Head of Junior School
Asking for Feedback … from Your Children
As shared by our Deputy Principal, Mr Corcoran, in this week’s Note Day, one of the key drivers of our new strategic plan is the further development of a positive and supportive culture of wellbeing, and a new initiative this year to help us achieve this aim will be administering the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) Social-Emotional Wellbeing Survey with students in Yrs 3-12. This survey is a confidential, strength-based survey which will assess and measure the overall wellbeing of students, allowing us to measure the effectiveness of our pastoral care programs, identify social and emotional needs of specific student groups and compare data with other schools conducting the survey. We plan to regularly administer this survey moving forward so that we can track the development of our students’ wellbeing over time. Junior School students will be completing the survey next week.
Connected to feedback, it reminded me of any article I read and shared a few years ago that explored the notion of parents asking their children for feedback at home on how to be a better parent. While being the best parent for my children is something I regularly think about, getting feedback from them on this matter hasn’t been…….yet.
Following similar principles to workplace surveys, the article suggests that upward feedback from our children can be a great way to help us identify ways in which we can improve as parents; as well as also knowing what to continue to do. It advocates asking your children the following three questions and sharing the questions with them in advance:
- What do I do that you like or that you’d like to see more of?
- What do I do that you don’t like or has a negative impact on you?
- What would make me a better parent?
As I read the questions, I also saw the opportunity to flip the questions for my children to reflect on themselves too! But the emphasis was on the need to actively engage in the listening part of this process and also without judgment. Then, when it’s your turn to talk, to be calm and open, mindful that your children might be taking a risk in sharing their feelings. Based on the feedback you receive; you would then probably have some ideas about what you can do differently.
I hope this may serve as a prompt for you as it has for me and just as feedback helps us in the context of growth at School, I look forward to getting a better sense of how to be a better parent; arguably the most important role we play.
Junior School Student Recognition – Kids Giving Back
Our Principal, Mr Webber, and I were proud to receive an email from Gabrielle Morrisey Hansen, CEO of the organisation Kids Giving Back, sharing how a number of Redlands students and their families spent time volunteering in Term 1 and over the last school holidays to help others through this organisation.
Kids Giving Back is a charity whose mission is to create the next generation of generosity through meaningful, hands-on experiences for young people to give back to others. Through charity partners, they arrange opportunities for children aged 6-18 years old and their families to aid and support for people experiencing food scarcity or hardship.
These students are among over 500 young people who produced over 7000 hot meals, salads, fruit kebabs, breakfast boxes, snack packs, care packs and decorated tote bags which were distributed to 13 charities around Sydney. They also were especially helpful in folding and packing new clothes for over 8000 vulnerable people, many of whom were affected by this year’s floods. We deeply appreciate their service to others and the kindness they have extended.
I will duly acknowledge these students in assembly next week but I wanted to also do so through this wider community communication as well. Thank you to the following Junior School students who participated in one or more of the programs during Term 1 or the recent school holidays:
Maddison Thomas (Yr 3); Leo McCarthy, Hugo Menegazzo, Poppy Pope, Vincent Okhovat, Luke Spencer (Yr 4); Tadhg Lavan, Hayden Thomas (Yr 5); Ethan Spencer (Yr 6)
To hear of our Redlands students embracing the concept of contributing back into the community is heart-warming and a wonderful example of our students living our School Values whilst making a difference to the lives of others.
Junior Campus Open Morning
On Tuesday, we welcomed over 160 people to our Junior Campus Open Morning for prospective families, the first time we have been able to host this in-person event for two years. As well as hearing from some of our Senior staff, our visitors thoroughly enjoyed hearing from two Yr 11 students, Samantha Hely and Leachlan Binnekamp who effusively shared some of their fondest memories and experiences from their time on the Junior Campus in those formative years and how they have lived life to the full in their journey through Redlands. Having seen Samantha and Lachlan in those younger years, it filled me with immense pride to listen to them speak as young adults and share their Redlands story thus far. Following on from this, our guests were taken on student-led tours with many of our Yr 2 and Yr 6 students involved in this part of the morning. As I commented to parents, an important aspect of these types of events is that we choose different students each time to afford as many students as possible with these types of leadership opportunity and I congratulate the students involved in these tours; we have already received numerous complimentary messages on both their confidence and openness as they led groups around the school.
Lismore Appeal (until Friday 27 May)
Thank you to families who have been part of our initial stationery donation drive to support The Northern River Children’s Services in Lismore. Our students are creating boxes filled with donated school and art supplies to replenish materials lost during the floods. Students are also making cards for families that are going through the heartbreaking process of rebuilding their lives. We know that this project will provide the students with a sense of both empathy and purpose as we remind our NSW neighbours in Lismore, that they are cared for and not forgotten. We encourage families to support this opportunity in the coming weeks as we strive to make a difference to this community.
Sustainability Initiatives
Waste Free Wednesday starting next week
Next Wednesday 25 May, the Junior Campus will begin our student-led ‘Waste Free Wednesday’ sustainability initiative. A waste free lunch box is one that only contains packaging that can be composted or reused (such as a banana peel or reusable containers). Families are encouraged to consider this option and it also might be an opportunity to pack your child’s lunchbox with them, discussing what could be used.
Single Use Water Bottles
A reminder that from Monday 30 May (Week 6), our Junior Campus will cease all water bottle sales. In the last two years, we have installed numerous filtered water bubblers and refilling stations throughout the campus, which get very good usage from the students. We know that nearly every student brings a water bottle to school each day and they are permitted to drink and rehydrate in class, as needed. As is already the case, if students forget to bring a water bottle to school, they will be encouraged to use a bubbler or will be provided with a paper cup.
Dr Tessa Opie Presentation
Respectful Relationships: Dr Tessa Opie
Monday 23 May, 7.00-8.30pm
Redlands Hall
All parents and carers are invited to this presentation on Respectful Relationships Education: At School and in the Home. Last year Dr Opie’s workshop was well received by Redlands parents and carers, and we envision this year’s information evening will be just as informative and valuable. As seating numbers are limited, booking is essential so please ensure that you book via this link by Friday 20 May to avoid disappointment. This presentation will target parents and carers of students in Years 6 through 12; however, all Redlands parents and carers are welcome.
Flu Season
Pleasingly, we have seen a significant decrease in the number of student COVID-19 positive cases over the first four weeks of this term. However, as many of you are aware, there are a number of other “bugs” spreading throughout the wider community which are also affecting our students and staff. The NSW Health Department has expressed their concerns about this flu season and you can find a link to their influenza fact sheet here. Whether it is COVID-19 or other illnesses, our general advice is the same: students who are unwell or are displaying flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home, get tested and not return to school until they are symptom free.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022