Head of Preparatory School
Maths Week
Monday 25-29 July
Next week Prep is celebrating Maths Week. The aim of Maths Week is to inspire, engage and instil a passion for learning Mathematics. Over the course of the week, students will participate in a range of hands-on learning experiences to think deeply about mathematical concepts. On Monday, students will take part in a Maths incursion run by Inquisitive Minds where they will be solving problems and making structures. During Tuesday to Thursday, each class will receive a problem of the day and work together to practise different problem-solving strategies.
On Friday, we warmly invite parents into the classrooms to join in the fun and play some Maths games between 8:30 and 9:00 am. It will be a great opportunity to see how Mathematics is taught here at Redlands and take part in meaningful games which can be played at home too.
During Maths Week, I encourage families to talk about all things Mathematics – It could be as simple counting the number of steps from the car to the house or timing how long it takes to get to school each morning. Please keep an eye out for the Maths Week display at Prep Reception to see some of the interactive tasks and problems for each day. It will be a great week full of numbers and problems and look forward to having parents join us the classroom for some Mathematics learning.
Junior Campus Cybersafety Seminar with ySafe
Our Yrs 1 and 2 students will be participating in ysafe sessions during the day as well. These sessions will be age-appropriate story-based learning activities. The concepts of the internet and its interconnectedness will be introduced, and students will learn about the challenges, risks, and benefits of using technology in their everyday lives with a focus on students’ identification of safe, trusted adults and help seeking behaviours.
Lunchtime Wellbeing Activities
We are all very excited to be launching our lunchtime wellbeing activities next week. The students have been given all the information about where and how to attend these activities. As you can imagine, their excitement levels are contagious!
Please remember these are voluntary activities for students who may like to do something different at lunchtimes. Students don’t have to attend every week, nor do they have to stay the entire time. Here are a few guidelines that were shared with Prep students today in Assembly:
- All activities will take place second half of lunch (except for Year 2 Chess Club)
- Sign-up sheets for Year 2 Chess can be found in Reception on Friday and Madame Merlot will be supervising this activity. She will try her best to ensure all those who sign up are given a chance to attend throughout the term
- Respectful and polite behaviour is always expected
- Children will be required to pack up their activities when asked to at the conclusion of the activity.
Redlands Cup Snowsports Competition
During the school holidays, Rosie Dasilva and Mia Taylor travelled to Thredbo to participate in the 25th Redlands Cup Ski Race. With the race being cancelled in 2020 and 2021, it was their first official ski race!
A fantastic achievement for both Rosie and Mia. A special congratulations to Rosie, who placed 3rd in the Division 6 Female Alpine race.
After School Extra Curricular Prep Sport Program
Our Term 3 after school sports program gets under way this week and we are looking forward to another term of fun sessions and development of skill. For our new parents, the after school program is in addition to the normal PE sport program run during school hours. Just a reminder to please check the Prep Pulse page from 12pm for updated wet weather information. Engage notifications will also be sent out at 12pm if any sport is cancelled.
We are so thrilled that the afters chool sport has sparked so much interest and it has grown incredibly fast since returning to campus after remote learning. Parents have requested more sport choices and for an increase in the numbers of spots available. As previously communicated, due to limited facilities and regulations of staff to student ratios with our providers, we are unable to grow the program capacity. The good news is that the providers we use also offer external programs across other days off site. If you would like specific contact details for Hot Shots Tennis, Norths Basketball or Aussie Gems, please email presportadmin@redlands.nsw.edu.au for details.
We understand and appreciate that the registration process has had its difficulties in these early stages, so like any program, we will be reviewing the processes to help create a more equitable and fair registration process in the future.
Parent Teacher Conversations
By now all our families would have received their Semester 1 School report. Reports are a formal way to capture a ‘snapshot’ in time of where students are at with their learning using NSW syllabus outcomes to guide the process. Reports also aim to provide families with the next steps in their child’s learning journey in a particular stage.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s report, please contact your child’s class teacher or specialist directly by Friday 12 August to organise a 15 minute meeting to discuss. Thank you.
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
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848