No Longer Good Enough! 08/11/2016 Issue 34 I was very much enjoying the first cricket test played in Perth last week. Our Australian bowlers performed incredibly well and the opening batsmen had us in a dominant position. Then things changed suddenly and Australia lost 10 wickets rapidly turning a position of strength into one of vulnerability. It didn t take long before the media was up to its usual practice of analysing every movement of each batsman, dissecting it in slow motion and offering opinions on who should stay in the team and who should be dropped. It didn t matter if two matches ago the same media were praising the same batsmen for strong performances. Several weeks ago the AFL was in frenzy as they staged their annual trade week. A considerable number of players were rated and decisions made by others about their value and worth to clubs. Some players survived for another season while others were traded away or delisted and told they were no longer wanted, they weren t considered good enough for the club. It seems to me so many people these days are required in work and life to constantly prove that they are good enough, their performance is worthy of staying and that they should being retained. Living that way, constantly trying to prove your worth creates enormous pressure and quite a burden to carry each day. It s quite peculiar that when it comes to God, we are actually told by him that even though we are never good enough to keep his laws and meet his standards, he has arranged it through Jesus death and resurrection that he will always see us as worthy and acceptable when we accept his gift of forgiveness through faith. He couldn t have made it any clearer but somehow we can fall into the trap of thinking we can actually be good enough and try to earn his free gift. As Pastor Clayton shared in chapel last week, even though we don t deserve to be in God s family, he accepts us and makes us part of his family, because of Jesus, by grace. When you come to understand this, it is an incredibly freeing experience to know that God never wants to drop us from his team, trade us or delist. He wants to keep us in his family for all eternity. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 This week at St Mark s Our focus this week is- look after the school s facilities, resources and other s personal equipment. St Mark s snapshots - Our Year 4 students are currently at Victor Harbor as part of their three day camp. They return to school tomorrow. - Our P and F meet this Thursday evening for their final meeting for the year. - Whole school chapel will be led this Friday by our 5A class. We begin at 9:00am in our hall and coffee and chat will follow chapel. - We will hold a short Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday 11 th November by the flagpole in the senior quadrangle. You are invited to join us from 10:55am. - Our next whole school assembly will be held on Wednesday16 th November with our 4B class sharing. - Whole School closing worship for all students Wednesday 14 th December @7pm @ Cornerstone College.
Class Placements As previously advised any information you believe needs to be considered by the school for class placements needs to be provided in writing to me directly. Information will need to be received by this Friday 11th November. As parents you re invited to place in writing details of any specific educational, social or emotional needs your child may have, that are not already known by the school. Please note this does not include requests for specific teachers. Please be aware that we give this process careful consideration and we take into account educational, emotional and social information for all students. Therefore, we cannot take parent or student requests simply based on personal preference for teachers. James Heyne Principal Reminder - P & F Meeting! Thursday 10 th November, 7pm in the staffroom Please bring a plate to share as we meet and celebrate this year s achievements Come along and celebrate with JAFFA youth with a light dinner and some Christmas cheer! Sunday 20 th November 2016 4:00pm - 6:00 pm at the Church Please RSVP by the 16 th November via text or email Bring: $5.00, plus $1.50 for can of drink (if you would like one), a friend, and whatever Christmas clothing takes your fancy (eg. Santa Hat) JAFFA Junior Youth (school years 5-8) -Contact- Zoë Kleinig 0488 155 757, zjkleinig@gmail.com There are adults who are ChildSafe trained supervising the whole event. Remembrance Day - Friday 11th, 2016 This year November 11th marks the 98th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914 18). On this day each year St Mark s observes one minute s silence at 11:00 am in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. We encourage you to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony here at St Mark s in the courtyard by the flag pole from 10:55am. Loredana Saracini Deputy Principal
War By Tayla Arbon War looks like horrified faces running for their lives. War sounds like rockslides falling as soldiers climb mountains. War smells like damp soil from the blood of dead bodies. War tastes like old and stale ANZAC biscuits. War feels like mixed emotions as people shoot and fight. War By Billy Sumerling War looks like people dropping like flies. War sounds like cries for help and then silence. War smells like blood and sweaty people. War tastes like dirt and salty waters. War feels like mates being lost and hearts being broken. War By Lucas Breadnam War looks like triggers pulled back and lead flying. War sounds like bombs going Bang and screams calling out. War smells like smoke from the bomb flames. War tastes like blood in your mouth. War feels like being brave and proud. War By Caitlyn Brooks War looks like big bombs exploding. War sounds like guns firing at soldiers. War smells like smoke in the air. War tastes like defeat. War feels like sadness from the loss of mates. Poems for Remembrance Day By Year 3 War By Hamish Wheeler War looks like trenches full of dead bloody soldiers. War sounds like exploding bombs blowing soldiers off the ground. War smells like gunpowder being fired out of an AK-47. War tastes like painful lead pellets firing into muscles, hearts and lungs. War By Madison Doyle War looks like blood spitting, guns shooting. War sounds like people screaming, bombs exploding. War smells like smoke wafting through the air. War tastes like mud splashing, sickness spilling. War feels like lonely people with hearts breaking. War By Layla Martlew War looks like people dropping dead by the minute. War sounds like people crying like a baby. War smells like gunpowder shooting through. War tastes like blood dripping off the bodies of hope. War feels like sadness flowing through bodies. War By Hayley Doughty War looks like death everywhere. War sounds like little boys screaming. War smells like salt water on my bloody hands. War tastes like tears of sadness dripping on me. War feels like helping my country.
Parents & Friends Car Boot Sale Saturday, November 26th Please be advised that the chevron designs and colours previously advertised on the order form are being discontinued so supply of that design is limited and uncertain. The new pattern/colours are now shown on the order form. First visual is striped range : blue, charcoal and pink. Second visual is Basic range: blue, charcoal and pink. There is no change to size or bamboo/cotton mix. 8am - 3pm Sausage Sizzle, Cake stall St Mark s Lutheran Church Rear Carpark Car boot - Sites $10 Book a site call Neil Launer 0402 355 528 or 8391 1341 The summer holiday program is available with registrations open until 19 December 2016. Please visit their website on www.vacswimsa.com.au for further details and enrolment information.
St Mark s Lutheran Church Christmas Eve Service 2016 St Mark s Lutheran Church invites your children to participate in our Christmas Eve Service. Unwrapping the Gift of God. This invitation also welcomes new families to the area whose children love to sing, dance, read or act in public, and especially those who are interested in finding a new home Church family to join! This year Christmas Eve falls on Saturday the 24 th of December. For this family Service, we need the help of: Children aged 4 years old up to Year 10 for various parts (older children are given first choice of speaking/bible reading parts) Younger children can choose to be angels, shepherds, wise men or just be regular children, some have short speaking parts (not all are required to dress up in costume) Please feel free to contact Sue Bormann ph 0424 562 349 or email sueb63.sb@gmail.com if you have any questions. Speaking parts/readings will be given out at the first practice. If you wish to have a speaking part you are encouraged to attend all practices, however where this is not possible, we ask that your child (attends at least 3 of the practices, especially the final practice. Details to be given later. **All initial practices will be held in the Church Hall from 9:30 10:30 am beginning Sunday 13th November (between services).** Once we have numbers and parts assigned, more details will be sent out regarding final practices dates and times. Please return the slips below by Friday Nov. 11 th to St Mark s School office, addressed to myself, Sue Bormann. ---------------------------------------------------------- Yes please, my child/children would love to be involved in the Christmas Eve Service! Names: Ages: Preferred part: Parent signature: Parent name: Email: Phone no.: Christmas Eve Service Practice Times Please ensure you are able to come to the following practices: Sunday Nov 13th for learning songs and giving out parts from 9am to sign in. Practices: Sunday Nov 20 th, Nov 27th, Dec 4 th, 11th, 18th in the Church Hall Parents please sign their child/children in and out of each practice and leave a contact number also. (Parents welcome to stay and have a coffee in new foyer area) - Thankyou! Date:
New Design (striped range): blue, charcoal and pink New Design (basic range): blue, charcoal and pink
LIBRARY NEWS... The last week for library and reader borrowing will be Week 6. We will then commence stocktake. Overdue notices will be coming home quite frequently. To assist with stocktake, please start hunting for those missing books ASAP - Thank you. Mrs Paterson, Librarian/Teacher St. Mark s Lutheran School 02/11/16 Dear Parents/Caregivers, HOLIDAY BOOKINGS ARE OPEN! It may only be week 3 but Holiday Club bookings are now open. Please ensure you get in early for our excursion days! I have included a copy of our program for your convenience. All bookings can be made at www.campaustralia.com.au/holidayclubfun or you can call our friendly customer service team 1300 105 343. Junior Global Citizenship Bangladesh Program This term along with our other Christmas craft- we have begun to make Christmas gifts for over 7,500 primary school children in Bangladesh. We have made some vibrant bookmarks and are now beginning to decorate some bags. We will then be making friendship bracelets. The OSHC kids have been using their best craft skills! We can t wait to see it all finished. SAFETY WEEK This week is safety week. We will be practicing our fire evacuation and lock down drills. We will also discuss OSHC safety rules and what to do if someone looks unwell. Our focus is to make sure we all look out for each other :) Sam Thomas and team Mobile: 0403 731 488 email: sastmarks@oshccampaustralia.com.au