Head of Junior School
Healthy Relationships Workshops with Yr 6
On Monday, our Yr 6 students participated in a ‘Healthy Relationships’ workshop morning which was led by DrTessa Opie, a leading expert in this field across Australia.
Over this term and next term, Dr Opie will be visiting the School to conduct a series of workshops and presentations for students in Yrs 6-12. We are pleased that we will continue to build upon the ‘train the trainer’ model which began last year, and all Redlands facilitators take part in training sessions with Dr Opie ahead of time to enhance their skillset and provide them with the skills to best support students during their workshops. Our Yr 6 teachers, PDHPE staff, Dean of Students, School Counsellor also facilitated and attended the sessions and I was able to spend time in each workshop over the course of the morning.
Dr Opie made particular comment on the maturity and engagement of the students in the workshop as well as being highly impressed by their insightful and respectful reflections and perspectives. I know that many parents also joined Dr Opie’s parent session in the evening, which was also well received.
ACER Social-Emotional Wellbeing Survey
This week, students in Yrs 3-6 took part in an anonymous Social-Emotional Wellbeing survey that Secondary School students will also be completing. One of the School’s strategic drivers is to measure the overall wellbeing of students and this short survey will help us to measure the effectiveness of our pastoral care programs and highlight possible social and emotional needs.
Our Deputy Principal, Mr Corcoran, shared the context and purpose of the survey with Junior School students in assembly and we look forward to reviewing the data in due course to guide continued steps forward.
Staffing News
We were thrilled to hear of the safe arrival of a baby girl for PDHPE teacher, Ms Faye Dongas. Mum and daughter are doing well and I know you will join me in sending best wishes to Faye and her family. As Ms Dongas commences maternity leave, we are delighted to welcome Mr Brad Hemopo back to Redlands to take her PDHPE classes for the remainder of the year. Mr Hemopo has taught at Redlands in recent years interspersed with professional rugby stints and has just returned from playing in Japan.
Debating News
Last Friday, our Primary B team were narrowly defeated by St Aloysius College in the quarter-final of the Sydney Debating competition. The team are to be commended for their run to the quarter-finals and they, along with our Primary A team, will now turn their attention to the Australian National Virtual Debating, which has just started this term.
As some families may recall, last year, our Primary A team became National Debating Champions on Speech Day and I know our students will enjoy competing against schools from around Australia in the coming weeks and then return to face-to-face debating in Term 3 against local schools.
HICES Cross Country Carnival
Leaving and returning in darkness, our Redlands Cross Country team enjoyed success at this year’s Heads of Independent Coeducation Schools (HICES) in regional Bathurst, where the conditions were drier than Sydney, albeit much cooler. With runners from Yrs 3-6, the students combined efforts to finish as this year’s runners-up, an outstanding achievement. From the group, a remarkable 13 runners have now been selected to represent HICES at the State Combined Independent Schools carnival next month. Congratulations to all runners and the coaching staff who have supported them.
Lismore Appeal (extended until Friday 3 June)
We have extended the deadline for any donations for our Lismore Appeal to next Friday 3 June. Thank you to families who have been part of our initial stationery donation drive. This week under the guidance of our Junior Campus Chaplain, Ms McKenzie, Junior School students wrote some beautiful, empathetic cards for families that are going through the heartbreaking process of rebuilding their lives.
Parking Reminder
Please be reminded to respect and show consideration to our local neighbours and their properties at drop off and pick up. We have received a few recent calls from local residents unable to use their own driveways due to Redlands parents parking across them.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022