NEWSLETTER

In our curriculum, subjects are carefully selected and designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and digital literacy. From STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects that cultivate innovation and scientific inquiry to Armenian Language, Culture and Religion that foster empathy, cultural understanding, and effective communication, every facet of the curriculum contributes to building a strong foundation for the future.

“Building for the Future” also embodies our commitment to nurturing character, leadership, and a sense of social responsibility among students. Through service-learning projects, community engagements, and extracurricular activities, students are encouraged to explore their passions, cultivate empathy, and become active contributors to their communities.

Ultimately, “Building for the Future” is more than just a motto; it’s a guiding principle that informs every aspect of our educational philosophy. It reflects our unwavering dedication to preparing students not only for the challenges they will encounter but also for the opportunities they will create in the years to come. By fostering a culture of innovation, excellence, and service, we empower our students to thrive in an ever-changing world and to make meaningful contributions to society.

Welcome to Alexander School’s 2024 academic year, where we are “Building for the Future”!

Manoug Demirjian

On Thursday, 1st February, it was with great excitement and joy that we welcomed Alexander School students for another exciting academic year! A warm welcome to our new students, who 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. An excellent start to the new school year!

Father Avetis Hambardzumyan welcomed everyone during this morning's assembly and led a special prayer, officially marking the start of the school’s 2024 Academic Year. The students recited the Lord’s Prayer and moved with excitement to their new classrooms after receiving personal blessings from the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Հինգշաբթի օր՝ մեծ ոգեւորութեամբ եւ ուրախ տրամադրութեամբ դիմաւորեցինք Ալեքսանտր Վարժարանի աշակերտները 2024թ ուսումնական տարեշրջանին: Բարի վերամուտ մեր բոլոր ուսանողներուն:

Տէր Աւետիս Քահանայ Համբարձումեան ողջունելով բոլորին կատարեց յատուկ աղօթք՝ պաշտօնապէս նշելով դպրոցի 2024 ուսումնական տարուայ մեկնարկը։ Աշակերտները Տէրունական աղօթքէն ետք ուղղուեցան իրենց նոր դասարաններ՝ մեր Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոսի խաչէն անձնական օրհնութիւններ ստանալով:

Commendation Award

We like to congratulate Serineh Mahmur 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

1. demonstrates an attitude of kindness, compassion and charity,

2. participates in activities of the Armenian Community, particularly (but not exclusively) in Church life, is active in school service.

The 2023 award presentation took place following the Vartanants Day schools program at the Church on Thursday, 16 February.

Սերինէ Մահմուր՝ ՀԲԸՄ Ալեքսանտր Վարժարանի Ե. կարգի աշակերտուհի:

Սերինէն՝ լուրջ, համեստ և պարտաճանաչ աշակերտուհի մըն է: Ընկերասէր և հոգատար անձ մը ըլլալով, կը սիրէ օգնել և ժամանակ անցնել դպրոցի բոլոր աշակերտներուն հետ, մանաւանդ փոքրիկներուն, որոնք օգնութեան կարիք ունին:

Սերինէն իր վարմունքով ու դրական մօտեցումով ցոյց կու տայ իր սէրը հանդէպ մեր Ազգի Պատմութիւնը, Կրօնքը և Մշակոյթը: Միշտ հպարտ է իր ինքնութեամբ ու Հայ ազգի զաւակ մը ըլլալուն համար:

Սերինէն՝ իր դպրոցական աշխատանքներուն կողքին կը զբաղի նաեւ արտադպրոցական մի շարք մշակութային աշխատանքներով: Կը յաճախէ Սուրբ Յարութիւն Եկեղեցւոյ՝ «Կիրակնօրեայ Վարժարան» և ուրախութեամբ կը հետեւի եկեղեցւոյ երգչախումբին: Մաս կը կազմէ նաեւ «Նայիրի» պարախումբին:

Սերինէն նաեւ մեր տաղանդաւոր դաշնակահարուհին է, որ միշտ մեծ ուրախութեամբ իր մասնակցութիւնը կը բերէ մեր դպրոցական հաւաքոյթներուն, ուրախացնելով մեր բոլորին՝ աշակերտութիւն, ուսուցչական կազմ և ծնողք:

Aussie of the Month

Congratulations to Elena Jebian for being nominated as the Aussie of the Month - February 2024.

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. 

AGBU Alexander Primary School's Policy Documents are made available to parents on request from the School Office. In addition, the policies that are relevant to parents are also Shared in a folder with an email link. These documents can also be accessed from the Home menu of the School Stream App.

School Discipline Policy - Parent Handout

Parents should read this document carefully to familiarise themselves with the strategies implemented at AGBU Alexander Primary School to encourage positive attitudes and behaviour.

The school has expectations of its students to maintain standards that will promote personal achievement and school pride. It is the tone of our school to be positive, encouraging, and motivational. Children need this same encouragement from parents in order to succeed. Students achieve the highest when parents take an active interest and role in their education and school life.

School Standards on Homework:

• It is expected that students will complete set tasks to the best of their ability - untidy work will not be accepted.

• Parents should check each set of homework to make sure its completed at the accepted standard.

• Homework should be made a priority when students arrive home of an afternoon. However, teachers understand that students may have extra-curricular after school activities. If homework is unable to be completed,  please write a note to the teacher stating the reason.

• If your child has difficulty with set homework, please advise your child’s teacher in writing the following day. If the situation persists, please make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher.

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.

Uniform Policy - Parent Handout

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.

Uniform Policy - Shoes Fact Sheet

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 Basketball program will run in Term 1. The 'Manly-Warringah Basketball Association’ will run the sessions on our Sports day, which has been set for Fridays.

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.

School Standards on Uniform:

• Students are expected to wear the correct uniform at all times. 

• Students wearing the incorrect uniform (any part) should provide a note to the class teacher stating a reason.

• Students in Years 3-6 can bring sports shoes to school for fitness and play. Students are allowed to leave a second pair of sports shoes at school to change into for their fitness sessions.

• Students must have school hats at school daily. “NO HAT, NO PLAY”

• Jewellery, nail polish and make-up are not permitted. Only one pair, plain stud / sleeper earrings permitted.

• Random uniform checks are conducted and students receive House points for correct uniform standards.

• Students who lose an article of uniform (eg hat or jumper) will have a week’s grace after which time the article must be replaced.

• Students who repeatedly forget uniform items / hats will have records of misbehaviour sent home.

Student Lunchboxes

We are generally very happy with the contents of our students’ lunchboxes. Our school would rate fairly well with all the attention given to ensuring school lunchboxes contain mostly foods with good nutritional value. Whilst children may complain about lack of variety, try being inventive with the way you serve foods. Please continue to help us with this school program - keep up with the practice of providing low-fat, low-salt, low-sugar foods.

Fruit size can make all the difference between “fruit eaten” and “fruit wasted”. Please buy small-sized fruit for small mouths to chomp around otherwise, send cut fruit to school. Many of the younger children (P-2) could be wasting good fruit because it is just too hard to eat.

THE SCHOOL LUNCH BOX

Parents are instrumental in the success of our school’s healthy food program as providers of good, nutrition-filled lunch boxes. To help parents with the confusing task of deciding on suitable snack foods, below is a list of what we consider to be appropriate.  

ONE ONLY -  Snack Food which includes any one of the following: baked biscuits or snacks such as BBQ shapes; yoghurt or other dairy dessert such as Yogo or Petite Miam; slice of plain cake, fruit muffin or fruit toast; fruit straps/bars; breakfast/muesli bars, plain pop corn.

SNACKS WHICH DO NOT QUALIFY:  All chips, roll-ups, LCM’s, chocolate muffins, cream biscuits and wafers.

UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF - Fresh Fruit & Vegetables … fruit bars and fruit yoghurt are no replacement for fresh fruit.

AT LEAST ONE SERVE OF - Bread …  sandwiches

Sandwiches are the most ideal lunch food but we do understand that children need some variety and often have home-cooked meals to replace sandwiches.

SUITABLE LUNCH DRINKS FOR SCHOOL -  fruit juice, milk, water.

Armenian Student Fund

The Armenian Student Fund program continues this year at AGBU Alexander Primary School and we hope to raise enough money to continue sponsoring two children in Armenia. We know our small effort makes a real difference to these families in need.

 This service was initiated in our school program in 1994. Today, Alexander school students continue to sponsor two young Armenians -  Arpine Nersissian & Garik Kasbaryan through the Armenian Apostolic Church child sponsorship program. 

How do we raise money for this program?

Students are requested to make a regular donation of a silver or gold coin each week. It is a good idea to have the children donate money from weekly pocket money or earnings regardless of how small the donation. The learning experience to share and give selflessly is a valuable one.

The collection is taken during Recess on Thursdays and students earn points for their House Teams. A weekly report on collections is given during the weekly Assemble and in the Newsletter.

Scholastic Book Club

Scholastic Book Clubs - bringing children and books together. 

Books are a very important part of children’s growth and development, and research suggests that the ability to read is critical to independence, success and personal fulfillment. It is said that, kids who read succeed!

Scholastic Book Clubs offer a good variety of age-appropriate books from Australia and the world at prices below recommended retail prices. Students purchasing from Book Clubs also help in earning Reading Reward Points for our school. These points are used to redeem valuable learning resources for the library and classrooms.

Pamphlets will be sent home regularly throughout the year, with 8 issues all in all.

All book club orders must be placed using the order form in the pamphlet or Online. Money and a completed order form (including your child’s name) should be placed in an envelope clearly marked “BOOK CLUB ORDER” for collection at the School Office.

CANTEEN NEWS | Lunch Orders

Thanks to the Canteen Coordinator Mrs Alisa Mahmur and her wonderful team of volunteer parents, the School Canteen and Lunch Orders are up and running.

The system implemented over the last few years will continue, where parents don't need to follow up on their Lunch Order with a paper bag and cash payment. Once orders are placed for their child/ren via the Google Form, the school will calculate all the orders for the month and issue an invoice to the family. When invoices are paid, the office will issue a receipt to acknowledge payment.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS FOR LUNCH ORDERS ONLY

Students are required to have money to purchase Morning Tea and Afternoon Treats over the counter. Please make sure your children are aware of what they want to buy and the money given to them, as credit will not be provided.

Parents can follow the Canteen Menu from the calendar on the website, Newsletter or through the link on the School Stream App.

Select - CANTEEN CALENDAR | MENU

Notifications for lunch orders will continue to be sent out via email and the School Stream App. However, parents can access the Order Forms from the links in the Canteen Calendar for each lunch order.

P&F News | Easter Celebrations - Sunday 17 March 

This Sunday is the traditional annual Easter Celebrations. The P&F will once again follow the generally well established precedent. As a major school event, all families will be asked to help on the day and a draft roster of tasks will be shared to help everyone prepare for their part.

Easter Raffle

Raffle Tickets have been sent home to families. Tickets are selling at $5 each or $50 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 15th March 2024. Additional tickets or booklets are available from the school office - 9486 3266.

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.

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