NEWSLETTER

Harmony Week is about every week of the year... it is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. Australia is a vibrant and multicultural country - from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world. Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. It makes Australia a great place to live. An integrated multicultural Australia is an integral part of our national identity. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.

As a nation we should be proud of our strong and successful multicultural society. Sharing our cultural heritage is part of celebrating what it means to be Australian. Our shared Australian values of respect, equality and freedom go beyond our different cultures, and are what makes Australia such a great place to live. The message of respect and belonging goes beyond the week long celebration. It can be lived by each of us, every day.

Facts and figures:

• Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was

• We identify with over 300 ancestries

• Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia

• 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia

Figures from ABS 2016 Census Data

National Day of Action Against Bullying & Violence

At AGBU Alexander Primary School we aim to create a safe and supportive school community for everyone. You are an important part of our work to prevent bullying and to respond effectively if it happens. Stopping bullying involves everyone.

If your child talks to you about bullying:

• Listen calmly and get the full story. Your calm response is important to allow your child to tell you all about the situation. After they’ve told you their story, ask questions to get more details if you need: who, what, where, when. Although you may feel some strong emotions about your child’s experience, try to keep calm to avoid more distress to your child.

• Reassure your child they are not to blame. Many children blame themselves and this may make them feel even worse. You could say things like, ‘That sounds really hard to deal with. No one should have to put up with that.’ or ‘I’m so glad you told me. You should be able to feel safe at school; that’s not fair at all’.

• Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you to do. A critical part of your response is to avoid jumping in to solve the problem. While it is natural to want to protect your child, helping them to find their own solution is a better option. It helps them feel they have some power in the situation.

• Visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to find some strategies. The website has tips and ideas for different bullying situations. One idea is to practise strategies at home to help your child feel more confident.

• Contact the school. Your child may be reluctant for you to do this, so discuss the idea and reassure them that the school would want to know and is able to help. Make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher and, if you need to, ask to talk with the principal. Contact the school immediately if you have a concern about your child’s safety.

• Check in regularly with your child. Keep the conversation going. It can take time to resolve issues, so check in regularly with your child about their experiences and their feelings. Your ongoing support is important.

Alexander school’s anti-bullying policy and programs form part of our Discipline Policy. As part of our National Day of Action activities, we started the conversation with our students during Assembly. We also discussed it and watched small presentations.

If you are looking for support for yourself to deal with a bullying situation, you will find ideas on the Bullying. No Way! website for parents. As well, please feel free to contact the school if you would like to discuss any aspect of our approach to preventing bullying. Thank you for your support to make Alexander school a great educational institution for everyone.

Manoug Demirjian

Easter Celebrations - Sunday 21 March from Lunchtime

REMINDERS…

~ Students ~

• Event starts at 12.00pm. All students are expected to be at school by 1.00pm the latest, wearing their Summer Sports Uniform (Yellow polo with navy shorts/skorts) & their white sports shoes & socks.

• They should also bring their navy Sports Jumper.

• You are asked to take fancy hats to the classrooms and place them on desks, ready for the Hat Parade.

• Make sure you have taken time to eat and drink before the concert.

• Hat Parade, followed by the Easter Concert. Starting at 1.30pm.

• Raffle draw after the performance.

• Remember School Rules and do not go out of bounds without an adult. Be polite to all our visitors, smile and make sure you enjoy the day!

~ Parents ~

• Please deliver your sweets for the Cake Stall to the stall, as you arrive.

• Food will be served from 12.00pm. Falafel / Lahmajoun rolls & drinks.

• Please help out as much as possible. Check your roster (updated roster emailed).

• Thank you to the families who have already purchased the raffle tickets. If you have not sent the money to the office, please note - $15 if you are purchasing the two craft items or $10 for one. Otherwise, please return the craft item to the office ASAP.

• Do not forget to detach the tickets and bring them with you on Sunday for the raffle draw. Good Luck!

Vegetable Week: The Big Vegie Crunch!

Did you know that only around 6% of Australian children eat enough vegetables? To help our community do their bit to improve this number, AGBU Alexander Primary School took part in The Big Vegie Crunch (part of Vegetable Week) at 10am on Thursday 18 March.

In 2021, we were aiming to 'beet' these incredible records from previous years:

• 50,260 students crunching simultaneously in 2018

• 14,991 students crunching at another time of Vegetable Week in 2019

In doing so we hope to make vegetable eating exciting and encourage kids, and their families, to eat more vegetables every day!