Head of Preparatory School
June 8 World Ocean Day
Year 2 Students Shine at Round Square Event
The concept of a ‘World Oceans Day’ was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro as a way to celebrate our world’s shared ocean and our personal connection to the sea, as well as to raise awareness about the crucial role the ocean plays in our lives and the important ways people can help protect it.
The Prep School has been reading stories, watching vision and learning all about how their actions, both positive and negative can affect our oceans. We have again used our school values of respect and responsibility to demonstrate how we can keep our oceans healthy for years to come.
At Redlands we are so very fortunate to live and go to school so close to one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. Let’s work together to teach our children about keeping it healthy for all the wonderful creatures that live in it. If you would like to know more about World Ocean Day and how to be involved in taking action, here is a place to start.
Redlands participated in World Ocean Day alongside other Round Square schools. At the start of the week, staff and students from Radford College, Canberra joined us to share their Round Square journey and to highlight the many ways that being a member of this organisation can connect us with other schools to share learnings, perspectives and experiences. In a fast-moving, ever-changing landscape that our students live in, these connections will be incredibly important in the way our students view themselves in the world. We are very excited to start exploring ways we connect with other schools and their communities.
On Tuesday, senior students from Round Square schools around Sydney gathered in Redlands Hall to participate in World Ocean Day workshops. Our very own Vivienne Cooksley and Leland Haines were thrilled to be asked to deliver the Acknowledgment to Country, which they did with conviction. I was incredibly proud of them as they took to the stage with many teenagers and teachers looking on. The power of student voice never ceases to amaze me.
Heritage Week
Happy 100 years Liggins Building!
Redlands Heritage Week provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse history of Redlands and to learn from stories of the past. This week our prep students have been using photos and stories from the past while respecting the traditional values of the school that drive us forward. Year 1 enjoyed a visit to the Senior School to learn about the Liggins Building and to appreciate it’s 100 years. A big thank you to the Redlands archivist, Marguerite Gillezeau who is always willing to talk to our students.
Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Wellbeing: Fun Activities for Regulation and Awareness
A message from the K-6 counsellors
The P-6 counsellors continue to work with students on how to identify, regulate and understand their big feelings and emotions. During The Big Hearts Project, we had a session focused on helping children regulate and understand their emotions. Here are some activities we explored:
- Balloon Breathing Exercise: Teach your child to breathe in through their nose, imagining their belly expanding like a balloon, and exhale through their mouth, visualising the balloon deflating. This can help calm their mind and body.
- Refreshing the Zones of Regulation: Categorise emotions into different zones (green, yellow, blue, and red) to help your child recognise and reflect on their feelings.
- Strategies to Move Across Zones: Encourage activities like breathing exercises, play, physical exercise, spending time in nature, communication, art, and calming music. Help your child identify which strategies work best in each Zone.
- The Helping Hand Metaphor: Teach your child to recognise the people who can support them in navigating different Zones. This could be you, a teacher, a school counsellor or a trusted adult.
Buddy Picnic
In week 5 we again celebrated Buddy Time across the Junior Campus. It is always heart-warming to watch our classes across the Junior Campus come together and share time and conversation over lunch. There was much laughter, music, chalk drawing and many more fun ways that our students connected.
Buddy time is an incredibly important peer to peer support network that is bult into our wellbeing practice at Redlands. Not only do the older children provide a positive role model example for younger students, but it also provides an opportunity to learn to listen to others, respect and embrace our differences as well as a chance to have fun together.
A bit thanks you to Mrs Clinton for organising this again and empowering our students to be respectful of each other.
Redlands Gala Ball – Early Bird Tickets Available Now
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848