Head of Preparatory School

Head of Preparatory School

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please note that all Upcoming Events for Prep are now on their own Note Day article/page.  

This Head of Preparatory School page will consist of general information from the Head of Preparatory School. 

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

Last Friday was certainly a highlight of the school calendar, as the Junior Campus enthusiastically welcomed their grandparents and special friends. The delight in the children’s faces as their beloved grandparents shared in their learning and later watched them sing at the concert was very special. It was lovely to have so many grandparents who travelled from interstate and even overseas. We had one student who was able to Facetime her grandparents living in America from the classroom. The memories that were made on this day will be cherished and I thank the classroom teachers who welcomed our visitors, Prep Music staff for assisting with the lead-up and organisation of the musical items, the Junior Canteen for the lovely morning tea served and the Facilities team who together, helped make this such a memorable day. I had several conversations with grandparents who have been coming to this event for many years and it is something they look forward to from year to year.

Library News and Science Week

Term 3 is always an exciting term in the Library. The Premier’s Reading Challenge concludes, Children’s Book Week occurs, there is an author visit and other special displays and events happening.

The closing date for the Premier’s Reading Challenge is Friday 30 August. If you are working towards completing this with your child, please make sure you have entered your 30 books onto the website using the password in the back of the Student Planner. If you are experiencing any difficulties with this or have any questions about the process, please visit the Lucy Hill Library where staff will offer assistance.

With Science Week officially launching, Mrs Roberts has a collection of wonderful science-themed books on display for borrowing. There has been a significant increase in the number of children’s books written about famous scientists, especially female scientists, as well as stories where science features as part of the plot. The books shown below will add to your child’s reading ‘power’ and perhaps give them some ideas for their Character Dress Up Day next Thursday 22 August.

  • Spring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement by Stephanie Roth Sisson
  • The Fossil Hunter: Mary Anning’s Dinosaur Discovery by Catherine Brighton
  • Marie Curie by Isabel Sanchez Vegara
  • Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola
  • Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer by Diane Stanley
  • Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating

Please find this term’s Library Newsletter full of wonderful information on the Redlands Pulse here.

Science Week

National Science Week is about celebrating science and technology in Australia. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge. It also aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public, and to encourage younger people to become fascinated by the world we live in. Mr Coutts, the Dean of Teaching and Learning, organised some exciting activities for the students in Prep School involving the construction and flying of rockets. Students in Kindergarten and Yr 1 relished in launching their rockets on the school oval.

Artwork

I am delighted to share with you that Viraj Tandon’s (Two Crimson) artwork The Lonely Black Cockatoo has been selected as a finalist in the Threatened Species Children’s Art Competition which is open to children across NSW, ACT and Victoria. This year the competition was run under the banner of Humane Society International. Humane Society International is the largest and most effective international charity working for a more humane and sustainable world for animals. As a finalist, Viraj’s artwork will be displayed at the Botanical Gardens in Sydney from 8 September for two weeks and will be open to be viewed by visitors to the Gardens during its busy Spring season. Congratulations to Viraj and we hope this will encourage him to pursue and develop his love for painting as he moves through the School.

Snowsports Interschools Championships

I would like to wish all students the very best of luck as they compete in the Interschools Championships in Perisher next week. A particular mention to Preparatory students, Sebastian To, Oliver To, Aidan Schlederer and Kyler Simpson who will be competing for the School.

School Drop Off

The safety of our students is very important and as such I ask for your vigilance with adhering to the 8.00am drop off time. Before this time, there is no supervision for students in the playground, classroom or Prep Reception area. Thank you for your close attention to this.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

  • year of schooling
  • category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
  • level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

  • formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
  • consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
  • develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal.

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact Mrs Lisa Ole (Coordinator of Learning Support K-12).

Greenlands 2040 Screening

Influenza Warning

This is a reminder to please keep your children at home if they are unwell. For more information on influenza, please click here. 

Mrs Audrey Fellowes
Head of Preparatory School
afellowes@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848