Dear families,

Welcome to Term 4 everyone. I hope all families were able to enjoy the school holidays and spend some quality time with your children. A big congratulations to all the Brisbane supporters on another Premiership in the AFL Grand Final.

As we move into a very busy Term 4, I encourage everyone to take advantage of the many school events and learning opportunities on offer to ensure the term is a successful one for all at St Mark’s. An extensive list of upcoming events is listed in the Dates to Remember page of this newsletter. I look forward to a productive term of learning and growing together.

It’s hard to believe it’s that time of the year when we welcome the Preps for 2027. Next Tuesday our 2027 Preps will begin their Steps2Prep program. We look forward to welcoming these children and their families to the St Mark’s community.

Steps2Prep program

Session 1: Tuesday 13th October 2:00 – 3:20pm

Session 2: Tuesday 20th October 2:00 – 3:20pm

Session 3: Tuesday 27th October 2:00 – 3:20pm

Session 4: Tuesday 10th November 2:00 – 3:20pm

Parents are welcome to spend time in our Family Lounge while children participate in ‘Steps 2 Prep’. School Leaders will be in attendance to answer questions.

Parents of children who attend Fawkner Kindergarten on Tuesday afternoons will have the option to allow Kindergarten staff to walk the children through the school Hall to attend Steps2Prep each Tuesday afternoon. The Kindergarten will provide a Permission Slip to those families.

Orientation morning

Session 1: Tuesday 17th November 9:00 –10:45 am

Session 2: Tuesday 24th November 9:00 –10:45 am

It is important that all the children and at least one parent attend both the Orientation sessions.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS) - Family participation in MACSSIS over the past few years

Year	Survey respondents
2023	19
2024	37
2025	47
2026	40

Thank you so much to the families who completed the survey this year and we are very grateful. The MACSSIS data benefits everyone within our school and provides valuable community insights on areas that we can focus on. We thank you for taking the opportunity to have a voice and contribute to shaping the ongoing improvement of the school.

Term 4 Summer Uniform - All students are to wear Summer Uniform from the start of next week, Monday October 12th. Please see below the Summer Uniform items. Don't forget the approved St Mark's blue school hat with logo! It has been great to see so many students demonstrating sun safe practices by wearing their hats already!

Uniform items and pricelist

Click here for click and collect, delivery or instore

Planning for 2027 - in a few weeks we will begin the process of developing class groupings for 2027. We need to know if any students (other than Gr6's ) will be leaving St Mark's at the end of 2026. If your child will not be returning to St Mark's in 2027 can you please inform me in writing at principal@smfawkner.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible.

Family holidays and students' extended absences

The Attendance Policy and guidelines for MACS Schools outlines that family holidays and extended absences during school term dates require Principals approval. Parents and Carers are encouraged to plan holidays for students during school holiday periods and pupil free days. However, if your child/ren will be away from school for an extended period of time, please email their teacher, together with Ms Claire White - Acting Principal (principal@smfawkner.catholic.edu.au) in advance, for these days away from school to be considered an approved absence.

Dropping off items at school

There are times when the students forget things at home (brain food, a drink bottle, library books or lunch) or they get left in the car after drop off. If this happens, parents are asked to come to the Office and drop them off there rather than entering the building and going to the classrooms themselves if it is after 9:00am. An unexpected visitor to the classrooms is often disruptive to the teaching and the flow of learning for the students. Office staff or a member of the Leadership Team will pass any items on to the students at the classrooms and learning areas. We appreciate your understanding with this.

Safety reminder

A reminder to parents, guardians and supervising adults to not encourage or allow the children to press the door release button at the double door when exiting the main building. Staff can press the button from the Office counter on behalf of the students and adults must be the only ones using this button. This is a procedure that we have in place to keep all of out students and family members safe.

Assemblies - Assemblies in Term 4 are at 9:00am where we acknowledge the Learners of the Week and student Birthdays. All details are included on the Dates to Remember page, including our Advent Liturgies in December. Families are invited and encouraged to attend our weekly assembly to support the children, and engage in the wonderful learning that happens here.

Dates to Remember - all the the Term Dates and School Closure days have been published on the Dates to Remember page since the start of the year. Add these to your diary! The events and special days for Term 4 have been added. These are added to and updated each fortnight.

Save the Date! - St Mark's Art Show - only two weeks away on Thursday October 22nd.

Erin B, our Visual Art teacher and her Art Show Committee have some great things planned for 2026!

From 3:30pm onwards, beginning with a Family Picnic and BBQ organised by the KidsMatter Team.

Art Show opens at 4:00pm in the St Mark's Hall

Silent Auctions, door prizes, musical perfomances and plenty of creativity on show!

Parents will be expected to collect and supervise their children from the end of the school day onwards at 3:30pm, during the family picnic and Art Show.

All students in attendance must have a supervising adult with them.

Staff leave updates and arrangements -Mrs Daniela Lazzaro will be taking Long Service Leave for in Term 4, from Weeks 3-7. Mrs Barbanera will teach LA7 on a Monday and one of our regular Relief teachers will cover the Fridays. Our PE Specialist Program will be covered by some of our exisiting Part Time staff members.

Coming up - School closure day

Monday 2nd November

OSHC available

Guinea Pig care over the holidays - thankyou to Felix (LA4), and Ada and Evelyn (LA1) for taking such great care of Oreo and Lulu. They have returned looking very healthy and happy!

Ms Claire White - Acting Principal and Learning & Teaching/Literacy Leader

claire.white@smfawkner.catholic.edu.au

‘The St Mark’s Catholic Primary School, Fawkner Community promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children.’

St Mark’s Catholic Primary School respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, learn, work and play. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Playgroup