Senior School Bulletin - Term 4, Week 5

Monday 11 November is a scheduled Student Free Day as it is a Curriculum Planning Day for staff.

Parents will need to make alternative arrangements for the care of their child/children on this day.

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.

The Year 10 Business, Management, and Marketing class at St Mark’s has created two exclusive calendars featuring stunning artwork from our talented Photo and Digital Design students. These calendars are not just beautiful; they represent a collaborative effort that enhances essential 21st-century employability skills.

By purchasing these calendars, you’re not only getting a piece of art but also supporting the growth of our students in areas like digital literacy, creativity, and teamwork. Each calendar showcases the creativity and hard work of our students, making them perfect for your home or office.

Why Buy?

• Unique Designs: Each calendar features original student work, ensuring a one-of-a-kind product.
• Skill Development: Your purchase supports students in developing vital skills for their future careers.
• Community Spirit: Join us in celebrating the talent within the St Mark’s community!

Help us make this project a success while enjoying beautiful art all year round. Get your calendars today and support our students!

CALENDAR DETAILS

• Calendar 1 - St Mark's Seasons Team
  
  • The St Mark's Seasons Calendar uses photos from all four seasons of the year throughout the calendar. It showcases student photography work in each month of the year. It shows all school events and public holidays.
  • Profits from purchasing the Seasons Calendar will be donated to Beyond Blue.
    Beyond Blue is a charity that supports people with mental health issues by providing counsellors or just people to talk to. By buying these calendars, you will be able to help pay counsellors for their work and expand the charity to help more people.
    

• Calendar 2 - St Mark's Timeless Moments Team
  • The St Mark's Timeless Moments Calendar uses photos showcasing the opportunities the students are given at St Mark’s.
  • Profits from purchasing the Nature Calendar will be donated to the Cancer Council.
    Cancer Council is a charity that supports all West Australians affected by cancer. They are passionate about reducing the incidence and impact of cancer and working towards a cancer-free future by funding world-class cancer research, providing services for cancer patients and their carers, educating the community on how to reduce the risk of cancer, and training health professionals.

PURCHASE YOUR CALENDAR HERE

Collection of Purchased Calendars

Please note that purchasers will be notified of collection details once the calendars are printed.

We will release more images of the calendars as they come to hand.

Don't forget that Tuesday 12 November 2024 is a Student Free Day for Year 11 students ONLY.

If you are still chasing those Parent Commitment Hours we are in need of EIGHT parent volunteers to help with cooking a sausage sizzle. Details are below:

• When: Monday 25 November - House Harmonies
• What: Cooking Sausage Sizzle for 600 people
• When: 11.00 am – 2.30 pm
• Where: Outside the PAV

Book your spot here.

Despite governments globally moving towards raising the minimum age for social media access due to mounting concerns about the negative effects on youth mental health and wellbeing, there's now an even newer challenge on the horizon - the rise of romantic and companion AI bots. These virtual companions are becoming increasingly popular with young people, raising serious questions about privacy, ethics, and the future of relationships in the digital age.

The rise of AI-powered relationships is offering a new frontier in human interaction. Initially emerging in the gaming world, AI companionship has evolved into mainstream culture, with apps providing personalised experiences that range from platonic friendships to romantic encounters. These interactions can blur the boundaries between real and virtual relationships, creating confusion and potential psychological harm.

Criminologists warn that children as young as 12 are accessing dating apps, often bypassing age restrictions, exposing them to sexual content and predatory behaviour. Researchers have also found that many adolescents are turning to virtual partners for validation, risking unhealthy emotional attachments that can affect real-life relationships.

As AI reshapes social dynamics, it's crucial to stay informed and engaged. While AI can enhance education and creativity, it also presents challenges around privacy, mental health, and misinformation.

This Special Report will help you foster an open dialogue and balanced approach to help young people navigate this evolving digital landscape.

Click here to access our Special Report

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.

Hear expert advice on the following topics:

How to Help Your Child Manage Their Time - 30th October 6:30pm (AEDT)

How You Can Help Your Child Alleviate Stress - 13th November 6:30pm (AEDT)

How You Can Build Resilience in Your Child - 27th November 6:30pm (AEDT)

How You Can Set Your Child Up for Success -11th December 6:30pm (AEDT

Register Today

Interested in starting an instrument? Studies show that playing a musical instrument lowers stress and increases well-being – why not start something new next term and enrol online? Our Instrumental Music Handbook contains all the instruments we have on offer and lots of other useful information. Current 2024 instrumental enrolments are ongoing unless a withdrawal form is lodged at least 2 weeks prior to the end of term.

If you would like to withdraw from instrumental lessons for Term 1 2025, please complete the online withdrawal form before your tutor’s withdrawal deadline of Friday 22 November 2024. After this deadline, another term of music lessons will be charged for before the withdrawal can take effect.

Any questions please contact the Arts Administrator - Jaina van Reyk

Please find below the current Parent Commitment Hour reports logged up to 28 October 2024. To check your individual log, you will need your family code, as shown on your St Mark's account statements.

• Parent Commitment Hours Summary
• Parent Commitment Hours Detailed
• Parent Commitment Hours Analysis

Please contact the P&F's Community Participation Coordinator, at parentcommitment@stmarks.wa.edu.au if you have any questions regarding the Program.

We are excited to announce that we are currently seeking expressions of interest from stallholders for our upcoming School Fete on Saturday 29 March 2025! This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses, food trucks, and sporting clubs to showcase their offerings and engage with the community.

Call for Stallholders

We invite:

• Local Businesses: Showcase your products and services to a vibrant audience.
• Food Trucks: Bring your culinary delights and satisfy the appetites of our guests.
• Local Sporting Clubs: Promote your club and engage with potential new members.

Important Details

• Applications Close: 21 February 2025
• Contact Information: For an application form or more details, please reach out to Poppy, our P&F Fete Coordinator, at events.pf@stmarks.wa.edu.au.

This is a wonderful chance to connect with the community, promote your business, and be part of a fun-filled day.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Hillarys Primary School is celebrating our 50-year history and looking forward to an exciting future with our brand new school! To celebrate this milestone, we are pleased to offer families and school community members the opportunity to have your full name, or family name and the years you were at the school engraved on a brick paver. These bricks will be used to create a new paved area near the library and administration buildings. This is a great opportunity for past and present staff and families to leave their mark at the school for many generations to come.

Please join us in ordering a custom personalised brick paver to be a part of our new school!

Please go to the following website to place your order HERE.

A single brick is $40. Each brick has up to three lines (max 16 letters per line including spaces, No Graphic or Emojis).

Once you have placed your order, you will receive the payment details to pay for your brick.

There are two methods to pay:

1. Through Flexischools (please choose the earliest date so we can process your order)

OR

2. Bank transfer to the P & C account (details will be sent to you)

*Please include your order number and family name when you make your purchase*

Once you have paid, please forward your receipt as proof of purchase to the P and C email Hillarys.pandc@gmail.com

These bricks will be installed sometime early in 2025. The students will have a great time going on a brick hunt to find their brick!

Thank you for your continued support of our school!

The P & C from Hillarys Primary School