1

@ASGrammar All Saints Grammar

Welcome Welcome back to a new and exciting year at All Saints. The staff were all hard at work prior to school commencing, so it was wonderful to finally be joined by our students and their smiling faces on Monday. We started the year with a lovely Agiasmos service at our church and the academic year was underway. We especially welcome all new Pre Kindy, Kindergarten, the Year 7 students and other families who are new to the School. 2016, sees the implementation of our BYOT program and our Learning Management System, Canvas, for Years 3-12. The staff have been engaged in Professional Learning and are well prepared for this initiative. I ask that you are patient during this transition and bear in mind that our staff and students are learning together. By now I hope you have all had a chance to explore our new website. Our aim is to keep it as current as possible with our newsletters, news updates, events and most importantly an up to date calendar. I encourage you to set it up as your home page! Amongst numerous other initiatives, the Secondary Campus has introduced a new student wellbeing program (MindMatters), as well as vertical streaming for Homerooms. These positive changes will ensure our students’ welfare is nurtured and that their individual needs are being met.

It was with great pleasure, at the end of 2015, that we announced the acquisition of an adjacent house to the Primary Campus, in Etela Street. The plan is to use this acquisition to extend our playground. As you can appreciate, with the state of property prices in Sydney, this house came at a cost. I strongly urge you to consider making a donation to our building fund which is fully tax deductable. No donation is too small, and please know that it is greatly appreciated.

On behalf of the entire School community, I would like to once again congratulate the class of 2015 on their fine achievements in the HSC. Well done to Sianne Tsandidis who achieved the top ATAR of 97.2 congratulations! See results in following pages.

……..continued over the page

SPECIAL REMINDER: Sun 3 April: 25TH March Independence

Day Celebrations, All Saints Church, 8:30am and Martin

Place, 1pm FEBRUARY Mon 8 Years K – 6 School Photos Wed 10 Years 4 – 6 Camp, Milson Island New Parents Afternoon Tea,

Secondary Campus, 3:30pm-4:30pm Years 7 & 8 Information Evening,

5pm – 6pm Thurs 11 Years 4 – 6 Camp, Milson Island Years 7 – 12 School Photos Year 11 Information Evening,

Secondary Campus, 6 – 7:30pm Fri 12 Years 4 – 6 Camp, Milson Island Mon 15 Years 9 & 10 Information Evening,

6pm – 7.30pm Wed 17 Year 7 Camp Thu 18 Year 7 Camp Fri 19 Year 7 Camp GOBE Awards, HSC

Acknowledgement Ceremony, Redfern, 6:30pm

Mon 22 Years 3 – 12 Swimming Carnival,

Roselands Aquatic Centre Thu 25 School Liturgy, All Saints Church,

8:30am Fri 26 Years 5 – 12 Movie Night,

Secondary Campus Sat 27 ACER Scholarship & Entrance

Examinations for Year 7 2016 8:30 am – 12 noon, Secondary Campus

MARCH Wed 2 IPSHA Primary Swimming Carnival, SOPAC Homebush Fri 4 SWISSA Secondary Swimming Carnival Year 7 Vaccinations

NB: Please check dates regularly as changes may be necessary

8 February, 2016 | ISSUE: 1

from the Head of School

2

Staff Update We welcome all new staff to our School and hope their time here with us is professionally rewarding and fulfilling.

x Mrs Allison Dando – Marketing and Communications x Miss Vaisnavee Kulaweerasingam – (7-12 Mathematics) x Mr Harrison Lambrou – Orthodoxy (K – 6) x Miss Elizabeth Michael – Year 1 x Mr Sam Pozoglou – Orthodoxy and Modern Greek x Mr Peter Tsitsos – (7-12 Design & Technology) x Mrs Diane Vithoulka – Pre-Kindy x Mr Matthew Wall – Head of Mathematics

Prior to school commencing, I received news that Mrs Irene Focas would not be returning to All Saints Grammar. I thank Mrs Focas for her significant contribution during her time with us and wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Strategic Plan Every five years the school reviews the plan and goals it has previously set. We are pleased to announce that the 2015 – 2020 Strategic Plan has been finalised. This plan focuses on improvements to Teaching and Learning, Christian Faith, Governance and Management, Parent and Community Engagement and Capital and Infrastructure. During the Professional Learning Days at the commencement of the year, the staff came together to set annual goals and outlined proposed strategies we will implement to achieve the Key Focus Area targets. Our Strategic Plan will be available in the coming week on the website. A hard copy can be forwarded on request by contacting one of our offices. School Based Education Research Project I am pleased to announce that our School has been successful in securing a $150K research grant from the AIS to be completed over a 2 year period. The aim of this research project is to evaluate the implementation of Assessment for Learning strategies and the effect this has on consolidating effective teaching practice to improve student engagement in learning. A research project team has been established to lead the implementation and evaluation of the project across the School. The team consists of the following staff; Mr Chareas, Ms Koutavas, Miss Malaxos, Mr Psomas, Mr Rodriguez, Mr Theodoropoulos, Mrs Townley, and Ms Zeritis. More information will follow in upcoming newsletters and at the information evenings being held over the coming weeks. Parent Information Evenings Over the coming weeks Parent Information Evenings are being held across the School for all grades and stages. These evenings are designed to inform you of School expectations and planned curriculum. I encourage you to attend to meet your child’s teacher and to also hear about our plans for 2016. If you are unable attend please make contact with your child’s Homeroom or Roll Call teacher for further information. ASPA Our first ASPA (All Saints Parents Association) meeting will be held on Monday 8th February at 6pm in the Primary Staffroom. Please consider joining this association as many hands make light work and it is a great opportunity to work together as community. Even though it is held at the Primary Campus I would love to see more Secondary Parents getting involved. Tiqbiz Paperless This year we are moving towards becoming a paperless school and as such this will be the final paper copy of the School Newsletter. The Newsletter will now be put on the School’s website and you will be notified of its release. All further written correspondence from the school will be electronic. Our learning management system (Canvas) will be the prime communication method for parents of students in Years 3 – 12 and their teachers. Reminders and announcements will continue to be through Tiqbiz. Permission slips, absences, surveys and indication to participate in events will also be done through Tiqbiz. We will be using Qkr, a mobile phone app designed for use in Australian schools to manage school payments. It will be launched in the coming weeks and used to collect payments when required. Further instructions on how to install Tiqbiz are outlined further in the newsletter. Of course if you do not have any access to the internet or a smart phone, please notify the office and alternate arrangements can be made. Mrs E Lillis

3

General News

TiqBiz - All Saints Grammar App We are continuing to use the Tiqbiz app this year. This app keeps parents, students and staff informed and up-to-date with newsletters, notices, news and events as well as being the tool used for submitting student absences. As we will shortly be a paperless system for notes, Tiqbiz will be the app we use for permission slips and excursions. We will also be launching QKR in the next few weeks. As previously mentioned, QKR is a mobile phone app designed for use in Australian schools to manage school payments. If you are new to the school or have not downloaded the Tiqbiz app follow the steps below: Download the app from any of these three places, Apple App Store, Google Play or www.tiqbiz.com.

1. Log-in - open tiqbiz and register/log-in. 2. Click the "Find" icon and type All Saints Grammar. You will now see all our school inboxes. 3. Click on the grey tick beside our school box and any other boxes that apply to you. When the tick turns

green, you’re connected. 4. Click on the inbox icon. This is where you will receive our information.

If you already have Tiqbiz please follow the steps below to change the grades you subscribe to: 1. Log on to your account. 2. Go to the MENU (top left corner of your device). 3. To unsubscribe from the 2015 classes and select the new grades for 2016, select find&tick. 4. Type All Saints Grammar into the search box and select our school from the drop down menu. You will be

shown all the grades you have selected and those which you have not. Find the grade you wish to cancel notifications for and select the tick. The green tick will change to a grey one indicating you will no longer receive messages for that grade.

5. Find the 2016 classes your child / children will be in and select those in the exact same manner. It is also important to choose Whole School and/or Whole School Primary or Secondary (depending on your children). Click the grey tick and it will change to green indicating you will now receive those notifications.

6. When you have finished, go back and cancel out of the find&tick. 7. From the MENU select inbox and you are ready to receive notifications for 2016. Ms Carmel Hurst ICT Facilitator

From the School Chaplain Very Reverend Father Apostolos Trifyllis

At the beginning of each Divine Liturgy, the priest says the following prayer: "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages." Entering the Kingdom of Heaven is the purpose of our creation and our existence. How can we enter the Kingdom of Heaven? The answer is not difficult. We should live according to the commandments of Jesus Christ. The commandments of our Lord do not merely refer to avoiding doing the wrong thing, but rather refer to doing the right thing. Thus in the Bible it is emphasised that "all wrongdoing is sin" (I John 5.17). When we can do something good and we do not, then we sin. When we are able to help someone and we avoid doing so, then we sin. And when God gives us some talents, we must first try to cultivate them, and then make use of them for the good of us all. Let us make this new school year one of promoting the ethos of sacrificial love. Let us make this school year a year of doing the right thing without preconditions or prerequisites. Let us all, students, teachers, and parents, have a Happy and Creative New School Year!

4

Primary School News

Mr Psomas, Deputy Head of Primary Welcome back I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all the students and parents of All Saints Grammar for the 2016 school year. The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time and once again we were blessed to commence the new school year with the Agiasmos service at All Saints Grammar Church. 2016 is definitely shaping up as an exciting year. The 3-12 BYOT program has commenced. From Day 1 kids started using their devices with great enthusiasm. It promises to be an enjoyable and rewarding journey as technology is used throughout the school, as a tool, to enhance student learning. I’d like to welcome in particular the newest members of our school – Kindergarten! The students have made a seamless transition into “big school” during the first few days of their learning journey. Note: Kindergarten parents may pick their child up directly from the classroom. Dismissal time for Term 1 is 2:50pm for Kindergarten. Also, students and parents who have started at All Saints Grammar for the first time – welcome to the All Saints community. Now that students are back to school it is important that they quickly establish routines once again.

x Set up a regular bedtime as this is a crucial step in preparing your child for class and ensuring they are well rested.

x Ensure they have a healthy breakfast. x Establish a quiet place at home where they are able to complete tasks.

The home-school partnership plays a major role in making school a positive experience. I ask that parents communicate any concerns with their child’s teacher. Teachers will also notify parents about any emotional, social or academic concerns. Please inform the relevant staff about changes at home that may affect your child’s behaviour. The staff and I at the Primary School look forward to another rewarding academic year! Parent Information Evening A parent information evening has been scheduled for Tuesday 16 February as follows:

x K-2 and Year 6: 5-6pm x Years 3-5: 6-7pm

During these sessions information will be communicated regarding a variety of topics which will include - School organisation - Student welfare - Curriculum

I highly recommend parents attend these sessions. Morning drop-off I kindly ask for every parent’s and grandparent’s cooperation that after they bring their child/grandchild to school in the morning that they leave the school grounds. In fact, if you can avoid entering the school grounds that would certainly assist in avoiding increased congestion during the mornings. There is playground supervision from 8am and having a large number of adults walking through the playground or using the lifts makes supervision much more challenging. There should not be any adult on school grounds when our morning bell goes. You are more than welcome to take part in our morning prayer from the footpath outside the school grounds. Parking around All Saints Grammar Please ensure that road rules and regulations are adhered to around our school as the increased traffic flow during the morning and afternoon can cause problems which are easily avoidable. Be mindful of our neighbours during these hours.

5

Coming up 8 February: Class Photos 10-12 February: Year 4-6 Camp 16 February: Parent Information evening 18 February: House Photos 22 February: 3-12 Swimming Championships 25 February: K-12 liturgy Mr T Psomas Curriculum Greek Language Certificate and Hellenic Studies Awards On Tuesday 2 February, we gathered at NSW Parliament House for the annual award ceremony of the Greek Language Certificate (Ελληνομάθεια) and the Hellenic Studies Awards. All Saints Grammar had lots of students from both campuses receiving an award in most categories. We were proud to be part of this event and witness the official acknowledgement of the achievements of our Greek learners. Congratulations to all the recipients. The Benefits of Learning a Second Language 2016 may be a leap year but at All Saints Grammar it is a very exciting one. We are lucky to live in such a wonderful and culturally diverse country. Everywhere you go you hear people speaking so many different languages and yes occasionally you hear a bit of Greek too! We know that our parents choose All Saints for their children’s education because of its Greek language program. A lot of times though, it’s easy to forget the benefits of learning another language and how easy it is for a kid to grow up as a bilingual. Whatever the reasons for learning a second language, we can’t ignore the benefits of being bilingual and how an early start will enhance fluency with the language. From a cognitive perspective, learners think more critically and creatively, solve problems easier and improve the ability to multitask. A new study from the University of Edinburgh, showed that bilinguals are able to focus and sustain their attention more effectively, learning another language delays cognitive decline with age and even delay the onset of dementia. Another study at the University of Berkeley California showed that multilinguals perform better in standardised tests, they are better at remembering lists of sequences, likely from learning grammatical rules and vocabulary; they are more perceptive to their surroundings and therefore better at focusing on important information while weeding out misleading information. It’s no surprise Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot were both skilled polyglots. We must also remember that learning another language improves our understanding of and facility with our own native language. Learning Greek, involves not only speaking, reading and writing, but deepens our knowledge of our vast culture and rich history. Our language experience gives us access to music, film and literature as we see the world through different eyes. Talk to your children about these great gifts that will all come in good time. Expose them to different aspects of the language and become their companion on their learning journey. Mr T. Panagiotou PK-6 Greek Coordinator

6

First Day of Kindergarten 2016 Congratulations to our new Kindergarten children who started their first year of ‘big’ school with their own special Agiasmos service. Following the service students spent the remainder of the day making new friends, listening to stories, discovering their new classrooms, playing in their new playground and many other exciting activities. We are so proud of how all students truly embraced their new surroundings.

Mrs Pizanias & Mrs Hatziakoumis Kindy Teachers Sport Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle Research supports the belief that physical fitness during childhood and adolescence has been identified as an important determinant of current and future health status. The habits we invariably develop as children ultimately follow us throughout our lives. It is therefore important that we are always conscious of the decisions that we make in terms of our health. In order to achieve a healthy lifestyle we must ensure that we exercise often, eat a variety of healthy foods, adequately rest and of course recharge our batteries with enough sleep! It’s no surprise that councilors invariably prescribe 7-8 hours of sleep, a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, regular exercise and regular rest or down time. The correlation between low-level youth fitness and adult obesity is intertwined, meaning that the likelihood of being an overweight or obese adult is directly linked to your habits as a child. Developing cardiovascular and muscular fitness in conjunction with a healthy diet not only assists in effectively managing weight, it is also associated with many other benefits, which include;

x Positive body image x More efficient heart and lungs x Generally happier x Healthier muscles and bones x Improved confidence and self esteem x More energy x Greater focus

As parents, your children will take notice of your attitude towards the aforementioned factors and the likelihood is that if you’re not positive in your attitude towards your own health, then by the time they leave school, your children won’t be either. Sport Selections Competitive sport trials took place during the week and most teams have been finalised. Our competitive teams compete in the Northern Pool of the IPSSO competition, which includes home and away games against Thomas Hassall Anglican, William Carey Christian School, St Mary and St Mina Coptic Orthodox, St Marks and Georges River Grammar School.

7

The top two teams in the Northern Pool then compete against the top two of the Southern Pool during the finals which are scheduled for the end of Term 3 for Winter and Term 4 for Summer. Students who make a team are expected to bring all necessary equipment for their sport each week as well as their hat and drink bottle. If a child does not have their equipment they will not be allowed to play. In addition students will be leaving school during school time so they must remember to indicate on their canteen orders if they are leaving early. The first round of competitive sport is an away game scheduled for the week after camp on Wednesday 17 February against Georges River Grammar School. Learn to Swim The Year 1 and 2 Learn to Swim program will also commence on Friday February 5 at Roseland Aquatic centre. It is an 8-week program which will take place during Infants sport time. Swimming Carnival All Saints Grammar is excited to announce that for the first time in the school’s history we are attempting a combine Year 3-12 swimming carnival. In the coming weeks, students will be asked to select their events for the day. It is imperative that students only select events which they can do proficiently and ones which they can complete the distance. For students who cannot swim 50m there will be 25m events available. It must be noted that students who chose to swim 25m events will not be allowed to swim 50m and vice versa. Mr T Georgiakakis PDHPE/Sport Coordinator Primary Campus

Secondary School News

Mr J. Rodriguez, Head of Secondary Welcome Back! After a much needed break we are back to another year of academic work. There are lots of exciting initiatives being put in place for this year, all intended to provide students with opportunities for success. The introduction of Canvas as our school Learning Management System for the integration of technology into teaching and learning has begun successfully, with the great majority of students engaging actively through this tool. BYOT is enabling for a great deal of innovation and high level of participation in activities and strategies to acquire learning in the various subject areas. Our focus is on deepening learning using an Assessment for Learning approach that places the needs of students at the heart of our practice. Our Wellbeing for Learning approach follows directly from our formative approaches. We have implemented a vertical system of grouping students in an attempt to foster opportunities for greater peer support and community spirit amongst our students. Our new Homerooms have a maximum number of 14, comprised of students from Years 7 -12, who are taken care of by a Mentor teacher. Throughout the year students will be engaged in various discussions intended to equip them with the skills for better learning. Our Information evenings coming up over the next couple of weeks will provide us with a chance to explain these initiatives to our community of parents. Just like we have done in the past, I hope that this year we will continue to work with your support. We have the same interest at heart, namely, to provide the best learning opportunities for success for all our students. Looking forward to another successful year. Mr J Rodriguez

8

All Saints Grammar Alumni Reunion An ASG All Years Reunion has been scheduled for the 11 March 2016. The event aims to reunite and past students and teachers to celebrate 15 years of graduating classes. This will provide the opportunity for all to reunite with our School community.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

9

10

11

Advertising

The following are paid advertisements. The School does not endorse any product or service advertised and leaves

this up to each person to investigate and decide if they wish to use the product or service.