Head of Junior School
Yr 5 Camp
What a joy it has been to have our first Junior School camp of 2022 go out this week with Yr 5 enjoying time in the great outdoors. In saying this, I must also acknowledge that there are a group of Yr 5 students who have not been able to attend camp this week due to illness and/or isolation and they have been greatly missed. We wish them well and there is an overnight excursion to Bathurst in Semester Two aligned with Yr 5’s study on the Goldrush era for them look forward to.
I enjoyed a memorable day with the group yesterday and in one day only, I was able to see students involved in mountain biking, canoeing, raft building (and water testing!), a low ropes course, a high ropes course, camp craft, initiative exercises, orienteering, tent set-up (even though they are not camping overnight) and take on the infamous ‘Giant Swing’, my nemesis each year!
We have placed photos on the Year 5 page of Redlands Pulse for families to get a ‘feel’ of the camp so far and I look forward to joining parents as we welcome the group back tomorrow (Friday) at 2.30pm on the Murdoch St side of the campus where there is a larger, designated bus zone.
Parent Cybersafety Webinar
This week, we were delighted to welcome back Yasmin London and David Smith from ySafe to lead both a staff professional learning session and also a parent webinar focusing on specific challenges and opportunities in the digital environment which our Junior School students may encounter, what teachers and parents should know and how to support children’s digital safety and wellbeing.
YSafe were also instrumental in partnering with Redlands to set up Redlands’ Cybersafety Hub which I encourage every family to have a look at and I have shared some of the slides below for all parents to refer to.
Thank you to our eLearning Coordinator, Ms Anagnostu, for organising both session for our community and we look forward to Yasmin coming back to work with students next term.
Family Toolkit from UNICEF
I was grateful to receive this article from one of our parents who works at UNICEF Australia and thought that this would be of relevance to our parent community too. With the crisis in Ukraine escalating, we know that children are asking increasing questions and UNICEF has put together this toolkit for parents and carers to help with conversations with children about the current situation, as needed.
- Make time for the conversation and listen to their concerns
Start by inviting your child to talk about what they’ve heard about the crisis in Ukraine or engaging with them when they bring it up. Evidence suggests that having a supportive discussion about a stressful event can decrease distress.
Find out how much they already know and follow their lead. Make sure you are in a safe environment and allow your child to talk freely and honestly. Drawing, stories, and other activities may help to open a discussion. Most importantly, don’t minimise or avoid their concerns. Be sure to acknowledge their feelings and assure them that it’s natural to feel scared about these things. Demonstrate that you’re listening by giving them your full attention, and make sure they understand that they can talk to you and their teachers whenever they like.
- Be honest: explain the truth in a child-friendly way
Children have a right to truthful information about what’s going on in the world, but adults also have a responsibility to keep them safe from distress. Use age-appropriate language, watch their reactions, and be sensitive to their level of anxiety. If you don’t know the answers, that’s okay. Depending on their age, you can use it as a time to find answers together. Some of the best resources for child-friendly news updates are Behind The News and KidsNews.
Be conscious of what your child is being exposed to
It might be a morning or evening routine to have the news on at home, but images of destroyed homes and families fleeing can be distressing, explicit and stay with children long after they see them. Be aware of what your little ones are seeing online, on TV or via their friends. Putting child safeguard settings in place on shared computers can be a good idea to limit results that come up if they are searching for answers.
- Reassure them with your normal family routines
When we’re seeing lots of troubling images on TV or online, it can sometimes feel like the crisis is all around us. Children may not distinguish between images on screen and their own personal reality, and they may believe they’re in imminent danger. You can help your children cope with the stress by making opportunities for them to play and relax, when possible. Keep regular routines and schedules as much as possible, especially before they go to sleep, or help create new ones in a new environment.
- Let them know that kind and dedicated people are doing everything they can to help
It’s important for children to know that people are helping each other with acts of kindness and generosity. Reminding children that there are forces for good in the world is important to help them feel protected and safe. Letting them know that organisations like UNICEF exist especially to protect and deliver emergency supplies to children who are scared or living in dangerous places can settle some of their fears.
- Take care of yourself
You’ll be able to help your kids better if you’re coping, too. Children will pick up on your own response to the news, so it helps them to know you’re calm and in control. If you’re feeling anxious or upset, take time for yourself and reach out to other family, friends and trusted people in your community. Make some time to do things that help you relax and recuperate.
- Offer them a practical way you can help as a family
Acting as a family can help to reassure your child that they have done something to help the people or situation they are worried about. This can be as simple as drawing a picture, writing to a decision maker, or donating $5 to a charity working in the conflict zone. This can help them to feel like they have done something good to help the situation.
- Close conversations with care
It’s important to know that we’re not leaving children in a state of distress. As your conversation wraps up, try to gauge their level of anxiety by watching their body language, considering whether they’re using their usual tone of voice and watching their breathing. Remind your children that they can have other difficult conversations with you at any time. Remind them that you care, you’re listening and that you’re available whenever they’re feeling worried.
Student Health Matters
Please be reminded that if your child has any COVID symptoms they should stay home, even if they may test negative on a RAT. We have had a small number of students arrive after taking Nurofen and then needing to be sent home which presents a risk to other students and staff.
Remote Learning for Students in Mandatory Isolation
As has been the case all term, we will continue to provide Remote Learning options for students in mandatory isolation but just as would be the case for any unwell student, please know that there is no expectation to complete this learning if your child needs to rest and recover. At present, we are not offering a hybrid model of teaching for families to choose if they want their child to learn at school or at home and class teachers will continue to focus their teaching on the students in class.
Harmony Day – Monday 21 March
There was a wonderful sense of connection as students wore a splash of orange on Monday as we recognised Harmony Day, a day that recognises diversity, inclusivity, respect, and the idea that people of all different cultures can make a valuable contribution to our society. My thanks to Mrs Clinton and the wider staff team who were involved in creating some wonderful experiences for our students through the day.
SAVE THE DATE: International Day – Tuesday 5 April
On Tuesday 5 April, our School community will celebrate our global-mindedness and diversity through our annual International Day event. Students and staff can dress up in international dress or colours and teachers will have a series of themed lessons during the day and may invite parents to assist, as needed.
Mosman Youth Awards in Literature 2022
Over many years, Redlands students have enjoyed participation and success in the annual Mosman Youth Awards in Literature, a competition in prose and poetry writing. Now in its 30th year, I share this year’s details for parents and students to consider and class teachers will also encouraging student involvement with this literary opportunity ahead of the closing date of 31 May. Please note that entry forms must be signed by a parent or guardian and not a teacher if the entrant is under 18 years of age.
For an entry form or more information, please click here or call Barry O’Keefe Library in Mosman on 9978 4091.
Junior Debating
As we continue to resume events and activities, it was wonderful for our Junior School debating teams to enjoy their first ever face-to-face debate last week against MLC Burwood. The students have only known Zoom debates in the last couple of years and loved the chance to be able to debate in person as restrictions ease off.
April Vacation Care: 11-22 April 8am-6pm
If you would like your child to attend the April Vacation Care program, please visit the OOSH page on Redlands Pulse from 10am this Friday 25 March preview all information pertaining to the holiday activity schedule and daily requirements.
The Flexischools website will be open for bookings at 12pm next Monday 28 March. Please use the Prep and Junior Vacation Care icon for children in K-6. If you have any queries, please contact our new OOSH Coordinator, Ana Nogueira.
For further important details about OOSH, please see the section below.
Reminder – Cutlery Library Donations
If you, or anybody you know, have any spare spoons or forks, please donate it to our Junior Campus cutlery library. A container is located outside the canteen for any donations.
Whilst the bamboo cutlery currently being used is biodegradable, it is still single use. A cutlery library would allow the canteen staff to reuse the spoons and forks, further reducing our carbon footprint at Redlands.
Uniform Shop
The shop will be open this Saturday 26 March for winter uniform fittings and we still have appointments available. Please click HERE to book and view other opening days for the upcoming holidays. We recommend if your child needs to try on uniforms, you make an appointment to avoid having to wait in a queue.
If you simply need to go up a size and know what you need, you may also order online at www.flexischools.com.au or come to the shop and purchase these items.
We are expecting a delivery of blazers next week and will contact those who have pre-ordered or requested a call to advise they have arrived.
We are happy to help you with any questions regarding winter uniform requirements or sizing, so please call us on 9968 9850 or email uniformorders@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
Important OOSH Information
We welcome Mrs Ana Nogueira to Redlands as the new K-6 OOSH Coordinator. Ana’s most recent role was with TeamKids where she was OSHC Mentor Program Manager and Vacation Care Area Manager. Ana aims to bring a depth of skill to establishing an OOSH program that caters for both K-2 and 3-6 students.
For those new to accessing our OOSH facility, ACECQA (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority) guidelines govern the way the facility is run and operated on our Redlands campus. There are seven quality areas that make up the National Quality Standard for an OOSH facility. Services are assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against the NQS and given a rating for each of the 7 quality areas and an overall rating based on these results. You can access further information about these standards on the back wall in the OOSH room or by accessing the ACECQA website acecqa.gov.au.
There are often ACECQA updates that our families are required to be informed about. Ana will be using the weekly Note Day forum to share this information with our community.
Families currently using OOSH
As a matter of urgency for compliance requirements and for your child’s ongoing enrolment at Redlands OOSH, please fill in these ASECQA forms and return them to anogueria@redlands.nsw.edu.au by Friday 31 March.
Ana will be conducting an OOSH Zoom session next term where information will be shared about ACECQA guidelines along with what the Redlands OOSH facility will be focusing on in our after school care program. In the meantime, if you have any questions for Ana, please contact her or you may find your answer below:
What forms do I have to fill in as soon as possible for my child to continue using OOSH?
All OOSH families are required to send an updated Medical Action Plan and to fill in a Risk minimisation and communication plan. Please click on the above link for forms.
Doesn’t the school have this information already in their system and I think I’ve done this before?
An OOSH facility operates under ACECQA guidelines, not NSW schools standards, therefore a separate data base is required to meet OOSH’s governing standards. These forms have been updated so parents and carers are asked to ensure all details are up to date and correct for future compliance checking.
What about if my child uses medication?
If your child attends OOSH, families are asked to supply the OOSH team with this medication. This will mean that your child will have their medication at either Prep or Junior School Receptions for day use at school and the other with after school access in the OOSH room. Again, this is an ACECQA requirement.
When do I need to return the forms as well as provide any medication to the OOSH Coordinator?
The forms and medication are to be returned to the OOSH Coordinator by Friday 31 March please.
Parents and carers must hand the medication directly to Ana in its current box please and can email the forms directly to anogueria@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
It is now a requirement for any OOSH enrolment to have this paperwork completed and lodged with the OOSH facility.
Thanks to all our families for completing and returning this paperwork by 31 March.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022