Senior School Bulletin - Term 2, Week 3

Please find below a copy of letters sent out last week via SEQTA Email from the Head of Senior School.

Letter from Ms Nebel

Additional Information for Year 11s

Additional Information for Year 12s

On Tuesday, 7 May, we will hold Parent-Teacher Interviews for Years 7 to 9. In light of this, all Secondary students (Years 6 to 12) will be dismissed early from School on this day at 1pm.

On Tuesday 14 May the Year 9s will be listening to a presentation and will be invited to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. The Duke of Ed, as it is fondly referred to, is a global framework for non-formal education, which challenges young people to dream big, celebrate their achievements and make a difference in their world.

Through developing transferable skills, increasing their fitness levels, cultivating a sense of adventure and volunteering in their community, the Award helps young people to find their purpose, passion and place in the world. It operates in more than 130 countries and territories, helping to inspire millions of young people. St Mark’s has been proudly helping young adults achieve their goals and awards for a number of years. In 2022 we celebrated our first Gold Award presented by the Governor of WA, and currently have 3 more students working at this highest level.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is open to all students aged 13 ¾ -24 years!

Awards will gain WACE points for students, can be used for ECU Portfolio entry, and look great on a CV, especially with DOE preferred employers.

Awards are achieved by completing hours in the 3 areas of: SKILLS, PHYSICAL RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. Added to this you complete an ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY such as Outdoor Ed camp.

More information can be found from Awards WA here or please contact Jane Upson, who is the St Mark’s Award Leader on jupson@stmarks.wa.edu.au

To register go to: https://www.onlinerecordbook.org/

When registering as a Participant, please select the Country as Australia, Operating Authority: Western Australia, Sub Operating Authority: Western Australia Award Centre, and Award Centre: St Mark’s. Award Leader: jupson@stmarks.wa.edu.au then select the level: Bronze.

Register with your childs student school email as the primary and a home or parent email as secondary.

I look forward to working with the students on their journey,

Mrs Jane Upson
Award Leader

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 You Can Support Your Child During Exams - 5th June 6:30pm

Ask me Anything (Live Q&A) - 19th June 6:30pm

Register today at: elevate education

Harnessing Neuroplasticity: Unlocking Your Brain's Potential

Have you ever wondered how your brain adapts and evolves in response to your experiences and environment? Welcome to the fascinating world of neuroplasticity – the brain's remarkable ability to form and reorganize connections, particularly through learning and experience.

Here's what the latest brain science tells us about neuroplasticity and its implications for your learning journey:

Dynamic Brain Growth: Your brain is not a static organ; it's a dynamic powerhouse that constantly evolves based on your experiences and surroundings. Every interaction, every lesson learned, and every challenge overcome shapes the structure and function of your brain.

Use It or Lose It: Just like a muscle, your brain requires regular exercise to stay strong and healthy. If you neglect certain skills or cognitive abilities, your brain may "prune" those neural connections, leading to a decline in proficiency. In other words, if you don't use it, you might lose it.

The Power of Brain Rewiring: The exciting news is that you have the power to "rewire" your brain to enhance your abilities and intelligence. By engaging in targeted activities and deliberate practice, you can strengthen neural pathways associated with specific skills and knowledge.

But what does this mean for you in practical terms?Here are some actionable strategies to leverage neuroplasticity and maximize your learning potential:

1. Commit to Short, Regular Practice Sessions: Consistency is key when it comes to brain training. Instead of marathon study sessions, aim for shorter, focused practice sessions spread out over time. This approach not only prevents burnout but also allows for better retention and skill development.

1. Ensure Correct Practice: Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. When you're practicing, pay attention to the quality of your efforts. Focus on precision and accuracy, and seek feedback to ensure you're on the right track.
2. Embrace Intense Practice Sessions: Intensity breeds progress. Rather than passively going through the motions, challenge yourself with intense practice sessions that push your limits. Pushing beyond your comfort zone stimulates neural growth and accelerates skill acquisition.
3. Create a Mimicked Environment: Context matters. Whenever possible, practice in environments that mimic the conditions in which you'll need to perform. Whether it's a quiet library for studying or a simulated exam setting, familiarizing yourself with the context can enhance your performance when it counts.

By incorporating these strategies into your study routine, you can harness the power of neuroplasticity to achieve your academic goals and unlock your full potential.

Remember, your brain is a remarkable organ capable of extraordinary growth and adaptation. With the right mindset and approach, you can cultivate a learning environment that nurtures your cognitive abilities and fuels your success.

St Mark's is again looking for volunteers to assist with supervision for the upcoming Year 11 exams from Tuesday 29 October to Friday 8 November.

Sessions are broken up into two time slots, morning (08:00am to 12:00pm) and afternoon (1:00pm to 4:30pm).

Please sign up here. Please only choose 1 session time per family to allow all families a chance at helping.

The St Marks Busy Bee is scheduled for 11th May - 8.30am to 12.00pm.

This event is a great opportunity to bring our community together to support the school, and will be followed by a sausage sizzle.

Please bring your own tools on the day, including:

- paint brushes and containers for paint

- wheelbarrows

- shovels, forks and spades

- cleaning products, sponges, buckets and squeegees.

Please meet at the Quadrangle at 0830 and don't forget to bring gloves, hats and water bottles

Parent commitment hours are available for families that attend or for those wishing to provide food/drink donations for the event.

Please email busybee@stmarks.wa.edu.au if you are able to attend or have food/drink donations for the day.

P&F Committee

The St Mark’s and Sacred Heart College Career Expo is scheduled for Wednesday 8 May 2024, 6-8pm at Sacred Heart College. Students in years 10,11 and 12 are highly encouraged to attend with their families to explore a variety of career, tertiary, VET and post school pathways.

The event was extremely busy last year and we require attendees to book tickets to ensure we don't exceed the maximum capacity of the venue.

Please ‘register’ for this free event, noting the following information

Click on the link to book tickets 2024 St Marks Career Expo

The SEQTA Engage App now allows parents to notify the school of their child's absence. We encourage all families to use this method for reporting if your child is late, leaving early, or absent for a day. For absences longer than 3 days, please email using the absentee email address.

To enter your child's absences into SEQTA Engage, simply log in as usual, and you'll see a new tab called Absence at the top of the Welcome panel. Remember to include your name and reason for absences in the comment section.

Thank you for your support!

With Term 2 now underway, we thought it was timely to remind our families to be neighbourly when parking around the School and also adhere to the Kiss n Drive rules.

• Please note that both Whitfords Avenue and Endeavour Road are school zones, so the speed limit is 40km/h during school hours.
• Drive carefully and be alert for pedestrians.
  Please do not park in neighbouring business' parking bays, including the commercial complex directly next door (which includes AutoMasters and Better Pets), the Endeavour Business Centre across the road, Endeavour Child Care and the Whitfords Family Centre. The bays in these facilities are set aside for their customers.
• Older students with P-plates/Drivers licences should park across the road near Muzz Buzz
• Remind your children to cross at points where Traffic Wardens are in operation.
• Please drive with caution, as there will be lots of excited children making their way to school.
• Please do not double park at any location, including (but not limited to): Kiss ‘n Drive points, St Marks Drive, School parking areas, 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.
• 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.

Thank you all so much for your assistance!

We have seen an increase in the number of students presenting to the Wellness Centre with COVID / Cold and Flu symptoms, so please keep your child at home if they are sick.

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, or COVID 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.

Unfortunately, there are still lots of other viruses in the community, and we need to protect our staff and students.

If your child is sick with any illness, please keep them at home.

Thank you for your understanding.

Wellness Centre Team