DearArtarmonn Community.

As we enter Week 8, it’s hard to believe that only two and a half weeks remain until the mid-year Winter holidays! The past few weeks have been filled with activity, and our students have truly shone in all their endeavours.

CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS

A huge congratulations to our incredible young women who represented Artarmonn at the local finals of the NSW Department of Education's Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition Rajavi Nalawade, Ritisha Ray, Li Shuen Choo, and Gemma Gluga all delivered exceptional performances, and we are immensely proud of their skills and confidence.

We would like to give a special mention to Gemma Gluga from Year 5, who won the Stage 3 division and will be advancing to the Sydney North Regional finals in Term 3. This is a remarkable achievement, and we eagerly await her next performance!

A round of applause is also in order for our band, strings, and guitar ensembles, who have performed brilliantly over the past two weeks at the NSW Eisteddfod. Their exemplary behaviour and outstanding performances have elevated the profile of our school and public education as a whole. I am incredibly proud to see our students representing our school and music program with such professionalism and pride. Thank you to all the students involved, as well as to Mrs. Singh, Mr. Walmsley, Mr. Mansukhani, Mr. Thomlinson, and our parent volunteers for their support and organisation. This has truly been a collective effort!

Here are our final results:

• Orchestra – 1st
• Jazz Band – 1st
• Senior Band – 1st
• Concert Band – 3rd
• Junior Band – Highly Commended (same section as Concert Band)
• Senior Strings – Did not place this year in the Premium Primary School String Ensemble section
• Concert Strings – 2nd
• Junior Strings – Highly Commended (same section as Concert Strings)
• Guitar – 2nd 

LOCKDOWNN PROCEDURE

Thank you to all our families for your sensible and mature response during our recent lock down. Each year, we practice lock downs and emergency evacuations to ensure that students and staff are prepared should a situation arise.

Last week, we conducted a lock down due to an external operation outside the school grounds; there was no direct threat to the school or on the school premises. Emergency services often request lock downs for schools as a precautionary measure. Our staff and students handled the situation outstandingly and followed the necessary procedures. The lock down lasted only 10-15 minutes before we received the all-clear from authorities.

SEMESTER ONE ACADEMIC REPORTS

Student's academic reports will be published in your School Bytes parent portal on Friday next week. 

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS

If you have not yet scheduled a parent-teacher interview, please do so as soon as possible. Click the link to find out when your child’s teacher is available and follow the instructions to book through the School Bytes parent portal.

EPISODE 2 OF THE KINDNESS PROJECT

Our student leaders have been diligently working on a script to share their message of kindness while also learning new creative and editing skills on the new Mac Books and podcast microphones purchased with funds raised through the Voluntary Contribution.

Episode 2 will be available for download by the end of the week, stay tuned!

P&CAGMM NEXT WEDNESDAY

I encourage all of you to attend our P&CAGMM next Wednesday in the library. Although it might be chilly, I’ll make sure the new air-conditioning is turned on to keep things cosy.

Details:

• When: Wednesday, 25th
• Time: 7 PM
• Where: Library

Earlier this week, we shared the available positions for parents looking to volunteer and join a team focused on placing our students at the heart of decision-making while enhancing our community and outstanding school. Please read the P&C article further down in this newsletter for more information. I look forward to seeing many of you there!

JUMPERS AND LOST PROPERTY

I want to take a moment to remind everyone about the significant amount of lost property, including jumpers, hats, and containers. With the colder weather, children are bundling up more in the mornings. Please support your child in developing responsible habits, such as not leaving their jumper on the floor and forgetting where it is. Clearly labelling jumpers can also help ensure they are easily found if placed in lost property.

Lost property can be found on McMillan Rd, piled up in front of the music room. It is each child's responsibility to locate and retrieve their lost items.

LANDSCAPING UPDATE - BETWEEN THE HALL AND CANTEEN

We recognise that the playground area between the hall and canteen needs improvement, and we are committed to enhancing this space for our students. Over the past few years, we have collaborated with the school community on plans for the landscaping and playground area. Recently, I have been engaged in discussions with the Department of Education regarding funding options to ensure this work is completed. We are currently awaiting final outcomes, and I hope to share more information soon. Please stay tuned!

TURNING NOTIFICATIONS ON YOUR SCHOOL BYTESAPPP

As mentioned in the last P&C meeting, we are transitioning our school communication from SZapp to the School Bytes app by the end of the year. This will streamline our communication, allowing you to manage everything in one app.

We have started sending notifications through the School Bytes app with similar messages that previously went out on SZapp. If you haven’t yet enabled notifications on your School Bytes app, please do so to receive the most up-to-date information from the school. More details will follow as we move forward in Term 3.