Head of Junior School

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Beyond the Junior School

As a P-12 School, there are many enriching opportunities for students and staff to connect and collaborate with each other across the three sections of Redlands. In the last week, I have experienced and enjoyed two such moments that highlight the special nature of being part of a P-12 School environment.

Last Saturday, I spent time watching a number of our Junior School Basketball teams play their first match of the year and the final game of the morning for us in Dunnet Hall preceded the Senior 1sts Basketball team playing against St Pius X College. The Senior boys and their families had intentionally come earlier to support and cheer on our  team and our boys clearly responded to this added support with a strong performance and win over Newington College, following the successful start for our five other teams in this age group against Newington. Conversely, many of our Juniors and their families then stayed on to cheer the 1sts and were able to sit as part of the 1sts extended bench during their game, a fabulous experience for them to be part of.

Head of Junior Sport, Mr Carter, and I stood on the sidelines for both games and it was a moment that evoked great pride for us seeing boys who had been part of our Junior teams not that long ago, now playing for the 1sts but still valuing the connections with younger students and serving as fine role models.

Then on Monday, it was a pleasure for me to attend this week’s assembly for the highest academic achievers in both the HSC and IB Diploma from the Redlands Class of 2018. Like a number of Junior School teachers, I had taught a number of these students in their primary years and over the years, have loved seeing them grow and flourish in our Secondary School environment. These top 40 students and their families were welcomed back and have set the bar for our current Yrs 11 and 12 students to emulate their successes in the next two years.

Of particular note, I enjoyed hearing one of the returning students, Hugh Smylie, speak passionately about the importance of balance in his final year, ensuring that he continued his passion for extra curricular activities alongside his studies, something that we value equally at a primary age. Hugh has been involved in our Junior School reading support program as part of his Service for the last three years of his schooling and certainly made a difference to many of our students.

The record 56% of the Yr 12 2018 cohort who achieved an ATAR score of 90+ were rightly acknowledged at this Academic Achievement Assembly but clearly of equal importance to both them and us was the wider contributions that they were able to make during their time at Redlands and the noteworthy legacy that they have left behind.

Parent Seminars  

It was wonderful to join many Junior School families at this week’s eChat Session on the connection between our Teaching and Learning philosophy and the integration of technology. My thanks are extended to our eLearning Coordinator, Mrs Winrow, and Dean of Teaching and Learning, Mr Coutts, for their extensive preparation and presentation to parents, which has also been placed on Redlands Pulse for all parents to access.

A reminder of two upcoming parent seminars that were outlined in more detail in last week’s Note Day, which can be found in the back issues section on Redlands Pulse.

Yrs 5 and 6 Debating

Please note that registrations for Yrs 5 and 6 Debating will close next Monday 18 February. Debating is for Terms 1, 2 and 3 on a Tuesday afternoon during Cocurricular Clubs (3.30-4.30pm). Please read the detailed information about the program here. If your child is interested in being a part of the Representative teams, the last day for trials will be Tuesday next week, during the Debating workshop time. Registration for the program is via a Google Form, which you can access here.   

Car Line Reminder

As per the information communicated to all families before the start of term, please join the car line after 3.15pm at the earliest as our K-2 students are picked up before this time in the Prep Car Line pick up. We have some parents here long before we finish at 3.20pm which is causing congestion for families of our younger students. Many thanks for your immediate attention and cooperation with this matter.

Year Parent Representatives

Thank you to parents who have sent their names through to Mrs Fairfax in the Junior School Office offering to be a Year Group parent this year. As mentioned before, in a slight change from previous years, the RPFA are aiming to have one parent per class, who will collaborate with other parents from across that Year Group to organise more Year Group social events and foster greater connection across the parent group. We are currently seeking one parent representative from the following classes to work alongside a parent from each of the other respective classes in that group: Classes 3M, 4A, 4C, 5B, 5F and 5S. Please contact Mrs Fairfax in the Junior School Office if you are able to take up this important community role for 2019.

Junior School Spanish – Education Perfect and Linguascope

Redlands Junior School students will be using Education Perfect and Linguascope once again in 2019 within the Spanish program. 

Education Perfect has been implemented in hundreds of schools, with notable impacts on student motivation, grades, and on the number of students who continue with their language learning. Global, state, and inter-class competitions take place through the year, which encourage students to continue learning a second language.

Regular Spanish home learning tasks on Education Perfect will be set to complement the topics we are studying in class. Whilst not compulsory, these tasks are highly recommended as they enable students to focus on vocabulary and other content at home, allowing more time for the application of this knowledge in context during class time.

Linguascope is also used in thousands of schools around the world and gives students access to purposeful and engaging games and activities that inspire and motivate learners. Junior School Spanish students will be using the Linguascope Beginners level app. 

All Junior School students have the same log in details for Linguascope which will be distributed to the students.

Parents are also welcome to visit the websites for more information – www.educationperfect.com and www.linguascope.com 

Students can access these apps from anywhere on an iPad, iPhone or computer using the same log in details. These free apps will be available on self-service or from the App Store for your child’s iPad. 

Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022 

Photo Caption: 2019 Junior School Captains