Head of Preparatory School

Please note that all Upcoming Events for Prep are now on their own Note Day article/page.

This Head of Preparatory School page will consist of general information from the Head of Preparatory School.

K-6 Strings Concert

We are delighted to invite you to the K-6 Strings Concert which will be held at 2.00pm on Monday 11 November in Dunnet Hall. This concert will showcase students in all the Redlands Strings programs across K-6, including performances by the Preparatory String Ensemble, Yr 2 Strings, Yr 3 Strings, Chamber Ensembles, and the Junior String Ensemble. More details can be found on the Upcoming Events page.

Teacher Appreciation Day

Last Friday the Redlands families were very generous with their deliveries of delicious treats for the staff to enjoy. From all the staff in the Preparatory School, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to those many parents who took the time to provide food, drinks and flowers. A particular thank you to Emma Oatley and Sonya Seymour who assisted with the organisation for this event. All staff certainly felt appreciated as they enjoyed the snacks throughout the day.

Kindergarten: The Coastal Program

Last Wednesday Kindergarten students went on an excursion to The Coast Environment Centre at Narrabeen as part of their Unit of Inquiry learning about ‘Our Precious Oceans’. Children were able to learn about the basic needs of animals and how the different coastal environments cater for them. Students learned about what makes the coast a special place and how we can help to look after it. The children had a guided tour around the rock platform and were taken through a lesson on how to protect our oceans by being aware of how we dispose of rubbish and what happens to it when it gets to the ocean. It was a wonderful day and the students absolutely thrived in the outdoor setting. The Kindergarten team would like to thank all of the parent volunteers who accompanied us on the excursion as these wonderful excursions would not be possible without your help.

Consideration of our Neighbours

As the end of year draws near and there are numerous school events occurring, could I please ask for your consideration toward the school parking zones and our neighbours surrounding the School. Redlands is situated in a densely populated area and this, coupled with a busy school drop off and pick up, can cause congestion. I therefore ask if you could park in the designated areas only, utilise the car line on offer or park in adjacent streets to the School. Thank you.

Bush Dance

If you haven’t had a chance to buy a ticket for the upcoming Bush Dance this Saturday, there are still some tickets available to purchase here. Try booking will close tonight for ticket sales, however you can also purchase tickets at the door on the night.

The Bush Dance team need volunteers to help with pack down after the dance 8.00 – 9.30pm. If you can offer your time, please sign up here. More information can be found on the Upcoming Events page.

Student Placement 2020

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you of the thorough and careful process teachers engage in to place every child in a class that ensures academic success and a positive year ahead. Please be confident that class placements are made to ensure the best educational experience for every child in the Preparatory.

Class placements are organised by all of the teaching staff who know the students best in the context of the classroom learning environment, taking particular account of the following factors:

Academic – Current and future teachers work closely to ensure children are placed in an environment where they will be given the best opportunity to reach their full potential and develop a love of learning. Between Redlands House and Prep, there is close consultation amongst staff, and the orientation process further enables collective discussions.
Balance of learning styles and learning needs – To ensure all children can receive equal support and attention, a balance of learning needs and learning styles is maintained in all classes.
Emotional – Each child’s emotional needs are considered when placing them in a class for the following year as this is recognised as impacting on day-to-day experiences, success and enjoyment of school.
Gender balance – Redlands endeavours to keep a gender balance in each class.
Social/Friendships – Teachers are aware of which students learn and play well together. At times, there can be a difference between the two in that children who play well together do not always learn the best together. This can influence a child’s class placement. Teachers are also mindful of which students need space from each other. With the reorganisation of classes each year, students have the opportunity to meet new friends and mix with other students.

Please also note that younger siblings will not necessarily be placed with the same class teacher as older siblings as, invariably, siblings can be very different in both their learning preference and their personal traits. I know that you will also understand that it is not possible to request a particular teacher for your child as this would set a precedence that is simply not sustainable or equitable to all families. All classes for 2020 will be shared on Redlands Pulse in the days prior to the beginning of school.

Warmer Weather

With the warmer weather approaching, could I please remind all parents to ensure their child/ren have a named hat and water bottle with them at school every day. The Prep School’s preference is the Redlands water bottle which can be purchased at the Uniform Shop. However, if you choose to use a metal drink bottle it must be placed inside the school bag, as the side pocket on the school bag does not safely support the weight of this type of drink bottle. In Term 4 and Term 1, the school blazer is optional for all students.

Mrs Audrey Fellowes
Head of Preparatory School
afellowes@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848