Head of Early Childhood

Can-Do!

Last week I shared with our community, the valuable messages about brain development from Dr Helena Popovic.  She spoke to the Redlands staff during a professional learning session and highlighted the link between positivity and health. At school, staff spend time on Growth Mindset attitudes and dispositions to help students create a can-do or will-try attitude. You may see Can-Do jars popping up in classrooms and common areas for students to share their Can-Do moments. At home, you too can do the same by encouraging positive thinking and creating an environment that nurtures your children’s beliefs in their abilities. Having that confidence enables them to take risks that will help them reach their potential. The following may provide some insight into how families can create a sense of positivity at home.

• Positive Self-Talk – teaching children to have an optimistic view of solving problems with phrases such as, “I can handle life’s challenges” may help when they are confronted with an obstacle and can tell themselves to keep trying.
• Positive Time – To foster the I-can attitude with your children, spend quality time with them and focus on their strengths. Writing a list of things they can do may help with this.
• Positive Tools – As your child’s first teacher and role model, you play an important part in the principles of etiquette. Research suggests that well-mannered individuals generally share similar characteristics including: self-confidence, consideration for others, respect, common sense, tact and flexibility.
• Positive Moods – Children are very sensitive to adult feelings and attitudes. While we can’t always expect to be cheerful, we can use those difficult moments to teach children to be effective problem solvers, deal with difficult feelings in productive ways and handle challenging situations proactively.

Bush School

Our Term 2 Kindergarten Bush School program commenced this week. Bush School provides an environment for children to explore their potential and enables them to connect to nature, use cooperative thinking skills, problem-solve, take calculated risks and engage in mindfulness. It is exciting to observe the learning and thinking dispositions developed by the children in Bush School translate into the classroom, resulting in greater gains in key learning areas and Units of Inquiry. Given this is the School’s sixth year of Bush School, we are noticing that these gains are maintained and are used by the children in Yrs 1 and 2, especially as they begin their first Outdoor Education Program later in the year.

Yr 2 Camp Information Session

On Wednesday 30 May we will be holding a Yr 2 Camp Information Session for interested families. The session will be held in the Arnold Library on the Junior Campus, beginning promptly at 3.30pm, finishing at 4.30pm. David Gregory, Head of Outdoor Education, Nicola Sharp, Yr 2 Coordinator and Shelly Acland, Prep School Counsellor, will be in attendance and sharing pertinent information about the Yr 2 Camp Program. Part of this discussion will centre around the School’s Outdoor Education philosophy for students of this age and our understanding of the range of student emotions, abilities and development rates. As such, we respectfully ask that children not be in attendance for this particular session.

Mother’s Day

Please be advised that the lift on Junior Campus won’t be operational at this event. If you have concerns, please email earlychildhood@redlands.nsw.edu.au and alternative arrangements can be organised. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Girls Uniform Trial

As part of ongoing consultation with students and parents regarding the School uniform, we are trialling girls’ trousers this Winter, Terms 2 and 3. The School has recently sourced smaller sizes for Prep students. If you are interested in trousers for the Winter for your daughter, please visit the Uniform Shop. There are navy socks available to purchase to wear with the navy trousers.

Walking to School

The 19^th  annual Walk Safely to School Day initiative is on Friday 18 May. Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual, national event when all primary-aged children are encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a free community event seeking to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment.

Students are encouraged to walk to school or as is more viable for many families, park further away from school and walk a short distance to school. Stickers can be collected from the Prep Reception as you walk into school.

Who Do I Contact?

As we begin a new term, this is a timely reminder to contact the following school personnel should you require information. The Early Childhood section of the School can refer you to these departments, but cannot answer specific questions pertaining to these activities.

Sports Department (Soccer, Gymnastics)
Adrian Carter – Junior Campus Sports Master
Gemma Michael – Sports Administration
Email:  juniorsport@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Tel: 9908 6454

Music Department
Jacqueline McGlade – Music Administration
Email: juniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Tel: 9908 6495

Drama Department
Lauren O’Neill – Drama Administration
Email: drama@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Tel: 9968 9860 

Ballet Department
Eva Bishop – Ballet Administration
Email- evabishop@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Tel: 9908 6461

You Can Sit with Me

On Friday 1 June , Redlands Junior Campus will be joining together with their buddies at lunch time to observe You Can Sit with Me day. This initiative began to strengthen communities with children of all ages, fostering friendships across schools. You Can Sit With Me reminds everyone in our school that we welcome anyone to sit with us regardless of interests, ability and age. On the day, we are encouraging all students to wear a touch of yellow. If you are interested in buying a pencil or bag tag, please visit their website. All proceeds from the sale of items go to the Literacy and Numeracy Foundation.