Redlands House/Transition Gold
School Readiness
As we enter Semester 2 many families are starting to think about next year and considering if their child is “school ready”. This is a hot topic in the media and in playgrounds all over Australia. Should you hold your child back a year and allow them to enter school at an older age than their classmates?
A global trend in education has seen parents lean towards holding their children back with research showing little academic benefit in starting early and considerable benefits in starting late. Psychologist Dr Amanda Mergler published an article in the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. She found the proportion of parents holding children back until they turned six almost doubled in the last five years. It has been reported that in NSW the proportion of parents holding back could be as high as 22%.
Many factors must be taken into consideration when making this important decision such as how close a child is to the cut-off age, maturity of the child, social and emotional maturity, impacts in the later years, financial pressures and the parent’s own school experience. Your class teacher is a good reference point. They see how your child works in a group learning space, as opposed to being taught individually. Group work demands skills such as concentration and on task behaviour focus.
Some would say you’re not actually holding them back, you’re actually giving them a head start! Links to related articles:
https://www.mychildmagazine.com.au/should-i-hold-my-child-back-from-starting-school
Juniors to Seniors
To clarify the process for new families who have children moving from Juniors to Seniors in the coming year, children stay in their class, with the same group of children for the Senior year. In the Senior year they will attend three days a week as follows:
Orange Class Seniors – Wednesday/Thursday/ Friday
Yellow Class Seniors – Monday/Tuesday/ Wednesday
Blue Class Seniors – Monday/Tuesday/ Wednesday
Jeans 4 Genes
Just a reminder Redlands House will be taking part in Jeans for Genes Day on Friday 7 August. If your child attends Preschool on this day, please join us in supporting this charity by wearing jeans and/or denim to Preschool and bringing a gold coin to donate to the boxes on the sign in table. Jeans for Genes Day raises money to support the Children’s Medical Research Institute to discover treatments and cures for childhood illnesses.
Sports Day
On Wednesday 12 August, our Seniors and Transition Gold students will participate in a mini sports carnival on the Prep School oval. After morning tea the children will walk to the oval with their teachers and classmates. They will have the opportunity to engage in a range of fun activities and games. Sadly this year, parents will not be able to spectate. We will be sure to fully document this fun event and post some great photos and videos to Storypark.
Baby News
We are very excited to report that our lovely Ms Pyky safely delivered her baby boy this week. Baby Finley arrived in the early hours of Tuesday morning, both Finley and Tiia are doing well.
Mrs Chemane Huon
Redlands House and Transition Coordinator
chuon@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9904 1448
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848