ALEXANDER
NEWSLETTER

Honouring the Past

As we reflect on our history, we honour the vision of our founders, the challenges we have overcome, and the milestones we have achieved. Our journey is a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our educators, students, and the entire school community who have played an integral role in shaping our educational institution’s identity.

Showcasing the Present

Today, we stand proud of our continued commitment to excellence. Our school thrives with academic achievements, new and modern infrastructure, and outstanding extracurricular programs. We remain dedicated to fostering a nurturing learning environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and character development.

Inspiring the Future

As we look ahead, we renew our dedication to advancing knowledge, embracing innovation, and preparing our students for the challenges of tomorrow. Our goal is to inspire future generations to reach new heights while staying true to our core values and Armenian heritage.

Building Community Connections

Academic excellence is a collective effort, and we are grateful for the unwavering support of our families, organisations, and the wider community. Together, we continue to build strong partnerships that enrich our students’ educational experience and contribute to the success of our school.

By celebrating our past, embracing our present, and inspiring the future, we reinforce our school’s legacy of excellence, pride, and aspiration.

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Let us continue to grow and achieve together!

Mr Manoug Demirjian
Principal

Today marked the beginning of an exciting new academic year at Alexander School, filled with enthusiasm, warmth, and a spirit of celebration. This year holds special significance as we proudly commemorate our 35th Anniversary under the theme: Celebrating 35 Years of Academic Excellence. The school community came together for the 35th time to reflect on our journey, honour our traditions, and embrace the promise of another year of growth and learning.

A heartfelt welcome was extended to our new students, who quickly settled into their new environment, making friends and immersing themselves in the vibrant school culture. Returning students seamlessly resumed their routines, radiating confidence and eagerness after a well-deserved break. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, setting the tone for what promises to be an inspiring and successful school year.

The day commenced with a special morning assembly led by Father Avetis Hambardzumyan, the Parish Priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Holy Resurrection. He offered a warm welcome and a heartfelt prayer, officially blessing the start of the 2025 Academic Year. The student body joined in reciting the Lord’s Prayer, a moment of unity and spiritual reflection. As a cherished tradition, students received personal blessings from the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ after lighting a candle and joyfully proceeding to their new classrooms, ready to embark on another year of academic excellence.

---

Այսօր մեծ ոգեւորութեամբ եւ ուրախ տրամադրութեամբ դիմաւորեցինք Ալեքսանտր Վարժարանի աշակերտները 2025թ. ուսումնական տարեշրջանին: Այս տարի առանձնակի նշանակութիւն ունի մեզ համար, քանի որ կը նշենք դպրոցի 35 Ամեակը՝ «35 Տարի Կրթական Գերազանցութեան» խորագրով:

Բարի գալուստ մեր նոր աշակերտներուն, որոնք արագ հարմարվեցին իրենց նոր միջավայրին՝ ընկերներ ձեռք բերելով եւ մուտք գործելով մեր վարժարանի ջերմ համայնքը: Վերադարձող աշակերտները լեցուած էին նորոգուած ոգեւորութեամբ՝ պատրաստ շարունակելու իրենց ուսումնառութիւնը նոր եռանդով:

Տարուայ առաջին օրը սկսաւ յատուկ ընդհանուր հաւաքով, որտեղ Տէր Աւետիս Քահանայ Համբարձումյան իր ողջոյնով եւ աղօթքով պաշտօնապէս բացումը կատարեց 2025 ուսումնական տարեշրջանին: Աշակերտները Տէրունական աղօթքով եւ մեր Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոսի խաչէն օրհնութիւն ստանալով ուղեւորուեցան իրենց նոր դասարանները՝ նոր յաջողութիւններու ակնկալիքով:

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 Gymnastics program will run in Term 1. 'SportsPro' will run the sessions on our Sports day, which has been set for Mondays.

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.

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.