Head of Junior School
Parent Appreciation – Thank You
The voluntary roles that so many Redlands parents play has a significant impact on fostering and strengthening the palpable sense of school community that embodies Redlands. It also serves as a great example of an altruistic mentality that volunteering models to our children as well as others.
On Tuesday, we held the final meeting of our 2023 Junior School Class Parent representatives and along with Mr Corcoran and also on behalf of all our Junior School families and teachers, we were able to thank this group for the role that they have played in building relationships and friendships within Junior School classes and year groups this year.
Leading and supporting these parents, we have been fortunate to have had the leadership of Catherine Grinham and Michelle McDonald in the role of Junior School Parent Group Coordinators this year and I extend my appreciation to them both for their calm, organised, people-focused guidance and for being such an important conduit between the School and our parent community; it has made a difference and I have personally been grateful for their counsel over the year. Looking ahead to 2024, Michelle and Catherine were delighted to announce Jennie Cadman and Mayumi Staley-Lobo as the Junior School Parent Group Coordinators for 2024.
More widely, I acknowledge the parents who have selflessly served our community in roles this year including members of our School Board of Directors, the Redlands Parents and Friends Association, Class Parent representatives, the Foundation Steering Committee, Friends of Groups, Redlanders Alumni Association and Autumn Fair support, along with the many parents who have taken the time to share their expertise and wisdom in the context of supporting learning or cocurricular activities.
Volunteer Thank You
Next week, I am looking forward to joining staff and Board Directors at our annual School ‘thank you’ to our many parent volunteers, whose dedication and service to our community makes such a significant difference to Redlands.
Living Our School Values
I often talk to our students about how impactful and significant living our School Values is, particularly when no one is watching. As teachers and parents, we cannot be there at every opportunity or moment but hope the students make good values-based choices, simply because it is the right thing to do.
Yesterday, the School took a call from an elderly lady who had got off at the same bus stop as a Redlands student to be greeted by pouring rain. The student noticed that she did not have an umbrella and was getting drenched so generously offered to share her umbrella the short walk to their respective homes on the same street. I was able to pass on this gratitude to Ella Feller in Yr 6 today who was surprised that the lady had contacted the School for something that she had not seen as extraordinary, which also says much about Ella.
Term 4 Parent Topic Talk
Recharging in the School Holidays: Powering Up for the Year Ahead
Join our Junior Campus counsellor-led workshop, Recharging in the school holidays: Powering up for the year ahead, where we’ll discuss making the most of the holidays to prepare your child for the upcoming school year. We’ll explore a range of strategies you can put in place to support your child’s mental wellness during the holidays, such as keeping them engaged, setting realistic goals for sleep and physical activity, and managing technology use. We will also focus on the importance of fostering healthy relationships within your family as well as with your child’s peers throughout the holiday period. All the practical tools provided in this presentation can help your child feel more prepared and confident for the new school year.
Owen Beck – Head of Junior School for a Day
Last term’s Gala Ball was a wonderful community success and as those present may recall, one of the auction items was for a student to step into my shoes for a day as ‘Head of Junior School’. This took place this week and Yr 6 student, Owen Beck (or Mr Beck as he was known for the day!) had the opportunity to enjoy a range of experiences and opportunities in his role. Across the day, Owen assisted on playground duty, joined and spoke briefly at the Parent Coordinator group meeting, attended the Secondary School Student Leadership Induction assembly, enjoyed lunch off site, spoke at Junior School assembly and spent time visiting classrooms. He also extended lunch break by ten minutes and allowed students ‘free time’ for the last part of the afternoon after assembly which was a big hit!
Student Safety Reminders
Students were reminded again in assembly that they are not to go to the Shell petrol station before or after school for safety reasons. The forecourt is particularly busy with vehicles entering from multiple entries and is a potential accident waiting to happen with no pedestrian walkway. I ask parents to reinforce this expectation to support our safety expectations.
I also take this opportunity to remind parents that unless involved in pre-arranged activities, the end of the school day and pick up is at 3.20pm. We seem to have a growing number of children who are playing unsupervised waiting to be picked up until up to 4pm. Please be reminded that students in Yrs 4-6 can utilise the Library as a learning space on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 4pm if required.
School Student Travel 2024
Please click here to download 2024 Opal Card NSW Transit Letter.
OOSH News
OOSH would like to welcome everyone back to the new term and share some exciting news with you.
Our delicious afternoon tea is now provided by Redlands Catering, making it easier than ever to plan and enjoy nutritious meals for our children. This wonderful addition to our OOSH program has already received 100% satisfaction feedback from the students! You can find the monthly menu on HubHello.
Additionally, we have made a significant improvement to our Junior students’ experience by transitioning them to a dedicated space that is just for them in the Junior School Atrium area on Level 2 of the Peter Cornish building, just above the Junior School Reception going up the stairs. This strategic move allows us to offer a more tailored and enriching environment to our Junior School students. Each group now has a designated team of educators who will facilitate activities specifically planned to cater to their age and interests, including time for home learning. This shift ensures that our students receive the individualised attention and care they deserve while enjoying themselves in a safe and engaging environment.
For any information, please contact Ana Nogueira.