Wild weather and wet weeks are not even fun for ducks, let alone parents, kids and teachers who are stuck inside day after day after day.  It has been great to see that our students have been so positive with the persistent pouring of precipitation that has been keeping them indoors for learning and play.

Our Year 5 students and teachers were today meant to be starting their three day adventure at The Great Aussie Bush Camp in Tea Gardens, however, to ensure the safety of all we had to cancel it yesterday afternoon. I spoke with all of Year 5 students  to explain our reasons and I would like to thank them for their maturity in dealing with the sad news and understanding of the reasons we needed to take such action. We have been in communication with the GABC this morning and re booked for Wednesday 10th - Fri 12th August. More information will come home about this closer to the date. 

NATURAL DISASTERS

Our thoughts and best wishes are with those people and families in communities affected by the current floods and torrential weather systems along the East Coast of Australia. Please be aware that children can see images on the television or hear reports on the radio or through listening to conversations and that can be distressing. As a family please ensure you talk appropriately to your children if they are asking questions or you think they are upset or confused. It is important that children are supported through their learning of life events by trusted family members. 

COVID SMART MEASURES - From Monday 7th March

As communicated last week, the Department of Education has lifted some restrictions around schools organisation and COVID Smart measures within schools.

Masks:

Staff will no longer be mandated to wear a mask when indoors. Staff and students will not be discouraged from doing so if they wish.

Staggered Break Times:

Our school will be moving back to our normal bell times for all cohorts during the day.

Morning Session: 8:55-10:55

Middle Session: 11:20 - 12:50

Afternoon Session: 1:40 - 2:55

Students are still allocated particular playgrounds to use in each break times, however, there may be some mixing of cohorts.

All other COVID smart measures such as ventilation, hygiene and cleaning, RATs distributed across the school community for symptomatic testing and mandatory vaccination for all staff and onsite visitors / volunteers are still in place.

SRC REPRESENTATIVES

Congratulations to our class elected SRC Representatives for the first semester 2022. They will be working closely with Ms Smith, Ms Harrington and Ms Fenton to develop leadership skills and support the students and school community.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS

You might have noticed a heavy police and council presence at pick up and drop off times around the school. This is due to a major concern for students safety around our roads. Please choose safety for ALL over convenience. We understand that especially on wet days when more families drive, there are limited places to park, however, this should not deter from the fact that safety of our children should come first, at all times, and we should do everything to keep them safe.

Please remember:

• Drive forward in the kiss and drop / pick up zone - If your child is waiting for you they can walk safely to your car.
• Drive around the block if your child is not visible or you can not find a park.
• Do not park in 'no stopping' zones.
• Stop at the 'Stop' sign when driving through the shared zone of Hampton lane.
• Do not park in the Bus zone on Abbott Rd in the afternoon.
• Do not double park and ask your child to run onto the road and hop in your car.
• Park safely and legally on Barton Rd.

If you are ever unsure, please just ask yourself, is what I am doing safe for everyone and legal.

UR Strong- Language of Friendship- FREE Parent Webinar

Wednesday 9^th March 6-7pm

Selective High Test ~ Thursday 10^th March

The Selective High School Placement Test will be conducted on Thursday 10 March 2022. Due to the unpredictable nature of COVID-19 and to support community safety, Artarmon Public School students will be tested at school on this day. There are no external venues.

The test will be delivered in the usual paper-based format. Students will be divided amongst Year 6 classrooms, according to the place number allocated to them by the High Performing Students Team. All Year 6 teachers will follow the same procedures for the test.

Test authority letters were sent to all applicants by email on the evening of 24 February 2022. Please check your spam folder if you did not find the email. Please message the High Performing Students Team urgently if you have not received your child’s test authority email.

If your child will be taking part in this process, please ensure that they:

• Arrive at school as usual, before 8:55 am
• Bring two lead pencils, an eraser, and a sharpener to school that day
• Bring their test authority letter, which contains their student number, to hand to their supervising teacher
• Has a clear bottle of water, glasses, asthma inhaler and spacer, if required
• Has their normal recess, crunch and sip and lunch for the day

Some students become quite anxious about tests and changes to routine. Please ensure your child has regular bedtimes and nutritious food, as usual, in the lead up to the test day.

Students will be asked to meet in the McMillan playground upon the bell. They will already be informed of the teacher who will supervise them during the test and the room they will attend.

Year 6 students who are not taking the test, will be supervised during this time.

If you have any additional questions, please refer to the Selective High Schools and Opportunity Classes website (https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes) or contact the school.

We wish all test candidates well in these exams.

Jo Miller

OC Assistant Principal

Band parents, remember to check Newsflash regularly for upcoming events and important band updates. We will publish advance dates as soon as we know them to help you plan your year!

Band Rehearsals

Due to Year 5 Great Aussie Bush Camp 2022, following rehearsal will be affected:

Wednesday 2^nd March 2022

• Orchestra rehearsal from 8.00am to 8.50am is cancelled

Thursday 3^rd March 2022

• Senior Concert Band rehearsal from 2.00pm to 2.55pm is cancelled. Please join Concert Band rehearsal at 12.20pm to 1.10pm for all the year 6 and remaining year 5 students who are not in the camp.
• Jazz Band rehearsal at 3pm to 4pm is cancelled

Regular band rehearsal times:  

• Training Band: Friday 8.00am to 8.50 am
• Junior Concert Band: Mondays 10.55pm to 11.45pm & Thursdays 8.00am to 8.50am 
• Concert Band: Mondays 8.00am to 8.50am & Thursdays 12.20pm to 1.10pm 
• Senior Concert Band:  Tuesdays 8.00am to 8.50am & Thursdays 2.00pm to 2.55pm
• Orchestra: Wednesdays from 8.00am to 8.50am 
• Jazz Band: Thursdays from 3.00pm to 4.00pm

All band rehearsals are held in the school music room. For rehearsals before school, students should arrive at school promptly at 7.50am so that the rehearsal can start by 8am.

Creative Kids Voucher – Reminder 

If you wish to use your Creative Kids voucher for Band, please log into the Parent Portal and provide details by completing the form online. If you wish to use the Creative Kids voucher you must pay $100 less than your invoice total. We will then credit the $100 against your invoice when we have redeemed the voucher from Service NSW. You must do this before you pay your band invoice. 

Parent Portal – Update Class Details

Classes for 2022 have been confirmed. 

If your child is enrolled in Band, please log into the Parent Portal and update your child’s class details. This is important information we need for scheduling & communication purposes. 

https://portal.msmusic.com.au/artarmonmusic 

2022 APS Band Annual General Meeting

Tentative date for 2022 APS Band Annual General Meeting will be on Wednesday 16 March 2022.

All committee and parents are welcome to attend. Details and final date will be confirmed soon.

Got a question?

Step 1: Have you looked in the 2022 band information pack? A copy is available in the MSM parent portal.

Step 2: Keep up to date with our weekly Band News.

Step 3:

For instrument related enquiries please contact our Instrument Coordinator Kirsteen at apsbandinstruments@gmail.com.

For tutor related enquires please contact our Tutor Coordinator Jane at tutorband@artarmonpandc.org.au.

For invoicing related enquiries, please contact our Treasurer Lynn at treasurerband@artarmonpandc.org.au.

Step 4: for any other enquiries please contact your wonderful Band Coordinators!

Thanks again to students and parents for their continuing cooperation and support of the Band program. 

THANK YOU!

Ellis Foong & Christine Cao – 2022 Band Co-Convenors

Email: band@artarmonpandc.org.au

Dear Strings Parents

Strings parents, please remember to check Newsflash regularly for upcoming events and important updates. We will publish advance dates as soon as we know them to help you plan your year.

Don’t forget to subscribe to SzApp for String Ensemble News. Found under Manage tab, choose the String Ensemble to keep in the loop with any alerts to upcoming events and updated news.

With the latest news, mixing of cohorts are now allowed. Please note the ensemble times and locations. The String ensembles will still go ahead this week even with Year 5 Great Aussie Bush Camp.

Update your child’s class details

Now that classes have been confirmed, please UPDATE your child’s class details on the parent portal. https://portal.msmusic.com.au/artarmonmusic

CREATIVE KIDS – claim and volunteer

In 2022 the NSW Government will continue to contribute a $100 Creative Kids rebate for NSW residents. The Artarmon P&C is currently registered as a Creative Kids provider for the band and strings programs.

If you will be taking advantage of this, your first step is to:

Step 1. Apply for a voucher for your child on the Service NSW website:  go to https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher.

Step 2. Please log into the Parent Portal and provide details by completing the form online.

If you wish to use the Creative Kids Voucher you must pay $100 less than your invoice total. We will then credit the $100 against your invoice when we have redeemed the voucher from Service NSW. This only applies to school ensemble fees and not tuition fees.

Step 3. Any creative voucher enquires please email apscreativevoucher@gmail.com

Correspondence

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 convenor. Please update your child’s class details on the parent portal. https://portal.msmusic.com.au/artarmonmusic

Ensembles 

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

Ensemble rehearsals:

         Junior Strings:                     7:45 for 750am start -8:45am Tuesdays, school hall

         Concert Strings:                  7:45 for 750am start -8:45am Thursdays, school hall

         Senior Strings:                    3-4pm Tuesdays, music room

Got a question?

Step 1: Have you looked in the 2022 Strings information pack? A copy is available in the MSM parent portal.

Step 2: Keep up to date with our weekly Strings News by checking Newsflash in the Schoolzine app.

Step 3: 

For instrument related enquiries please contact our Instrument Coordinators Aarti at APSstringsinstruments@gmail.com

For tutor related enquires please contact our Tutor Coordinator Jane at tutorband@artarmonpandc.org.au.

For invoicing related enquiries, please contact our Treasurers Namitha and Cat at stringstreasurer@gmail.com

Step 4: for any other enquiries please contact your wonderful Band Coordinators: