Senior School Bulletin - Term 1, Week 9

Please note that the below was sent via SEQTA email on Monday, 26 March 2024.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Parking in public spaces around St Mark’s

I trust this email finds you well and that you are looking forward to a break with your family after a purposeful and busy first term back at School.

I am writing to you today to request your assistance with an ongoing situation that St Mark’s is seeking to manage.

The St Mark’s office continues to field regular complaints from the businesses surrounding St Mark’s as our community are utilising private parking spaces in the different centres when dropping children at, and collecting children from, school.

The areas we are referring to include:

• Endeavour Centre (cnr Endeavour and Banks Ave)
• Whitford Business Centre (Mitre 10, Better Pets, Auto Masters, Supercheap Auto)
• Endeavour Childcare and Whitford Family Centre

In the most recent contact with the school, one of the businesses in the centre across the road advised that they had to deal with a cancelled afternoon appointment as an elderly couple could not access parking in the Business Centre parking lot. Upon further inspection, it was found that approximately 70% of the car parks were being utilised by St Mark’s parents collecting their children from school.

While I understand the convenience of parking there, I ask that you do not utilise the car parks in any of the centres surrounding St Mark’s as the School does not want to tarnish the relationships we have with the local business community.

Our school community benefits from strong relationships with the business community, and compromising this relationship may result in the loss of benefits such as the use of the Muzz Buzz carpark for Year 12 students and as an overflow for major organised events, plus the multitude of hands-on educational opportunities that arise from the positive relationships we have established over many years.

If we cannot gain the support required to respect the business community’s parking spaces, the City of Joondalup Rangers may intervene in the area at critical times of the day.

As a St Mark’s community, it is our responsibility to foster our positive relationship with Westfield and the Scentre Group for the benefit of our students. In addition, we must always be respectful of our near neighbours and not intrude on their amenity by parking on their verges and in their driveways.

Thank you for your support in this matter. I hope that you and your family have a blessed Easter break.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Steven Davies
Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians

I write to inform you of a revision we have made to our Mobile Phone Policy in the Secondary School (Middle and Senior Schools).

In 2023, Dr Mark Williams, an internationally recognised professor of cognitive neuroscience, spoke to our School community regarding the impact of mobile devices on people. Dr Williams shared that simply being ‘on’ a device increases stress levels. Research shows that even having a device close to us subconsciously attracts our attention. The proximity of the student's phone to them draws their attention away from their learning and greatly impacts their engagement.

To foster a learning environment in which our students are engaged with their learning at an optimal level we are introducing a revised policy on mobile phone usage for students in Years 6 to 12.

Effective from the start of Term 2 this year, mobile phones will be prohibited in all classes. This measure eliminates distractions and enhances students’ focus on their studies. Students must leave their phones in their secured lockers from 8:00am to 3:25pm throughout the school day. The ‘safe zone’ at Senior School Reception for mobile phone use in the Senior School will continue for Years 9 to 12. If Middle School students need to contact their parents, they can proceed to Middle School Reception where they will be assisted in making the phone call. Mobile phones can no longer be used for payment in the School Cafeteria. Instead, students can purchase food using a SmartRider or EFTPOS card. We ask School families to use the time from now to the beginning of Term 2 to arrange for their child to have a SmartRider or alternative card for purchasing food in the Cafeteria.

If a student has a phone in their possession during the school day it will be confiscated, and the student will have to visit the appropriate Reception at the end of the day to collect it. This policy applies to all students equally, ensuring a fair and consistent approach. On any subsequent breach of the school policy regarding mobile phones, students will have their phones confiscated, and further consequences will apply.

We intend to ensure that students are fully engaged in their classroom learning and that they interact with each other during break times to strengthen personal relationships and social skills. Mobile phone distractions seriously impact students' ability to learn and focus. We thank you in advance for your support in enforcing this revised policy.

Yours sincerely

Mr Steven Davies

On Tuesday, 7 May, we will hold Parent-Teacher Interviews for Years 7 to 9. In light of this, all Secondary students will be dismissed early from School on this day at 1pm.

We are offering face-to-face and online interviews. You can have an online interview from 1:30 pm to 3:35 pm and a face-to-face one from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The portal for requesting an interview will open on Friday 19^th April. You will receive an email from the school regarding registering for an interview. You will nominate the type of interview you would like and a preferred time. The system will allocate you a time. However, we cannot guarantee you will get the requested time. The nomination portal will close on Tuesday of Week 3, and you will receive an email by Friday of that week with your assigned time and a Teams link for an online interview if required.

We only provide interviews for Mathematics, English, Science, HaSS and Language subjects, and there are limited places. If you cannot secure an interview on the day, please get in touch with your child’s teacher directly to arrange a time to discuss their progress.

K-12 students will participate in various events to celebrate St Mark's Day on Wednesday 24 April.

Last day of Term 1 is Thursday 28 March (normal finish time) for a two week break. First day of Term 2 is Tuesday 16 April. Please note that students are to wear winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3 (please see Uniform Shop article below for opening times).

For information, the 2025 term dates are now available on the St Mark's website here.

Please see the link below regarding information received from the Premier of Western Australia and Minster of Education, regarding the new WA Student Assistant payment.

WA Student Assistant Payment

In addition, you may also locate the student WASN information on your child's Report, or students are able to access this through the SEQTA Engage plash page (bottom left hand corner under the student name and after "//").

St Marks has been provided with the new Australia Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sports. The safety and well-being of our students is paramount, and these guidelines aim to ensure prompt and appropriate action in the event of a concussion.

The mantra for these guidelines is simple: “If in doubt, sit them out”. This means that if there is any suspicion of concussion during school activities and after school activities, it is imperative to remove the student from play and seek appropriate medical attention.

Furthermore, we kindly request that parents notify our school nurse if a child has a sustained concussion outside of school hours. Please find attached the link to the guidelines for review and understanding.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to the safety of our students.

The Year 8 Extension class is writing poetry about “Walking in the Footsteps” by others. As such, we would like volunteers from our school community to share their experiences regarding their journey to Australia.

Students would like to delve into the reasons why this country was chosen, why they left their country of origin, their experience when they first arrived, what they miss from their country of origin, whether it was how they thought it would be, and whether they experienced any negatives along with the positives.

We would love to see photos or documents that reflect their journey and their history.

Our participants would need to be available on Monday 29 April from 9.50am to 10.40am at St Mark's.

We value you and the stories you have to share as part of the St Mark’s Community.

Please register your interest before the end of Term 1, or for further information, please contact Mrs McGibbbon, at pmcgibbon@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

Please note that Parent Commitment Hours can be obtained by volunteering your time to speak to our students.

You may have noticed that during Term 1, we have been making changes to the frequency and content of both The Lion's Roar and the Weekly Sub-School Bulletins.

As a reminder:

The Lion's Roar will be published three times per term on a Wednesday, in Weeks 1, 5 and 9. The content will continue to include our favourite section, 'St Mark's Stars', but will also feature a poignant message from the Principal or Heads of School as well as stories and articles gathered from around the School. Think of it as an extension of the school's social media platforms and a way to showcase the opportunities and activities in which our students are immersed.

The Weekly Sub-School Bulletins will continue to be sent weekly but will include the additional reminders and notices that would normally be in The Lion's Roar and often repeated in the Bulletin.

During Term 1, the distribution method for The Lion's Roar and the Bulletins will remain the same: via SEQTA email and an alert on the School App. However, past copies of the 2024 Bulletins will also be available on the School's Website. These are available through the link that will be sent weekly to view the current issue. Please note that these landing pages for the Bulletins are not freely accessible to the public and require the correct link to view.

ADDITIONAL CHANGES FROM TERM 2

Please note that from the beginning of Term 2, the Weekly Bulletin will no longer be sent via SEQTA email; you will be able to access it only through the School App. Please ensure you have downloaded the App to your device and set your preferences.

Please continue to send your stories and St Mark's Stars to newsletters@stmarks.wa.edu.au

A short reminder that next term, our Winter Uniform guidelines are in place.

Below are the uniform shop extended opening hours for the upcoming Easter 2024 holidays.

Also a reminder that from the start of Term 2 2024 the trading hours during term will be:

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

K-12 School photos will take place during Term 2, Week 3.

Photo order forms were sent home with students during the first week of Term 2. These forms are to be completed and returned to your child’s class teacher/PCG tutor as soon as possible.

Please also take a look at the following flyer, which contains more detailed information: 2024 Photo Day flyer

Please view the Photo Day Schedule here.

Students must wear the formal winter uniform for school photos.

Calling all Old Scholars who have children currently attending St Mark's ...

We will hold our annual Old Scholar Generations photo on Tuesday, 30 April 2024, at 7.45am. If you and your child/ren would like to be included in our Old Scholar Generations Photo, please book your spot by clicking the link at the bottom.

We will be hosting a light breakfast catch-up in the Quad from 7.00am - 7.45am.

Please note that students will be required to wear formal winter uniforms.

Date: Tuesday 30 April 2024

Time:

• 7.00am for light breakfast and catch-up
• 7.45am for 8.00am for the Generational Photo

Venue: St Mark's Anglican Community School Hall

Please note that we will have a videographer filming the morning to capture footage of our wonderful Old Scholars and their families to promote the Old Scholars' Association.

Book your spot here.

“SAVE THE DATE” for the Secondary School Eisteddfod, Week 6, Sunday 26 May from 2pm onwards. Open to all music students from Year 6-12 who learn an instrument at school or privately. You can enter either as a soloist or as part of a small ensemble. More information to come!

Please find below the Easter Service times for Kallaroo and Whitfords Anglican Church

Kallaroo Anglican Church

Good Friday 9:30am

Easter Day 9:30am & 5pm

Whitfords Anglican Church

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES

Sun 24^th 09:00 SUNDAY OF THE PASSION

Mon 25^th 19:00 STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Tue 26^th 19:00 TENEBRAE

Thu 28^th 19:00 MAUNDY THURSDAY

Fri 29^th 09:00 VENERATION OF THE CROSS

Fri 29^th 11:00 GOOD FRIDAY

Sat 30^th 19:00 EASTER VIGIL

Sun 31^st 09:00 EASTER DAY

Calling all artists and creatives! Entries are now open to take part in the 2024 Community Art Exhibition which includes a Student Award for students in Year 8 – 12.

City of Joondalup residents or members of local art groups are invited to submit an artwork to be exhibited publicly at Lakeside Joondalup from 27 May - 16 June. All entered artworks will be considered for a prize pool worth over $8,000!

All entries must be submitted by midday on Monday 15 April - so time to get cracking on your artwork!

Find out more at https://ow.ly/wOvQ50QJHHN