Newsletter

Home or after school work is a common expectation for most primary aged children. Parents can help children develop sound study habits from a young age which include establishing a predictable routine, encouraging effective use of time, and helping them to be organised.

AGBU Alexander Primary School has a clear ‘Homework Policy’ that is reviewed at the start of every year and parents are updated during our ‘Parent Information Evening’. Our policy states that homework is set for all children in Kindergarten to Year 6. It is work set by a teacher to be completed outside the classroom environment and is assigned to help develop home-study techniques in students. Students who develop disciplined and positive home-study habits in the primary years are more likely to be able to continue with these home-study habits in the secondary school and during tertiary education when homework is less structured and a student is expected to develop their own individual home-study timetable. Positive home-study habits will enhance student success.

Homework can also be a means of giving students an opportunity for further practice and consolidation of skills and knowledge taught during class units of work. It can be used to extend the more capable student and to reinforce programs run by the school. It is also accepted that homework should be challenging, interesting and relevant to classroom activities. Homework should not be too difficult or unfamiliar. Students need to succeed with homework: it should not be frustrating either for them or their parents. Accordingly, homework should not introduce new, unknown activities.

At Alexander school, there is an underlying expectation by parents that homework will be set by the class teachers in both English and Armenian. Homework helps to inform parents of what their children are doing at school and it provides an opportunity for parents to assist in their learning. To help parents in this process here are a number of ideas:

Establish a predictable routine. If homework is done at the same time each night (make sure this is not left too late or near bedtime), getting started is usually less of an issue.
Establish a good working environment. Make sure they have a quiet area away from distractions that is well lit and with good ventilation. A table or a desk makes a good workspace, although don’t be surprised if they spread their work out all over the kitchen table. Some children just love to be around others. However, homework should not be done while watching television.
Encourage children to work reasonably quickly and efficiently. Have a set time limit which they should stick to. A little work each night is more productive than packing it all into one weekly session.
Encourage children to become organised by planning homework around their extra-curricular activities. A weekly planner or diary will help older students to organise themselves.
Be realistic and don’t expect to solve all homework difficulties. When in doubt send a note to your child’s teacher letting them know the problem. They will appreciate being informed.

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, we started the conversation with our students at the weekly Assembly with a presentation and general discussion.

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. In addition, 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, 26 March

Just over one week to go before our annual Easter Celebrations! Students have started with their rehearsals for the concert and the P&F is busy finalising arrangements for the day. We hope families will bring extended family members and friends to celebrate this day with us.

How you can help make the day a success?

Encourage other family members and friends to come along.
Bake cake or sweets for the Cake Stall.
Assist the P&F with their roster of manning one of the stalls for the afternoon.
Send in your Easter Hamper contributions to the school office as soon as possible.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have and are working hard to help make the day a success. They include members of the P&F, parents, teachers and students. So come and enjoy the fresh air, the delicious food, the colourful hat parade, the great entertainment and the wonderful atmosphere!

P&F | Easter Celebrations - Sunday 26 March

Easter Hampers & Raffle

Thank you to all the families who have sent in contributions for the Easter Raffle hampers. This a kind reminder to the rest of the families if they could forward their donates early next week. Please note that we have requested families to contribute items such as Easter chocolates, wine, coloured eggs, and Easter themed decorations to assist with the preparation of more interesting and attractive prizes.

Raffle Tickets were sent home to families on Friday afternoon. Tickets are selling at $2 each or $20 for a booklet of 10. Buyers must fill out their name and phone number, and return all tickets with the money to the school office by Friday 24th March 2023. Additional tickets or booklets are available from the school office - 9486 3266.

Easter Cake Stall

Thank you to all the families who have indicated the type of sweet they will be supplying for the Easter Cake Stall. Please complete the FORM that has been emailed.

Reminders…

Easter Celebrations

- Students -

All students are expected to be at school by 1:00pm at the latest, wearing their Summer Sports Uniform (Yellow polo with navy shorts/skorts) & their white sports shoes & socks.
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.

The Parents & Friends Committee can be contacted via email: PFC@alexander.nsw.edu.au

Activism | Bringing awareness of the Artsakh Blockade

Alexander Students bring awareness of the Artsakh Blockade to their Federal Member of Parliament

On Monday 27 February, House Captains of AGBU Alexander Primary School delivered a letter to their newly elected Federal Member of Parliament Dr Sophie Scamps MP, to bring their voice and attention to the continued blockade of the Lachin Corridor and Artsakh.

The letter addressed to the Honourable Member for Mackellar by Year 5/6 students aimed to bring attention to the ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor - the only road that connects the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to the Republic of Armenia. The letter stated that the road had been blockaded since 12 December 2022 or "even before we finished school last year." After raising great concern about the humanitarian crisis facing the 120,000 people living in the region, the students hoped their representative could bring this to the attention of the Australian Government. "We hope you can address this at the Australian Parliament and spread the message about this blockade. We are sure that the Armenian community of Sydney would be very grateful if you could be their voice and the voice of the children in Artsakh."

In return, Dr Sophie Scamps not only welcomed and accepted the letter personally delivered by the students but also promised to pursue the issue with the Government to help achieve justice for the people of Artsakh.

ՀԲԸՄ Ալեքսանտր Վարժարանի աշակերտները նամակով մը կը դիմեն իրենց շրջանի երեսփոխան՝ Տոքթ. Սօֆի Սքամբսի որպէսզի Արցախի շրջափակումը ուշադրութեան հարց դարձնէ Աւստրալիոյ խորհրդարանի ու կառավարութեան մօտ:

Visitors | Rev. Father Movses Sargsyan & Father Avetis Hambardzumyan

On Monday 2 March, our School Chaplain, Father Avetis Hambardzumyan visited the school with Very Rev. Father Movses Sargsyan - Head Chaplain of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces Ministry.

The students had the opportunity to start their week with a prayer and blessings from our special guests. The brief assembly highlighted the school's mission in serving the Australian-Armenian community and its significant role in the Diaspora.

It was a wonderful time also to bless and harvest the first crop of pomegranates from the school's garden. In Armenian mythology, the pomegranate symbolises fertility and abundance. The fruit is the Armenian symbol of life, and tradition tells us that each mature pomegranate has 365 seeds, one for each day of the year.

Երկուշաբթի առաւօտեան պատիւը ունեցանք հիւրընկալելու Հոգեշնորհ Տ. Մովսէս Վարդապետ Սարգսեան՝ ՀՀ Զինուած Ուժերի Հոգեւոր Առաջնորդին: Ընկերակցութեամբ՝ Տէր Աւետիս Համբարձումեանի տեղի ունեցաւ վարժարանի ու աշակերտութեան օրհնութիւն: Նոյնպէս առիթ էր գաղելու դպրոցի պարտէզի նուռերը որպէս նոր տարուայ օրհնութիւն:

Commendation Award

We like to congratulate Dzila Mikaelian for being nominated and presented with the following award:

Armenian Apostolic Church's Commendation Award for the student who is deemed to maintain the values of the following criteria

demonstrates an attitude of kindness, compassion and charity,
participates in activities of the Armenian Community, particularly (but not exclusively) in Church life, is active in school service.

The 2022 award presentation took place following the Vartanants Day schools program at the Church on Thursday, 16 February.

Ծիլա Միքայելեան՝ ՀԲԸՄ Ալեքսանտր Վարժարանի Դ. կարգի աշակերտուհի:

Ծիլան՝ կը գրաւէ իր ընկերներուն և ուսուցչական կազմին ուշադրութիւնը, իր համեստ, օրինակելի, քաղաքավար և պարտաճանաչ բնաւորութեամբ: Ընկերասէր է ու ազնիւ անձնաւորութիւն մը ըլլալուն պատճառով կը վայելէ նաեւ դպրոցի մեծ ու փոքր ընկերներուն սէրն ու յարգանքը:

Միշտ ժպիտը դէմքին ու բարձր տրամադրութեամբ կը մտնէ դպրոց, ինչպէս նաեւ դասարան, տալու իր լաւագոյնը: Բուռն հետարքրքրութեամբ կը հետեւի դասարանէն ներս ու ջանասիրութեամբ կը մասնակցի բոլոր աշխատանքներուն՝ անխտիր, տալով իր հարիւր տոկոսը: Ծիլան՝ դեռ փոքրիկ տարիքէն ցոյց կու տար իր սէրն ու դրական մօտեցումը հանդէպ մեր Ազգի Պատմութիւնը, Կրօնքը և Մշակոյթը: Դասարանէն դուրս եղած է նաեւ լաւ մարզիկ, մասնակցելով բոլոր մարզական խաղերուն և եղած է հոգատար ընկեր փոքրիկներուն օգնութեան հասնելով բոլոր անոնց, որոնք իր օգնութեան կարիքը ունին:

Ծիլան՝ իր դպրոցական աշխատանքներուն կողքին կը զբաղի նաեւ արտադպրոցական մշակութային աշխատանքներով: Կը յաճախէ Սուրբ Յարութիւն Եկեղեցւոյ՝ «Կիրակնօրեայ Վարժարան»: Որպէս լաւ մարզիկ կը մասնակցի ՀԲԸՄ-ի կողովագնդակի խումբին և որպէս հեզաճկուն հայ պարուհի մաս կը կազմէ «ASDC» պարախումբին:

Aussie of the Month

Congratulations to Daniel Lepedjian for being nominated as the Aussie of the Month - March 2023.

Aussie of the Month is a primary school civics recognition program, delivered by the same network that presents the prestigious Australian of the Year Awards.

Aussie of the Month recognises and celebrates personal endeavour, achievement, and contribution to the community and reflects the universal values we share as Australians, such as fair go, mateship, respect and inclusion.

Aussie of the Month has been operating for over 20 years and is endorsed by the Education Department in every State and Territory in Australia. It is a monthly student award in recognition of civic contribution, rewards behaviours that reflect our responsibilities as community citizens, and has the support of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) as a complementary program aligned to the Primary Years' curriculum.

Teachers' Awards

Congratulations to our first recipients of the year!

Let your teacher know when you are ready to collect your Teacher's Award and be included in this honour list.

Year 5: Dzila M. | Serineh M. | Lara G. | Sevana B.

Year 4: Zareh V. | Harout K. | Lara G. | Leah B.

Year 3: David K. | Elena J. | Scarlett H. | Sarkis D. | Clementine H.

Year 1: Adriana B. | Karoun D. | Ara V. | Vardan S. | Ara T.

Remember 10 Encouragement Awards = Teacher’s Award

Armenian Student Fund

Report for Term 1

8 Points - Ararat $7.10
6 Points - Yerevan $6.85
4 Points - Sevan $6.80
2 Points - Masis $1.70

2/3/23 - Total: $23.25
___

8 Points - Yerevan $9.00
6 Points - Sevan $7.50
4 Points - Ararat $4.85
2 Points - Masis $4.25

9/3/23 Total: $25.60
___

8 Points - Masis $12.85
6 Points - Yerevan $10.20
4 Points - Sevan $8.25
2 Points - Ararat $3.30

16/3/23 Total: $34.60

Accumulated: $83.45

School Calendar & Term Dates

2023 Term Dates - Select to Open

Birthdays

Happy Birthdays to…

Canteen Calendar & Order Forms

How to place a Lunch Order

From the Canteen Menu:

Select '🍴 Lunch' for more details.
Find the link 'Order Form'.
Select the link and submit the completed form by 1.00pm, the day before the lunch special.