Learning From Home

I understand that the latest increase in restrictions and current situation of the COVID pandemic across Greater Sydney and NSW causes a large amount of stress, anxiety and uncertainty. Please remember that teachers and school staff have the same feelings and are working extremely hard at providing online material that is flexible and accessible for every student, and are also managing the best they can at this current time. 

It is so pleasing to see images of students work that has been submitted through Google Classrooms. We are very proud of all the students and the work they are completing at home.

Please remember to use the example timetable sent each week to create a plan for learning at home that works best for your family in your home context. It is not helpful to measure yourself against another family or try and complete every task set.

Below are some images published by the Department around the number of minutes per day each grade level should aim for on English, Mathematics and other KLAs.

Department of Education Q&A for NSW parents with primary aged students

GOOD NEWS STORY

• Orchestra First Place
• Senior Band First Place
• Concert Band Second Place
• Jazz Band Third place
• Senior Strings Highly Commended
• Concert Strings Second Place
• Junior Strings Highly Commended
• Guitar group Highly Commended
• Junior Band didn’t receive an award but were playing one level higher than their age group.

Here is another family friendly art activity from Ms Simms.

It would be great if you could share some images next week of individual masterpieces for everyone to enjoy. If you have attempted one or all of the art activities, please email them to the school email address for sharing in next weeks Newsflash.

Good luck!

Book Week at Home Monday 23 August - Friday 27 August

Each year since 1945 the Children’s Book Council of Australia has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend a week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. This year, Book Week looks a little different. From home,  you can still enjoy the literary achievements and participate in the celebrations. Below are some activities you can try during Book Week.

Welcome back to another Wellbeing Wednesday!

Some articles and information for you today include:

• The Science of Hugging. A great article with a challenge for every family. Click on the link below to read and start hugging.

https://happyyouhappyfamily.com/children-hugging/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Hugging+your+child+has+a+life-long+impact+?&utm_campaign=Hugging+Your+Child%3A+Disengaged\

• UR Strong free parent membership - A great resource to reinforce the language used at school that focuses on the ups and downs of friendship. Help your children stay connected through this difficult time. https://urstrong.com/parents/

This Term, our school will be participating in the Partners in Learning parent survey, another part of the Tell Them From Me suite of surveys (student, teacher and parent surveys) on student engagement. The survey asks parents and carers questions about different factors that are known to impact on student wellbeing and engagement.

Running this survey will help our school understand parents’ and carers’ perspectives on their child’s experience at school. These include: communication between parents/carers and staff, activities and practices at home and parent/carer views on the school's support of learning and behaviour. This valuable feedback will help our school make practical improvements. 

The survey is conducted entirely online on smartphones, iPads, tablets, laptops or computers. The survey will typically take 15 minutes or less to complete and is completely confidential. The parent survey will be conducted over Term 3 and early Term 4. Although participating in the survey is entirely voluntary, your responses are very much appreciated.

More information about the survey is available at: education.nsw.gov.au/ttfm. To access the survey for our school go to: http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/bf9pq

The survey is available in 23 languages.

To read the above information in a different language. Please use the links below.

Arabic_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Chinese_Simplified_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Chinese_Traditional_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Korean_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Russian_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Tamil_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Thai_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Urdu_newsletter_text_parent_survey.pdf

Dear Strings Parents, 

We are over halfway through Term 3, and the online learning and (Zoom) String Ensemble rehearsals have been going well. Thank you, students for participating eagerly each week and ensuring you have your new music sheets printed prior to the rehearsals.  

This week’s joke.

Q: Why is it so hard to open the piano?
A: Because the keys are inside.

If students would like to send in a music joke, please do to strings.artarmonpandc@gmail.com

Please note that all music rehearsals, whether it is with the tutor or ensemble rehearsals, these will all continue to be online until further notice.

Here’s this week’s tip regarding sight reading for students to practice.

3. Time signature

Look at the time signature. Clap or tap the rhythm of the passage whilst counting the beats out loud. Alternatively, you can use a metronome, or use rhythm sounds whilst tapping the beat. Go over any difficult and tricky rhythms.

Update your details

If you are not receiving emails from the Strings Committee, you need to log into your parent portal and update your contact details immediately. A lot of information goes out via email that is not included in Newsflash.

If you have trouble logging into the parent portal, email your group coordinator or the strings address below.

Please let your strings coordinator know if you have not received an email link to attend ensemble rehearsals for Training Strings, Junior Strings, Concert Strings, Senior Strings via Zoom run by Mr Mansukhani. Please check that these invites are not in your spam/junk/promotions folder.

Ensemble rehearsals: Currently on ZOOM         

If your child is sick and/or unable to attend a rehearsal, please notify your corresponding Strings Coordinator.

Informative videos to help with string instruments.

If your instrument is out of tune, do not forget to have a look at these informative videos to help with string instruments. These videos will assist with how to tune and take care of the violin. These have been most helpful to ensure the violin is in tune during practice. Please watch with your child. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOP1ht4mHt0bLr-boSTZ9ig/featured

Volunteers needed.

We still need to fill the following volunteer roles to assist with Strings in 2021/2022:

• STRINGS CO-CONVENOR:  Assists Convenor with insurances, instrument purchases, newsflash writeups, replies to email queries, updates MSM portal, event planning, liaises with Strings committee, uniform shop, school, and Mr Mansukhani. Takes over the reins of Convenor for a minimum 2-year term. Requires work in your own home.  Approximately 2 hours a week.

By volunteering you will be making a valuable contribution to the running of the String program and your child(ren) will love to see you get involved. If you are interested in volunteering for one of these roles or would like more information, please email strings.artarmonpandc@gmail.com

Got a question?

If it is about your hired instrument or instrumental tutorial, please contact your tutor at first instance.

Alternatively contact our instrument coordinator or strings coordinator if required. For anything else please contact your Strings Convenor.

Tutorials:

If you have a question regarding your child’s tutorial, please email your Tutor in the first instance. Alternatively, email Jane at tutorband@artarmonpandc.org.au

THANK YOU!

2021 Strings Committee

Dear Band & Orchestra Parents,

We hope you and your families are continuing to stay safe and have adapted to the routine of online learning and (Zoom) Band rehearsals.  

Confirming Zoom links for online rehearsals will remain valid until week ending Friday the 3^rd of September.

It has been great to see a high level of participation from Band & Orchestra students in online rehearsals and music tutorials. Thank you to all the students and parents for their participation and cooperation. Well done everyone!  

If you have a question regarding online music tutorials, please contact your tutor directly.  

For any general enquiries, please email your Band Coordinator or alternatively email band@artarmonpandc.org.au

Band & Orchestra Online (Zoom) Rehearsal Times:

Confirming all band & orchestra rehearsals will continue online (via Zoom) until further notice. All rehearsal Zoom links sent via email on the 18^th of July, will remain valid until the week ending Friday 3^rd of September.

Any future transition back to in-person rehearsals will be in accordance with APS (Artarmon Public School) and the Department of Education COVID-19 guidelines.

Please find following online (Zoom) timetable for all Band and Orchestra ensemble groups:

• Training Band: Fridays 8am to 8:40am
• Junior Concert Band: Tuesdays 4pm to 4:40pm and Thursdays 8am to 8:40am
• Concert Band: Mondays 8am to 8:40am and Wednesdays 4pm to 4:40pm
• Senior Concert Band: Tuesdays 8am to 8:40am and Fridays 4pm to 4:40pm
• Orchestra: Wednesdays from 8am to 8:40am
• Jazz Band: Thursdays from 3pm to 3:40pm

Zoom links for rehearsals were emailed to all Band & Orchestra parents on the 18^th of July. Please check your email and junk mail folder if you have not received. Alternatively email band@artarmonpandc.org.au

If your child is sick and/or unable to attend a rehearsal, please notify your Band Coordinator.

New Music:

During Term 3, Band and Orchestra students will be learning some new and interesting music pieces.

Emails have been sent to Band and Orchestra parents with links to the new music. If you have not received, please check your email/junk mail.

Tutorials:

Confirming we have moved to online individual/group tutorials for Band students.

If you have a question regarding your child’s tutorial, please email your Tutor directly in the first instance. Alternatively email Jane at tutorband@artarmonpandc.org.au

Band Committee 2021

A big thank you to all these parents who have volunteered to help with the running of band this year. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

We still need to fill the following volunteer roles to assist with the running of Band in 2021/2022:

• Band Convenor 2022 (Co-convenor 2021) – WANTED
• Band Secretary 2021

Serena and Kali finish their volunteer Convenor/Assistant Convenor roles at the end of Term 4 (2021).  We need a new Band Convenor and Band Co-Convenor for 2022 and would ideally like someone to start in the Convenor/Co-convenor role(s) before the end of Term 3 (2021). This will allow time for handover/training and involvement in end of year Band activities. If you are interested in finding out more about the Band Convenor role email  band@artarmonpandc.org.au.

Many of the band committee roles & responsibilities are very flexible, can be performed from home with a computer and internet connection and fitted in around other work and/or family commitments.  

By volunteering you will be making a valuable contribution to the APS Community and the Band & Orchestra Program. Your child(ren) will love to see you get involved and it’s a great way to help with the local school community and to support the running of the APS Music program!

If you are interested in getting involved in the music program as a parent volunteer or would like more information about volunteer roles available email band@artarmonpandc.org.au

THANK YOU!