Senior School Bulletin - Term 1, Week 1

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We have certainly hit the ground running this year. In the past two weeks we have held four events in the Senior School with our Year 12 Ball, Year 12 Parent Information Evening, New Student Orientation and our Year 12 Retreat day, and next Monday 10 February we will be hosting our Senior School Parent Information Night.

This year our Parent Information Night spotlights speakers from within and outside the school that will share key information with you to help support you and your child’s journey at St Mark’s.

Our presenters include:

• Kelly Curran (Head of Digital Learning)
• Sam Goldberg (School Psychologist)
• Nick Irwin (Head of Outdoor Education)
• Ella Pearce (Head of Futures)
• Kerry Kais and Rebecca Rourke (Learning Diversity and Inclusion Team)
• Edith Cowan University
• Curtain University
• SDERA – Drugs and Alcohol Safety

A copy of the program can be found here:

Our Heads of Year are a tremendous support to students and their families. Please see below the Term One letters from each Head of Year outlining key information and events for their cohorts.

Year 12 families please also find additional letter here for 2025 information.

Thank you for all that you do to support your child with their learning and wellbeing.

Warmest regards

Kelly Nebel

Head of Senior School

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to the 2025 school year! I hope you all have enjoyed the Summer break and spent some quality time with your loved ones.

I would like to introduce myself as the Head of Year 9 and I’m really excited to getting to know both you and your child as they start their journey through Senior School.

I have been part of the St Mark’s community for several years and recently served as the Head of Year for the Class of 2024 for two and a half years. Through this experience, I have developed a deep understanding of pastoral care and the challenges students face as they navigate their teenage years. My role is to support your child’s academic, social, and emotional development, helping them grow into confident and resilient young adults.

Your child’s first point of contact will be their Pastoral Care Tutor, who plays a crucial role in their daily school life. Pastoral Care Tutors provide guidance, monitor well-being, and communicate important information. I work closely with them to ensure that every student receives the support they need to thrive.

In 2025, our Pastoral Care Programme will continue to focus on student well-being, goal setting, and personal development. Year 9 is a key stage in their schooling, and we will be working to foster independence, responsibility, and a strong sense of community.

A Parent Information Night will be held early in Term 1, providing an opportunity to meet key staff, discuss expectations for Senior School, and learn more about the programs and events planned for the year. More details will be shared with you soon. There are also a lot of important events and dates this term that I have highlighted in the table below.

I look forward to working alongside you in supporting your child throughout the year. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s Pastoral Care Tutor or me if you have any questions or concerns.

Kind regards,

Seb Salinas
Head of Year 9

Dear Parents/Guardians of Year 10 Students,

I trust that you had an enjoyable and restful Christmas break and are looking forward to the New Year. I am looking forward to continuing to support your child through what is going to be a year of exploration and importance. I say this as your child is going to consolidate their interests and begin navigating their way through planning their post-school goals and aspirations.

It is natural for students to feel a sense of uncertainty as they begin to think about life after school, however we will support them to achieve their goals and offer counsel as they make some big decisions about their pathways for their final years of schooling. It is important for students to work hard this year, so that they can create impactful study habits, setting themselves up for success and opening as many doors as possible.

2025 is a year in which we will continue to encourage students to be the best versions of themselves, showing respect for one another, their teachers and the school environment. Undoubtedly students will face many challenges this year as they navigate the increased demands associated with being a Year 10 student; and I hope they feel supported by their teachers and families as they work through these challenges.

Your first point of contact is your child’s Pastoral Care Group Tutor. Please direct any information about your child, queries, comments or feedback to the Pastoral Care Group Tutor who is continuing to build relationships with your child.

Pastoral Care Tutors and email addresses for 2025 are as follows;

Some important dates for Term One can be found below.

I am wishing you and your family a healthy and prosperous year ahead.

Best wishes,

Troy de Bomford

Head of Year 10

Important Dates for Year 10 Students

Term 1

Secondary Swimming Carnival Friday, 7 February

Year 9-11 Parent Information Evening Monday, 10 February

RAC BstreetSmart Wednesday, 26 March

OLNA Weeks 5 and 6

Paul Dillon Presentation Friday 7 March

World’s Greatest Shave Thursday, 14 March

End of Term 1 Friday, 11 April

Dear Year 11 Parents and Guardians,

I am delighted to welcome you and your children to the 2025 school year and the exciting journey ahead as they embark on Year 11.

Our current Year 12 cohort has chosen the word Inspire as their theme for 2025. In Year 11, embracing inspiration means creating a culture where students uplift and motivate one another to reach their full potential. We encourage active participation in extracurricular activities and community service projects, such as the Anglicare Sleep Out later in the year. To inspire others is to cultivate a passion for learning and approach challenges with resilience and determination.

As we look ahead to the challenges and triumphs of the year, please know that our commitment to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment remains steadfast. Year 11 is a pivotal stage where students deepen their understanding of their chosen subjects, laying the foundation for their academic and personal growth.

Our dedicated Year 11 teaching team is ready to guide and support students every step of the way, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and a lifelong love of learning.

Pastoral Care Tutors and email addresses for 2025 are as follows;

Throughout the year, we will keep communication open and transparent, ensuring you stay informed about your child's progress, achievements, and any areas where additional support may be beneficial. Your involvement plays a vital role in their success, and we encourage you to engage in school events, parent-teacher meetings, and other opportunities to connect with our school community.

As partners in your child's education, we invite you to share in the excitement of the year ahead. Together, we can create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Important Dates for Year 11s in Term 1, 2025

Friday 7 February – Secondary Swimming Carnival

Monday 10 February – Senior School Parent Information Evening

Monday 3 March – Labour Day Long Weekend

Monday 14 March – World’s Greatest Shave Fundraiser

Tuesday 18 March – Parent Teacher Interviews

Friday 11 April – Last Day of Term 1

I look forward to continuing to foster your child’s growth and development this year and wish them a successful start to Year 11.

Warm regards,

Miss Jaime Milner

Head of Year 11

Dear Year 11 Parents and Guardians,

I am delighted to welcome you and your children to the 2025 school year and the exciting journey ahead as they embark on Year 11.

Our current Year 12 cohort has chosen the word Inspire as their theme for 2025. In Year 11, embracing inspiration means creating a culture where students uplift and motivate one another to reach their full potential. We encourage active participation in extracurricular activities and community service projects, such as the Anglicare Sleep Out later in the year. To inspire others is to cultivate a passion for learning and approach challenges with resilience and determination.

As we look ahead to the challenges and triumphs of the year, please know that our commitment to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment remains steadfast. Year 11 is a pivotal stage where students deepen their understanding of their chosen subjects, laying the foundation for their academic and personal growth.

Our dedicated Year 11 teaching team is ready to guide and support students every step of the way, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and a lifelong love of learning.

Pastoral Care Tutors and email addresses for 2025 are as follows;

Throughout the year, we will keep communication open and transparent, ensuring you stay informed about your child's progress, achievements, and any areas where additional support may be beneficial. Your involvement plays a vital role in their success, and we encourage you to engage in school events, parent-teacher meetings, and other opportunities to connect with our school community.

As partners in your child's education, we invite you to share in the excitement of the year ahead. Together, we can create an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Important Dates for Year 11s in Term 1, 2025

Friday 7 February – Secondary Swimming Carnival

Monday 10 February – Senior School Parent Information Evening

Monday 3 March – Labour Day Long Weekend

Monday 14 March – World’s Greatest Shave Fundraiser

Tuesday 18 March – Parent Teacher Interviews

Friday 11 April – Last Day of Term 1

I look forward to continuing to foster your child’s growth and development this year and wish them a successful start to Year 11.

Warm regards,

Miss Jaime Milner

Head of Year 11

Dear Year 12 Parents and Guardians,

The final year of your child's secondary education at St Mark's Anglican Community School has finally arrived. I can imagine that both you and your child are experiencing a range of emotions as you embark on this final chapter. They are making significant progress toward fulfilling the requirements for their WACE Certificate and have put a lot of thought and consideration in to selecting their chosen pathway in 2025. Whether your child is involved in ATAR courses, General courses, continuing their Work Place Learning, commencing UniReady, or completing a Certificate course, it's essential to remember that every pathway carries equal value. Regardless of the chosen route, all Year 12 graduates at our school have the opportunity to achieve success.

The word "Inspire" has been embraced by our year group for 2025. This will give the students the opportunity to embody the values of leadership, motivation, and to encourage those around them. I am hopeful that this chosen word sparks a passion for growth and excellence, driving everyone to push beyond their limits. It stands as a powerful symbol of the influence each student can have, not only on their peers but also on the wider school community, leaving a legacy of inspiration and achievement that will last long after graduation.

As always, the expectations of our Year 12 students remains high when it comes to behaviour, personal standards and interactions with others. We expect that St Mark’s students consistently uphold a positive attitude, take pride in wearing the school uniform and show respect towards both teachers and peers. 2025 will be filled with significant milestones and joyous occasions for your child. However, there will also be challenges along the way, and I encourage maintaining open communication with myself, their Pastoral Care Tutor and teachers throughout the year. Providing support during these times is crucial for their resilience and success.

Pastoral Care Tutors and email addresses for 2025 are as follows:

Carnley 12.1

Joan Rice jrice@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Carnley 12.2:

Claire Larsen clarsen@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Challen 12.1:

Kate Douglas kdouglas@stmarks.wa.edu.au and Niamh Catania ncatania@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Challen 12.2:

Kylie Hall khall@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Moyes 12.1:

Trent Browner tbrowner@stmarks.wa.edu.au and Catherine Clarnette cclarnette@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Moyes 12.2:

Josh Andrews (Long Service Leave Term 1) replaced by Anna Jovaniski ajovaniski@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Watkins 12.1:

Miranda Weaver mweaver@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Watkins 12.2:

Kate Gillam kgillam@stmarks.wa.edu.au and Rachel Mowatt rmowatt@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Term 1 - Important Dates

I look forward to working with you and your child again this year and supporting them in their final year at St Mark’s Anglican Community School. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Pastoral Care Tutor or myself if you have any questions or concerns.

Kind regards

Mrs Lia Parsons
Head of Year 12

Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops to our students that help to develop their study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. Over the next term, you're invited to join their parent webinar series, where you can help support your child at home by reinforcing the skills they're learning at school.

How to Get (And Keep!) Your Child Motivated - 12th February @6:30

Register today at: elevate education

As you are aware, we have our Year 9-12 Parent Information Session on Monday, 10 February, from 5:30-7:30 pm (Week 2).

We are excited to be able to announce that we have secured some excellent guest speakers to present to you as part of the event. You will have a series of streams to choose from, so you can design the evening to suit your family's needs and interests.

Sessions include:

• Edith Cowan University – Admission Pathways for School Leavers
• Curtin University - UniReady In-School Program
• Year 9 and 10 - Senior School Pathways
• Generative AI in Education – challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing landscape. 
• SDERA – Talking Drugs
• School anxiety - avoidance or refusal?
• Testing Accommodations
• Year 9 Camp Information
• Year 10 Camp Information

Mr Paul Searle from SDERA will also present two sessions in the evening. These sessions will provide the most up-to-date information on alcohol and other drugs and the importance of a typical community approach.

The schedule and description of each session are attached in the link below. Please choose the sessions you wish to attend, noting the room and time. No registration is required.

Download the Information Session schedule here.

Please find below the Heads of Year and House contacts for 2025:

Heads of Year - Secondary School

Year 6 - Kellie Bailey: kbailey@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Year 7 - Paula McGibbon: pmcgibbon@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Year 8 - Rebecca McManus: rmcmanus@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Year 9 - Seb Salinas: ssalinas@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Year 10 - Troy De Bomford: tdebomford@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Year 11 - Jaime Milner: jmilner@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Year 12 - Lia Parsons: lparsons@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Heads of House - Secondary School

Carnley - Rachel Cool: rcook@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Challen - Kane Smith: ksmith@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Moyes - Trent Browner: tbrowner@stmarks.wa.edu.au

Watkins - Alex McNamara: amcnamara@stmarks.wa.edu.au

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

Please note that the Uniform Shop accepts EFTPOS only - no cash purchases. If your child needs to purchase an item, and you are not able to be there with your EFTPOS card, you do have the option of calling the Uniform Shop and providing your card details over the phone

Online Ordering

TARA Uniforms Online Ordering is available with orders collected from the Uniform Shop during opening hours. For convenience in Terms 2 and 3, grey tights are available for purchase from the Cafeteria via SmartRider or EFTPOS.

Uniform Shop Trading Hours - Term Time

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

Please note: Uniform Shop operating hours differ during School Holidays

Location and Parking

The Uniform Shop is located between the Early Learning Centre and the Art Rooms in the Busselton Building. Parking is available in Visitor Parking, accessible via St Mark's Drive Gate 2.

Contact

For Uniform Shop queries telephone 0434 211 591 during opening hours. For urgent matters, please email customer.service@tarauniforms.com.au.

With the end of the first week of Term upon us, we thought it would be a timely reminder to reiterate student safety regarding the use of bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters.

Please remind your children of the road rules, especially relating to e-scooters and e-bikes.

Walking/Riding to School

• Please remind your children to be vigilant when walking/riding to and from school and around the area, and to be aware of their surroundings and those around them.
  
• St Mark’s encourages students to walk or ride to school where possible, and we stress the importance of using the roads safely. Helmets must be worn when riding to and from school, as required by law.
• Remind students to take note of the traffic around them, and be aware of other road users, including cars and pedestrians. Be respectful to other road users.
• The road via Gate 3 next to the ELC is for vehicles only. There is no pedestrian access. For safety reasons, pedestrians should use the smaller gate directly opposite the roundabout intersection with Banks Avenue.
• Be aware that, even if a cyclist rings their bell, pedestrians may not immediately recognise it as a warning of an approaching bicycle. As such, when pedestrians are on a shared pathway, cyclists should slow down and give the pedestrian time to move to safety.
• Students are to dismount and push their bicycles at crosswalks.
• Students are not to ride their bicycles on the School grounds - they must dismount.
• Primary School students should park their bikes next to the multi-purpose court near the Primary Oval. Middle and Senior School students should park their bikes in the bike racks behind the Dunsborough buildings.

Manned Crossings

There are manned crosswalks at a number of locations. Traffic Wardens appointed by the Children’s Crossing Unit of the WA Police are located on Whitfords Avenue (Belrose Entrance), Endeavour Road (Banks Avenue), Whitfords Avenue, and on Cook Ave.

In addition, we have a School Traffic Warden located at the Kiss ‘n Drive points outside the Performing Arts Complex. Please follow the instructions of the wardens to help keep our children safe.

E-Bikes and E-Scooters

The below information is taken from the Department of Transport's website and we expect our students/staff/families to adhere to the rules as per below:

The maximum speed for ERDs on bike and shared paths and local roads has been set at 25km/h, which is consistent with regulations in Queensland, the ACT and New Zealand, and is the same speed at which the power output on electric bikes cuts out.

The speed limit on footpaths and in pedestrian areas, however, is much lower at 10km/h reflecting the speed differential between different path user groups.

Riders are required to give way to pedestrians and keep to the left of oncoming bicycle riders or other ERD users. They are not permitted to travel on a separated footpath designated for the use of pedestrians.

Other new rules for ERDs and their users include:

• Riders of higher-powered electric rideable devices must be at least 16 years of age;
• Riders must wear an approved helmet, use lights and reflectors at night and have a working warning device; and
• The same mobile phone and drink and drug driving rules apply as for motor vehicle drivers.

Under existing Western Australian rules, children under the age of 16 years are permitted to use motorised scooters that have a maximum power output of 200w and a maximum speed of 10 km/h.

Please see the WA Government for further rules around E-Ride-ons.

The Secondary Assistance Scheme is available to parents/guardians with children enrolled in Years 7 to 12 who hold an eligible concession card (a Pensioner Concession Card or a Health Care Card).

The SAS consists of two allowances:

• $235 Education Program Allowance (payment made to the school); and
• $300 Clothing Allowance (payment made to the parent/guardian).

Parents/guardians in receipt of the ABSTUDY School Fees Allowance from Services Australia (Centrelink) are not eligible for the SAS, but they may apply for the ABSTUDY Supplement Allowance.

Applications open at the commencement of Term 1 2025 and close on 11 April 2025. Forms are available from Main Reception during Term 1 between 8am and 4pm.

Please check the eligibility criteria here.

The Australian Government Department of Education would like to notify you that we have requested for your child’s school to provide residential address and other information.

Under the Australian Education Regulations 2023, the school is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school:

• names and residential addresses of the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
• student residential address (excluding student names)
• whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
• whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status).

Can families please update their information on Consent2Go by Tuesday 11 February 2025.

More information on the purpose of collection and privacy information can be found here.

The annual Interhouse Swimming Carnival will take place at HBF Stadium, Mt Claremont. The larger capacity at the Stadium and the ability to use multiple pools will allow us to host both the Middle and Senior School Carnivals simultaneously on 7 February instead of two separate Carnivals.

All students in Years 6 to 12 are required to attend the House Swimming Carnival on 7 February.

Students must be wearing their House uniform, with School bathers, and bring a towel, goggles, hat, sunblock, water bottle, snacks and lunch. Students must also bring all personal medication (e.g. asthma puffers) with them to the Carnival. Please ensure all items are clearly labelled with the student’s name and surname.

The Interhouse Carnival is a compulsory event, and all students in Years 6 to 12 are expected to attend.

We have a group of eager and brave St Mark's students participating in this year's World's Greatest Shave.

We are calling for hairdressers within our School community to help us ensure that the event goes well. In particular, we are looking for help with the students who are cutting off their ponytails (20cm in length) or shaving heads.

We do not have the time for full fashion cuts, but we want to ensure participating students are left with enough hair to get a professional cut later.

We also require volunteers to help set up and pack down the event.

We require our volunteers to be onsite on Thursday 14 March from 12.30pm - 2.30pm and Parent Commitment Hours can be claimed.

To book your volunteer spot or for more information, please email Mrs Lia Parsons.

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 14th Feb. 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.

Download the flyer here.

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.

Tickets are selling fast, for our Old Scholars' Milestone Reunion on Saturday 22 February 25.

All Old Scholars who graduated from St Mark’s in 1995, 2005 and 2015 are invited, and we can't wait to see you all and hear what you've been up to since leaving the land of maroon and blue!

Ticket details are available here.

If you have not received an email regarding the reunion, it means we do not have your current email - please update your details here.