ELC Bulletin - Term 4, Week 5

NOTICE FROM HEAD OF PRIMARY

This week our school will be a little smaller as the Year 4 students charge into the challenge of their three day, two night camp. These are tremendous growth opportunities and I thank all staff who willingly give up their time to facilitate this event.

Another area where real growth was evident was during our swimming and surfing block. Students navigated a disrupted timetable during this period and gained great experience organising themselves with all of the associated trimmings that go with surfing and swimming. I do hope that goggles, towels and swimmers lasted the distance and made it out of the plastic bag to homes at the end of the week!

The two week intensive block is the best way for children to learn to swim. This method does make children tired by the end but more importantly, it provides the best chance for children to improve their swimming skills. Please take note of where your children are on the swimming continuum. We have many wonderful swimming providers in Perth and I am aware that some students require extra lessons to supplement the school program, as well as others who talked about wanting to swim more seriously. Heading into summer, the better our students can swim, the safer they will be.

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)

• 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. (Notifications will go out from your child’s piano teacher.)
  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. Communications will go out to relevant parents closer to the event date.

• 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. More details will be provided closer to the event date.

• 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
  TICKET BOOKINGS OPEN FROM 4.00PM FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER
  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
  TICKET BOOKINGS OPEN FROM 4.00PM FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER
  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 (date 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

Monday 11 November is a scheduled Student Free Day as it is a Curriculum Planning Day for staff.

Parents will need to make alternative arrangements for the care of their child/children on this day.

• Under the wonderful guidance of our ELC staff, and with special thanks to Kate Logan, Andrew Martin and Neroli Galvin, preparations are under way for our annual ELC Nativity Play. The students have been practising their songs during Music and the storyline during Chapel and CAVE classes. Rehearsals in the Performing Arts Centre will also be taking place.
  
  
• There will be two performances of the Nativity (see dates below). Parents should only attend one performance on the date allocated to their youngest child.
  
  
• ELC NATIVITY PLAY 1 – Tuesday 26 November (9.00-10.30am) in the PAC
  Parents of Kindy Starfish and both Pre-Primary classes are invited to attend (3 tickets per family due to limited seating in the PAC). Y2-5 siblings will have the opportunity to attend a dress rehearsal.
  
  
• ELC NATIVITY PLAY 2 – Wednesday 27 November (9.00-10.30am) in the PAC
  Parents of Kindy Turtles and both Year 1 classes are invited to attend (3 tickets per family due to limited seating in the PAC). Y2-5 siblings will have the opportunity to attend a dress rehearsal.
  
  
• DETAILED INFORMATION (follow the link): 2024 ELC Nativity Play - Information Letter
  
  
• Bookings are essential and open from 4.00pm on Friday 8 November (more details available via above link).
  

• 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.

Please follow the link provided below for detailed information regarding the Orientation mornings.

ELC Orientation Mornings 20 and 22 November

As the weeks of Term 4 tick by we look ahead to 2025 and look forward to welcoming the Year 1 students from the ELC into the Junior School. Already the Year 1 children have been involved with a number of transition activities, and we soon look forward to our 2025 Orientation Morning on Friday 22 November. A key part of this transition process is also helping parents to be informed and understand about the Junior School. As there may be a number of you who have not physically been in our Junior School, I would like to offer you the opportunity to meet with me for a tour of the Junior School campus - further details are as follows:

Date: Monday 25 November
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Location: Meet at Junior School Reception
Tour Booking link: Current Y1 Parents tour of Junior School

Kind Regards
Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School

Please click on the following links to access information regarding Orientation Day in the Junior School on Friday 22 November:

• Letter to current Year 1 to Year 4 students: Junior School Orientation Day letter
  (current Y1-4 students are to wear their House uniform on Orientation Day and report to their current 2024 classrooms as usual on that day)

• Current Year 5 students: https://www.stmarks.wa.edu.au/welcome-pack/year-6-welcomepack (Y5 students are to wear their sport uniform on Welcome Day and report directly to the Middle School, Floreat Building at 8.20am)

Please find below the current Parent Commitment Hour reports logged up to 28 October 2024. To check your individual log, you will need your family code, as shown on your St Mark's account statements.

• Parent Commitment Hours Summary
• Parent Commitment Hours Detailed
• Parent Commitment Hours Analysis

Please contact the P&F's Community Participation Coordinator, at parentcommitment@stmarks.wa.edu.au if you have any questions regarding the Program.