Principal's News

Thank-you to all those families and staff who were able to join us for our Welcome Picnic last Thursday. Thanks also to the Parents' Association and their helpers for cooking some very scrumptious sausages and for keeping us all fed and watered. It was a great opportunity for us all to enjoy some relaxing time together, chatting and enjoying the wonderful community of St Mark's school. Thanks to those who were able to stay back a little and help with the pack up. The saying, 'Many hands make light work' - was certainly very evident on Thursday evening.

Special thanks goes to Team Kids who very kindly donated the sausages for the event. 

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students have now completed their NAPLAN testing for 2024. We usually have to wait quite some time before we receive the results of these assessment tasks. Once we receive the results we will send them out to the parents of the children who undertook the testing. We use these results to give us some big picture data about how our school is faring in comparison to like schools as well as some individual assessment data on our children that we can use to triangulate the data we already have about each child. 

Mr Davies and the 3/4 teachers lead us beautifully on Tuesday evening at our Sacrament of Reconciliation Information Night for parents and students. Thanks to all those who were involved in the evening, supporting their children's faith journey.

Thanks also to Mr Davies and all the students involved in organising and celebrating "Harmony Day" at St Mark's. It was a wonderful celebration and a beautiful liturgy.

Please join us for our Holy Week Liturgy on Thursday 28th March at 12.45 p.m.

This is our last newsletter for the term so I hope everyone enjoys a safe and holy Easter and can find some time to participate in the St Mark's Easter and Holy Week Liturgies. Please see the R.E. News page in the newsletter for all the dates and times of our Parish celebrations over the Holy Week and Easter period.

Parents' Association Positions for 2024:

We held the AGM of our Parents' Association group on Tuesday this week and I am pleased to announce our office bearers for 2024 are:

President: Frank D

Vice President: Cassie M

Secretary: Ros C

Treasurer: Joanne  P

Enormous thanks to our office bearers and all those who came to our AGM and have shown interest in supporting their child's education by being part of the Parents' Association. It is greatly appreciated.

Please remember to donate an Easter egg or bunny to your child's class for their Easter Raffle prize and to buy some hot cross buns.

PLEASE REMEMBER:

SCHOOL FINISHES AT 1.30 P.M. ON THURSDAY 28TH OF MARCH FOR THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.

TERM 2 STARTS ON TUESDAY 16TH APRIL

Monday 15th April is a school closure day. The staff will be onsite undertaking Professional Learning to become part of the FIRE Carrier Program. FIRE stands for: Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. We will share more about this program with you in Term 2 and beyond.

Congratulations:

Congratulations to Marc and Jeremy Cheung who were baptised last weekend. We look forward to celebrating the Sacraments with you as you continue your faith journey at St Mark's.

Complaints from the Neighbours:

I have had some complaints of late from the residents in Rhoda St, that I need to bring to the attention of our community. Can I please ask that you never park across the driveway of any of our neighbours, regardless of whether you are staying in your car or not. It is illegal to stop or park across another person's driveway. There has also been some rubbish dropped out of cars parked in Rhoda St, whilst they have been waiting to pick up children. Again can I please ask that we respect the environment and our neighbours and always place rubbish in a rubbish bin or take it home with you.

St Patrick's Day Mass at the Cathedral:

Mr Davies and Stella accompanied 10 of our Year 6 leaders to St Patrick's Cathedral on the 15th March to celebrate Catholic Education week. We were lucky enough to be asked to carry the banner for schools who were celebrating their 50th Anniversary (as we are) and Isobel, one of our school captains was also chosen to read one of the prayers of intercession. It was a lovely occasion and our children were lucky enough to get a photo with the Arch Bishop.

Salesian College  - Public Speaking and Debating Workshop:

On Wednesday, twenty-one Year 6 School Leaders attended Salesian College, Chadstone to develop their knowledge and skills in public speaking and debating. The day, run by a selection of Salesian students, under the guidance of their teachers, took students from five different schools through the different aspects of public speaking and debating. 

The day was split into three different sections; introduction to debating and writing a speech, rebuttal and counter arguments and finally presenting to a crowd. Built within these sessions, students learnt how to put into practice the skills they have developed throughout their writing tasks of persuasive texts. All students based their debates around two different topics; we regret the rise of social media, and participation awards should not be awarded. 

By far the most engaging session was the presentation session. This topic showed students the importance of language, tone, volume, stance and body language when presenting. The students were given some tips and tricks to ensure that when they are presenting, they keep the attention of their audience; a lesson that will be helpful when they present to their peers or lead assembly. 

Although the day was aimed around public speaking and debating, the students were able to see different areas of the school and have a lunch time rock concert performed by the Year 10 Intermediate band. This show got all the students dancing or head-bobbing. 

Each student gained valuable knowledge and insight into being a better presenter through this session. We thank Salesian College, Chadstone for their hospitality. 

Kieran McGuinness

5/6 Teacher

Stand Up Project (SUP) - from our SUP Leaders:

Watch this space for more informative updates in Term 2.

School Tour Dates:

Please share our school tour dates with family and friends who have a child starting school next year. If any of our current families have a child starting school in 2025 please fill in an enrolment application form by 24th May 2024.

Holiday Play Therapy Sessions:

With the Easter break around the corner, we are reaching out to let you know about our Group Play Therapy Holiday Programs running this April. 

We are offering an intensive group play therapy program for children and an intensive group play therapy program for families (parent-child pairs) from Monday 8th of April - Friday 12th of April (5 x 1-hour sessions) at both our Malvern East and Balwyn North clinics.

Based on Integrative Play Therapy approaches, our therapists facilitate tailored and unstructured therapy groups to meet the unique needs of all families attending. Each group has a maximum of 6 children, or 6 parent-child pairs, along with three therapists. 

The groups are thoughtfully designed to include children and families with a range of presenting needs and goals. This 'mix' of group members gives children and parents/carers the opportunity to experience therapeutic benefits from supported 'peer modelling' - that is, the opportunity to spend time with, and around, others who may have varying and unique strengths and difficulties. This allows children and parents to gain from time with peers and with play therapists.

If you are interested, please get in touch with us by phone or email to secure your spot or to ask any questions you may have.

Warmly,

Felicity Odgers

Practice contact number: 0478 389 793

Practice email: admin@playroomtherapy.com.au

Locations: 101 Doncaster Road, Balwyn North / 91 Waverley Road, Malvern East

Website: www.playroomtherapy.com.au

Second Hand Uniform:

Second hand uniform is available from the office at any time. If you are in need of some extra items of uniform please don't hesitate to come to the school office and see what we have in stock. We also welcome donations of clean second hand uniform items in good condition that perhaps your children have grown out of.

Sports Uniform Days:

Here is the timetable for the days students can wear their sports uniform and runners to school (all other days students must wear full school uniform and school shoes):

Monday - 5/6 Level

Tuesday - 3/4 Level

Wednesday - Foundation Level

Thursday - 1/2 Level