From the Acting Principal
Dear families,
This Friday our Fire Carriers and Student Action Team will host a special Assembly to celebrate National Reconciliation Week, which commences next week, Wednesday May 27th.
National Reconciliation Week is about celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s histories, cultures, journeys and stories and sharing that rich and vibrant heritage with other Australians. During Reconciliation Week we remember, reflect, acknowledge, accept, forgive, heal and celebrate stories and journeys.
The theme for this year is ‘All in’, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.
The theme also reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining and acting for far too long.
Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us.
As a Catholic community, we are committed to reconciliation and to working together to shape a future where diversity and justice are treasured. We stand together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We are committed to reconciliation and to working towards a nation where diversity and justice are treasured, just as they are here at St Mark’s. As people of Mercy, we are the future of Reconciliation.
We pray that like us, the leaders of our nation can be people of reconciliation.
On Tuesday night we hosted the First Eucharist Family Night. This marks the formal beginning of the preparation for the Sacrament of First Eucharist where 9 of our Gr4 students will receive Communion for the first time on Sunday June 21st at 10.00am. We thank our Religious Education Leader, Ms Dot Mash and 3/4 Teachers Ms Emma Crotty, Ms Penny Camiot and Ms Stef Marin for preparing this session and sharing their expertise. We also thank our guest presenter, Maria Forde for her informative and engaging session. We keep these young people and their families in our prayers at this special time.
International Education Support Staff Day - last Friday May 15th was International Educational Support Staff Appreciation Day. On this day we acknowledge the wonderful work all Education Support Staff do, especially here at St Mark’s. I’m sure you’ll join me in thanking Ms Lisa Pevitt, Ms Angela Toomey, Mrs Angela Azzato, Mrs Erin Meggs, Ms Ruby Hoare, Ms Sarah Cumper, Ms Sophie Lorenti, Mrs Carol Skouris, Ms Sue Clark, Mrs Carol Robinson, Ms Rachael Boucher, Mrs Vicki Smith and Mrs Bushra Giliana for all they do for the students, staff and families of St Mark’s. We are forever grateful to our ES Staff and for what they bring to our community.
Cross Country
Good luck to these students representing St Mark's at the Glenroy District Cross Country today at Boeing Reserve Strathmore Heights. Thankyou Mrs Lazzaro and Ms Carol for supporting the students.
Charlie LA7, Alexander LA7, Zoe LA7, Ruby LA8, Christian LA 8, Isaac LA7, Verona Valentina LA8, Audrey LA8, Noah LA9, Eddie LA10, Matthias R LA10,
Aria P LA9 and Bella LA9
Assemblies - Please join us for assembly in the Hall each Friday morning beginning at 9am. Please note, Term 1, 2 & 4 Assemblies will be held on Friday mornings at 9.00am, while Term 3 Assemblies will commence at 2.50pm. This week's Assembly will be held at 2:45pm due to the Hall being used in the morning for Interschool Netball.
ABC Music - Term 3 vacancies
There are some vacancies for ABC Music lessons in Term 3.
You can view pricing and all information including the T’s & C’s on their website:
https://www.abcmusicgroup.com.au/enroll-now/
Or email: info@abcmusicgroup.com.au
School Photos - Wednesday 20th May
Smiles all round yesterday! Thankyou to Miss Kate for coordinating the day and ensuring the schedule ran like clockwork. The weather was kind to us and we were able to all gather in the playground for our whole school photo, including the guinea pigs!
Student envelopes will be sent home when images are ready to view and purchase online.
National Walk Safely To School Day & Healthy Breakfast Once again this year we are encouraging families to meet us at Parker Reserve, Matheison St Coburg Nth on this Friday 22nd May, at 8.00am for a healthy breakfast of fruit and cereal provided by the school. After breakfast we will walk safely to school together as a group, arriving at school by 8.45am. Please Note: this is a family event, so parents are asked to stay for breakfast and then walk to school with their children and the group.
Ride & Stride e-bike subsidies for Merri-bek families - only subsidies 50 left!
Working with two local bike shops, we’re offering families $500 off the purchase price of a new or refurbished bike, or 50% off a weekly subscription for 3-months (up to value of $500). Only 50 subsidies left across Merri-bek Council area.
See the bikes on offer, review the eligibility criteria, and reserve your subsidy today at: https://zerocarbonmerri-bek.org.au/ebike-subsidies/
Penola College Year 7 enrolments
Applications for students currently in Year 5 for Year 7, 2028 are due by Friday 14 August, and there are also limited places available for Year 7, 2027 (current Year 6's) . See the Community News page for more information.
Simonds College Year 7 enrolments
There are a limited number of places available for Year 7, 2027. If you are a Grade 6 family that is still looking at options, are still on waitlists or have sadly missed out on a place at your preferred school, you're invited to tour at Simonds. They're commencing the High School Transition Program in early Term 3, so timing is of the essence.
Gr5/6 Inter School Sport - Best wishes to our Gr5/6 students as they continue Inter School Sport Netball and Soccer matches this week. This week we have home games with Netball being held in the school hall and Soccer at Charles Mutton Reserve. Spectators are most welcome to attend.
Stay warm!
Miss Claire - 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.