READ, GROW, INSPIRE

One of my favourite times of year is seeing students, teachers and the occasional parent, ignore social norms to come to school dressed as a book character that has inspired them or they connect with in some way. An amazing opportunity to talk book characters all day, to discuss our favourite books and why we love them, to suggest to others great books to read, to talk about what books make us laugh or feel happy. Share books that take us on wild adventures or have fantasy themes where we get lost in magical worlds. Books and stories are wondrous things in our world that every child, teacher, parent or grandchild can enjoy. Book week is about celebrating stories and how we connect with them every day. This year's theme, read, grow inspire, sums it up perfectly!

Thank you to all the mums, dads and grandparents who help design costumes and get into the spirit this week and also the teachers for their creative ideas, energetic personalities and love of literature to inspire their costumes today. If you are looking for new books to inspire your childre, please go the the Children's Book Council of Australia's website to check out this year's finalists.

httpss:/cbcaaorgg.aucbcaa-book-week

ANNUALWALKATHON FUNDRAISER

This week, on line permission was sent home to all families to participate in our Walkathon Colour Fun Fundraiser next week.

Permission is needed, as this years event, a colourful twist has been added that includes Holi Powder being sprayed over the children as they walk through colour stations. 

The children are asked to wear white shirts and old shorts / pants as the powder will combine to make a rainbow effect.

Students will be provided a pair of sunglasses to keep and face masks will be available if they choose to wear.

All information regarding the contents of the Holi powder can be found here if you are at all worried.

httpss:/holicolourpowderrcomm.aufaqq/

Students who do not have permission to be covered in Holi powder can still participate in the walkathon. They will be able to walk around the colour stations and then continue walking with friends.

All money from this fundraiser will be going to upgrading our playground space / outdoor learning area between the hall and canteen.

AFTER SCHOOL SAFETY REMINDER

Please be reminded that students can not stay at school unsupervised at the end of the school day to play with their friends as there is no supervision provided.

K-2 - Students picked up from lines or dropped at an after school service.

3-6 - Students dismissed from classrooms and must go directly home or a location to meet parents or carers.

Parents are responsible for the safety of their children before and after school. Please ensure you talk with your child and they are aware of where they need to be after school.

BUILDING WORKS

You may have noticed the painters around the school over the last few weeks. They have just finished painting inside classrooms above the office area and the uniform shop block and they are now making their way around the outside of our main office building, doing all the window frames.

All areas near the painters are sectioned off for student and parent safety.

Books are a chance for us to dive into a whole new world. This year, the theme for book week is ‘Read, Grow and Inspire’, a phrase that can be interpreted in many different ways by many different people. When we read it lets us escape to a multitude of new worlds where our imagination can run free. Vishnu in Year 1 enjoys reading and says that it inspires him to be a better person. 

With every word that you read, you grow in many different ways. To us, being inspired means admiring the traits of characters in books and learning from them. Books are a powerful thing. They inspire us to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. So this week, remember the theme of Book Week 2023 - read, grow and inspire. 

Dr Suess famously stated: 

The more that you read, 

The more you will know. 

The more that you learn, 

The more places you’ll go. 

Written by 2023 Student Leaders

Absences in the Parent Portal 

The School Bytes Parent Portal helps you manage your child's school absences including sick days, late arrivals (without a parent present), and planned absences (e.g. holiday leave less than 10 days).  

It is essential that unexplained absences and late arrivals are actioned in the Parent Portal within 7 days.  

A weekly email from the school will be sent advising an unexplained absence has occurred and requires an explanation.  

Below are instructions on how to use the Parent Portal to manage your child's absences and an ‘Absence Cheat Sheet’:  

https://artarmonps.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/6666/parent_portal_manage_absences.pdf 

SchoolBytes Parent Portal NEWS

ENROL FOR KINDERGARTEN 2024 NOW

If you have a little one at home ready to start Kindergarten in 2024, please use the online enrolment platform to start your application now. All information can be found on our website here: https:/artarmonn-p.schoolsnswwgovv.au/about-our-school/enrolment.html

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office. 

If you have completed the online enrolment process for Kindergarten 2024, we have orientations coming up Wed 8th and Wed 15th November.

Details can be found in the poster below.

Next week on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th August, all classes from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be taking part in an incursion in our school hall presented by Opera Australia, 'El Kid.' This incursion supports our creative and performing arts learning as well as reinforcing important social-emotional learning covered in our well being programs. The cost of this incursion is included in the Term 3 statement. 

Opera Synopsis:

Based on Three Billy Goats Gruff, this 50-minute opera using the popular tunes of Bizet’s Carmen, introduces the drama of opera to primary school students.

In this adaptation, El Kid is just a kid, but the other goats don’t think he’s got much to offer. When they all head out to attend Seville’s biggest fiesta, no one thinks little Diego will have a part to play. But in opera, it’s often the outsider who comes to save the day, and before the party’s over, Diego will prove he’s no silly goats gruff!

El Kid is fun, satirical, slapstick with colour and movement as well as confronting serious issues of bullying, loneliness, sibling rivalry and is a wonderful production for families, children and teachers.

TABLOID SPORTS

On Friday 11^th August, K-2 had their Tabloid Sports Carnival enjoyed a day full of fun and games. Students had so much fun participating in activities like egg and spoon, and obstacle races! They all tried their best and cheered on their friends. A huge thank you to all the parent volunteers and SportPro who made the day possible!

BOYS KNOCKOUT CRICKET

The Artarmon Boys Knockout Cricket team unfortunately lost their last round played on Monday 21^st August against Waitara Public School. The boys played extremely well, and we congratulate them on making it this far in the competition.

Waitara Public School: 147/6

Artarmon Public School: 146/2

GIRLS KNOCKOUT CRICKET

The Artarmon Girls Knockout Cricket team will be playing in the semi finals against Normanhurst West Public School on Monday 4^th September. We wish the girls the best of luck for their game.

ZONE ATHLETICS

The zone field and track events will take place next week on Thursday 31^st August for field events and Friday 1^st September for track events at Sydney Athletic Centre in Narrabeen. We wish all competitors well for their events.

2023 was another excellent year for the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge at Artarmon Public School.

485 students registered to take on the challenge of reading between 20 – 30 books. Well done to our 382 students who succeeded! The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge encourages students to read widely and to develop habits of lifelong reading.

Thank you to all members of our school community who supported students to participate in this important initiative. Certificates of achievement will be issued in Term 4.

Congratulations to the following students who completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge in the final fortnight:

Please join us at the next Parents and Citizens meeting on 30 August 6:45pm to 8pm in our school library. This meeting will be held in hybrid mode via Zoom from 7pm for those who are unable to attend in person. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/69814447743?pwd=elFQM1pEM0FGN1A4MktZTmRoOWJrQT09

Meeting ID: 698 1444 7743
Passcode: 285256

The Year 3 Fundraising Committee is excited to be hosting the 2023 Father’s Day Stall, next week on Thursday 31st August. There will be a variety of Father, Grandfather and carer gifts for the children to choose from. On the day the children will be provided with a token for each gift purchased and then each teacher will take their class to the stall to select their gift(s).

https://apsfathersdaystall2023.floktu.com/

Token purchases close Monday 28th August @5pm or until sold out