NEWSLETTER

As we continue to ‘Grow & Serve’ the needs of our community, we not only nurture the plant but continue to plant more seeds of success along the way. Planting is done at every step and across every level, be it the school board, executive, teachers, students, parents and the community. 

Every time we make the conscious decision to learn as students or instruct as teachers, we plant a seed. However, planting is only the first step, requiring constant nutritional support and care to ensure a successful harvest. For this reason, we not only believe, but we know that the ‘grass is greener on the other side’. It truly is greener on our side of the school fence because of the care, nurturing and support provided on a daily basis to all members of our school community. Therefore, we endeavour to plant more seeds of success as we continue to grow and serve for many years to come. 

I want to extend a warm welcome to our new students and families. They have made an excellent transition and seemed quite comfortable with their newfound friends and environment. It took no time for the rest of the students to resume their routines, looking relaxed and eager to get back into class after a long break. It’s an excellent start to the new school year!

Manoug Demirjian

Homework &/or Home Reading will be assigned by the teachers for Years K-6. Please refer to the “Homework Policy” (available on the School App and emailed to parents) to familiarise yourself with the school’s expectations on home study. The teachers will provide more information for each class and during our Parent Information Evening.

Classroom Supplies

Years Prep - 2 | All supplies are provided by the school. Students don't need to purchase any books or stationery.

Students in upper grades need to purchase the following personal stationery supplies:

Years 3-6 | Two pencil cases that need to remain at school for classroom use only. One is to be left in the English and the other in the Armenian classroom. Each pencil case should have a packet of lead (HB) pencils (No Pacers), erasers, sharpeners, 30cm ruler (wooden or plastic, not metal), glue sticks, scissors, highlighters, two red pens (medium point), coloured pencils and textas.

They also require two blue pens and a geometry set, a USB, headphones for their laptops, and a mouse.

They need to have enough supplies that will last them for the year or to be replaced when they are used. The pencil cases should be of a standard size and not too large.

Covering Books - Teachers will send home textbooks and exercise books over the next week or so. Please cover textbooks, diaries and exercise books with clear contact only. Some book covers for exercise books will be made by students and/or supplied by the school before contact is applied. Clear contact must be used as teachers will group books into subject areas based on the book covers. This assists with easy sorting and classifying.

Prep/Kindergarten students should have a change of underwear and socks in their school bag daily.

Toys are not permitted at school. P-K class teachers will advise parents with a note, when and if toys are permitted for “News” sessions. Toys will be confiscated. (Please note:  Nintendo DS, PSP and iPods are permitted during bus travel only, and responsibility for safekeeping rests with students)

Birthdays -  Prep - K students only are welcome to celebrate their birthdays at school with a cake. Cakes should be as plain as possible with only a small quantity of icing. Parents should notify the school office or class teacher one day in advance if they plan to celebrate at school with a birthday cake. Please do not provide “Party/Lolly Bags” as part of the celebration.

Uniform - Please note the correct school uniform by referring to the “Uniform Policy” available on the School App or in your Enrolment Package. The “Uniform Policy - Parent Handout” provides a quick summary of the requirements.

All uniform items are to be purchased from the school except shoes.

To help parents with the purchase of school shoes and sports shoes a Fact Sheet is available - 'School Shoes for Prep-Year 6'. It is important that parents purchase traditional black school shoes for Kindergarten to Year 6. Preparatory students only need white Sports shoes. We understand there are a variety of shoes in the market that are being sold as 'school shoes', but these sports-looking like shoes do not qualify and we ask parents to use the fact sheet to make the correct purchase.

Hair & Accessories

Boys' hair should be kept short and neatly cut, off the collar with an even grade. Styles are expected to be reasonably conservative. Unacceptable styles include: undercuts, mullets, slits, layers, steps, lines, pony tails, rats tails, or marked contrasts of length or shape including long fringes.

Girls' hair should be combed back or tied back with navy blue ribbon. Headbands and other hair accessories are only permitted in navy blue.

Girls should come to school wearing their sports briefs and are not allowed to wear coloured long boxer type shorts under their summer uniform. Students are also not allowed to wear coloured T-shirt under their summer shirts and/or sports uniform. Plain stud earrings or sleepers are allowed for girls. 

Uniforms can be ordered using the following Order Forms:

UNIFORM | Preparatory - Order Form

UNIFORM | Boys Summer - Order Form

UNIFORM | Girls Summer - Order Form

Label Clothing -All removable clothing including jumpers, hats, track suit tops and pants, must be clearly marked with your child’s name. This will assist the school with lost clothing.

Sports Day - The school's Gymnastics program will run in Term 1. 'Moving Bodies’ will run the sessions on our Sports day, which has been set for Thursdays.

Students need to wear their summer sports uniform.

Summer sports uniform is worn in Terms 1 & 4, and winter sports uniform in Terms 2 & 3.

Students not participating in a sports session must bring a signed note from parents with a full explanation.

Sports Shoes - Students are allowed to bring sports shoes to school for play. They are allowed to leave a second pair of sports shoes at school to change into at lunchtime for play (eg soccer) then change back.

School Hats must be at school daily. One of our school rules is ...“No Hat, No Play”. Students without hats will not be able to use the playground area during play time. They are to sit down in the shade, read a book by themselves and not play.

Students who do not have a hat break the school Uniform Code and will receive a cross in the Red Book.

Sunscreen - Parents are reminded that the application of sunscreen on children in the morning is essential. It is recommended that students carry sunscreen (roll-on types only) in school bags to reapply. An SPF factor of 15+ (or greater) broad-spectrum, water resistant sunscreen is recommended.

Healthy Lunches - Our school health policy insists that only nutritional foods – low fat, low sugar – are consumed at school. We are very proud of the quality of food our canteen provides. We remind all parents to support our policy by continuing to send only healthy type foods in lunch boxes. We expect only one snack type of food for Morning Tea. Definitely no sweets, chips, chocolates, jam, nutella and “junk” food are permitted.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are essential foods for children.

Occasionally and in moderation, the school canteen will treat students with a cake stall. The school Newsletter will advise parents of these days.

Library borrowing will not start until later this term. Students must have library bags to borrow books. A library rule is no library bag, no borrowing. Students are rewarded for remembering to bring in their bags. Library bags are simply drawstring bags with dimensions of approximately 30cm wide and 38cm long. Any fabric may be used but please ensure its durability.

Absences By law student absences from school must be explained with a written note from parents. Notes can be in English or Armenian and should be sent on the day the student returns to school following an absence. Notes are legal records and must be written in pen and signed by a parent. Notes are to be addressed to your child’s classroom teacher. Please ensure the following information is provided in a note: Student’s name, date/s of absence, reason for absence, parent’s signature, date when note is written. Parents can also use the School App to send a Form with the above information to the school office. 

Information Update Forms - “Student Information Update” forms for each student will be sent home early next week. The Student Information forms are used to update our database at the beginning of each year. Therefore, it is important for the school to identify any changes to student details including telephone numbers, addresses, or health risks (e.g. asthma and/or allergy development). Please remember, the signatures of both parents in residence are required.

Parents are requested to have completed/updated forms returned to school as soon as possible.

Bus Passes - The students are expected to use their Opal Cards from last year. New students need to apply or lost ones need to be replaced by an online application. Students are permitted to travel without a card only until the end of February. Opal Cards must be presented or tapped on and off thereafter otherwise students are required to pay the fare. Please check your child/ren’s card to ensure the details are correct. Contact the school office immediately should there be any errors.

Birthdays 

Happy Holiday Birthdays to…

 Aren P. | Levon P. | Aren M. | Lia G. | David K. | Ayk A. | Lena P. | Mrs Talar Bedikian | Mrs Seta Keoshgerian