NEWSLETTER

St Vartan's Day - Blessing & Holy Communion

Last Thursday, a group of students from Years 5 & 6 joined the special St Vartan’s Day service at the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection. In school tradition, they received blessings and Holy Communion for the start of the new school year and took part in a concise schools’ program.

The program included readings and poetry recitals dedicated to St Vartan, while the sermon by His Eminence Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian reflected on the importance of the ‘Battle of Vartanank’ in 451AD and its significance to the survival of Armenians as Christians. Once again the students displayed exemplary behaviour both during and after the church service. They took part in the congregation by praying and following the Divine Liturgy.

Congratulations to the students who took part in the program. They were led by our Captain Sargis Hambardzumyan, who commenced the program by thanking His Eminence, the clergy and the church council for the invitation. This special day highlighted the spirit of unity and the battles we continue to face as a nation and community.

Notes of Appreciation

As a school, it is imperative that we communicate with our parents. It is through this connection that we are able to evaluate the services we provide, not just in the education of our students but also as a school community. Most of the time, the dialogue between the parents, students and teachers or the executive is related to the everyday operation of the classroom and school. Therefore, as we concentrate on the detail, we may end up shifting our focus from what we have set out to achieve. However, when the year comes to a close and parents decide to provide a reflection, such as the examples below... that's when everything becomes very clear that we are in fact on the right track!

Thank you for passing your thoughts and allowing us to share anonymously with the rest of the school community:

"...Yesterday all four of us sat on the couch as many other families as well, watching remotely the offerings that had been prepared in the lead up to this Christmas concert/graduation with your students, our kids.

As parents we were touched not just by the dances, the singing and the words spoken by our children and all their friends, but by continuing to watch and see and hear the stories of the departing Year 6 class. We realised it will be only few more years before our children graduate!!!! It brought real tears to our eyes and made us feel humble and grateful for the opportunity for our family to be involved in the Armenian culture through the school, connecting with their heritage so deeply.

...We count ourselves lucky despite the 32 km distance to APS, to have the opportunity for our children to be in such personalised Armenian ‘hands’ and hearts.

Again, at this time of year, we recognise your commitment to the school... and are deeply grateful for the work our teachers have done over the year. Our children love the school, go happy every day and return enriched through a deep sense of belonging, albeit yet largely unconscious, instilled in them -- it is there and tangible for us!

...Thank you all deeply for the work you have done and will do into the future for a better world by moulding the young hearts and souls in your care!!!"

I would like to share another letter from parents who have used their precious time and made a great effort to express their appreciation. The parents who handed this letter to me apologised for the length of their reflection, but we certainly make no apology on its content...

"Starting one's school career as a four and a half year old is a daunting chapter in life. One leaves the familiar settings of home behind to take on board new adventures, meet new characters and become part of new settings. Inevitably, all these novelties create a whirlwind of butterflies in the stomach which fly all the way up to the tear ducts. As parents are ever so slowly trying to escape the first drop off, the butterflies tickle these ducts releasing an uncontrollable torrent of tears. Parents are trapped, weighted down by a guilt concoction of frustration and grief, making escape impossible.

Indeed, at the beginning of the year, this was our situation with ...... and we were at a loss with what to do. We really were dreading the fact that every morning was going to be like a drama filled soap opera as the ......ian's dropped off their child. Fortunately for us, this was not the case. Your safe, supportive and caring school environment made sure of that.

As the days became weeks, and the weeks became months, ......'s confidence at school developed immensely. He was eager to attend every day and felt very much comfortable as part of the Alexander Primary School community. He would consistently tell us all the rules and rituals that were a part of the school, from the marvellous merit certificates all the way down to the dreaded 'red book'. With enthusiasm and eagerness in his voice, it was obvious he was loving school.

We would like to personally thank you on your leadership for providing not only a wonderful institution where each child can grow academically, but also an environment that fosters the personal development and confidence of every child allowing them to take risks in order to better themselves. This would not be possible without your genuine interest in and care for each student.

With the significant number of difficulties that this year had posed, we really appreciate all that you have done for our son and the greater school community. We would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2021."

A final note of thank you, with well wishes for the new year…

“…Ցանկանում ենք յայտնել մեր խորին երախտապարտութիւնը ուսուցչական կազմի աշխատանքի եւ մեր զաւակի նկատմամբ հոգատարութեան համար: Տա Աստուած որ գալիք տարին ձեր բոլորին բերի քաջ առողջութիւն, յաջողութիւն եւ կանաչ ճանապարհ:”

“…մաղթում ենք, որ 2021-ը լինի բեղմնաւոր, առողջ եւ տարատեսակ փորձութիւններից զերծ տարի… Շնորհակալ ենք նման հոգատար, ուշադիր եւ անաչառ լինելու համար…”

We also look forward for a successful year, with full of God's blessings.

Manoug Demirjian