ELC Bulletin - Term 4, Week 1

PLEASE NOTE THAT SEVERAL ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION.
To view them all, select ‘EXPAND ALL’ above or select ‘MORE’ below.

ACCESSING LINKS WHICH MAY BE PROVIDED IN THESE BULLETINS
If you are not able to access links via your phone, please contact our IT Department at it@stmarks.wa.edu.au as it is important that all our families are able to access various links when they are provided. Our IT Department will be able to talk you through the steps to make this possible. Alternatively, the School App can be downloaded to another device (tablet or pc).


NOTICE FROM HEAD OF PRIMARY

A warm welcome back to all members of our community for what will be an exciting Term 4. I am typing this newsletter at Year 5 camp and overlooking the glorious panorama of the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park.

Next up is our in-term swimming for most of the Primary School and surfing for Year 5s. Swimming is another essential skill for children to learn and while our swimming program does not provide all of the necessary instruction for students to master this life skill, it will give a guide to parents as to where their children are and if further instruction is needed. Thank you for your support of these programs.

Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School

TERM 4 ELC EVENT DATES

• ELC CHAPEL – Wednesdays 1.55pm to 2.30pm in the Chapel
  K-Y1 students will attend Chapel Services in the Chapel on most Wednesdays (not during swimming lessons)

• PP-Y4 INTERM SWIMMING LESSONS – Monday 21 October to Friday 25 October (Weeks 3 and 4)
  See separate item included in this week’s Bulletin.
  
  
• STUDENT FREE DAY – Monday 11 November (Week 6)
  Staff will be involved in a K-12 Curriculum Planning Day. Parents will need to make alternative arrangements for their children on this day. This includes all Primary (K-Y5) students and Secondary students.
  
  
• EMERGENCY DRILL – Monday 18 November (Week 7)
  This is purely for your information so that you are aware of a DRILL taking place. The drill will involve all staff and students.
  
  
• PP & Y1 PIANO CONCERT - Tuesday 19 November (1.45-2.45pm) in the PAC
  Pre-Primary and Year 1 piano lesson students will be performing. Their parents will be invited to attend.
  Pre-Primary and Year 1 classes will attend.
  
  
• K-5 NEW PARENT INFORMATION EVENING – Tuesday 19 November
  K-Y5 parents whose children will be new to St Mark’s in 2025 will be invited to attend this event.
  
  
• ELC ORIENTATION MORNING – Wednesday 20 November
  Our new Kindy Starfish students for 2025 will be invited to attend this event until 10.30am.
  Our current Kindy Starfish and Pre-Primary students will spend time in classrooms of their next year level and our current Year 1 students will spend time in the Junior School until approximately 10.30am.
  
  
• PRIMARY ORIENTATION MORNING – Friday 22 November
  Our new Kindy Turtle, Pre-Primary and Year 1 students for 2025 will be invited to attend this event until 10.30am.
  New Y2-6 students for 2025 will also be invited for an orientation on this day.
  Current students will spend time in classrooms of their next year level for their orientation. More details for all year levels will be provided closer to the event date.
  
  
• ELC NATIVITY PLAY 1 – Tuesday 26 November (9.00-10.30am) – Week 8
  Parents of Kindy Starfish and both Pre-Primary classes will be invited to attend (3 tickets per family due to limited seating in the PAC). Y2-5 siblings will be invited to attend a dress rehearsal. More details will be provided closer to the event date.
  
  
• ELC NATIVITY PLAY 2 – Wednesday 27 November (9.00-10.30am) – Week 8
  Parents of Kindy Turtles and both Year 1 classes will be invited to attend (3 tickets per family due to limited seating in the PAC). Y2-5 siblings will be invited to attend a dress rehearsal. More details will be provided closer to the event date.
  
  
• K-12 CAROLS SERVICE - Wednesday 27 November 5-7pm Secondary Oval
  More details will be provided closer to the event date.
  
  
• LAST DAY OF TERM 4 – Friday 6 December
  More details regarding end of year activities and events will be provided once confirmed.
  
  
• SEMESTER 2 REPORTS – Released Monday 9 December (to be confirmed)

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

Swimming Lesson Timetable

From Monday 21 October to 1 Friday 1 November (inclusive) all students from Pre-Primary to Year 4 will participate in a swimming lesson on each school day (total of ten lessons). Lesson start times for all classes are provided below.

9.20am: Year 2 Di Stefano & Year 4 Hummerston (NOTE: bus departs school at 8.40am)
10.05am: Year 1 Harriden, Year 3 Robertson and half of Year 4 Mason
10.50am: Pre-Primary Newell, Year 2 Birsa/Fussell & half Year 4 Mason
12.00pm: Pre-Primary Logan, Year 2 Chadderton & half Year 4 Martino
12.45pm: Year 1 Wells, Year 3 Greaves and half Year 4 Martino
1.30pm: Year 3 Keenan and Year 4 Upson

Parent Consent Via Consent2Go

More information will be provided via Consent2Go soon. Parents will need to respond to the invite for each of their children as soon as it is received to ensure permission has been granted for them to attend the lessons. Please make sure all medical information is updated via Consent2Go as necessary.

Government Swimming Lesson Enrolment Forms for PP-Y4

Paper copies of the required Government Swimming Lesson Enrolment Form went home with all Pre-Primary to Year 4 students yesterday or will go home today. Please send in a completed form for your child/each child as soon as possible (preferably during Week 1). Completed forms should be given to the relevant class teacher. A completed form for each child is required by pool staff on Day 1 of swimming lessons (Monday 21 October).

We are excited to announce that we are currently seeking expressions of interest from stallholders for our upcoming School Fete on Saturday 29 March 2025! This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses, food trucks, and sporting clubs to showcase their offerings and engage with the community.

Call for Stallholders

We invite:

• Local Businesses: Showcase your products and services to a vibrant audience.
• Food Trucks: Bring your culinary delights and satisfy the appetites of our guests.
• Local Sporting Clubs: Promote your club and engage with potential new members.

Important Details

• Applications Close: 21 February 2025
• Contact Information: For an application form or more details, please reach out to Poppy, our P&F Fete Coordinator, at events.pf@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

This is a wonderful chance to connect with the community, promote your business, and be part of a fun-filled day.

We look forward to hearing from you!

It is magpie swooping season, and we have had reports that there are a number of magpies nesting in the trees around the school. The crosswalk and pergola area near the PAC seems to be affected more than other areas.

Please be careful when moving around the school grounds.

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.

It's time for the Annual POSTMEN Fathering Project Campout at St Mark's on Saturday 2 November.

This is a great opportunity for Dads to spend quality time with their kids and other Dads in the St Mark's community in the safety and comfort of the school grounds. It also means a great opportunity for Mums to relax at home or enjoy a girls' night out!

Tickets are only $30 per family, including cooked dinner and breakfast. Book your spot here.

Come and join us for a few fun activities and build some lasting memories.

Mark Lee Football Coaching is delighted to offer a before school program in Term 4. The sun will be shining and it’s a great way for children to start their school day! All ages are welcome and will be grouped according to their age and school year. Mark is a former professional footballer and has been running MLFC for the last 15 years. The program has been running at St Mark’s PS since 2017 and we appreciate all of the support!

The MLFC coaching staff are made up of current and former professional players who all have a passion for coaching children and will create a welcoming, fun, dynamic and exciting coaching environment.

Dates Friday 18 October to Tuesday 22 November

Time 7.30am-8.30am on school oval

Cost $119 per child for 6 weeks

Simply email, text or call Mark to register your child.

Mark Lee
Tel: 0430 788 703 or email: mark@mlfc.com.au

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.