The Lion's Roar - 9 November 2022

AWARDING A QUEEN'S GUIDE

Year 12 student, Esme, was presented with her Queen’s Guide Award at the State Ceremony this month. The Queen’s Guide Award is the highest level of achievement for Youth Members in Australia and is a WACE-endorsed program.

Esme was required to attain a high standard across Seven different areas to achieve the first part, the Gold Endeavour, including leadership, achieving an outdoor qualification, service and world issues. The second part was divided into two sections: an Interest Area and a Focus Area. For the Interest Area, Esme chose the martial art of Zen do Kai, which she has practised for many years. The Focus Area was a 6-month environmental project where she assessed and reported on microplastics on Perth’s beaches. Esme was trained in the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project method to achieve the Focus Area and became an AUSMAP coordinator.

Well done, Esme!

LEADERS OF EXCELLENCE

We are delighted to share that two of our St Mark's Staff were recently awarded the ACEL WA Teacher Leader Award for Excellence. Congratulations to Nick Irwin and Alex Taylor on their fabulous achievements. This award is presented to a teacher who has demonstrated outstanding leadership.

The awards were presented on Tuesday evening, Alex along with Principal Steven Davies and Head of Teaching and Learning, Deborah Netolicky, were in attendance. Unfortunately, Nick wasn't able to accept his award at the event as he was on the Year 10 Outdoor Education Camp.

Each year, the Anglican Schools Commission requests one artwork from each ASC school to feature in their Christmas publications. Congratulations to Year 4 student Chloe, who not only was selected for the ASC feature but was also awarded our Artist of the Month. Her artwork was selected from a range of artworks produced by our primary students.

Chloe produced an outstanding artwork depicting an Australian Christmas. Her care and attention to detail is outstanding.

Well done, Chloe!

The 2022 Primary School Christmas Concert and Carols is fast approaching!

This year’s event will again be hosted by the Crescendo Kids and Take Note Choir. It will also feature Mr Martin’s rock band, ‘We Who Shall Not Be Named’!

• When: 5pm - 7pm, Friday 2 December 2022, Week 8 of Term 4
• Where: St Mark’s Secondary School Oval (near the Pavilion)
• Parking: On-site and near Muzz Buzz
• Bring: Picnic rug and drinks
• Other Information:
  • Free Sausage Sizzle from 5pm - 6pm
  • Christmas Concert and Carols from 6pm - 6:30pm
  • School Coffee Van on-site

If you have any questions about the event, please email Mr Joe da Costa at jdacosta@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Download the event flyer here.

The Girls Programming Network is for high school girls and gender-diverse students in Years 7-12 who are interested in learning how to program or improve their coding skills. GPN is a unique opportunity to make friends, meet people with similar interests, and learn about Perth's tech community.

The Term 4 workshop is fast approaching on 19 November so book your spot today! Local technologists and teachers host the free, full-day programming workshop.

Head to the booking link HERE to book your spot.

Students in all ASC Schools who are in Years 9 or 10 in 2023 are invited to apply for the service learning trip to Samoa. The trip will take place from Friday 30 June to Saturday 15 July 2023.

For more information, download the flyer here or contact Rev'd David Jones on 0418 526 403 or djones@ascschools.edu.au, Co-ordinator of Samoan Service Learning for the Anglican Schools Commission.

Do you need some support to get homework done or need some help with assessments, study skills and organisation?

Supervised Homework Club

• Years 6 - 9
• Tuesday 3.30pm - 4.30pm
• Library Glass Room

We will start the term by checking all the assessments are in the diary and recorded on the term planner as well as checking in on our organisation for each subject.

If there is something, in particular, you would like us to support your child with, please don’t hesitate to contact us. rrourke@stmarks.wa.edu.au, kswan@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Mrs Rourke and Mrs Swan

Withdrawals from the Instrumental Music program must be received by Friday 18 November 2022.

If your child has shown an interest in learning an instrument, we have 20 incredibly talented Music Tutors at St Mark’s who would love to welcome your child to the world of music, with applications for Term 1 2023 enrolments now open!

St Mark's offers the following options: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Baritone Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Percussion, Piano and Voice. If you'd like more information, please check out the Instrumental Music Handbook, here.

Both enrolments and withdrawals from the Instrumental Music Program are now completed online (links below). If you have questions, please contact the Arts Administrator, Jaina van Reyk, at artsadmin@stmarks.wa.edu.au or on 9403 1350.

Withdrawals - New Withdrawal Form

Enrolments - New Enrolment Form

Please note that the deadline for Term 1, 2023 enrolments and withdrawals Friday 18 November 2022. Withdrawals after this date will be processed at the start of Term 1, and another term’s fees will be incurred.

Download the Instrument Handbook here.

It is with great delight that the English Department at St Mark’s Anglican Community School wishes to invite our community to the much-awaited The Lion’s Pride Book Launch on Monday 14 November.

In 2021, many keen writers, from Year 7 to Year 12, took the time to contribute to the School Anthology, The Lion's Pride. These are remarkable pieces of writing that the School takes immense pride in sharing with you.

On the day, you will have an opportunity to listen to a locally, published author, meet The Lion’s Pride authors, purchase a copy of the publication for only $20, and enjoy a fine spread of food.

WHEN: Monday 14 November at 4.30pm

WHERE: Senior Academic Centre Staffroom

Please see the flyer attached for the details, and do save it to your calendars.

Over the last few years, the Global Citizenship Council, with the help of students and families from the Primary and ELC, have participated in a Christmas Appeal collection for the Heathridge Salvation Army. This year we have been contacted by the centre to help them in a very big way. The following items are desperately needed for families in need:

• ELC: coffee / milo / teabags
• YEAR 2: UHT full cream milk / baked beans / spaghetti / 2-mintue cup noodle bowls (you can just pour hot water into)
• YEAR 3: canned tuna/sardines/salmon, or museli bars / fruit cups
• YEAR 4: chips / biscuits / Christmas festive cookies, treats and cakes
• YEAR 5: Shadow box items for teens aged 12-14: knick-knacks, stationery items, gift cards, earrings, blocks of chocolate, mixed chocolate bags, wrapped lollies, small makeup or beauty items, hair clips and elastics, mini game boxes, small wallets or purses - please see the poster which contains example photos of shadow boxes students will be making.

The collection will run from Friday 7 November to Friday 2 December. Items are to be dropped off to the ELC or to the Primary Library Christmas Tree.

We thank you for your ongoing support of this very important cause. Over $360 was raised from our Donation Bag collection last term, and these funds have also been donated to the Heathridge Centre to buy supplies for the above appeal.

Click here to check out this fabulous video our Year 5 Global Citizenship Council has made to raise support for the Heathridge Salvation Army Centre.

Monday 14 November is a Student Free Day.

Staff will be utilising this day for Curriculum Planning and therefore students should not attend school on this day.

We are fast approaching the cold and flu season, so now is a timely reminder to stay home if you 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 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

All family accounts must be finalised by this month. Many thanks to those families who have already settled their account in full.

If you have overlooked the payment of your final instalment, please pay immediately or contact familyaccounts@stmarks.wa.edu.au to make alternative arrangements.

To ensure emails to the Student Services team are dealt with promptly, please address future emails to each sub-school reception, rather than the staff member, as follows:

• Early Learning Centre – elcreception@stmarks.wa.edu.au
• Junior School Reception – jnrschool@stmarks.wa.edu.au
• Middle School Reception - midschool@stmarks.wa.edu.au
• Senior School Reception – snrschool@stmarks.wa.edu.au
• Parent Reception – parentreception@stmarks.wa.edu.au

If you are still chasing those Parent Commitment Hours we are in need of EIGHT parent volunteers to help with cooking a sausage sizzle. Details are below:

• When: Monday 25 November - House Harmonies
• What: Cooking Sausage Sizzle for 600 people
• When: 11.00 am – 2.30 pm
• Where: Outside the PAV

Book your spot here.

Our Science Department has a Parent Volunteer opportunity for those still needing to fulfil their Parent Commitment Hours.

We are urgently chasing volunteers to assist on:

• Thursday 10 November and Friday 11 November between 8.30am - 3pm to assist with cleaning classrooms/labs

If you are available all day or even part of the day, please help us out! If you can assist or would like more information, please contact our Lab Tech.

Applications for the Christian Leaders Scholarship are now open and will close on Sunday 20 Nov 2022. It is open to applicants between 17 to 20 years of age.

Full details are available on their website.

City of Joondalup Youth Awards 2023 are now OPEN and close on Sunday 13 November 2022.

The City of Joondalup is committed to developing young people in the community and in addition to a range of youth services and events, makes available the City of Joondalup Youth Awards.

These awards recognise and reward young people in the City by encouraging them to commit to further studies. Students in Year 10 can apply for an amount of $1000 to assist them in completing their ATAR, general or alternate studies.

For full eligibility requirements and to apply visit http://www.y-lounge.com.au/school-awards/ or access the flyer below and download the application kit here.

Webinar: 23 November 7:30pm AEDT/ Syd time

Is your tween nagging you for their own phone?

Do you feel pressure to ‘keep up with the iPhones'?

Worried your kid will miss out on being part of their friendship group?

Is your gut telling you to ‘delay delay delay’?

Smartphone ownership comes not just with a significant cost, but also responsibility – for both the young person but also the parents and caregivers.

Just like when you introduced your baby to solids, you slowly started to experiment with different foods – with phones we need to be careful to introduce levels of immersion in its features, from wifi to games and social media apps.

We’ll unpack the big issues and questions to ask to determine what is right for you and your child, based on best practices and the latest research.

Click HERE for more information.

Teen vaping: An update for parents
Monday, 14 November 2022
7.00-8.30pm (AEDT)

Vaping (the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or 'vapes') continues to be an issue that attracts a great deal of attention and debate across the country. Vaping is a new phenomenon, with the first e-cigarette invented in 2003. As a result, many parents have little or no experience with the issue, as the devices simply weren't around when they were in their teens.

This session will examine what we currently know about the use of e-cigarettes and vaping amongst Australian school-based young people. This area is constantly changing, and parents attempting to make sense of the information provided by the 'pro-vaping' and 'anti-vaping' lobbies may find it challenging to navigate. As we move towards the end of the school year, parents are likely to need as much assistance as possible.

Cost: $25 plus GST

This event will be live-streamed, but for those unable to attend live, a recording of the event will also be made available for a period following the event's conclusion.

To register for the event, please go to the following link.

Please find below the current Parent Commitment Hour reports logged up to 19 October 2022. You will need your family code as shown on your St Mark's account statements to check your individual log.

Parent Commitment Hours Summary

Parent Commitment Hours Detailed

The St Mark's Parents and Friends’ Association (“P&F”) continually provide a high level of support to the School. The P&F generously supports 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 2023.

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;
• benefit a large number of families and preferably not restricted to an individual year group or subject;
• should be considered appropriate by the School Executive (among other things, in keeping with the School’s values, manageable and maintainable); and
• should 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 22 November 2022.

Our Old Scholars' Association Little Lions Playgroup is on for Term 4!

Our Little Lions Playgroup is a community-based group and is run in conjunction with Playgroup WA.

It is held every Friday during term time from 8.45am - 10.30am, and caters for children up to school age.

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.