A message from the Head of Primary School
As we began Monday morning briefing this week, I highlighted to the students and staff present the smiling faces and enthusiasm that radiated from the children. Despite it being the halfway point of the year and just before the holidays, the students were buzzing with energy and it really gave the assembly a warm and fun tone.
I made particular mention of the growth our Year 2 students have gone through this semester. Whether it was coming to St Mark's from another school or transitioning across from our ELC, the maturity they display in briefings and assembly has grown enormously. Many children have had challenges and they should be proud of the way they have adapted and shown a positive mindset so that these things are looked back on as growth areas rather than obstacles. Happy children and teachers tell me that the schooling journey is going well.
Congratulations to all the students who will represent our School this week in the Interschool Chess Competition today and Cross Country teams on Friday. I am sure the experience will be very exciting and well done for taking these opportunities. This week we also have the much anticipated Year 3 Travel Expo which is always a huge success and very well attended. Well done to our Year 3 students for their amazing efforts with this.
Semester 1 reports will be released this week on Thursday afternoon. Most students will be extremely proud of their efforts and will look forward to the conversations around reporting with their parents. The two questions I like to ask around reporting are; is my child growing into the person I want them to be, and do they value the importance of effort? I believe that these two factors are critical for future success, both academically and in the wider community that they will participate in. I have the pleasure of reading hundreds of reports and I am equally proud of the students who have excelled as I am with those who have made great gains to achieve their own personal best this semester. Schooling is a long journey and for our students, the learning will continue long after they leave St Mark’s.
I would also like to highlight the attendance section of the report. The Western Australian government requires students to attend school each day that it is open, and that attendance of less than 90% can have a significant negative effect on students. These effects are both academic and pastoral. At school, we do understand children get ill and there are times when children need to be at home however, I encourage all parents to take note of the attendance percentage on their child’s report.
The ebbs and flows of the school term are book-ended by school holidays and I know our students are very much looking forward to a well-deserved break. I hope each of our families has the opportunity to spend some quality time with their children and make some long lasting memories. Have a great holiday.
Mark Douglas
Head of Primary