WEEK 7 TERM 1 NEWSLETTER Wednesday 14th March, 2018

Dear Families, Last Sunday was the Fourth Sunday of Lent and in John’s Gospel we heard the story of Jesus talking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Jesus told Nicodemus that “whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God”. Let us pray that the light of Christ shines on us and in us, so that through the way we live our lives, all may know the love and mercy of God.

Holy Week Liturgies @ St Mark’s - Our teachers and students are busy preparing for our Holy Week Liturgies which will be held in Week 9. I encourage families to attend these liturgies to reinforce the message of Easter and the hope it brings us. All details of dates and times are included in the calendar below.

Last Friday our Student Leaders were presented with their badges at a lovely assembly. At the assembly we asked God to bless our Student Leaders as they take on this important role at St Mark’s Catholic Parish Primary School. I wish them well and am confident these young people will do a great job and leave their mark on St Mark’s.

Lunchtime @ St Mark’s – After much consideration and consultation with our staff and School Board we

have made the decision to move our lunch eating time to the earlier of our two daily breaks. We are

conscious that many of our students do not eat a substantial breakfast and feel that the later break is too long

for students to wait for their main meal of the school day. We believe that a wholesome and nutritious meal at

11.00am will enable our students to be in the best frame of mind for learning as the day progresses.

Commencing in Term 2 the students will eat lunch from 11.00-11.10am each day under the supervision of

their teacher. The eating of ‘Brain Food’ will continue as usual at 10.00am. Lunch orders from the Canteen

will be served at 11.00am Tuesday - Friday. The Canteen will then be open for over the counter sales from

11.10am – 11.30am. The Canteen will not be open for sales during our afternoon Recess break. In Terms

One and Four Icy Poles will be available for sale on hot days.

Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Surveys – In coming weeks all families will be invited to

participate in the ECSI survey which will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic Identity is

expressed in work and practice here at St Mark’s.

The Catholic University in Leuven, was commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd

(CECV) to design a process and tools, based on sound research, to accomplish the goal of understanding our

current Catholic identity and where the school community might like to see it in the future.

This survey is a key element in this process and I request the participation of all families. Parents will be

asked to complete the survey online; it may take you up to an hour to do so. 5/6 Students and all Staff will

complete the survey at school.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your anticipated participation. More information will be

sent home next week.

Change over from Summer to Winter Uniform – As our School Photos are being held on Thursday May 3rd (Week 3 of Term 2), all students need to be wearing Winter Uniform by the week beginning Monday April 30th. This will allow a two week transition period at the beginning of Term 2. St Mark’s Chickens & Rabbits – We require assistance with looking after our pets over the coming holidays please. Ideally we need families who could take on the task for a week at a time. The chickens and rabbits will need someone to come in every couple of days to ensure they have plenty of food and water. If you would like to help out, please leave your name at the office and I will be in touch to explain the procedure. Thank you.

2019 Prep Enrolments – If you have a child who will be starting school next year can you please collect an

Enrolment Form from the Office. We need these returned as soon as possible so we know how many places

we have for new families who wish to enrol.

St Mark’s Golf Tournament – We are hosting our first St Mark’s Golf Tournament on the afternoon of

Thursday March 22nd at Northern Golf Course, Glenroy. The tournament is open to all adult members of our

community. You don’t need a Golf Handicap to play. All standards of players are welcome. It will be a 9 Hole

Tournament using the Four Ball Best Ball format. Why not get a group of four together and form a team. All

details and a Registration Form have been sent home to all families soon.

Learning Information Sessions – These group sessions will provide the opportunity for families to come

along and hear from the classroom teachers about all relevant learning information for the 2018 school year.

6.30pm 7.30pm

Thursday March 15th LA4 & LA5 LA9 & LA10

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY, WEDNESDAY MARCH 21st, 2018

Once again this year our staff will engage with a group of local schools to work collaboratively to build teacher

understanding and student learning through Evidence Based Learning. On Wednesday March 21st, 2018

there will be a School Closure Day as staff meet together here at St Mark’s to participate in professional

learning. Due to insufficient bookings, camp Australia is not in a position to offer Aftercare on

the day.

2018 Sacrament Dates Reconciliation - Grade 3: Wednesday 5th September at 7.00pm in St Mark’s Church First Eucharist - Grade 4: Sunday 3rd of June at 10.30am in St Mark’s Church Confirmation - Grade 6: Sunday 29th of July at 10.30am in St Mark’s Church God bless Peter Wilson, Principal

FRIDAY ASSEMBLY - 9.00 A.M. National Day of Action Against Bullying – led by our Student Action Team

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

2018 Sacraments A letter was sent home last Friday outlining information about this year’s Sacramental Program. If you wish your child to receive the Sacraments of either Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation, can you please return the letter by this Friday 16th March. We look forward to working in partnership with you in preparing your child in their journey of faith.

St Mark’s Saints Club Outreach to the Wider Community We are selling ‘Easter Lambs’ to support the work of the Friends of Missions Association. They are available in white and brown chocolate and are on sale at the school or parish office. Cost: $10 each.

2018

MARCH

Weds 14th 6.00pm St Mark’s Open Day Session #2 – Principal’s Address @ 6.45pm

Thurs 15th 6.30pm Gr 3/4 Learning Information Session

Thurs 15th 7.30pm Gr 5/6 Learning Information Session

Weds 21st Harmony Day

Weds 21st School Closure Day for Staff Professional Learning – No school for students – No Aftercare

available

Thurs 22nd 4.30pm St Mark’s Golf Tournament (for adults) – Northern Golf Club, Glenroy

Sunday 25th Palm Sunday

Mon 26th 9.00am Holy Week Liturgy – Palm Sunday – LA’s 1 & 9

Thurs 29th Holy Thursday

Thurs 29th 9.00am Holy Week Liturgy – Holy Thursday – LA’s 4 & 5

Thurs 29th 9.30am Holy Week Liturgy – Good Friday – LA’s 2 & 3

Thurs 29th 1.30pm Students Dismissed - End of Term 1

Fri 30th Good Friday

Sat 31st Easter Saturday

APRIL

Sunday 1st Easter Sunday

Monday 16th 8.45am Term 2 Commences

Monday 16th 9.00am Easter Sunday Liturgy led by LA10

Wednesday 18th 9-11am Tuning Into Kids Program @ St Mark’s – Session #1

Friday 20th 5/6 Interschool Sport – Round 1

Monday 23rd 5/6s attending Maygar Barracks for ANZAC Day Activities

Tuesday 24th 5/6 Incursion – Banyip Kidjeka

Wednesday 25th ANZAC Day – St Mark’s Choir singing at Fawkner RSL Dawn Service

Friday 27th 5/6 Interschool Sport – Round 2

MAY

Tuesday 1st 11.40am St Mark’s Cross Country Championships

Our local St Vinnies are in need of the following foods for the needy in our

local community- tea, coffee, cereal, breakfast spreads, canned food and pasta sauce.

You can leave your food donations in the office foyer or in the basket in the foyer of the church. We thank you for your ongoing generosity!

Project Compassion - A Just Future starts with your support!

Our outreach to the wider global community this term is through the Project Compassion Appeal, which is organised by Caritas Australia. This annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal brings thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

Any change, no matter how big or small will go along way to helping those less fortunate than ourselves!

Donation boxes and envelopes are available at St Mark’s Church and you can also donate by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phoning 1800 024 413. Ms. Dot Mash RE Leader

Student Wellbeing News

National Day of Action Against Bullying

This Friday 16 March 2018, St Mark’s will stand united with other

Australian Schools to celebrate the eighth National Day of Action

against Bullying and Violence (NDA).

You are welcome to attend our special assembly to help us imagine a

world of kindness. The Year 5/6 Student Action Team members will

present some information about bullying. After this the children will

work on activities promoting Friendship and Kindness in their

rooms. At 1:30pm we will gather together and have a picnic on the

Court Yard. Please bring your lunch a long and join us if you are free.

At lunchtime, the Student Action Team will be giving out raffle tickets

to people they see who are including others and being good friends.

Bullying: Tips for Parents

It can be distressing to learn that your child is being bullied. You need to consider what you know about your

child and the details of the situation to make the best decision for your child. Different approaches and

strategies may be necessary for various situations and individual children. Let your child know that you take

the bullying seriously and that you can help them. Your calm response is important to allow your child to tell

you all about the situation. After they've told you their story, ask questions to get more details if you need to:

who, what, where, when. Although you may feel some strong emotions about your child's experience, try to

keep calm to avoid more distress to your child.

For more information about preventing and responding to bullying visit:

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/RespondingToBullying/Parents

Value of the Week

The simplest and most practical lesson I know…

is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow.

Let us take one day only in hands, at a time, merely making a resolve for

tomorrow.

Catherine McAuley, 1841

Our ‘St Mark’s Mercy Values’ remind and help us to strive to be better

people. This week we will focus on the value of Courage. Courage is

bravery in facing difficulties, especially in overcoming the fear of consequences in doing good. Courage helps

us to pursue a course we think is right. St Paul urges us to "Stay alert, stay firm in your faith, be courageous,

be strong" (Corinthians 16:13). Please talk with your children about how they can be courageous and stand

up for what they know is right.

Tuning in to Kids

Tuning in to Kids is an evidence-based parenting program that focuses on

the emotional connection between parents and children. In particular the

program teaches parents skills in emotion coaching, which is to recognise,

understand and respond to children’s emotions in an accepting, supportive way.

This approach helps the child to understand and manage their emotions.

To learn more come along to the free introduction session at St Mark’s.

Upcoming Date

23rd March- Harmony Day

Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity.

It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. As St Mark’s is such a culturally diverse community we promote and value this day. We will celebrate on Friday March 23rd and ask everyone to wear a touch of orange to show support of this day.

Seasons for Growth® Program Learning to live with change and loss Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Mark’s we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce and related circumstances, young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. We are therefore offering a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth which will commence in Term 2. This program is facilitated in small groups and is based on research which highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and support networks. Every family will receive a notice in the near future with more details about the Seasons for Growth program. If you think your son or daughter would benefit from Seasons for Growth we would encourage you to talk to him/her about participating in the program. St Mark’s is pleased to be able to offer this important program and we are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those who request to be involved. If you require further information please contact Christine (Student Wellbeing Leader)

Christine Reed Student Wellbeing Leader. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT OF THE WEEK AWARDS LA1 Clare & Joseph LA2 Hovsep & Evan LA3 Luca LA4 Rachael LA5 Sienna LA9 Byron LA10 Tahlia & Assaad

BOOK CLUB - Final day for orders is Wednesday March 21st

Fawkner Netball Club - Community Meeting

Wednesday 21st March 7pm,

The Fawkner North Coburg Sports Association, based at Charles Mutton Reserve, Fawkner, is starting a Netball Club for the community. If you are interested in helping to start this initiative, coaching, volunteering on committee, or have girls or boys interested in playing netball, you are invited to attend a community meeting on Wednesday 21st March at 7pm. The meeting will be held at the Northern Saints Football Club Social Club Rooms at Charles Mutton Reserve, Creedon St, Fawkner. Please call 0438 884 950 to register your interest.

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PARISH NEWS

SUNDAY SCHOOL: During the 10:30am Mass all children are invited to an exciting time exploring the teaching of Jesus.

Parents, please bring your children.

PARISH NEWS Week Day Mass Times

9:00 am Monday to Saturday

9:00 am + 7:00 pm Friday

Daily Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

8:15 – 9:00 am Monday to Saturday

8:15 am - 7:00 pm Friday

Weekend Mass Times

SATURDAY

6:00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass

SUNDAY

9:00 am Italian / English Mass

10:30 am Family Mass

6:00 pm Evening Mass

First Sunday of the Month

6:00 pm “The Healing Mass”

5:30 pm Exposition and Praise + Worship

Sacrament of Reconciliation

9:30 am + 5:30 pm Saturday Or feel free to phone Fr Colin

Every Tuesday of the Month

7:00 pm Legion of Mary meeting

Every Wednesday of the Month

7:30 pm Bible Study

First Wednesday of the Month

7:00 pm Baptism Preparation Meeting

Every Thursday of the Month

6:00 – 8:00 pm Hope Café

Religious Education (State Schools) Classes for State Primary and Secondary School children at Hope Café. Contact the Parish office

5:00 pm Wednesday

Parish Advisory Committee P Wilson; G Caruana; T Robbins; V Ierome; L Pegorin;

L Rahme and M Odicho

Hall Hire Enquiries - Parish Office 9359 3111