Middle School Bulletin - Term 3, Week 8

Students are invited to add something YELLOW to their usual school uniform on the day to raise awareness.

On Thursday, 12 September 2024, students should wear something yellow, such as a bandana, hair ribbon, earrings, socks, etc., in addition to their normal school uniform.

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-ask

Thanks for supporting R U OK? Day

St Mark’s students participating in the IGNITE or DUKE OF EDINBURGH have an opportunity to accumulate some Volunteer Hours for 2024.

We have scheduled for the Term 3 Salvation Army Takeaway Container Meals to be cooked on the weekend of the 14 and 15 September and the containers are to be collected at school on Monday morning, 16 September 2024. Meals (fresh or frozen) can be dropped off between 7.45am and 8.25am by the Flag Pole round-a-bout in front of the Junior School Reception. Mr Coffin who will be waiting to collect them.

Empty take away containers will be available in the Junior School Reception from Monday 9 September, and students can collect containers (in quantities of 10 or 20),

• 10x Meals = 1.5 x Community Service Hours

• 20x Meals = 3.0 x Community Service Hours

Meals need to be substantial; no soups are required. It is preferred that full gluten products are used.

Meal suggestions include:

• Chilli Con Carne (mild)

• Spaghetti Bolognese

• Pasta Bake

• Pasta Carbonara

• Tuna Mornay

• Lasagne

(you may deviate from this list, but we ask that the meal prepared contains either a pasta or rice accompaniment and is not heavily spiced).

St Mark’s families travelling on Endeavour Road this week may have noticed a sign on a blank wall of a building on the old Bunnings site saying that a new retailer was ‘coming soon’.

In September 2022, the School was advised of an ‘Application for the Grant of a Liquor Store Licence: Dan Murphys Hillarys’ by the Endeavour Group Limited for a proposed Dan Murphy’s outlet at 37 Endeavour Road, Hillarys. The School was invited to raise a Notice of Objection or to make a submission in support or opposition to the application. I submitted a Notice of Objection on behalf of the School in early October 2022, believing the location of the store in such close proximity to our School was inappropriate.

On 1 July 2024, the School received notification from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, that a Liquor Store Licence had been conditionally granted to the applicant. In his communication regarding the outcome of the application, the Executive Director – Racing Gaming and Liquor said that he had imposed a condition on the grant of the licence to prohibit the advertising of liquor products or other promotion of liquor (e.g. signage reflecting visual graphics of specific alcohol products, posters, a-frames, billboards, etc.):

(a) on the external facade of the licensed premises; and

(b) within a radius of 150 metres of the premises or at any place that is visible from child-focused businesses or services.

St Mark’s accepts the outcome of the process and is appreciative of the opportunity to provide feedback, by way of our objection to the granting of a licence, before a decision on the granting of a licence was made.

Mr Steven Davies,
Principal

We are thrilled to announce an important update regarding our Wellness Centre. In our ongoing efforts to better serve our students and enhance our focus on health, the Wellness Centre will now be known as the Health Centre.

This name change reflects our commitment to providing a more rounded service. We believe this new name more accurately represents our mission to the school community.

Thank you for your continued support as we make this transition. We are excited about the future and look forward to serving you under our new name!

Warm regards,

Nurse Tracey, Nurse Jess and Mrs Bell

It is essential that all blazer orders for 2025 are placed as soon as possible. The blazer is compulsory for Years 6 to 12 in Terms 2 and 3. Final orders close on Wednesday 18th September.

We do make sure that the blazers are fitted with room for growth. A deposit of $100 will be required when placing your order.

We are open Monday & Wednesday 07:45am to 11:15am and Thursday 1pm to 4:30pm.

Please note that the Uniform Shop will be open during the school holidays on Wednesday 2 October from 07:45am to 12:45pm and Thursday 3 October from 11:30am to 4:30pm.

We have received an increase in concerns raised over our School community's use of St Marks Drive during drop-off and pick-up times and not adhering to the traffic and road rules. For the safety of our students, please remember:

• St Marks Drive is a 40km/h School Zone between 7.30am - 9.00am and 2.30pm - 4.00pm.
  
  
• Please drive with caution and care.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Remember, during drop-off and pick-up times, the traffic in and around the School can get very heavy, and some behaviours put our students - your children - at risk. In particular, please be aware of double parking, overtaking and exiting the School, as these can limit driver and pedestrian fields of vision, and can cause accidents.
  
  
• 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 our neighbourly businesses' carparks, including the Endeavour Centre, Mitre 10, Better Pets, AutoMasters, SuperCheap, and Whitford Family Centre. Should you require additional parking, Whitford Shopping Centre has kindly allowed us to use the bays next to Muzz Buzz.

Families who may be considering withdrawing their child from St Mark’s at the end of this year are reminded that the School’s Acceptance Agreement states that a full term’s notice in writing must be given to the Principal before the withdrawal of a child from the School. Failure to provide such notice will involve the payment of a full term’s fees.

The Principal may be advised by email at principal@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations are contributing to these issues. It's, therefore, crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK? Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"

Engaging in R U OK? Day activities go beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK? Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://stmarks.wa.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day

Please note that all students should be taking their instruments home the same day after lessons or rehearsals and should not be leaving their instruments at school all week or over the weekends. Regular practice is so important for musicians and if a student is not practising in between lessons, they are not getting the full value out of their lessons! Regular practice equals consistent improvement, which leads to greater student satisfaction and higher levels of engagement – positive reinforcement all round! We have sadly noticed an increase in instruments left forlornly in the storeroom and in the lockers over the weekends and would love to see our storeroom empty at the end of each day and especially on Friday afternoons. Should you have any questions, please contact the Music department.

Our highly anticipated Rock Concert: Sunday Sessions, Live at the Indi Bar is happening on Sunday 15 September 12.15pm – 4.15pm. This will see our rock bands from Years 5 – 12 performing live at the Indian Ocean Hotel. Please purchase your tickets in advance, these are available via https://indianoceanhotel.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/efd1e7d8-772e-4a6b-9129-4e999063083b

Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the venue with the bar is card ONLY. Toastface Grillah is open from 7am - 8pm and takes card and cash. Please order food early so that you don't miss out, as last time we ate them out of food! Please note that this is a licensed venue and students in the audience are required to have a parent/guardian with them at all times.

St Mark's is again looking for volunteers to assist with supervision for the upcoming Year 11 & 12 exams from 2 - 12 October 2023.

Please send an email to snrschool@stmarks.wa.edu.au with your available dates and times. Morning (08:30am to 12:30pm) and afternoon (12:30pm to 4pm) sessions are available.

Whitfords Family Centre Express of Interest for 2025 are now open for our Pre-Kindy Program.

We have 2 groups:

2-3’s program, Tues, Wed, and Fri 9-12pm

4’s program Mon and Thurs 9-2pm.

We're thrilled to share that Nicola Henderson, a dedicated grandmother and former St Mark's parent, is making a significant impact in our community through her work with Zephyr Education. This incredible charity supports children who have fled domestic violence, providing them with essential resources to start fresh at their new schools.

As a retired primary school teacher, Nicola believes in the power of education to help break the cycle of domestic violence. Her commitment to these children is truly inspiring, ensuring they have everything they need to feel valued and included in their new learning environments.

Nicola is currently in the running for a Local Hero Grant at Westfield Whitfords City, which will help further her mission with Zephyr Education. Voting is open until September 9th, and every vote counts! Cast your vote here.

Let's rally behind Nicola and support her vital work in our community. 💙

Whitfords Junior Cricket Club is looking for players across all age groups for the 2024-25 cricket season, which starts soon. Girls and boys are encouraged to sign up now for:

Cricket Blast (4 - 10 years)
Junior Cricket (9 - 17 years)

• WJCC provides free uniform items for all junior cricketers new to the club.

• All equipment is supplied for players in all age groups – no-one misses out whether they can purchase their own equipment or not.

Playing days are as follows:

• Fri evenings: Cricket Blast (Ages 5-10)

• Sat mornings: Year 6, 7 & 8 boys, plus Year 6/7, 8/9 and Years 10-12 girls

• Sun mornings: Year 4,5, 9, 10, 11 & 12 boys, plus Year 4/5 girls

Cricket in general remains a great-value junior sport for all girls and boys, providing them access to sport and physical activity season-after-season at a low cost compared to many other sports.

Junior Cricket (9 - 17 years) registrations close on Fri 13th September 2024.

Thursday, September 12, marks R U OK? Day, a national initiative to raise awareness about mental health. St Mark’s and Westfield Whitford City are teaming up for this important cause. The day encourages everyone to check in on friends and family, fostering meaningful conversations that can make a significant difference.

Our students will be at the shopping centre at 9.00am, engaging with shoppers and sharing the vital message that simply asking “Are you OK?” can profoundly impact someone's life.

If you see us, please come and say hello!

All Old Scholars are invited to attend the 2024 Annual General Meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, 17 September, in the SAC Staffroom.

Drinks and nibbles will be served.

Parent Commitment Hours can be claimed.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

All positions will be declared vacant, and nominations are called for a new Committee. All current members of the Association are encouraged to attend the AGM, and any member may nominate to join the committee.

• Nominations can be submitted to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 13 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 13 September.
• Members are welcome to submit items for the agenda by emailing emailed to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au by Friday 13 September.
  
• The Agenda, Nomination Forms and Proxy forms are available by request to osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

Did you know that our Old Scholars' Association Little Lions Playgroup is run on-site every Friday during term time? We'd love to see your little cub there this Friday!

Join us from 8.45 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. 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. 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 Annual POSTMEN Games Day is on again! Saturday, September 14th, from 1pm to 5pm, presents an opportunity for Dads and Father Figures to bring along their kids to try some fun and interesting board games. Adam from BoardGamesDirect.com will help us again by bringing along some different games for us to play. The event will be suitable for kids of all ages, with something to appeal to everyone.

We’ll round the afternoon off with our much-loved Klask tournament and some pizza for an early dinner.

Come and have a blast, compete for great prizes, and enjoy some quality time with your kids.

Tickets are just $10 per person. Grab yours here.