Head of Early Childhood

STEM Week

This week the Preparatory School held its inaugural Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) days. Through an interdisciplinary approach to these subjects, students gained and applied knowledge, deepened their understanding and developed creative and critical thinking skills within an authentic context. Partnering with the Junior Science Academy of Macquarie University, eLearning Coordinator, Shireen Winrow, and eLearning Facilitator, Fiona Rugg, organised learning projects around the STEM areas. Sincere thanks to parent helper, Argiro Anagnostu, who collaborated with Mrs Winrow to review the science of circuits through the use of Squishy Circuits.  With the assistance of several guinea pigs, students considered how much the animals could eat in four minutes focusing on the mathematical strands of Space and Time. They also questioned how far a marshmallow could shoot from a cardboard tube with variables such as size, length and width, and collaboratively hypothesised outcomes. Students were also introduced to a new robot called Ozobots and carefully programmed details for the robot to move around a path at varying speeds. All children enjoyed rotating amongst the four classrooms, each having a different focus underneath the STEM umbrella.

Prep Picnic Day

We will be holding our annual Prep Picnic Day at North Harbour Reserve on Friday 30 November. This day is a tradition for the Preparatory School, where the staff and students celebrate and reflect on their year of learning together. Children are required to come to school at the normal time wearing sports uniform and runners. Please ensure all children have a sun hat and sunscreen. We will be leaving school at 9.00am and travelling to North Harbour Reserve by bus and then returning to school at 12.45pm. Each child is required to bring lunch and a water bottle in a small back pack. Popcorn and a popper will be provided for morning tea, and an ice treat upon returning to school. If you haven’t already done so, please give permission on Redlands Pulse for your child/children to attend before Friday 23 November.

Yr 2 to Yr 3 Transition

A number of strategies have been put in place to assist in making the transition from Yr 2 to Yr 3 as seamless as possible. This week, there were some small changes to the after-school dismissal arrangements to help prepare the children for next year. These will continue until the end of term. Next week, we would ask that parents assist with the change to the arrangements on Tuesday 27 November in relation to the children’s PE lesson. The details were communicated in the recent letter to Yr 2 parents and carers, which can be found here on the Yr 2 page of Redlands Pulse.

Lucy Hill Library

As previously mentioned, all student and parent borrowing concluded on Monday 19 November. All books were due to be returned today, Thursday 22 November. If you still have books at home we kindly ask you to return them as soon as possible. Thank you.

Anglicare Xmas Appeal

Redlands Prep School will again turn its focus to ‘Letting our Light Shine’ by sharing the joy of Christmas with children in need in Sydney. We will be participating in Anglicare’s Toys ‘n’ Tucker Campaign. If you wish to participate please bring your gifts to the Prep School Reception and place them under the Christmas tree. Christmas is a wonderful time to reflect on God’s generous gift to people and on the joy we can share by giving. While our focus in Prep School is the Anglicare collection, many families at Redlands also like to support our Secondary School collection for Matthew Talbot Homeless Shelter. Our Yr 11 students serve breakfast there every Monday and it is wonderful to be able to know that the people we meet each week will be the recipients of our gifts. If you would like to participate, please see the list of items below. There will be a box for items in both Prep and Junior School Receptions. Collections begin on Monday 12 November and conclude Tuesday 4 December.

Vacation Care

Bookings are now open for the December/January holiday period. Please login to Flexischools if you would like to make a booking. The closing date for all bookings will be 4 December at 3.00pm.

End of Year Events

Mrs Audrey Fellowes
Head of Early Childhood
afellowes@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848