Good afternoon Artarmon families.

Welcome to our second last newsletter for the year before we move into the summer holidays.

As always there is a lot happening over the school in the last few weeks of the year, but our teachers and students will continue working hard to complete the teaching and learning programs.

SEMESTER TWO ACADEMIC REPORTS

Teachers are currently preparing and finalising the second semester academic reports for students and will continue to do so over the next few weeks. These will be published at the end of their term and will be viewable in your School Bytes portal. If you have not downloaded the new school bytes portal app, do so here!

Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/school-bytes/id6463097826

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=education.schoolbytes&pli=1 

Academic reports are written and compiled using a range of assessments, teacher observations, conferencing and class work to provide you with a snap shot of key concepts taught and learnt based off the teaching and learning programs linked to the NSW syllabus. 

When these are published, please read them and ensure you show your child/ren too. Be proud of what they have achieved this year and what they are working towards in their learning.

BUILDING WORKS - ADMINISTRATION BLOCK

Below is some information about the upcoming building works that will start on our school site at the end of the month.

What works will be happening?

New slate tiles being installed on B Block (Main office administration block)

Start date:

• Tuesday Week 8 – 28^th November – Finished during the holidays

Background:

• B Block is over 100 years old is a heritage listed building.
• Slate tiles are broken and loose and in great need of repair.
• Temporary timber has been installed over the past year for safety measures.
• Tiles have to be sourced from Europe to comply with heritage listing.

What are the impacts for our school?

• The whole building will be scaffolded for the entire time of the project.
• Currently only impacting our school for the last two and a half weeks of this term.

Will I still be able to access the administration building and office staff?

• Yes, there will be a safe pathway and signage to the main door using the current ramp access.

Will my child in the Year 1 classrooms be impacted?

• Students and teachers accessing the rooms during this time are entirely safe.
• There will be two main access points (McMillan Playground stairs and front door next to the office entrance) students will be with teachers to enter and exit the building.

How is the area safe for students?

• The entire area including an exclusion zone will be scaffolded to keep students and staff safe.
• Teachers will be making adjustments for playground supervision and talking with students about being safe around the scaffolding.

Other impacts for the community?

• The gate from the street to the uniform shop will be closed. To access the uniform shop, please use main gate and walk around to the shop window.
• If you use this gate to enter or exit the school, please talk with your child to arrange an alternative gate.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility during this time. Please know that as a staff and school we will ensure safety at all times and work with all students to learn how to be safe and make sensible choices around scaffolding and building works.

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

STUDENT SAFETY - HAMPDEN ROAD

If your child walks to and from school, please take a moment to sit and chat with them about the route they take to ensure they are safe at all times. I received a distressing phone call this week from a member of the public who witnessed students from Artarmon running across Hampden Rd and almost being hit by a car.

At assembly this week, I personally spoke with all 3-6 students about my concerns for their safety and reminded them to ensure they are using the safe crossings to keep themselves safe.

Again, please, if your child walks to and from school to get home, take this time to ensure you and your family have a conversation about road safety and it grave importance.

McMillan Rd Pedestrian Crossing: If you drive to collect students from school, please take care and drive slowly at all times. I have also had feedback from concerned residents about cars driving too fast up McMillan and Abbott Rd when children are around.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our outstanding School Captains for representing our school at Saturday's Remembrance Day ceremony at the Chatswood Garden of Remembrance. The respect and maturity they showed was exemplary and  valued by our community on such a significant day. On Friday through our school assembly and in classes, teachers took time to allow our students to understand the reason why we commemorate this day and help ensure the tradition is carried on through the generations.

CAROLS NIGHT

The end of the year is always a reason to take the time and connect with our school community and enjoy and celebrate everything we have been able to achieve this year and those we have built relationships with.

If you haven’t already put our annual Carols night which will be held on 8 December in your calendar, this is a great opportunity to do so now.

See below in Carols night article images with details and how to donate some baked goods to help sell on the night.

The first day of school for most students next year will be Thursday 1st February 2024. Year 5 OC students will begin on Friday 2nd February 2024 and new Kindergarten students will be informed by letter of their starting date.

It is vital that we know if your child/children will NOT be returning to Artarmon or will be returning late next year. Some families take extended holidays in January/February and we need to know your return date so that your enrolment can be counted. This information will enable the school to plan for staffing and classing needs. This note does not apply to Year 6 students.

If your family are not returning in 2024 or returning late, please let us know by filling in this simple form:

https://forms.office.com/r/YwD80YXui5

ETHICS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 2024

Primary Ethics in Artarmon Public School

Can you spare an hour each Wednesday afternoon in 2024? Consider volunteering as an ethics teacher. We are seeking more volunteers so that we can provide ethics classes for all the families who have requested it for their children.

In ethics lessons, students explore everyday issues suitable for their age. They learn to think and listen carefully, to make decisions backed by good reasons and evidence, and to discuss and disagree without putdowns. As an ethics teacher, you’ll get a lot out of it too!

Our volunteers come from all walks of life. They can be parents, grandparents, uni students or local community members. You don’t need past teaching experience. Primary Ethics offers full, free training, lesson scripts and ongoing teaching support. 

If you are looking for an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to our school, please visit http://primaryethics.com.au/volunteer/ or contact Stephanie at stephaniebone@gmail.com for more information.

To all Year 5 families

Below is the information regarding the application process for Selective High School for Year 7, 2025.

Applications open 9th October - 20th November

Information for applicants:

Information_for_applicants_SHS_Year_7_Entry_.pdf

Selective High Schools and Opportunity Classes Year 7 website.

All candidates are required to sit the Selective High School Placement Test on Thursday 9 May 2024.

Please see the following link for this information translated into other languages.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/general-information/translated-resources