The Lion's Roar - 13 September 2023

In 2019, the St Mark's Class of 2020 faced the heartbreaking loss of a beloved friend and classmate, Kristian Hoogenkamp, who bravely battled a rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. To honour Kristian's enduring passion for sports, the 2020 year group initiated a tradition that has since become an annual fixture - the Kristian Hoogenkamp Memorial Match.

After the meticulous selection of teams and dedicated training, they were all set for the eagerly awaited annual Memorial Match last Friday. Luker Kentfield and Sam Busch assumed leadership roles, guiding the Year 12 AFL enthusiasts and aspiring players. With the wind behind them, 'Sam’s Soldiers' took a 4-goal lead in the first quarter. 'Luker’s Legends' worked hard to close the gap but with a 6-2 goal last quarter, Sam’s Soldiers clinched the victory, 77-54. Taj McKenzie took out the Best on Ground Award for his courageous effort to get his team back in it. The game was full of soaring marks, hard-fought tackles and even surprising goals, making it an unforgettable day.

Students, staff and Old Scholars, along with cherished family and friends, turned out in numbers to celebrate Kristian, a dear friend and classmate who will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

View the match highlights here.

In a heartwarming display of solidarity and generosity, Watkins House held its annual fundraising day for "Sock it to Sarcoma", and it was a resounding success! Students and staff alike donned funky and colourful socks to not only make a style statement but also to show their support for a noble cause.

The day was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and a delicious bake sale featuring a delectable array of treats, from cookies to cupcakes. Our community came together in full force, and the result was truly heartwarming.

With the collective efforts of our community, we are thrilled to announce that we raised an impressive $2,789 for the "Sock it to Sarcoma Foundation." These funds will go a long way in supporting research, awareness, and assistance for those affected by sarcoma.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to this wonderful cause. Together, we can make a difference, one funky sock at a time!

Last Thursday was a day of excitement and pure sportsmanship as our fantastic Year 6 students hit the courts at HBF Stadium for the 'Fuel and Go' Interschool Basketball Competition.

The day was filled with exhilarating matches and fierce competition, but our teams managed to stand out. Both our boys' and girls' teams displayed exceptional skills and teamwork throughout the tournament, making it all the way to the grand finals.

Our boys came up against a tough opponent, St Emilie's Catholic Primary School, to lose their grasp on the trophy. But our girls' team rocked the grand finals and clinched the victory from Wembley Downs Primary School.

Of course, we can't forget to give a massive shoutout to our awesome coaches, Mr Salinas and Mr Simmons.

The day was a celebration of teamwork, perseverance, and the spirit of competition. Congratulations to our talented Year 6 students on their remarkable achievements, and a big thank you to everyone who made this event possible.

Until the end of Term 3, if the forecast temperature is 25 degrees or higher, Secondary students (Year 6-12) have the option to wear their Summer or Winter formal uniform on that day.

Sports uniform is not an option.

A final showcase of examination work by our Year 12 Dance and Drama students just before the students take their practical WACE examination in the upcoming school holidays.

If you're interested in the best of the best in Dance and Drama - this is the event to be at. We hope to see you there!

TONIGHT: Wednesday 13 September at 7pm in the PAC.

Tickets are available from: https://mytickets.co

Last Thursday night, the Hall was transformed into a classy concert venue for our annual Instrumental Intermezzo, with tables of parents and friends watching their children perform on stage, with professional sound and lighting.

The audience was entertained by percussion, guitar and jazz ensembles, concert bands, strings and symphony orchestras. ATAR Music student Michael Rezkalla had everyone’s toes tapping with his smooth rendition of the classic “For Once In My Life” with the jazz band.

The students enjoyed performing in the more relaxed atmosphere, with parents catching up with each other and chatting in between performances.

As in previous years, we had the best-decorated table competition. There were a few nods to the upcoming 2024 New Zealand Music Tour, with the Hobbit-themed table, complete with Music Staff faces stuck onto Lord of the Rings characters, taking out the prize. A highlight was the raffle organised by the Music Tour Fundraising parents, which saw overnight stays, ballet tickets and pamper packs raffled off to raise money for our touring students.

Huge congratulations and thanks go to the Music staff, parents, volunteers, Arts Administrator, Sound and Lighting crew, Maintenance and all the others who made the night run so smoothly.

Sunday 17 September, 1pm - 4pm

Purchase tickets here.

We are excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for the St Mark’s Primary Production of Honk! Jr for 2023.

“Feeling rather foul about himself, the little fowl finds himself on an adventure of self-discovery, all the while unknowingly outwitting a very hungry Cat. Along the way, Ugly meets a whole flock of unique characters and finds out being different is not a bad thing to be!”

Show dates are Tuesday 19 September – 21 September at 6.45pm, PAC; To book your tickets, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/CJNOS

Production credits:

• Music by George Stiles
• Book and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe
• These performances of Honk! Jr are given by permission of Hal Leonard Australia Pty. Ltd. exclusive agent for Music Theatre International of New York, NY.

It’s our month to be featured at Grill’d Hillarys Marina!

When you make a burger purchase at Grill'd Hillarys Marina, simply pop your token into the St Mark's jar to help us raise the funds needed to get our Mark's ACS Music Students to New Zealand to perform in the Rhapsody Rotorua International Youth Music Festival in July 2024.

We would love your support to raise funds to assist our talented musicians in getting to New Zealand!

Students are invited to wear something YELLOW on the day to raise awareness.

Something yellow could be a t-shirt, bandana, earrings, socks etc which should accompany their normal school uniform on Thursday 14 September 2023.

Donations are not required.

It’s the national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, ‘Are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling.

Learn more about the signs and when it's time to ask R U OK? https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to...

Thanks for supporting RUOK Day

Year 5s going into Year 6 are reminded that blazer orders for 2024 close on Monday 18 September. The blazer orders can be made via the Uniform Shop.

Tara Uniforms have confirmed opening times for the Uniform Shop for the changeover from winter to summer uniform.

• For the remainder of Term 3 the shop will have normal trading hours.
• The shop will be shut for the first week of the school holidays.
• The uniform shop will be open in the second week of school holidays as follows:

• Normal trading hours will return for the start of Term 4 on Monday 9 October.

Teachers and parents are invited to join the St Mark's community "In Conversation" with Dr Mark Williams as he discusses the teen brain and modern technology.

Learning outcomes, resilience, curiosity, tolerance, and emotional intelligence are all declining, whilst stress, anxiety, depression and suicide are rising. Money and technology alone are not the answer to innovative practices in our schools. We need a significant shift in our understanding. Teachers will learn how our brains learn and adapt and why modern technology is affecting students’ learning and wellbeing. We will discuss the current assumptions about technology in schools and how independent research has shown that many of these ideas are actually wrong.

About Dr Mark Williams:

Mark’s new book, “The Connected Species: How Understanding the Evolution of Our Brain Can Change the World,” is a #1 Best Seller.

With an extensive academic background in brain research and teaching, Mark has worked with thousands of students, teachers, health professionals, and company directors keen to understand how their brain works and how to perform optimally and maintain a healthy brain. He runs programs on the neuroscience of learning, the neuroscience of emotions, how our brains create our reality, and the impact of modern technologies on our brains.

Dr Williams is a professor of cognitive neuroscience with over 25 years of experience conducting behavioural and brain imaging research focusing on our social skills. He has received numerous awards for both his teaching and research. He has taught the fundamentals of neuroscience to a wide range of students, as well as published more than 70 scientific articles and worked at MIT in the USA and multiple universities in Australia.

He draws on his extensive scientific background to work with schools, companies and the public to develop evidence-based practices using neuroscience to enhance our education, work and personal lives. His work has been highlighted in the media both locally [e.g., Mirror Mirror (Channel Ten), Our Brain, Magic and the Brain, Music and the Brain, Making Australia Happy (ABC), Sunrise (Channel 7), Screen Time is Affecting Learning (SkyNews)] and internationally [e.g., The Guardian (UK), New York Times (USA), Economist, New Scientist, Leading Edge, (BBC: UK), Science in Action (BBC; International)].

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE.

Our School community is still being impacted by COVID-19. We appreciate, when contacting the School to report your child’s absence that you are letting us know if they have tested positive for COVID-19. Please continue to do this.

While nowhere near the levels reached in previous years, the number of cases within our students and staff is not insignificant.

Current advice from the WA Department of Health is:

1. If you test positive for COVID-19, you should stay at home for at least 5 full days and until your symptoms resolve.
2. If you have COVID-19 or are a close contact, do not visit high-risk settings such as:
   ~ hospitals, unless urgent medical care or treatment is required.
   ~ residential disability, mental health and aged care facilities,
   ~ other healthcare settings (e.g. GP, dental and physiotherapy clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services).

The School has RATs available for our community to use. If you would like to collect some for use in your home, please ask at any of the Receptions within the School.

Please note that any medication brought to school for administration by the nurse must be in original pharmacy packaging with pharmacy label detailing doseage etc, and handed in by an adult to the Wellness Centre.

Thank you for your understanding.

We have seen an increase in the number of students presenting to the Wellness Centre with COVID / Cold and Flu symptoms, so please keep your child at home if they are sick.

Please be reminded that students with any symptoms should not be sent to school regardless of a negative RAT test. If your child presents to the Wellness Centre with any cold or flu, or COVID symptoms, we will have to call you to come and collect them. For information regarding the latest rulings relating to COVID cases, please click here.

Unfortunately, there are still lots of other viruses in the community, and we need to protect our staff and students.

If your child is sick with any illness, please keep them at home.

Thank you for your understanding.

Wellness Centre Team

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.

Registration for Murdoch's annual “A Day in the Life of a Murdoch University Student” event for students in Years 9 and 10 is now open.

Students can attend on either Wednesday 27 September or Thursday 28 September and choose hands-on, engaging workshops in subject areas that interest them. This is an event that takes place during the school holidays (in which parents drop them off and students attend on their own).

CLICK HERE to access the event flyer, which contains all of the information about the event, as well as how to register.

Wednesday 27 September 2023

9am-3.30pm Joondalup Campus

This program is for Year 9 and 10 students who will be able to experience what it’s like to study at Edith Cowan University in the September school holidays.

During the day, they will explore the ECU campus, meet academics, ask questions of current students, find out about the ECU courses and learn about entry pathways.

They will be experiencing what ECU has to offer – from real-world facilities to campus life, while also attending a variety of workshops.

This event is FREE.

Requirements: Closed-in shoes for Superlab activities, and a completed Indemnity Form must be provided prior to the event day. Download the Indemnity Form here.

Please ensure to register as places are limited. Register HERE. Download the event flyer here.

Further information: ecustudentambassadors@ecu.edu.au or 6304 2516.

Notice is hereby given under the Constitution of the St Mark's Anglican Community School's Old Scholars' Association (Incorporated) of the Annual General Meeting to be held at St Mark's Anglican Community School, in the Parish Centre on Tuesday 19 September 2023, commencing at 7pm.

All positions will be declared vacant, and nominations will be called for a new Committee. All current members of the Association are encouraged to come along to the AGM, and any member may nominate to join the committee. Nominations can be submitted to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 15 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 15 September.

Members are welcome to submit items for the agenda by emailing osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 15 September.

The Agenda, Nomination Forms and Proxy forms are available by request to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

What a blast we had last Saturday at the P & F Quiz Night! Laughter, camaraderie, and a dash of friendly competition filled the air as teams battled it out in a battle of wits. And guess who emerged victorious? None other than the Class of 2009!

They not only displayed impressive knowledge but also that unmistakable '09 spirit that helped them secure the coveted title. Huge kudos to them!

But the fun didn't stop with the quiz! After the brainy showdown, many decided to swap their thinking caps for dancing shoes and grooved the night away.

These events remind us of the enduring sense of community in our school. Thanks to everyone who joined in and the companies who supported the prizes; it was a night to remember!

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

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:

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