Head of Preparatory School
Nyumbar Visit
Last Friday we welcomed Deslyn and Isaac from Nyumbar, a family owned and run Aboriginal business based in Sydney that offers a range of culturally appropriate and safe educational programs for schools, students, and staff to learn about and engage in Aboriginal culture.
After conducting a smoking ceremony with the cohort to release any negative energy, Des and Issac shared with us that they were proud Bundjalung people from the Fingal and Tweed Heads area in Northern New South Wales.
Deslyn spent time with our Year 1 and Kindergarten students throughout the day. Students learnt and handled hunting and gathering artefacts, what ochre face paint designs meant and how Aboriginal people used animals for food, shelter and clothing. All the staff commented on how much we all learnt from Des and Isaac.
Our staff and students were so engaged as they listened about the importance of passing on of information and culture through storytelling. Throughout the day, Isaac and all the students created a painting that represented the Aboriginal land on which our school stands. Here is the story of our Redlands Preparatory School painting that now hangs proudly in our reception area. Please come and have a look.
The Redlands painting is a contemporary Aboriginal artwork that pays respect to the Aboriginal people and land on which your school stands. The Cammeraygal.
The symbol in the centre of the artwork is an Aboriginal symbol for a meeting place and can also be used as a symbol for the Sun.
This symbol represents Redlands School, a place you all come to learn and play. This symbol also represents your school motto “Let your light shine”.
The blue sections in the artwork symbolise the waterways. The Cammeraygal people were hunter fishers. The waterways provided an abundance of fresh seafood, fish, shellfish, and crustaceans.
Fishing spears were often used when hunting water animals. These animals provided food and resources to the local Aboriginal people.
The Green sections represent the land. The land of the Cammeraygal people hunted animals such as kangaroos and emus and gathered a variety of different fruits, seeds, and vegetables. These animals and plants also provided food, resources for tools and weapons and medicines.
The hunting boomerang, shields, coolamon, and dilly bag symbolise the men, women, boys, and girls at Redlands School.
Snowsports End of Year Awards
I was thrilled to receive news this week that a few of our Prep students were recognised at the 2023 Snowsport end of season award ceremony this week.
A big congratulations to Jemima Joyce (Kindy Blue) who was excited to be awarded the Redlands Division 6 Girls Alpine Skiing Champion. Jonathan Burton was awarded the Division 6 Boys Alpine Skiing Champion. Saskia Williams was also commended for attending the NSW Interschool Championships for Ski Cross. Well done and we are all very proud of these students and all those students who had a go and competed.
Parent Survey
Response requested by Friday 6 October
As a School we continue to pursue a journey that positions Redlands as a leading contemporary and innovative school inspiring students to adapt, create and thrive in our complex global community.
At the heart of this journey is our community. We recognise the vital role our wider community plays in the growth and prosperity of Redlands and remain committed to providing opportunities for feedback on our performance. With this in mind, we are inviting you to complete a short survey of your feedback. The survey should only take a few minutes, is anonymous, does not collect any personally identifiable information. Thank you for your consideration and contribution within this important process that can be completed here.
What a Great Term
As always in the last week of a term, we take time to stop and reflect on the term that was and start to plan and get excited about the term ahead. I would very much like to take this opportunity to thank all our families and carers this term for all your support, conversations and daily smiling faces. I am grateful to those parents who have been able to come and help in classrooms, lunchtime clubs and at different events that we have had this term. It has been an important term of connection, and I look forward to it continuing into next term.
Your children, as always, have been fabulous, humorous, courageous, responsible, self-reflective and most of all, have developed and grown this term into more independent and resilient little people.
Kindness and compassion have been a focal point this term in assemblies and in wellbeing conversations. Each day I see and hear more and more children using words to demonstrate kindness to friends but also, I witness more inclusive and respectful behaviours from our youngest of learners. I can only be excited about Term 4 and all that it will bring.
A Few Reminders
Term 4 will commence on Monday 9 October and students are to return in their summer uniforms. Please, please, please ensure your child has a bucket hat and that it is named. Having sunscreen applied before school would be helpful, students will be able to reapply before going out to recess and lunch.
Can I also remind families that if you are planning to take your child out of school for any holidays, approval must be sought from me. Thank you for respecting our processes.
In the Prep School we celebrate birthdays with students choosing and wearing a birthday cape, birthday pencils, stickers, and a special certificate. We ask that any birthday cakes and party food be kept for outside of school please.
There are a few sad items that have not been claimed in lost property this term. Lost clothing, lunch boxes and drink bottles can be found on the bench to the right of Reception.
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848