Principal's News

This week we welcomed Crystal Saggers to our school. She will join our team of amazing LSOs and will be working three days a week supporting our students across all levels of the school. We look forward to working with Crystal and having her as a member of the St Mark's team.

We had a wonderful turn out at our swimming trials last week and the St Mark's swimming team was hard at work this morning training for the district swimming competition next week. We wish them all the very best at the comp next week.

Our teachers have spent the last two afternoons meeting with parents and students to share assessment data and set goals for the children to start the year as well as finding out a bit about them and their families. It is such a great way to get to know families and build a positive relationship where we can work together to support great learning and positive growth for our children.

Wominjeka - Welcome Picnic:

We look forward to seeing you all at the Welcome (Wominjeka) Picnic next week on Tuesday evening from 5.30 - 7.30 p.m. There will be some great entertainment for the children and some yummy sausages and zooper doopers to buy for donner or you can bring your own picnic dinner. Don't forget to bring your picnic rug or chairs.

School Closure Day:

Please remember that on Wednesday 26th February there is no school for students. Team Kids will be running a program for the day for those families who need care for their children. St Mark's staff will be working at school for the day to analyse our school data and set goals and actions for the year, inline with our School Improvement Plan. We will create our Annual Action Plan and an implementation guide to ensure we are implementing best practice strategies and providing our students with the best possible learning opportunities we can provide.

School Tours:

Our first school tour for 2025 will take place on Thursday 27th February at 9.15 a.m.

If you know anyone who is interested in sending their child to St Mark's in 2026 please share the following dates with them so they can book in for a school tour. Bookings are essential as places are filling fast. 

Thursday 27th February 9.15 a.m.

Tuesday 11th March 9.15 a.m.

Friday 14th March 12.15 p.m.

Thursday 20th March 9.15 a.m.

Tuesday 25th March 7.00 p.m.

Thursday 27th March 9.15 a.m.

Thursday 24th April 9.15 a.m.

Tuesday 29th April 9.15 a.m.

Supporting Heartkids at St Mark's 

Please see the lovely message from our wonderful STEM/Kitchen Garden teacher - Mrs Siegert: 

Last Wednesday, our school came together to raise awareness and funds for Heartkids, a charity that supports children born with congenital heart defects and disease. Every day in Australia, eight babies are born with a heart condition, and sadly, congenital heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Australian infants.

At St Mark’s, this cause is especially close to our hearts, with five students at our school living with a heart condition. It’s also deeply personal for me, as my own son, Harry, was born with a serious heart defect and underwent life-saving heart surgery at just four days old.

To show our support, we held a morning tea for staff and sold cookies, with all proceeds going to Heartkids. Thanks to the generosity of our school community, we raised an incredible $507 during Heartkids' Sweethearts Month.

We were overwhelmed by the support, and I apologise that we sold out so quickly! I promise to order more next year and will continue to raise awareness for this important cause – one that is truly close to my heart.

Thank you to everyone who contributed – your kindness is making a real difference. ❤️

Mrs Tammie Siegert.

Sports Uniform:

Over the next couple of years we will be phasing out the solid green sports polos and only having one sports top for all levels. The sports top that all students will wear is the polo top with the St Mark's lion on it, that the 5/6 students currently wear for interschool sport. We were finding that for some sporting events the 3/4 children also needed to wear the "interschool sport top" and they did not have it and it is also an additional expense for our Year 5/6 families that is not necessary - one sport top is plenty. Both the current green sports polos and the St Mark's lion sports polo are acceptable wear for PE days for all students. Year 5/6 students are still required to wear the St Mark's lion interschool sports top on interschool sport days. Once we are further underway with the roll out of the  new sports top we will set a date where students can no longer wear the green polo - but that will be quite some time away so please do not worry.