Principal's News

Dear Families,

Can you believe first term is over already? We will finish the term on Friday at 1.30 p.m. following our Holy Week and Easter Liturgy, which will commence at 12.45 p.m. You are all very welcome to join us for our Easter Liturgy. Our students have had a great term of learning and it has been very pleasing to see how well they settled into school life - especially the youngest members of our community.

Thank-you to all those who donated Easter Eggs for our Easter raffle and to those who bought hot cross buns as part of the Parents' Association (PA) fundraiser. If you are interested in being part of the PA for 2025 we are looking for new members. Our current president (Frank) and Vice President (Cassie) have both worked very hard over the years in their roles and are ready to step down. They would both be very happy to stay on the PA and support anyone who was interested in taking on a leading role. Please come and see me if you are interested in being part of the PA in 2025.

I hope you all have a peaceful and faith filled Holy Week and celebrate the joy of the Easter season with your family. You are all warmly invited to join the Holy Week and Easter liturgies at St Mark's parish. I hope you all enjoy a restful and safe holiday.

School recommences in Term 2 on Tuesday 22nd April. (Monday 21st April is Easter Monday - a public holiday)

Friday 25th April in Week 1 of Term 2 is ANZAC day which is also a public holiday, so our first week back next term is a very short one - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only.

Prep Info Night at St. Mark’s:

On Monday, the 17th March, St. Mark’s hosted a Prep Info Night, providing families with strategies to support their children's learning at home. It was fantastic to see such a great turnout, with parents and caregivers actively participating in engaging activities throughout the evening. Thank you to everyone who attended, we appreciate your involvement in your child's educational journey! (Ellis Warrener - IT/Numeracy Leader)

Feast Day Celebrations:

On Thursday 24th April we will be celebrating the feast day of St Mark's with a whole school Mass at 2.15 p.m. in the church and some activities for the children throughout the day. The children are welcome to wear casual clothes on the 24th April and will be provided with a treat of a Sooper Dooper during the day. Parents are welcome to join us at 2.15 p.m. for our feast day Mass.

Sado Matcha Ceremony:

A number of diligent grade 5/6 Nihongo class students participated in Sado with Nikki sensei after all their hard work. 

Each student had a first hand experience of a very traditional and unique Japanese Matcha ceremony to celebrate the end of the term.

Yoku dekimashita (Well done!) 

Arigatou

Nikki sensei 

What are the 4 principles of Chado: 

Chado (The way of Tea) is a Japanese cultural practice involving the preparation and serving of Matcha to a guest, primarily influenced by Zen Buddhism and it is based around 4 core principles: Harmony, Respect, Purity and Tranquility ( Wa, Kei, Sei and Jaku).

School Tours:

We have had seven very well subscribed, school tours so far this term with well over 70 families (and many more participants) attend the tours. We still have two school tours scheduled for the beginning of Term 2. We have 66 places to offer for our foundation classes in 2026.

If any of our current students have a younger sibling ready to start school in 2026, please make sure s/he has been enrolled no later than 23rd May 2025. First round offers of a place in foundation in 2026 will be sent home in early June. Last year we had many more applications than places to offer and we were unable to offer a place to all those who wanted one.

If you know anyone who is interested in sending their child to St Mark's in 2026 please let them know that the closing date for applications in 23/5/25 and share the following dates with them so they can book in for a school tour. Bookings are essential as places are almost full. 

Thursday 24th April 9.15 a.m.

Tuesday 29th April 9.15 a.m.