Principal's News

November Keystone
"Reflect "

Congratulations!

We are very excited to share with you that Sheridan Bredin and her husband Victor welcomed twin girls on Tuesday 19th November - Bonnie Mercedes Bredin (pink beanie) and Mae Jennifer Bredin (white beanie). They are all doing extremely well and Sheridan is looking forward to introducing us all to them when the time is right.

2025 Staff News:

There will be some staff changes in 2025 and we will welcome back some staff too. We have had a busy year of change this year with three staff members having babies, however we have been very lucky to secure wonderful staff to undertake their roles in 2024 and beyond.

Mrs Liz Kelly will be retiring from St Mark's at the end of the year after 30+ years at our school - an absolutely amazing run. We will miss Liz very much and will celebrate her time with us as the year draws to a close at our end of year assembly and staff events.

Ms Sinead Corduff will be moving schools at the end of the year, after 15 years at St Mark's. Sinead joined our staff as a graduate and will be moving to St Michael's Grammar School to continue her teaching career. We understand that it is important to experience a variety of school settings to enhance your teaching career but nevertheless it will be very sad to see Sinead move on.

Ms Amy Garlick will be taking one year of leave to travel and work overseas in 2025 and we look forward to having her back in 2026. Have a wonderful trip Amy and come back safely.

Mr Vin Snell has resigned his position at St Mark's having been here for 16 years prior to his recent two years of leave. Vin spent the last two years exploring the role of bus driver and we were able to catch up with him from time to time when he drove us on our excursions and to sporting events. Vin is also one of our long serving staff members and we thank him for all the wonderful work he did at St Mark's particularly in his role as PE teacher and sports co-ordinator. We will celebrate and thank our leaving staff at our end of year assembly and at our staff events prior to the end of the year.

Next year we welcome back Karen Barker who took a year of leave in 2024 and Deanna Johnson who had a baby in 2024 and we are thrilled to have them back on board in 2025. We have also employed Ms Jane Lancaster as a full time teacher in 2025. Jane has worked in a number of Catholic schools and has recently returned from two years travelling and working overseas. We are now in the process of employing one more full time staff member for our school and our team will be complete.

We will celebrate and thank our leaving staff at our final end of year assembly after our end of year Mass and as a staff at our end of year staff luncheon.

Helpers and Volunteers Morning Tea:

On Tuesday 3rd December at 11.00 a.m we will be holding our annual helpers morning tea to celebrate and thank all our wonderful community members, families and helpers who have volunteered their time and talents to St Mark's. We want to thank our PA and SAC members and all those who have helped out at the Kitchen Garden, or gone on excursions or been a classroom helper or cooked pancakes or..... the list goes on and on. An operoo note was sent to all families previously but we wanted to remind you to come along if you are able.

St Mark's Christmas:

We have had our Christmas Carols night locked into our calendar since the beginning of the year and it is fast approaching. On Tuesday 3rd December at 7.00 p.m. we will be hosting our annual Christmas Carols Night on the grassed area at the end of the basketball courts. Please bring along some snacks and drinks and sit back and enjoy the show. All children will need to be in attendance so they can perform their class song and help to make the night a special one for all.

St Mark's Choir:

St Mark's choir has been asked to sing at the parish Christmas Carols Night being held at St Joseph's Church in Springvale on Friday 13th December. There are some amazing choirs that sing at St Joseph's and they will all be a part of this wonderful event. Please encourage your child to join the choir and be part of the parish Christmas Carols night..

Absence:

I apologise for not being very present the last couple of weeks - but what I thought was just a very bad and lingering cough turned out to be viral pneumonia and I developed secondary infections on my lungs and was hospitalised and filled full of antibiotics through an IV line for 7 days. I must say an enormous thank-you to Andrew and all the staff who, as usual, kept things running beautifully in my absence and picked up my extra duties and tasks that needed to be done. It is such a busy time of the year - my timing is terrible but I know St Mark's is in good hands.

Music Concert at St Mark's:

We are thrilled to invite you to join us at our End-of-Year Concert on Tuesday 10th December 2024, at St Marks Primary School. This special event will highlight the musical growth of our talented students as they perform alongside their peers, family and friends.

Concert Details:

Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2024

P - Year 2 -11.30 am School Hall

Year 3 - 6 -12.30 pm School Hall