Welcome to the start of Term 3!

It has been an incredibly busy beginning to the term, but it has been fantastic to have so many events celebrating our students and life at Artarmon.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the athletics carnival and gave it their all. It was a terrific day, and it was wonderful to see everyone joining in and having fun.

Final results, including ribbons and notifications for students who qualify to represent Artarmon at the Zone carnival, will be shared with students over the next week. Notes will be sent home via email and through the School Bytes portal.

SRC KINDNESS PROJECT

Our SRC-led 'Kindraiser' last term was a tremendous success, and we are currently in the design phase of our school's 'Kind' mural.

We were fortunate to have the school photographer capture this project, and we are excited to share the results with you here.

Continuing with their Kindness Project, the student leaders contacted the author of 'The Kindness Project,' Deborah Abela, to see if they could interview her, and she kindly agreed.

The interview for their next podcast was recorded last week. We are still in the editing phase; however, we hope to release the next episode soon and share it with you all.

PUBLIC EDUCATION WEEK - OPEN DAY

Public Education Week is an annual celebration of public education in NSW, recognising the accomplishments of our school, teachers, and students. This year’s theme is "Ignite Your Potential."

We are excited to welcome you to our school next THURSDAY for a morning of festivities and open classrooms, where we can showcase our dedication and celebrate Artarmon during Public Education Week.

Please find the poster below with all the details for the morning.

KUDOS TO OUR DANCE GROUPS

DOWNLOADING YOUR STUDENT ACADEMIC REPORTS

Please see the links below to find out about the exciting learning and activities for each grade.

Year_3_Term_3_Newsletter_2025.pdf

Check-in Assessments for Year 3 to Year 6 Students

During Term Three, students from Year 3 to Year 6 will participate in Check-in assessments.

The Check-in assessment is a NSW Department of Education online literacy and numeracy assessment available to support schools to assess and monitor student learning.

The assessments are used to supplement existing school practices to identify how students are performing in literacy and numeracy, and also to support teachers as they tailor their teaching more specifically to student needs.

• The assessment will be scheduled for our students across Weeks 6, 7, 8 and 9 this term.   
• All students complete a reading assessment and a numeracy assessment.
• Year 6 students will also complete a writing assessment during this time period.

If you feel your child may need to use headphones or earbuds that plug into a computer to support them to remain focused, please send these to school with your child during this time. Please ensure these are labelled with your child’s full name and class.

We are excited to announce that our SRC will be hosting a Pyjama Day on the 14th of August, as part of our Kindness Initiative.

On this special day, all students at APS are encouraged to come to school in their cosy pyjamas! This is a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together and show kindness while supporting a great cause.

We kindly ask that each student bring a small donation to contribute to Stewart House, which provides vital support and care for children in need. 

It is hard to believe we have already enjoyed two terms at school.

As we commence term three we have a lot to look forward to, and it is important to acknowledge the great things we have achieved.

Our personal development program, “Earn your turn” has been positively received, and I have had the pleasure of visiting sixteen classrooms so far.

Earn your turn is a program created by Mrs Wilkinson, which aims to create a positive learning environment. All students in the classroom are encouraged to work collaboratively in order to achieve a common goal. The common goal is to have me, APS school dog Bronte, come into the classroom with Mrs Wilkinson.

The lessons we are presenting are all centred around compassion, gratitude, and friendship. Students participate in an age appropriate activity which they can take away and share with others, this allows them to repeat the information, reinforcing the message. Teachers have all remarked on the positive effect this program has had on their students, with students happily working together and demonstrating a noticeable increase in awareness of kindness and consideration, and the impact their behaviour has on others.

Another aspect of my role at APS is to visit students who are experiencing difficulties. I really enjoy this opportunity to get to know some more friends. 

I regularly check in on students and enjoy the love and pats that are a part of that process.

From my area in the Library, I have a wonderful view of students who come to visit during lunchtime. I am impressed by the number of students taking advantage of the quiet space to read, look at books, or just sit quietly. I am always happy to see my regular friends’ smiling faces.

Mr Coombes has invited me to attend the next P&C meeting at school, and I will be very happy to meet you there. 

I am very grateful to be able to walk through the playground without being chased by loud students; a human tsunami is frightening even to my handler.

Best Wishes, Bronte xxxx 

The schedule for our Primary Choir (Years 3-6) rehearsals has been adjusted. Beginning in Week 3, rehearsals will now take place on Wednesday mornings at 8:15 AM, prior to the start of the school day. 

This change has been made to accommodate various scheduling conflicts that have arisen during our regular timeslot. We appreciate your understanding and support as we strive to provide the best experience for our choir members. 

Students will meet outside the music classroom, located above the uniform shop. Additionally, we are excited to welcome new members in Semester 2! If your child is interested in joining the choir, please encourage them to come along. 

Thank you for your cooperation, and we look forward to seeing your child at the new rehearsal time! 

Book Club orders close on Friday, 8th August. 

Willoughby Council - The Community Voice Panel

Later this year, Council is launching the Community Voice Panel, a group of local residents who will be invited to provide feedback on Council plans, strategies, and projects throughout the year. The aim is to make community engagement more inclusive by hearing from a broader range of people—not just the loudest or most active voices.

Panel members may be invited to participate in up to four sessions per year, depending on upcoming projects. These sessions will be interactive and workshop-style, offering opportunities to give early input into ideas, plans, and policies. Participation could also include short surveys, polls, or focus groups—nothing too technical or time-consuming.

The Panel is open to anyone who lives, works, or studies in the Willoughby LGA, and Council is especially keen to ensure the group reflects the full diversity of our community. It would be fantastic to see parents from Artarmon Public School represented.

Register your interest here:

Community Voice Panel | Have Your Say Willoughby