Head of Preparatory School
Digital Literacy and Student Agency
At our Prep Parent Technology Workshop this week, parents took part in a hands-on workshop where our Yr 6 Student Technology Leaders and a group of Yr 2 students were the teachers. Aven Briscoe, Henry Hughes, Fiona Russell, Demi Yazbek, Ekam Sethi, Hayden Thomas, Alexia Tsacalos and Enrico Viese Vivaldi confidently guided parents through iPad activities to experience how students use technology as a tool for learning in the classroom to build their digital literacy skills. The highlight was our Yr 2 students Betty Campbell, Madison Ho, Nicholas Ma and Thor Kazimierczuk who demonstrated their digital expertise, walking parents through how our prep students digitally organise, create, communicate and share their learning through Seesaw. Thank you to our eLearning Coordinator Ms Anagnostu who organised this workshop and provided this opportunity for our students to exercise student agency and share their skills.
The Wonders of Life Cycles in Yr 1
Mrs Partington and I were privileged to be in 1Blue and 1Red this morning to watch the beauty of a butterfly emerge from the cocoon. It was truly a magic moment to not only witness nature at its best but also to observe the student reactions, truly magical.
No better way to share this than to have 1 Blue share the experience:
On Thursday, our first orange Monarch butterfly hatched from its chrysalis. When the caterpillars became big enough, they spun some silk to attach to the top of their habitat and shed their skin to turn into a chrysalis. The chrysalis was green but when this one was ready to hatch it became dark brown and then clear. The chrysalis went ‘pop’ and out came a beautiful butterfly! When it first hatched it was small and the wings were wet. We watched it excitedly as it grew bigger, and the wings became drier. We named our butterfly Felix.
Kindergarten Reading Workshop
Please join us to hear from our Kindergarten teachers as they discuss early reading skills and how you can guide your child at home. Come and explore with us the world of decodable texts and how our Kindergarten children ‘crack the code’ to start the wonder of reading.
Where: Arnold Library
When: Monday 13 March
Time: 8.30am – 9am
K-6 Vacation Care
A message from Ana Nogueira, OOSH Coordinator
The upcoming Vacation Care program is open for bookings and there are certainly a wide range of activities to choose from.
We would also like to invite families to join us on the 19 April for our Cultural Festival. If you would like to come in and share with the other children and educators about your family’s background, we would LOVE to hear from you. This can be done with pictures from your home-country, typical clothes, or a cooking experience that we can facilitate with your guidance!
Drop off Information
It is wonderful to have parents and carers in our playground each morning, a precious time to connect and catch up. Parents are reminded to please exit the campus when the bell goes to help the transitioning of our students into their day. A final wave or a quick peek through the windows is tempting, but this can disrupt the morning routine.
A gentle reminder that if families do arrive after the bell, please say goodbye to your child or leave the property you are dropping off in the Reception area. Mrs Hunt or Mrs Alfonso will walk your child to their room or take the property to rooms. This again will reduce disruption and allow for smooth transitioning throughout the day.
Volunteers
Thank you to the parents who attended our Volunteer Information Session this week. Below you will find a schedule for each grade that highlights the specific times that they would like assistance. If there is a time that suits you, please email your teacher directly.
Kindergarten
11.3oam-12.30pm Wednesday (Literacy)
2pm Wednesday afternoon (Art)
11am -12pm Thursday (Art)
2pm Thursday (Art)
Yr 1
8.30am-9.30am each morning.
Please email your class teacher directly if you can help at this time.
Yr 2
By clicking the following Learn More link you can find the times available for Yr 2. Please put your name directly onto this document.
Library
Mrs Roberts would love help with shelving books on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday mornings from 8.15am – 9.45am. Please email her directly at vroberts@redlands.nsw.edu.au
English as additional language or dialect (EALD)
Jasmine Lo would love anyone who would like to assist her to email her directly at jlo@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
Prep Music Orientation Session
Where: Prep Music Room
When: Thursday 16 March: 8.30am – 9.15am
Lost Friend
Last week a cuddly, very much-loved teddy bear was dropped on the ground in Prep Reception. We have been looking after it with love but feel it is time for him/her to return home. If you recognise this friend, please come to Prep Reception to claim her/him.
If she/him is not claimed, we may have found our new Prep mascot!
Uniform Shop Holiday Opening Hours
The Uniform Shop will close at 4pm on Thursday 6 April and reopen on Thursday 20 April. All students must return in full winter uniform (including blazers) for Term 2. To make an appointment for a winter uniform fitting, please click HERE or visit Pulse for further details.
If you have any queries, please call 9968 9850 or email uniformorders@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848