Head of Junior School
JUNIOR SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS
It has been invigorating to feel the energy of the students’ return this week for the start of Term 2 and prior to this on Monday, we welcomed all of our staff back for a day of professional learning. These days are of great importance and value to our staff and one of the areas of focus for our teaching staff on Monday was student Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), coordinated by our Deans of Students, Ms Katie-Louise Clinton (Junior) and Ms Marita Jansons (Secondary). This session opened with a guest speaker, Ms Pamela Randall-Garner, from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) who joined us from the US via Zoom.
The SEL competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships skills and responsible decision making are embedded in our student wellbeing framework and connected to this, we enjoyed hearing from some of our current students via a pre-recorded video on this topic as well as hearing in person from the 2015 School Captain and Dux of HSC, Billy Gleeson. Billy captivated the staff audience with his poignant reflections on the influence staff had had on him during his time here enabling him to foster a growth mindset and challenging him to be open to new experiences. A highly accomplished all-rounder, the SEL competencies were now life skills he practises every day and have enabled him to thrive in a range of areas in his life.
With restrictions eased, we look forward to returning to hosting parent seminars through the year with SEL being one that we will share in more detail with parents.
Yr 6 Camp
Next week sees the first of our 2021 Junior School camps set off as Yr 6 head down to Canberra. The children and staff are excited about the week and I am looking forward to spending time with them too, just as I will visit every Year Group on their respective camps in the first semester. I will send parents an email update from Canberra to give you a sense of how the trip is faring and we will endeavour to put some photos up in the Yr 6 section of Redlands Pulse during the week. These special opportunities for teachers and students to observe and interact with one another in an environment outside of the classroom often builds a platform for developing increased connections upon returning to School, not to mention fostering potential new student friendships along the way. I am sure that the trip will provide some wonderful opportunities and memories for students and staff alike and I will also share my observations and experiences through Note Day.
Winter Uniform
Thank you to families for supporting the School’s requirements for Winter School uniform.
Student voice is valued in our School and through our Student Council suggestion box, a number of students have asked if shorts could be worn instead of trousers as is the case in the Prep School, which I am happy to support.
Redlands Arts Luncheon
We are delighted to host the Redlands Arts Luncheon on Wednesday 26 May at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Kirribilli in celebration of the long history of Creative Arts education at Redlands that includes Visual Arts, Drama, Music, Dance and Design & Technology. This Luncheon is open to all Redlands parents and the wider community and provides a lovely opportunity to once again gather face-to-face as a community in celebration of the Creative Arts at our School.
The Redlands Arts Luncheon is sold out and we are taking any additional bookings on a waiting list.
The online auction with some incredible prizes such as holiday houses, degustation vouchers, wellbeing experiences and many more to support the Belinda Oxley Scholarship, will be launched on 13 May and accessible to all members of our community.
Road Safety
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022