringing along some different games for us to play. The event will be suitable for kids of all ages, with something to appeal to everyone.

We’ll round the afternoon off with our much-loved Klask tournament and some pizza for an early dinner.

Come and have a blast, compete for great prizes, and enjoy some quality time with your kids.

Tickets are just $10 per person. Grab yours here.

St Mark's is again looking for volunteers to assist with supervision for the upcoming Year 11 exams from Tuesday 29 October to Friday 8 November.

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.

All Old Scholars are invited to attend the 2024 Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, 17 September, 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 13 September. 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 13 September.
• Members are welcome to submit items for the agenda by emailing emailed to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 13 September.
  
• The Agenda, Nomination Forms and Proxy forms are available by request to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

The St Marks Art Show on October 4-6 is shaping up to be a fabulous event, but time is running out for artists to submit their entry. Don’t miss this opportunity! If you are an artist or know of an artist, fill in the entry form online now. Or check out the St Mark's Art Show's Instagram and Facebook pages for more information.

Entries close 31 August.

Calling all business owners and gift donors. We can offer you volunteer hours if you can offer a raffle prize. Every donation of $30 can be exchanged for one volunteer hour. Get in touch with the Art Show committee at artshow@stmarks.wa.edu.au to find out how to get involved.

Keep an eye on upcoming newsletters for information about volunteering at the event. And stay tuned, tickets for the Gala Opening Night on Friday, October 4 will be on sale soon!

Whitfords Family Centre Express of Interest for 2025 are now open for our Pre-Kindy Program.

We have 2 groups:

2-3’s program, Tues, Wed, and Fri 9-12pm

4’s program Mon and Thurs 9-2pm.

Thursday, September 12, marks R U OK? Day, a national initiative to raise awareness about mental health. St Mark’s and Westfield Whitford City are teaming up for this important cause. The day encourages everyone to check in on friends and family, fostering meaningful conversations that can make a significant difference.

Our students will be at the shopping centre at 9.00am, engaging with shoppers and sharing the vital message that simply asking “Are you OK?” can profoundly impact someone's life.

If you see us, please come and say hello!

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations are contributing to these issues. It's, therefore, crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK? Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"

Engaging in R U OK? Day activities go beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK? Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://stmarks.wa.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day

Families who may be considering withdrawing their child from St Mark’s at the end of this year are reminded that the School’s Acceptance Agreement states that a full term’s notice in writing must be given to the Principal before the withdrawal of a child from the School. Failure to provide such notice will involve the payment of a full term’s fees.

The Principal may be advised by email at principal@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

We're thrilled to share that Nicola Henderson, a dedicated grandmother and former St Mark's parent, is making a significant impact in our community through her work with Zephyr Education. This incredible charity supports children who have fled domestic violence, providing them with essential resources to start fresh at their new schools.

As a retired primary school teacher, Nicola believes in the power of education to help break the cycle of domestic violence. Her commitment to these children is truly inspiring, ensuring they have everything they need to feel valued and included in their new learning environments.

Nicola is currently in the running for a Local Hero Grant at Westfield Whitfords City, which will help further her mission with Zephyr Education. Voting is open until September 9th, and every vote counts! Cast your vote here.

Let's rally behind Nicola and support her vital work in our community. 💙

Please note that the Uniform Shop will be open during the school holidays on Wednesday 2 October from 07:45am to 12:45pm and Thursday 3 October from 11:30am to 4:30pm.