16/09/2014 Issue 29. (cont d o/leaf )

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1 16/09/2014 Issue 29 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven... Matthew 6:9 This bible verse that I have chosen for this week is where Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer. But not only does he teach them how to pray, but he also gives them the exact words to use. This prayer we call the Lord s Prayer or sometimes it is called the Our Father. Recently, at our Wednesday night bible study at the church, I shared a little insight about this that I learnt from someone a long time ago, which every time I mention it, always seems to strengthen people. And it s this: when we pray, we never pray alone. Jesus teaches us to pray not my Father, but our Father. We don t come before God on our strength, and because of our own works, and because of how good and pure we are, but we pray together with Jesus, who is completely pure and perfect. We step into his shoes, in such a way that we join in with him in praying to his Father, and also, he joins in with us. Even when we pray by ourselves, we don t change the words to my Father, but we always say, Our Father, because we always pray together with Jesus. Lord Jesus, come and teach us to pray, and lead us and guide us in prayer to your Father. Amen. Pastor Stephen van der H What Are Your Thoughts? In planning our 2015 school calendar, we have been considering the timing of the pupil free days that are used for vital professional learning opportunities for staff. Currently the first day of each term is set aside as a pupil free day, effectively extending the term breaks by a day. Another model emerging in schools is the consolidation of pupil free days into a week of professional learning for staff in the final week of Term 2. This creates a three week mid-year break for students and families and an uninterrupted week for staff to focus on learning opportunities. As you would be aware, there are always advantages and disadvantages to either way of timetabling pupil free days. As well, what is seen as an advantage by one person, may be a disadvantage to another. Below I have listed some of the advantages/disadvantages I have heard associated with the timing and use of pupil free days. After reading through them, I would appreciate you providing me with any thoughts you have as we consider a change in 2015 to our usual practice. A mid-year three week break for students and families: - provides a better opportunity for mid-year rest and change of routines for students - gives an opportunity for a slightly longer family holiday without missing time at school - allows staff to consolidate and focus on learning opportunities - would create difficulty in arranging care for the additional week (Camp Australia would be asked to offer holiday club during this additional week) - reduces the opportunity for the long weekend at the end of each term break Included in this newsletter, you will find a reply slip and I encourage you to share your ideas and suggestions to the proposal of consolidating pupil free days into a week at the end of Term 2. St Mark s Activities - Our Year 6 students participated in a Hills schools Lightning Carnival at Uraidla today. They participated in games of football and netball. - Our School Council meets tonight. On our agenda will include current planning for Our Parents and Friends meet tonight from 7:00pm in the Library. - Tomorrow morning our 2K class will be sharing at our Assembly. We will also present Cross Country certificates to place getters and celebrate the achievement of our Chess players. We begin at 9:00am in our school hall. - Our Reception S class will be singing at the St Mark s Ladies Fellowship afternoon from 1:45pm. - Our weekly chapel service will be held on Friday at 9:00am. Pastor Stephen will lead chapel which will be followed by Coffee and Chat in the Library. - Our matinee and evening concert performances will be held next week on Wednesday and Thursday. See details in today s newsletter. (cont d o/leaf ) 37 Hampden Road, Mt Barker SA 5251 T E contact@stmarks.sa.edu.au W

2 St Mark s Cookbook Progress is occurring with our very own St Mark s cookbook which our P and F is currently organising. The need at the moment is for us to submit our recipes online at Follow the prompts to our school page. I encourage you to take a few moments and submit a recipe or two and be part of this school community activity. If you d prefer, you can send through your written recipe to the office and we ll make sure it finds its way online. Tuition Fees Thank you to families who have met their commitments with payment of tuition fees or have payment plans in place for the remainder of this year. Reminder notices are being sent home this week for overdue fees and I ask that these be attended to promptly or arrangements made for payment plans. Please contact Amanda Hewett in our school office if you have any questions related to your account. Traffic Around School We all remain aware of how important it is to observe speed zones on roads around the school and parking restrictions. These measures help reduce the risk of accidents occurring. For your information, we have included a publication from The District Council of Mt Barker highlighting safe parking practices. Camp Australia Services Included with today s newsletter is an information sheet from Camp Australia providing details of our new Before School Program commencing in Term 4. If you will be potentially using this new service, please follow the requests and instructions provided as soon as possible. If you require care for your child on our final pupil free day for the year on Monday 13 th October, please also register your interest on line at or contacting Sarah in our Camp Australia program on James H Principal P&F Grand Final Morning Tea If you wish to order a delicious donut and fruit box for morning tea on Friday 26 th September, please fill out an order form included with this newsletter. Orders will need to be received at the school by this Thursday 18 th September. NO late orders accepted - thank you. Don t forget to include your money with the order! Bussing - End of Term (Friday 26 th September) Due to Mt Barker High School concluding at 2.10pm on Friday 26 th September, parents will need to make alternative afternoon pickup arrangements from school. St Mark s will conclude at the normal time (3.15pm). The Strathalbyn bus will run as normal on that afternoon. Congratulations Congratulations to the following students who have been chosen to represent the Barker District at the SAPSASA Athletic Championships at Santos Stadium on Monday 22 nd of September (Week 10). We wish them all the best for their chosen activities! Oliver T - 100m, 200m, and Relay Akeera C - 100m and Relay George H - Discus Patrick T - High Jump Daniel W-S - 800m Amelia M - Long Jump Anita G - Relay Library Overdue notices have been sent home this week. Please help your child locate any overdue library books and readers and have them returned to school as soon as possible before the holidays. Don t forget to look in all those strange and unusual places where books like to hide! Contact the school for contact info Year 5 Girls Lunch Club The year 5 girls are busy making Christmas Decorations and Gifts for our Christmas Stall in Term 4. There are some materials that we are short of - can you donate any of the following: Red & green ribbon White Felt Coloured rick rack If you could donate any of these items in the next few weeks, please leave at the front office or give to Janene O - thank you. Found A pair of black framed glasses with Red or Dead on the sides. A gold ring with a green stone (found in the girls toilet) and a pair of ceramic Dutch clogs - if they are yours, please see Julianne in the front office.

3 ST MARK S COOKBOOK It is super easy - just go to click on Submit Recipes and choose our school from the drop-down list, from here click the submit button to begin. Your recipe will NOT be submitted until you have completed all 3 steps. You'll know your recipe has been submitted when you see our Success - Your recipe has been submitted page. I am Fairy Nastyboots, I m horrid right down to my roots! You think you ve come here to have fun - To see love s battle fought and won. Cinderella & Rockerfella Oh goodness me! Fairy Nastyboots is quite a character! Will she get her way? Gosh I hope not. Please join Senior Choir, Year 4J, 5A and 6K on Wednesday September 24 th or School Band, 4S, 5I and 6K on Thursday September 25 th at 7:00pm for the senior school production of Cinderella & Rockerfella. The matinee performance can be viewed at 9:30 am (Band, Year 4J, 5A and 6K) or at 11:30am (Senior Choir, 4S, 5I and 6K) on Wednesday September 24 th. Join us in what promises to be an evening filled with wonderful music, dance and some very cheeky lines.

4 2015 PUPIL FREE DAYS REPLY SLIP Please provide us with your comments/suggestions regarding proposed pupil free days for 2015: Comments/Suggestions: St Mark s Parents & Friends GRAND FINAL MORNING TEA On Friday 26 th September, the Parents and Friends Committee will be providing delicious DONUTS from the Meadows Bakery for recess. Fruit boxes will also be available for $1! If you would like to participate in the P&F Grand Final Morning Tea, please complete the following order form and return to the office (with correct money please) by THURSDAY 18 TH SEPTEMBER We will not accept late orders Recess Order Friday 26 th September 2014 Name: Class: Football Donut $2.50 Netball Donut $2.50 Fruit Box $1.00 TOTAL ORDER RDER: $ Recess Order Friday 26 th September 2014 Name: Class: Football Donut $2.50 Netball Donut $2.50 Fruit Box $1.00 TOTAL ORDER RDER: $

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6 CROSS COUNTRY 2014 In Week 7, we had our Cross Country event at Keith Stephenson Park. We were blessed to finish the event before the rain settled in. It was great to see our mighty competitors running the track and cheering on others with a smile! Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and friends who came along to support the students as they ran. This year s winners will be announced at Assembly tomorrow but a huge congratulation goes to every student who participated. WELL DONE!