NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK

National Sorry Day 26 May acknowledges and raises awareness of the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families, communities and culture.

National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

Throughout the week, students at Artarmon have spent time reflecting on the importance of this celebration and its significance to our nation.

PARENT NUMERACY NIGHT

Thank you to the 300 parents that came and engaged with our teachers on Monday night. Parent response was overwhelmingly positive, with many parents feeling they had a greater understanding of how numeracy is taught at Artarmon. Please find some useful Parent Information Booklets on our website: https://artarmon-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/resources-for-parents

DRONE VISIT!

We had a photo for our whole school with a drone last Thursday. It was a fun experience for all. 

SCHOOL DRAMA AT ARTARMON PUBLIC SCHOOL

Artarmon Public School has luckily been chosen to participate in the School Drama program developed by the Sydney Theatre Company in partnership with The University of Sydney. School Drama has a dual focus. The primary focus is on teacher professional learning through the use of a Teaching Artist who models how to use process drama-based strategies with quality children's literature to improve teaching and learning. The secondary focus is on improving student literacy and engagement.

Four classes are taking part in the school drama program at the moment, across different stages. Over a seven week period, Teaching Artists from the Sydney Theatre Company teach drama alongside classroom teachers.  They model different strategies and empower the teacher to confidently integrate these ideas and strategies into their regular teaching practice. 

Our students love School Drama and they are deepening their understanding of rich texts!

Jo Miller

3JM Class Teacher

Year 4 News Flash Report

Excursion to NSW State Library and Sydney Museum

This week all the Year 4 classes have taken part in an excursion to both the State Library and Museum of Sydney as part of our history topic on European settlement and the impact on Indigenous cultures. 

At the State Library we were given the opportunity to examine different Aboriginal tools and learnt about how they lived sustainably on the land. We also had great fun either taking part in, or watching, role playing activities recreating events in the 1780s and 90s. 

During our time at The Sydney Museum we looked at the original site of the first European structures, intricate models of the first fleet and played a game that showed us how challenging communication would have been between the Europeans and the Indigenous Aboriginals. We also had the opportunity to examine and research some artefacts and report back our findings to the others in our groups.

1. Music intensive THIS WEEKEND (concert strings and senior strings only)

Information and permission notes have already been sent out.

Remember to bring:

music stand (marked with your name), instrument, music, lunch, snacks and water.

Volunteers – thank you to all who offered to volunteer. If you haven’t been assigned a time already that means you’re off the hook and are not needed (unless you hear from Nicole Shinfield).

2. Sydney Eisteddfod June 17

Orchestra is to wear FULL WINTER UNIFORM – just in case there was any misunderstanding. So you have more than two weeks to get your stockings, black shoes, grey pants and the rest in order.

3. Instrument damage – what you should do

There have been a few incidents recently with cellos and violins getting damaged. We understand how hard it is for young children especially to take good care of their instruments, and we understand that sometimes damage is not their fault. But please remind them of the importance of looking after their instruments.

If damage does occur:

      1) Contact your tutor. They may be able to assess the severity.

2) Contact The Sydney String Centre on 94712611, send them a photo or take it in for a repair quote.

3) Send that quote to me (on the main strings email address as below) and your tutor.

4) Contact Joanne Wang, the instrument coordinator, on joanne_wang99@yahoo.com to arrange a replacement instrument while your assigned one is being repaired.

5) The program will pay for usual wear and tear, but personal damage should be paid for by the family. That’s why we do recommend including your instrument on your own insurance.

If you are having difficulties maintaining your instrument, transporting it, or have any other concerns with your child, talk to your tutor and your ensemble coordinator first. We don’t want children to struggle with the program or get upset if they can’t maintain it. We would rather try to solve the problem first than have them drop out!

Calendar:

Ensemble rehearsals:

         Training Strings:                 Tuesdays lunchtime

         Junior Strings:                     7:45-8:45am Tuesdays, middle level S block

         Concert Strings:                  7:45-8:45 Thursdays, middle level S block

         Senior Strings:                    3-4pm Tuesdays, music room

         Orchestra:                            8-8:50am Wednesdays, music room

Committee Positions

Training Strings Coordinator – Ellen Hird

Junior Strings Coordinator – Rose Wen

Concert Strings Coordinator – Karen P’ng

Senior Strings Coordinator – Ada Pan

Orchestra Coordinator – Charisma Shyju

Instruments Coordinator – Joanne Wang

Assistant Instrument Coordinators – Priya Chari and Mahsa Razdan

Creative Kids Voucher assistant – Angie Wong

Secretary – Arzoo Patel

Strings Treasurer – Ian Han – stringstreasurer@gmail.com

Assistant – Sonika Sinha

Emma Nicholas, Strings Convenor – strings.artarmonpandc@gmail.com

                                           

Band parents, please check Newsflash weekly for the latest news and reminders, we will publish advance dates as soon as we know them to help you plan your year!

Music Intensive Weekend – next weekend 1^st and 2^nd June

Students: Don't forget to SIGN IN when you arrive. Please  remember to bring a MUSIC STAND and MAKE SURE IT HAS YOUR NAME ON IT (they all look alike!).

Parents: Don't forget to SIGN OUT your child at the end of each day. Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to help over the weekend, those parents who have been rostered to help have been notified by email.

Playathon practice period starts 3 Jun (Training/Junior/Concert/Senior bands)

In the next few days all students will be given a “Playathon” practice log. This is a fun incentive to encourage students to practice their instruments - with prizes! - and is great preparation for the upcoming performances at Sydney Eisteddfod. In addition it is a fundraiser for the band program: a bit like the "Walkathon", students are asked to collect sponsorship for their instrumental practice time over a 2 week period. Funds raised are used to buy instruments, music and equipment for the band program. This year we are planning to buy acoustic shields which protect the hearing of musicians who sit in front of very loud instruments, plus a percussion cabinet.

Got a question?

Have you looked in the 2019 band information pack? A copy is available at https://portal.msmusic.com.au/artarmonmusic.

If it is about your hired instrument or instrumental tutorial please contact your tutor firstly, then our instrument coordinator or tutor coordinator if required.

For anything else please contact your band coordinator.

Friday lunch orders for PSSA or any other early requests (eg: bowling, swimming etc)

1. When you make an order please tick PSSA on the Flexi-schools system. If you don't, your order will be processed as a normal lunch order for 12.30pm.
2. Orders for any soups, sushi or Lasagne cannot be prepared for PSSA students. Please choose from other foods listed on the Flexi-schools menu.
3. Please ensure orders are picked up during recess between 11:00-11:20. Any orders not collected during this time will be put into the regular class boxes with the other non PSSA orders.