The Lion's Roar - 11 October 2023

TOUCH FOOTBALL CHAMPS

During the first week of the holidays, three current students (Demi, Louise and Emily) and two Old Scholars (Laney and Nick) represented WA at the National Youth Championship for Touch Football on the Sunshine Coast.

Teams from across Australia competed, with Queensland teams winning seven of the eight divisions. WA entered teams in the Boys and Girls U16 and U18. Our Old Scholars represented U18 Boys and Girls, and our current students competed in U18 Girls and U16 Girls. Touch Football in WA is a small sport, so the WA teams were outclassed by their opponents; however, it was a great learning experience for all competitors playing at such a high level.

Well done to everyone who competed!

Photo from left: Demi van Rensburg Yr11 U18, Laney Rowland O/S U18, Nick McIntyre O/S U18, Louise van Selm Yr11 U16 and Emily Duff Yr9 U16

Year 10 Geography students tested their geographical skills and knowledge against students from around Australia in the 2023 Australian Geography Competition.

Geography teacher Mrs Bakalis said she had recently received the results and was pleased with how their students had performed.

“We have several student geographers at our school who performed to a very high level in the Competition this year, with Jared Lance in the top 1% in their Year Level across Australia, Mila Cameron gained a high distinction, and Milana Artemov, Stephanie Cunningham, Taj Jayatilaka, Jaime Jupp, and Indianna Paris gaining distinctions.
Over 65,000 students from 700 schools across Australia entered the Australian Geography Competition, so the results give us an external benchmark as to how our students are going in certain aspects of geography,”

Rachel Honey, the Competition’s National Coordinator, said, “The Competition aims to encourage student interest in geography and to reward student excellence.”

“Geography is such an important subject because it develops in students a holistic understanding of the world around them and their place in it,” said Ms Honey.

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Competition!

At St Mark's, we believe in making a positive impact beyond our own walls. We're excited to share a heartwarming moment from the Amin family’s recent visit to the Mission in Action in Kenya. They had the privilege of representing us and handing over a special cheque. This generous donation will go towards providing much-needed science and sports equipment for the children at the mission.

But that's not all! We're also proud to announce our ongoing sponsorship of two amazing children, Robyn and Blake. By supporting their education and well-being, we're helping to create a brighter future for them and their community.

We're immensely grateful to our school community for their continued support in making a difference. Together, we're showing the world that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.

We are thrilled to share with you the highlights and achievements of the St Mark's Interschool Athletics Carnival, which took place during the last week of Term 3 at both St Mark’s and WA Athletic Stadium. This year, seven schools competed, resulting in a highly competitive and spirited event. We are delighted to report on our students' incredible performance and exceptional sportsmanship throughout the carnival.

Fortunately, the weather was mild and perfect for an athletic event. Our staff members who attended the carnival noted that our students performed their best and displayed remarkable behaviour and sportsmanship. We would like to commend all our students who attended for their exemplary conduct and positive attitude on both days. Seeing our students participate with a strong team spirit and show unwavering support for their fellow competitors was heartwarming.

The results of the Interschool Athletics Carnival are as follows:

1. Peter Moyes Anglican School: 1271 points
2. St Mark's Anglican School: 1165 points
3. Padbury Catholic: 1048 points
4. Whitfords Catholic: 872 points
5. St Stephen’s Carramar: 857 points
6. St Stephen’s Duncraig: 731 points
7. Lake Joondalup Baptist College: 675 points

We are incredibly proud of our students for their outstanding performance, which secured our school's second-place finish in the overall standings. This achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following individuals who played a pivotal role in preparing our students and ensuring the success of this carnival: Mrs Denham, Miss Martino, Mr Simmons, and Mrs De Silva - your dedication and efforts in training and organising this event are truly appreciated.

Additionally, we want to express our gratitude to all the parents who came out to support our students during the carnival. Your enthusiastic cheering and encouragement undoubtedly had a positive impact on our athletes and made these events even more special.

To all our students, we commend you not only for your wonderful athletic abilities but also for your outstanding attitude, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Remember to keep up the excellent work, always strive to do your best, and continue embodying the values of St Mark's.

Thank you for your continued support in nurturing and celebrating our students' achievements. We look forward to many more successful athletic endeavours in the future.

Michael Barton,
Physical Education Teacher

Our Year 11 Outdoor Education General students have just completed an incredible adventure along The Bibbulmun Track in Dwellingup during the final week of Term 3!

Covering an impressive 50 km, they carried all the essentials for survival, pushed their limits, and grew stronger together. The objectives were clear: build unbreakable bonds, nurture leadership skills, and refine teamwork while immersing themselves in camping and hiking in a demanding natural environment.

Our students exhibited remarkable growth, showcasing outstanding teamwork, resilience, and adaptability. They exceeded all expectations by gracefully overcoming the challenges of the trail through camaraderie and mutual support. Together, they forged an unbeatable group dynamic, proving that no obstacle is insurmountable when we work together.

Read more about their Bibbulmun Track adventures here.

The soon-to-graduate Class of 2023 will take on the Old Scholars in a game of dodgeball on Sunday 15 October at 1pm in the Hall.

Whether you are a Class of 2023 member or an Old Scholar, make sure you join the teams for an afternoon of fun, laughter and competition.

It includes a free sausage sizzle, and the chance to unwind after mocks and to chat about life after St Mark's.

The Year 11 and 12 Visual Arts students invite you to attend the 2023 Year 11 and 12 Visual Arts Exhibition.

The Exhibition takes place in the Staff Room in the Alan Cadby Senior Academic Centre, and will be open between 8am and 4pm from Wednesday 11 October to Tuesday 17 October.

All are welcome to come along and view the works - all guests must sign in at Main Reception when attending during the day.

The official opening of the event takes place on Friday 13 October, from 4pm to 6pm.

Our Year 7s would like all of your old cards, anything from Christmas cards to birthday cards to greeting cards. They will be repurposed for a Christmas activity in Term 4.

All donations are to be left at the Main Reception, please.

We are excited to share that our supplier of our uniforms now offers online ordering.

Head to https://shop.tarauniforms.com.au/brand/st-marks/ to view the range and place your order at your convenience.

Please note that orders are to be collected from the Uniform Shop onsite at School during their opening hours.

A friendly reminder that, unfortunately, it is not possible to drop any forgotten Sports Uniform items off to your child.

If your child leaves their Sports Uniform at home, there is no need for you to drop it off at school.

For that one Physical Education lesson, they will be required to sit out.

Our Science Department is looking for approx 50 shoeboxes. If you have any shoeboxes you are willing to donate, please drop them to our Science Department before Week 3.

No lids required :)

The AVCAT scholarships, including the Long Tan Bursary, are tertiary scholarships for the children and grandchildren of Australian ex-serving veterans. Scholarships are $4000–$6000 per year for three years.

Applications open on 18 August 2023, Vietnam Veterans' Day, and close at midnight AEDT on 31 October 2023.

Apply online at avcat.org.au

We are excited to advise that applications for the Old Scholars' Association Scholarship are now open.

The Scholarship is awarded to a Year 9 student who excels and commits across several sporting, cultural, extra and co-curricular pursuits, community as well as academic commitment and specialist areas. The Association is looking for a well-rounded student who embodies the spirit of St Mark's Anglican Community School.

The Scholarship will provide a partial fee remission of 25% in the level of the tuition fee payable by the successful student each year and will continue until the student leaves St Mark's or for three years.

Applications will close on MONDAY 16 OCTOBER 2023, AT 4.00PM.

For further information, please head to the OSA webpage and download the application form here.

After a great turnout at the August Busy Bee, the P&F has scheduled a second event in Term 4 on Saturday 28th October.

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

Please meet at 8.30am at the Quadrangle and bring your own tools, including old brushes, containers for painting, cleaning products (spray n wipe, sponges, buckets, squeegees), rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows.

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

We are furiously raising money for our 2024 Music Tour to New Zealand, and what better way than with the traditional sausage sizzle? A big thankyou to those volunteers who assisted and baked cakes for the Referendum Snag Fest last Saturday!

Our Music Tour Parent Group have one more sizzle coming up and requires volunteers to assist. See the details below:

• The Bunnings Sausage Sizzle on Sunday 26 November. Book your spot here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/10629836800/false#/invitation
  

St Mark's is again looking for volunteers to assist with supervision for the upcoming exams from 31 October to 10 November 2023.

Please send an email to snrschool@stmarks.wa.edu.au with your available dates and times. Morning (8:30am to 12:30pm) and afternoon (12:30pm to 4pm) sessions are available.

Do you love to chat, give back to the School and are great at notetaking?

Well if this sounds like you then the OSA would love to hear from you!

The OSA are looking for an Old Scholar who would like to join the OSA Committee and undertake the role of Secretary. The committee meet once per month, and if you are a current parent, you can earn Parent Commitment Hours!

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in please contact the OSA President, Philippa Lonie via email.

The Old Scholars' Association Little Lions Playgroup is back for Term 4 , and we'd love to see your little cub there this Friday!

Join us every Friday (during St Mark's term time) from 8.45am - 10.30am for lots of fun and games. Little Lions Playgroup is a community-based group run in conjunction with Playgroup WA and caters for children up to school age.

Those families attending our Kindy and not in session on Fridays are more than welcome to join as well.

For more information and to book your spot, please email us, osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au or join our Facebook group HERE.

Everyone is welcome - you do not need to be an Old Scholar (former student) of St Mark's to attend.

The P&F want to remind our families to please log their hours. Please see the attached letter regarding Parent Commitment Hours for 2023. PCH Letter.

If you have completed hours this year, log them here 2023 Parent Hours Log.

You can also check the hours you have logged by clicking on Parent Commitment Hours Detailed and entering your family code. This document is updated at the end of each term.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah McCormack at parentcommitment@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Next year, all current P&F positions will be dissolved, and the P&F Association will be looking for fresh nominations for the 2024 committee.

If you have considered joining the Committee or someone who would love to be involved please send an expression of interest for the P & F 2024 committee to secretary.pf@stmarks.wa.edu.au or email them for more information.

The St Mark's Parents and Friends' Association (*P&F*) continually provides a high level of support to the School by funding projects that are not essential for education, but have a positive effect on our School community.

The P&F is inviting staff, parents and students to submit project proposals for funding in 2024.

Criteria for Project Funding Project ideas are being sought from the School community.

Funding applications and projects will be assessed against criteria set by the P&F in conjunction with the School Executive.

As a general guide, projects should:

• have a positive impact on our School community (this may include parents and the broader School community, not just students);
• not be for normal classroom resources, substitutional for, or incremental to, School budgets;
• preferably not be restricted to an individual year group or subject;
• be considered appropriate by the School Executive (among other things, in keeping with the School's values
• be non-recurrent in nature so that the P&F input is not spread too thinly or committed for many years.

If you have ideas that meet these criteria, please:

• research the idea;
• obtain indicative costs if possible;
• talk the ideas through with your Department Head (or similar);
• and email a letter of request, together with supporting documentation outlining the project details and costs, to treasurer.pf@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Tuesday 21 November 2023.

The P&F will consider all applications over the December 2023/January 2024 school holidays and may contact you for further details or invite you to attend a meeting to present your proposal.

Examples of projects that have been funded (or part-funded) by the P&F in the past are:

• Foyer refurbishment in the Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Complex
• Sheltered area outside the Junior School Phys Ed office
• Whitfords Avenue shade shelters
• Toyota Coaster bus
• Air-conditioning in the Chapel and Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Complex
• Bike shelters
• The St Mark's App
• Outdoor seating
• Membership to the Sustainable School Shop
• SunSmart UV indicator

We look forward to hearing from you.

The St Mark's Fathering Project Committee is busy planning again for the annual campout on the school oval. There will be lots of activities to enjoy and meals organised for you too.

Scheduled for the weekend of 4-5 November, it's an easy way for dads or father-figures to make some fun memories with their kids and to meet other school dads.

Event Details:

• Gates open for set up 10am, Saturday 4 November
• Activities kick off at 1pm but join us whenever suits you - there will be a Dodgeball Tournament and Dads vs Kids 'Capture the Flag' plus time for free play to run on the oval, climb a tree, kick a footy or throw a frisbee
• Dinner (hot dogs and burgers) provided at around 6pm
• Breakfast (bacon/egg rolls and cereals) provided at around 7am
• Pack down and exit by 10am on Sunday 5 November

Ticket Options:

• Full experience including dinner, breakfast and all activities - $30 per family
• Saturday activities and dinner only (sneak home to your own bed) - $20 per family
• Saturday afternoon activities only (head home for dinner) – FREE but please book for numbers.

Want to get a sense of what the day is all about? Check out last year's event on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_9icHakAl7Q?si=Cml_vML82OC7lyw0

Ticket bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CLRGJ

For more details, contact Josh Newton, 0403 466 132 | josh.newton@r-group.com.au.

The POSTMEN (Papas Of ST Mark’s Engagement Network) encompasses all Fathers and Father Figures with children currently attending St Mark’s and is aligned with the ‘The Fathering Project’. The POSTMEN Committee is currently searching for new members, particularly for those who have children in the ELC or in Year 3. 4 or 5.

Members of the committee meet periodically to organise events and attend to any general committee business.

Acting as a member of the committee is a great way to contribute to the school community, develop some great connections with other Dads at the school and help to support opportunities for Dads and their kids to build great connections and lasting memories.

Committee members are expected to actively contribute and participate in the following:

1. Attend committee meetings as able (typically once a month of an evening, with some extra meetings as we close in on an event)
2. Activities associated with the planning, promotion, preparation and running of POSTMEN Activities
3. Group communication (emails and Signal chat group)

As some of our founding members children transition through to Senior School and start approaching graduation, we’re searching for some new members who can bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to this fantastic cause and continue the legacy of The POSTMEN.

Besides the sense of personal fulfilment that comes from contributing to the community and being part of an awesome group of people, the school has opted to recognise activities undertaken by the POSTMEN committee as qualifying for Parent Commitment Hours.

For more information, please see the following links:

www.thefatheringproject.org

https://www.stmarks.wa.edu.au/community/fathering-projects-postmen

If you have further questions or are interested in applying, please feel free to contact any of the following standing committee members:

The Butterfly Foundation is running a webinar session for parents on 17 October. With a focus on prevention, this session provides information and practical tips to help parents better understand and promote positive body image in the home.

For information and to book your spot head here.

The Sustainability Festival is on 21 October at Hillarys Marina. Check out the info below for event details and how to enter the Poster Competition.

The WA Government is developing a new three-year Action Plan, which will set out the actions the Government will take to improve outcomes for young people in Western Australia.

If you are aged 10 to 25 years, please come along to a ‘Building Tomorrow, Have Your Say’ workshop, share your ideas and help shape the future of young people in WA!

Whether you’re passionate about protecting our environment, improving education, finding employment opportunities, fighting for social justice, promoting mental health, or even tackling issues in your community, we want to hear from you!

Each interactive workshop will be professionally facilitated to ensure you have the opportunity to share your thoughts. Participants will be treated to delicious food and go in the draw for a chance to win exciting prizes, including Apple AirPods, sports tickets, exclusive mentoring programs and much more.

Click here to register for a workshop near you!

Want to have your say but can’t attend a workshop in person?

You can also have your say by attending an online workshop, completing our online survey or making a written submission in response to the Consultation Paper – Your views, your future.

Visit communities.wa.gov.au/YouthActionPlan

Redhage Basketball is back for Term 4 at St Mark's! Check out the flyer below for more information.