Junior School Bulletin - Term 1, Week 5

Last Friday it was really great to see our Year 5 students having such fun while learning bicycle skills with Chris Thompson from CycleSense. As a former professional cyclist, Chris had many useful tips on road etiquette and riding techniques for our students to learn. Even more pleasing was how impressed he was with the 'can do' attitude of the students. Both Michael Barton, our Physical Education teacher, and Chris from CycleSense will provide expert instruction to the children over the next few Fridays, with the earlier lessons conducted by Mr Barton and myself. I thank all parents for their support with this program which comes with enormous benefits and learning for the students that they will carry with them in the years to come.

Mark Douglas
Head of Primary School

Consent2Go invites for this event went out last week to all Y2-5 families. Reminders went out yesterday morning to those families who have not yet responded – please do so as soon as possible. Thank you. Parents are reminded that this event will take place next Tuesday (after the Monday Public Holiday). Please ensure all students have their swimming gear ready for school on Tuesday.

Flyers went home last week from the Scholastic Book Club. If any families are interested in purchasing books, please note that orders and payments are ONLINE only at https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx and need to be submitted before 3pm on Friday 8 March. If you have any queries, please email primarylibrary@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Please see attached flyer with parent information regarding NAPLAN for later in Term 1. For infomation, NAPLAN is for all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students.

We have been informed of a number of traffic and road safety incidents involving our St Mark's community.

Please ensure that when parking along St Marks Drive that all driveways are kept clear and you only park in designated carbays not along the kerbing. On-street parking, including the Kiss and Drive facility on St Marks Drive, is subject to the City of Joondalup's bylaws.

Please find below a general reminder about on and around campus road safety:

• Do not ‘park’ in the Kiss n Ride pick-up zones. If your child is not at the pick-up zone, then continue forward and rejoin the queue for another lap. This gives time for children to make their way to the location.
• There is no pedestrian access through Gate 3 next to the ELC. The pedestrian access from Endeavour Road is located between the ELC and the Whitford Family Centre.
• Please do not double park at any location, including (but not limited to): Kiss ‘n Drive points, St Marks Drive, School parking lots, access gates and across our neighbours’ driveways.
• Please do not overtake stationary cars on the School grounds, especially in Kiss ‘n Drive zones.
• When exiting the School grounds, please ensure you look both left and right carefully before re-entering St Marks Dr, particularly around our neighbour’s driveways.
• Please do not park in the following neighbouring businesses when dropping off/collecting children or when attending school-based events:
  
  • Endeavour Centre (cnr Endeavour and Banks Ave)
  • Whitford Business Centre (Mitre 10, Better Pets, AutoMasters, SuperCheap)
  • Endeavour Childcare and Whitford Family Centre

Our 'Back to School Guide' has some guidance around traffic management around the school. The most important aspect, though, is to be patient and mindful of the young children present, as well as be considerate of other drivers and families.

Our School community, like the wider community, continues to be 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 among our students and staff is not insignificant.

Current advice from the WA Department of Health is:

• Manage your symptoms with rest and pain relief. Remember to check with your doctor if you are eligible for antiviral treatment.
• Stay at home until your symptoms resolve. This could take up to 10 days or more. A minimum of 5 days is a good guide.
• Don’t forget to tell anyone you have had close contact with that you have COVID. You’re most infectious 2 days before symptoms start.

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.

Tara Uniforms is changing the opening days/times of our uniform shop to provide the St Mark’s community with a greater choice of opening days and in response to the changing needs of customers due to the increase in online ordering.

With effect from Monday 12^th February the uniform shop will be open on Thursday afternoons, and the trading hours for Term 1 2024 will be:

• Mondays : 7.45am -11.15am and 1pm – 5pm
• Wednesdays : 7.45am – 11.15am
• Thursdays : 1.00pm – 4.30pm
  

For Term 2 2024 onwards, the trading hours will be:

• Mondays : 7.45am -11.15am
• Wednesdays : 7.45am – 11.15am
• Thursdays : 1.00pm – 4.30pm
  

PAYMENT NOMINATIONS must be submitted by Tuesday 6 February 2024. Download the Payment Form here.

There is no need to submit a payment nomination if you have paid your 2024 fees in full. Thank you.

• Annual Fee Due 13 Feb 2024
• Quarterly Fee Due 13 Feb, 30 April, 30 July, 22 Oct 2024
• Monthly Fee Due 25^th of each month Feb to Nov 2024, or the next business day if the 25^th is not a business day
• Fortnightly Fee Due Friday fortnightly commencing 16 Feb and ending on 8 Nov 2024

Subject and music adjustments will be amended later in February once payment nominations and queries are effectuated.

Please contact Kaye at familyaccounts@stmarks.wa.edu.au if you have any queries.

Thank you for your patience during this busy start to the 2024 school year.

If your child will be absent, late to class, or if they will need to leave early to attend a medical appointment please notify the School by completing the form on the School App or emailing absentee@stmarks.wa.edu.au. Please include your child’s name (first name and surname) and class/year level in the subject line of the email. Please do not send absentee/appointments/late information to any other email address - it must go to absentee@stmarks.wa.edu.au no matter what year group your child is in. Thank you.

The Parents Prayer Group (PPG) meet fortnightly to pray for the students, staff and school community. We will be meeting every second Friday 9am in the school chapel, starting 9 February. Please sign in at reception and perhaps stop by the coffee van on the way. All are welcome. Please share any prayer requests by emailing parentsunitedforprayer@gmail.com or call Wing Shattock on 0433 002 151.

The Joondalup Festival is back with 21 days of fabulous shows, events and activities. With the fun set to begin on 2 March, here are some of the Joondalup Festival 2024 highlights!

Click here for the Festival Highlights

Click here for the Festival Program