Two video recordings of the LPS Symphony Orchestra have now been uploaded to YouTube. Both performances are truly amazing and demonstrates how talented our students are and how fortunate we are to have such committed parents and the remarkable talents of Carlo Antonioli and Anne Sweeney. Have a listen to both performances with a good set of headphones or speakers- you will be impressed.

The Great Steamboat Race
http://youtu.be/cvRkxYkWlkM

New World Symphony (Finale)
http://youtu.be/CzZjfMdQ-mo

James Reid

Children who thrive in school tend to have one thing in common – they enjoy reading.  It doesn't really matter what your child chooses to read, the important thing for primary-school kids is to encourage them to develop the habit of reading a little each day.

With summer school holidays just around the corner, now is a good time to stock up on books from your local library that might interest your child.  Series books are a great place to start.

Reluctant readers and children who struggle with comprehension can find series books easier to enjoy, as once they've finished one,  they're familiar with the characters, the locations and the style of writing. This makes approaching the second book easier and less daunting.

School A to Z's summer reading guide features series books for all reading stages, chosen by kids during the Premier's Reading Challenge. The age range is just a guide - let your child choose the books that grab their interest, then help them schedule some reading time each day – away from computers, TV screens  and video games.

It's hard to keep up with all the social media platforms and apps our kids want to use. Instagram is currently one of the most popular social networks for school-aged children at the moment. It's a free, photo and video sharing mobile application and social network for people aged 13 years and over. There's no age-verification process though, so younger children can create an account pretty easily, sometimes without parents even knowing. Instagram say they'll remove under-age users' accounts if they are reported.

Instagram has just published "A Parent's Guide to Instagram", and it's a great place to start if you want to know more about how it works and how it can be used safely.

The simplest way to stay informed is to ask your child what apps and social media they know about and ask them to show you how they work.

It's a good, non-threatening approach because:

• kids and teens find out about new apps, games and social networks long before we do
• even less chatty teens tend to enjoy the chance to share their expertise
• you'll narrow your focus down to only those social networks and apps your kids use
• it  opens up the conversation about social media tools and their social life in general
• if you ask your child to show you how to "block" other users, "report" abuse,  "delete" their own posts and change their privacy settings, you'll learn how it's done but also know they're able to use those  options if they need to.

The good news is we don't have to be social media experts to keep our kids safe, but we do have to be good communicators and talk to them regularly about their social lives – both on and offline.

Early in 2014, nine-year old Aidan Brown from Lilyfield, New South Wales was diagnosed with Adrenocortical carcinomia. This cancer affects fewer than one in a million Australian children. It has turned the lives of Aidan and his family upside down.'Aidan’s Quest' is raising funds on behalf of the Browns to help Aidan in his battle with cancer. Financial support will be used to increase treatment options and will enable the family to seek the best care available to support Aidan physically and emotionally while he lives with this extremely rare and aggressive disease.