Artarmon Public School eNewsletter

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Happy Week 10 to EVERYONE!

A huge congratulations to all our students for their achievements this term. It still blows me away what we are able to fit into a term and learning experiences and the opportunities our students are offered by our amazing staff.

It has been a wonderful term and it was so good to connect with our families, one on one, this week and share students achievements with you through our Parent Teacher Interviews.

I also wanted to shout out to KKA today who I was lucky enough to see their amazing class item for their assembly today.

How cute do they look and how fun is it to see their faces when they get to perform on stage.

REMINDERS:

There are a few reminders I wanted to share with you all as we finish the term and get ready for a well deserved break.

1. Please download and save your child's Semester One Report - Once you leave Artarmon, this will no longer be visible

2. Make sure you have have the School Bytes app on your phone and notifications turned on. The SZapp will be phased out soon. All information will come through the School Bytes app.

3. Look at the Term 3 calendar and Save the important dates!

Term 3 is an exciting term with both Public Education Week and Book Week and we are very much looking forward to celebrating both these with our community.

P&C AGM & TERM 3 INVOICES

Thank you to everyone who attended the P&C AGM last week. While I expressed my gratitude to our outgoing P&C executive at the meeting, I want to take this opportunity to thank them once again. Having an active P&C is crucial for maintaining a strong connection with our community and for collaborating effectively to ensure our school has the best possible resources for our students and staff.

During the meeting, the P&C not only voted in a new executive team but also voted to support the school with a Term 3 P&C $50 voluntary contribution built into the Term 3 invoice. I appreciate all the families who have supported the P&C with this contribution through your term fees.

In Term 3, these funds will be used to replace several classroom interactive panels that are essential for delivering our teaching and learning programs daily. Each panel costs approximately $5,000 to $6,000, and with over 40 classrooms, we aim to replace 5-7 panels each year due to their frequent use. Additionally, some of the funds will be allocated to upgrading sporting equipment and representative sport uniforms.

Your Term 3 invoices are now available in the School Bytes portal, and you should have received an email regarding this. In the portal, you can view a detailed breakdown of your child's fees and their allocations.

As previously mentioned, the funds required for incursions and excursions are vital as they enhance classroom learning, and without these fees, we would be unable to provide these valuable experiences.

ONLINE SAFETY MESSAGE

As we approach the upcoming holiday, I want to take this opportunity to encourage families to engage in meaningful discussions about online safety and responsible device usage at home.

More often we are hearing stories at school of students playing online games late at night or being caught in a email or text chat with friends that gets out of hand when someone says something innapropriate.

Please know that as parents and families we need to work together to ensure we are keeping our students safe at all times and teaching and modelling safe online behaviour.

Here are some key points to consider as a family:

Set Clear Boundaries: Discuss and establish guidelines for when and where devices can be used. Consider designating tech-free zones for example bedrooms.
Supervise Online Activity: Keep devices in common areas where you, as parents, can monitor children's online interactions.
Talk About Online Content: Engage your children in conversations about the types of content they are accessing. Teach them to identify safe and educational resources versus harmful or inappropriate material.
Encourage Open Communication: Make sure your children know they can come to you with any concerns or questions about what they encounter online. Building trust is crucial.
Educate About Privacy: Discuss the importance of keeping personal information private and the potential consequences of sharing too much online.

To assist you further, here are some valuable resources that can guide your discussions and help reinforce safe online practices:

Australian Government –eSafety: eSafetygovv.au offers a range of resources for parents, including tips on managing online risks and understanding social media platforms.
Common Sense Media: CommonSenseMediaorgg provides reviews and advice on media and technology, helping families make informed choices about their children’s media consumption.

I encourage you to take the time during the holidays to discuss these important topics with your children. Together, we can ensure that their online experiences are safe, positive, and enriching. Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our children safe.

WISHING YOU A SAFE AND RELAXING HOLIDAY PERIOD

Finally, as we wrap up this term, I want to wish you all a restful and relaxing holiday! ? It's time to kick back, recharge, and enjoy some quality time together.

Whether you’re heading off on an adventure or enjoying some cosy days at home, we hope you find plenty of joy and relaxation. Take this time to unwind, explore, and create wonderful memories!

Get ready to return for an exciting and engaging Term 3. We have some fun activities planned and some serious learning to get stuck into.