CONGRATULATIONS YEAR 6

What an amazing time we all had going on a journey through Disneyland with our Year 6 students last night at their annual performance.

Before I share with you all the synopsis and some images of the show, I want to express again my amazement and thanks to all our Year 6 teachers who wrote, choreographed, designed/made costumes and directed over 200 students to make that happen.

We are all very proud of all of our students either on stage, playing in the band and working backstage. Every person involved in the night was exceptional and showed great determination and teamwork to pull it all together.

Every newsletter, I keep sharing stories of success from our students and teachers and it fills me with pride each time to see what we accomplish every week.

Synopsis of the show:

A group of excited Year 6 students embark on a once-in-a-lifetime school excursion to Disneyland on a special open day just for them. As they take in the wonders of the park and watch the dazzling Disney parade, each iconic Disney movie featured in the parade shares magical messages about growing up and preparing for their next big adventure: high school.

Along the way, the students reflect on important life lessons: to be resilient like the Star Wars heroes, to be themselves like Belle and the Beast, to find their way like Ariel in The Little Mermaid, and to try not to sweat the small stuff like in The Lion King. They learn to enjoy the ride like in Cars, embrace their unique qualities and support each other like in Encanto, be adaptable like The Incredibles, and embrace new experiences like in Alice in Wonderland.

As the parade draws to a close, the students realise they need to enjoy the present moment because the rest of their story is still unwritten, waiting for them to shape it.

Multicultural Fair

Further down in the Newsletter is our save the date and come along to the Artarmon Public School Multicultural Fair.

This fair is a past tradition of Artarmon that is making its comeback to help our community celebrate our outstanding diversity and connection together as a school. The day is filled with activities, stalls, food and more. 

It is a time to come together and be a part of what makes Artarmon who we are.

Thank you to Jackie Sternfield and her amazing Year 3 parent volunteers who have been working behind the scenes to pull this together. They put in a significant amount of work because they see the value in a school community and having experiences that help us feel a part of where our children learn and want to make it a better place.

CONGRATULATIONS LAUREN WOO

Again celebrating an outstanding achievement from one of our Year 6 students Lauren Woo.

Lauren was the winner of the Nation Wide, What Matters Competition, Year 5/6 category.

Below is Lauren's winning submission. Please take the time to read it and I am positive everyone who does will reflect on 'What Matters' in life.

Congratulations Lauren, we are so very proud of you.

In the serene warmth of her grandmother’s kitchen, Meilin watched with wide eyes as the matriarch of her family prepared tea with a grace that only comes from decades of practice. The steam rose in delicate swirls from the ancient cast-iron teapot, an heirloom that told as many stories as the wrinkles etched deeply into her grandmother’s face.

“Try it, Meilin,” her grandmother urged, pouring the amber liquid into a delicate porcelain cup . The scent was intoxicating, a blend of herbs and flowers from the old country, a recipe passed down through generations.

Meilin hesitated; her small hands wrapped around the cup. “It’s hot,” she murmured, blowing gently on the surface to cool it.

“But sweet, and full of taste,” her grandmother replied with a knowing smile, her voice a soft melody that seemed to harmonise with the gentle clink of china and the quiet hum of the kettle.

Trusting her grandmother’s wisdom, Meilin took a small sip. The tea was indeed hot, but it danced on her tongue with a sweetness that made her eyes sparkle in delight. It was a taste that spoke of history, of comfort, and of home.

“Try the tea again a little later, Meilin,” her grandmother suggested, her tone gentle yet insistent.

As the afternoon sun dipped below the horizon, Meilin reached for the cup once more. The porcelain, now cold to the touch, had lost its earlier warmth. She brought the cup to her lips and took a sip. The tea had transformed; it was now bitter, a harsh contrast to the sweet warmth she had enjoyed earlier.    

Her grandmother, watching closely, said softly, “Life is like tea, my child. When the tea is hot, when our bodies are warm with life, we should cherish it. For before you know it, the tea goes cold and our loved ones are gone.”

Years passed, and Meilin grew into a woman, her life a tapestry of experiences that built upon the foundation her grandmother had laid. She ventured far and wide, tasted the teas of many lands, and lived with the fervour of one who understood the preciousness of each moment.

It was a crisp autumn day when Meilin found herself back in the kitchen of her childhood, the walls echoing with silence where her grandmother’s voice once filled the air. She was there to bid farewell, to honour the woman who had taught her the delicate balance of life’s flavours.

As she stood by the graveside, a porcelain cup of tea in her hands, Meilin reflected on the lesson she had learned so many years ago. The tea was hot, a familiar comfort amidst the sorrow. She savoured the taste, the sweetness mingled with a tinge of sadness, and she remembered.

She remembered the laughter, the stories, and the wisdom. She remembered the warmth of her grandmother’s embrace, the twinkle in her eyes, and the love that had poured into every cup of tea she had ever made.

And as the final words were spoken and the crowd began to disperse, Meilin took one last sip. The tea had cooled, but this time, she found a new understanding in its bitterness. It was a reminder to cherish the warmth of life, to savour each moment, and to carry the love of those who have passed into everything she did.

The cup now empty, Meilin placed it gently on her grandmother’s resting place, a silent promise to make the most of the hot tea of life, and to honour the memory of the woman who had taught her the beauty of its fleeting taste.

WHAT IS ON IN TERM 4!

TERM 4 INVOICES

This week our Term 4 invoices went live in the SchoolBytes Parent Portal. You should have received an email with a link and details.

If you have any issues with accessing the portal or any questions, please call the office and we will be more than happy to help.

Thank you so much for your early payment and for providing online permissions. This makes a significant difference to our teachers and office staff when planning activities linked to the teaching and learning programs.

SZApp Push Notification Issue

There is currently an issue with the push notifications. They are working on the issue and hopefully this will be fixed soon.

Further Chess Club Success

Last Friday, the APS Chess Club competed in the finals of the Sydney Academy of Chess’ Interschool competition. Our team was: Winston Bai 4DG, Elvin Di 5LB, Alex Li 6MB, Ike Chang 3MM and Daniel Lowe 5LB.

The Moon Festival, also called the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, is one of the most important traditional holidays celebrated by Chinese people. It always falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the year according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Every year on Mid-Autumn day, people get together to celebrate peace, harmony, and friendship. The Moon Festival is a day for families and friends to wish each other good luck, good health and to enjoy mooncakes.

Colour Walkathon

Our Colour Walkathon is a fun fitness activity for ALL students. Students will walk as many laps of the course as possible within the allocated time. The goal for each student is to help raise funds for the school.

Please register your interest to volunteer here.

The “NSW Police Legacy Child Safety Handbook” is a comprehensive and free resource to assist parents, carers as well as teachers on a range of topics essential to child safety.  

This new digital edition (link below) includes important content updates from: NSW Rural Fire Service (NEW fire danger ratings), NSW Health (Water & Pool Safety), Transport NSW (School Bus Safety).

The handbook is also available to download for free on all the App stores.

Click here to download the handbook.