Head of Junior School
Debating News
Congratulations to our Yr 5 Primary B team debating team who have made it to the Sydney Debating Network Grand Finals this week! The students have adapted well to the mid-competition shift to Zoom debates and we wish them well in their Final on Friday evening. All the best to Sam Ashby, Caroline Brown, Kernel He, Alex Heller, George McIntosh and Chloe Petering
We also congratulate our Yr 6 Primary A team of Jacob Cartwright, Thomas Hooper, Toby Priestley, Roy Rivera, Ruby Sommer, Freya Stasko who narrowly missed out on the Grand Finals.
Camp Activity Days
In the absence of being able to take our Yrs 3, 4 and 5 students on outdoor education camps this year, we have brought camp to our students! Starting with Yr 3 today and Yr 4 tomorrow, our camp providers, the Outdoor Education Group, are bringing in a range of activities for the students to enjoy and embrace here on campus. Their team will lead a range of fun, engaging and challenging team events for the students and our staff will also be there to enjoy and support students as they would do on camp. I look forward to spending time with each Year Group (as I would normally do) and sharing more photos next week and students should wear PE kit on the day.
Yr 5 have their session next Friday and Yr 2 will have their sessions next Thursday.
House Cross Country Carnival
Our annual House Cross Country Carnival is still scheduled for next Thursday 17 September and the revised plan is organised by Year Groups with each Year Group heading to the course at Cammeray Golf Club for their respective race and then coming back to school before the next year group heads out. A detailed letter and overview was sent to all families on Monday and parents are also reminded to give permission on the portal for your child to attend for their race as it is off site.
Wellbeing Matters
This week sees key wellbeing events of note: National Child Protection Week, R U OK? Alongside our timetabled wellbeing workshops.
National Child Protection Week (6-12 September) invites all Australians to prioritise children’s wellbeing. This year’s theme, Putting Children First, focuses on what children need to grow up well. To thrive, children need to feel safe and loved, have a chance to play and explore, have a say in decisions that affect them, and access to essential things like food, shelter and healthcare.
R U OK? Day is today and emphasises the value of close connections and strong relationships. During our class wellbeing workshops this week, our students have practised the four R U OK? conversation steps, further developing their friendship skills. Whilst children cannot be expected to fix someone’s problems, nor know the best way to help and support, they can be encouraged to listen to what their friend is saying, let them know they care and tell a trusted adult if they are worried.
In addition, and aligning with National Child Protection Week, our students identified their ‘safety network’ of trusted adults that they can go to if they feel unsafe. It is an important skill for our children to be able to recognise safe and unsafe situations, the feelings and body clues that provide warning signals and at least five adult ‘safety helpers’.
Unsafe situations can also include online environments. We regularly remind our students of our Responsible User Guidelines and the importance of getting help from an adult if something is worrying or upsetting them. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has information and resources for parents as well as the ability to remove unsafe images, posts or content.
Upcoming Charity Event
As mentioned in our assembly this week, we are looking forward to holding a joint fundraiser in September for both Bear Cottage (which was cancelled back in March as we moved to online learning) and The Kids’ Cancer Project; charities that our Redlands community has had a strong affinity and personal connection with in recent years. This student-driven fundraiser is again being led by Yr 6 student, Stella Cunningham, as she, and we, continue to ensure that her brother’s legacy continues as we remember both Murray and Leo Hachem and their families in our School community.
As well as being able to make donations, students will have an opportunity to purchase a wider range of merchandise from both organisations which they will be given information on at the start of next week. We hope our community can come together to continue to support and raise awareness of these two special causes.
RPFA Community Trivia Night
It is wonderful to see our Redlands Parents and Friends Association set up an inaugural socially distant community event for our Redlands with a Kahoot Trivia afternoon lined up. Zoom in to see friends and families in House colours and see who can answer the most multiple choice questions the quickest! The quiz, which is being run by a quiz company, has been designed to be suitable for all ages and students can earn House points as well as lots of prizes during the quiz.
Safety Around Schools Information
Please find below a series of Safety Around Schools Fact Sheets from North Sydney Council for your reference. These fact sheets go through common misunderstood road rules and the penalties and demerit points associated with disobeying these road rules in a school zone.
School Safety Fact Sheet 1
School Safety Fact Sheet 2
School Safety Fact Sheet 3
School Safety Fact Sheet 4
Thank you for your continued support of our focus on the safety of all students around our school campuses.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022