Head of Junior School
Welcome to Term 3
We have enjoyed a positive start to the term and it was wonderful to gather together for our first Junior School assembly on Day 1 and share the excitement of an event-filled term ahead. We were delighted to again welcome both our Principal, Mr Webber, and our Deputy Principal, Mr Corcoran, and in his address to the Junior School, Mr Webber shared the exciting news to the students of Mr Corcoran’s appointment as his successor in 2023.
Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) Competition Results
I am delighted to share the overall results of our inaugural entry for Years 5 to 12 in the Australian Maths Trust Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) Competition and the Oxford University Computational Challenge (OUCC), held at the end of last term. A total of 38 Junior School students participated in the CAT Competition with 17 of these students choosing to also compete in Round 1 of the OUCC.
In the CAT Challenge students were awarded certificates in the following categories: Participation, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction. Our Junior School students performed strongly with 13 Credits, 2 Distinctions (Enrico Vivaldi and Arlo Weinberg) and 1 High Distinction (Ollie Hosker). Congratulations to all students on such a strong performance.
In the OUCC, students were awarded certificates in the following categories: Participation, a Merit award for achieving in the top 50% of their division, a Distinction for achieving in the top 25% of their division with outstanding students achieving in the top 5% invited to participate in Round 2. Congratulations to all our Year 5 students who achieved Participation in their first ever Computational Challenge.
Overall, from Year 5-12, in the OUCC Redlands students achieved 8 Merit awards and 5 Distinctions, with the remaining students obtaining certificates of participation.
Snowsports
For the first time in a while, many of our students were involved in both the Redlands Cup and Interschool Snowsports Championships and these students were recognised in assembly. I know that they represented the school with pride and success and I extend my gratitude to students, teachers and parent helpers who combined together to make this a wonderful start to the snow season for Redlands.
Australian Tennis Championships
Congratulations to Year 6 student, Ami Dalla Pozza, who represented NSW with distinction at the Australia and New Zealand Tennis Championships on the Gold Coast over the break. Ami and her team collected the silver medals at this prestigious event with Ami making important contributions to the team’s overall success.
Yr 6 Transition Session
Student Cybersafety Workshops
In the next week, we are looking forward to every Junior School student being involved in age appropriate Cybersafety education sessions with our partners, ySafe. To give you a sense of what each year group will be covering, please see the brief summary below.
Yr 3 – Foundation Session: The Cybersafe Adventure
Students in Year 3 begin the Stage 2 Foundation course which will investigate what Personal Private Information is and where not to use it. They will explore how they can chat safely to others online and ways to seek help if they see or experience any negative online behaviour. incorporating the trending games and websites kids use with a focus on presenting cyber safety themes using a game-based delivery.
Yr 4 – Interactive Session: Deep Dive on the Cyber Side
Students in Year 4 completed the ySafe Foundation course in Year 3 that centred on sharing information, chatting safely and how to get help. This Interactive session allows students to dive deeper into Personal Private Information and how this can affect Digital Wellbeing. Students will then examine how screen time and gaming can be positive but also detrimental to our overall digital wellbeing.
Yr 5 – Foundation Session: Staying Safe Online & Mastering your Digital World
Students in Year 5 will begin the Stage 3 Foundation course which will investigate the obvious forms and the lesser-known forms of cyberbullying. They will explore how to stay safe on social media and gaming platforms and what is a Digital Footprint.
Yr 6 Interactive Session: Messaging Apps & Cyberbullying
Students in Year 6 completed the ySafe foundation course in Year 5 that centred on Cyberbullying, safety on Social Media & Games and Digital Wellbeing. This interactive session allows students to dive deeper into using Messaging Apps and Games as well Cyberbullying and bystander behaviour online. Students explore current messaging apps available and investigate the pros and cons of their use. They analyse negative online behaviour and use strategies to negate these behaviours whilst supporting others.
Junior Campus Cybersafety Seminar with ySafe
To coincide with the student cybersafety workshops for Junior School students, we are very pleased to host another parent seminar this term (but this time in-person) in the Arnold Library. In partnership again with industry leaders, ySafe, the session will focus on specific challenges and opportunities in the digital environment which Junior School students may encounter, what parents should know and how to support your children’s digital safety and wellbeing.
Who: P-6 Parents and Carers
Date: Wednesday 27 July 2022
Venue: Arnold Library (entry via Junior School)
Time: 9:30am-10:30am
Booking: Places are limited so please RSVP here to attend.
I also encourage parents to explore Redlands’ Cybersafety Hub which was set up last year with ySafe and is a treasure-trove of valuable information.
International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)
Further to the letter sent last term, we have been given an extension for parents to select if you would like your child to sit the optional ICAS assessments this term. Payments are easy with the online Parent Payment System. The PPS shop to order the assessments is open now until Tuesday 1 August.
Click HERE and enter our unique school code: School access code is: LGX895 to pay online and confirm your child’s participation.
The assessments will take place this term:
Digital technologies – 8 August 2022- 12 August 2022
Science – 22 August 2022 – 26 August 2022
Spelling – 22 August 2022 – 26 August 2022
Writing – 8 August 2022- 12 August 2022
English – 15 August 2022 – 19 August 2022
Mathematics – 29 August 2022 – 2 September 2022
For any questions, please email our school contact, Ms Wilson. The original letter of information can also be found on Redlands Pulse.
Semester Two Clubs
Parents of students who had signed up for the Semester 2 teacher-run Tuesday clubs program were emailed at the end of last term with a reconfirmation. These clubs are LEGO, Claymation, Sustainability in Action, Art, Young Journalists*, Baseball 5*, Mathemagicians* and Chess (Year 3 & 4 only).
Clubs marked with an asterisk have some places for any student who might be interested in attending, even if they have attended a club in Semester 1. If interested, please email Mrs Fairfax in the Junior School Office.
In addition, our Tuesday club offerings include two classes run by an outside provider, Code Camp. These classes run for 8 weeks on Tuesday afternoons from 3:35pm-4:50pm at Redlands and carry an additional cost.
Animation (Yrs 3 and 4)
Students combine the art of storytelling, art and technology to create movies from scratch using stop-motion animation. For more information about the class and how to book click here.
Drone (Yrs 5 and 6)
Please note this class is for students who did not have an opportunity to attend a Drone class in Terms 1 or 2, as it is a repeat of the previous program. Class size is limited to 9 students. For more information about the class and how to book click here
Junior Music Festival: Thursday 4 August 4.30pm – 6pm
Junior School families will have received information yesterday about our upcoming Junior Music Festival, which promises to be a showstopper. One ticket per family is available through Trybooking from 8pm tonight until Tuesday 2 August.
Term 4 Departure Notice
This is a reminder that those families who are planning on leaving the School during or at the end of Term 4 are required to give notice to the Principal via an email to registrar@redlands.nsw.edu.au by cob tomorrow Friday 22 July.
As per the 2022 Schedule of Fees emailed to all families in December last year, there will be fees in lieu payable for any notices of departure received after this date.
Families who are planning on leaving the School during or at the end of Term 3 were required to give notice by Friday 24 June.
For further enquiries, please contact registrar@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
Volunteer at Redlands
We need new additions to our team of volunteers who assist Redlands students in Years 7-12 with exams and assessments throughout the year.We are actively recruiting for the Y12 Trial examination period from 8-18 August.
Prep, Junior and Secondary School parents, grandparents, friends and Redlanders are all welcome to express their interest.
No subject specific knowledge is required; you are simply there to read and/or write what the student dictates, and to regulate the time.
If you respect confidentiality, are reliable and punctual, patient and relaxed we would love to hear from you.
Volunteering is rewarding and will help you gain a new perspective on the Redlands experience. With your help students can achieve their full potential and you have the opportunity to see the types of assessments students sit across a range of subjects in the senior school. Our students are very appreciative of the support they are given.
If you would be interested in finding out more about helping with exams, please contact Cressida Rigney at crigney@redlands.nsw.edu.au or on 9968 9854.
Redlands Spring Fair – Save the Date
Wallaby #952: David Porecki
And finally, it was inspiring to see former Redlands Junior and Secondary School student, David Porecki, make his debut and play in all three of the Wallabies Test matches against England in the last few weeks, becoming the second Redlander to represent Australia in rugby.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022