Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox College - Newsletter

Welcome to our first eNewsletter, which will develop further with each eNewsletter.  As it will develop over time, your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

In the lead up to the end of this term, may I take this opportunity to wish each of you a blessed and Holy Pascha.  Through the darkness, sadness, cruelties and injustices experienced during Passion Week, we then celebrate the greatest Celebration with Our Lord’s Resurrection, filling us, our souls and our homes with His Light – guiding us with Hope, Love, Strength and Courage.

May the Resurrection of Christ and His Light fill our hearts and homes with Love, Happiness, Peace, Hope and Faith.  Happy Easter!

After some rest and family time for all of us to enjoy, I look forward seeing and welcoming you next term with lessons for K – 12 commencing on Wednesday, 1 May 2019.

As the journey of the Holy Great Lent has reached its midst, the Church draws us closer to examine the heart of Christ and the depth of His love and compassions toward His children. At the same time, the very fire of His love rays begins to deeply purging our hearts and reveals our poverty and frailty. 

In the middle of Holy Fast, the Church recounts the joyful story of Christ seeking the Samaritan woman. The Samaritan woman was despised and rejected, but very soon after she met the Lord Christ, she received the healing from the true Physician, and her misery and despair turned into joy and hope.

Every soul that feels rejected by society, family, or church looks up with hope to Christ, the Saviour of the whole world. He will lead her to the knowledge of truth and will restore her to the sheepfold. A life of distance and isolation yields hardness and arrogance as it did to the Samaritan woman, who refused first to give Christ water to drink, but the encounter with the Lord turns wolves into lambs, and melts the stony hearts transforming them into compassionate and loving hearts. 

Fr George Nakhil, College Chaplain

Dear students, parents & staff, 

We have again come to the end of another successful term at St Mark's College, and are looking forward to enjoying the Easter Season with our family and friends. The School Board would like to update you on some recent developments and achievements the school has reached throughout the term.

Recently, with the assistance of Mr John Nour, the Vice President of Public Affairs & All members of the School Board, our College was able to secure a grant of $100,000 from the NSW Government & the Local MP Holsworthy Mrs Melanie Gibbonsto upgrade our technology and computer equipment. This is excellent news for our students and staff as it continues to ensure they have the best facilities possible whilst they continue at our College. 

The College Board will continue to work hard with all stakeholders to ensure the success of our college well into the future. 

As always, should you have any comments or suggestions, the Board’s contact details can be found on our College Website at www.stmarks.nsw.edu.au or copticsb@hotmail.com

We wish you and your families a very blessed Easter break and look forward to seeing what Term 2 has in stall for us. 

Yours sincerely,

The NSW Coptic Orthodox Board of Education. 

This Monday morning (8 April) at 8:45 am, Octave8 will be presenting the first public performance of our students following just under one-term's tuition with them.  The simple piece being presented is just the beginning, mistakes may be made, notes may be incorrectly played but we are NONETHELESS OVERJOYED AND PROUD of each person's development in such a short time.

Everyone is welcome to attend, parents and family and friends to watch and encourage our students in their journey to musical masters!

Please be advised that this parking facility is not to be used by parents, or even to drop off or collect students.  The carpark is specifically for STAFF USE ONLY.  With 65 staff, and only 40 spaces, many staff are still required to park on the streets. 

Staff do not always arrive early morning and leave late afternoon, throughout the day it is necessary for many staff to oftentimes leave for meetings and other commitments and then return and much time wastage has occurred recently with finding parent vehicles illegally parked and blocking exits and entry.  Already, as the area is very tight, a number of staff cars have been damaged as well as parent vehicles blocking deliveries and freight vehicles that often require clear access.

Please be advised that if this continues, the College will need to revert to towing your vehicle away with the expenses of such met by the owners of the vehicle.

The importance of regular and attendance and punctuality to school and class is well documented.

Research shows that regular attendance at school is essential to assist students to maximise their potential.

The associated info-graphic highlights the impact that absence and late arrivals have on learning.

Parents are requested to organise travel during school holidays and are required to complete an Application for Extended Leave if this cannot be avoided.

It is at the principal's discretion to accept the reason provided by parents relating to the travel request. Applications for Leave of Absence are located on the School website.

Deborah Grohala

Deputy Head of College

The National Assessment Program cover skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.

The assessments are undertaken every year in the second full week in May.

For more information please go to the link below:

https://www.nap.edu.au/home

Also, Saint Mark's College will have a practice day on Tuesday 16th April from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. On that day; the students will complete past papers and be able to ask questions. For more information please refer to the letter sent on class story via class Dojo.

Silvia Nada,

Head of Primary

The name says it all. The thing that makes a Chromebook different from other laptop PCs is the Chrome operating system, which is designed to utilize online web applications and cloud storage, rather than programs and files loaded onto an internal hard drive. The result is a new category of laptop that is very thin, very light, affordable and very popular.

We hope everyone is managing to get through the craziness of Term 1. It has been great meeting all the new families, as well as serving the current families.

The shop is now fully stocked with all winter items and we are excited to advise that there are various new items which have been approved as part of the school uniform:

• The new winter scarf with the school emblem is now available.
• A new navy fleece half zip jacket is now available as an additional item for sports days.
• The new blue senior jumper is now available. Students who are wearing the current maroon jumper can continue to do so, however senior students who need to purchase a jumper will now be required to purchase the updated blue senior jumper.

We are also happy to advise that Leonie Lagtane has been selected to be the new uniform shop manager. Leonie has previously worked in a uniform business and understands the intricacies of uniforms, retail and customer service. We are excited to have her on board.

As mentioned in the previous newsletter, we would also like to thank Vivian Mattar for all her hard work, and wish her the best with her new position.

The uniform shop details are:

• Email: stmarks@fusionschoolwear.com.au
• Tel: 0476 411 241
• Both the Price List and Order Form are now located on the school website.
• Shop hours during the term will be as follows:

• Monday 8:30am - 11:00am

• Thursday 1:30pm - 3:30pm

We thank the school for choosing us to manage your uniform shop, and look forward to working with your community.