Head of Preparatory School
Yr 2 Waste Audit
Yesterday a few of our Yr 2 sustainability warriors spent time in the Secondary School with other students conducting a waste audit. The students were able to sort rubbish into piles that were either recyclable or destined for land fill. As a result of the audit, it was clear that there is a positive effort to recycle at our school, but that there is still a lot of work to be done to reduce the use of plastics when it comes to food packaging.
Redlands is committed to the sustainability message and the embedding of good practices across the school community. Next week, Junior Campus, students and staff will take part varied activities that encourage positive sustainable action at school.
In the Prep School, our focus will be on turning off lights, ensuring we are using the correct recycling bins, looking and discussing how we can reduce the use of plastics around us, and our families will be asked to support a waste free lunch day on Tuesday 21 November for their children.
A waste free lunch is a lunch box that contains no throw away packaging. Everything is a waste free lunch box can be eaten, reused or composted. Having your child help put together their lunch box on this day would be a great activity to do with them. Not only would this make them feel important and independent, but it would also provide an opportunity for conversation together about sustainability and what it means to them. Thank you for your support in helping our prep students embrace sustainability.
2024 Parent Talks
This year our counsellors have presented four informative parent sessions for the Junior Campus community which were a in response to parent communication and conversations.
As we start to plan for 2024, the counselling team would like to hear from our community again.
To provide feedback on this year’s sessions and to suggest future topics, please take a moment to fill in the survey. Thank you for your support.
Presentation Day
We look forward to welcoming Prep parents and carers to the Margaret Roberts Preparatory School Presentation Day 2023 on Tuesday 5 December at 10am-11.30am. An email will be sent out today to all families containing the seat booking information. Please note that due to limited seating in Dunnet Hall, each family can reserve two seats. Please ensure you have booked by 1 December.
HSC and IB Senior Studies Information Evening- this Monday 20 November
At Redlands, in the final years of schooling, students are offered the choice of either the HSC or IB pathways for students. The following upcoming Parent Information Evening for families from Redlands House to Yr 9 will be insightful as parents look ahead for your child. You can still register to attend the evening.
2024 Prep After School Sport Registration
A reminder that Term 1 2024 sports allocations go live at 8.30am Monday 20 November and close 5.30pm Friday 24 November. If you have any questions, please refer to the 2024 Prep sports handbook which can be found on pulse or email prepsport@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
Kids Giving Back Program
Founded in 2012, Kids Giving Back is a not-for-profit organisation that provides volunteering opportunities for children, teens, and families across NSW. The core belief of Kids Give back is that there is no substitute for volunteering. It helps young people cultivate empathy, respect, resilience, and leadership skills and connect with their wider community. Above all, they see volunteering as a two-way street. It gives children the opportunity to change other people’s lives and their own.
When we empower children to help others, they ultimately gain as much as they give. Sometimes even more. Kids Giving Back is committed to instilling the value of service in the next generation. And developing the ongoing relationship between children and the broader community.
School holiday programs are the perfect chance to introduce your child to the world of volunteering and empower them to give back in an age-appropriate way. Over time there have been many Redlands students who have volunteered their time in their school holidays and my hope is that many more will.
In the recent September school holidays Eisen Chan (Yr 2) was one of 700 volunteers who helped in his community. We are very proud of Eisen in giving back to the community and I hope that he will encourage others to engage in similar initiatives.
If you would like to know more about the December 2023/January 2024 school holiday community programs, please keep an eye out on the Kids Giving Back website. School holiday programs | Kids Giving Back.
Yr 2 Has Been Busy!
Last week was a big week for our Yr 2 students as they started to navigate their final few weeks in the Prep school. The Yr 2 Disco, Cardboard Challenges both here and at a Shore, Orientation Day and many other opportunities having started to fill their days. They are certainly letting their light shine in so many ways.
It’s one thing for me to reflect on these activities but it is more important that the students themselves have their voice. Please enjoy reading some of their reflections.
Yr 2 Disco
I like this disco because we got candies – Sophia C
I loved working together on the cardboard challenge because we can all have a part and no one was left out – Leo
I like the disco because we got to dance together and see our parents. It was funny watching the teachers dance! – Amber
It was nice to visit a new school and make new friends, but it made me appreciate all the great things about Redlands – Isabel, Amber, Mio, Sophia
Hip, hip, hooray! The Year Two Disco has begun, everyone was so excited, they were crazy. We had a dance off, one Maca, two Maca, three Macarena. Then Luca took the lead in the conga line and it went a little crazy just between you and me! The conga lines were crashing because there were so many. Then the best song started, guess what it was? ‘It’s raining tacos, from out of the sky!’ Sadly, the disco came to an end but at the end we got sweets, water, juice and popcorn. – Avignon Craig
Hip, hip, hooray! The Year Two Disco day was finally here. The disco was as bright as a rainbow as the theme was, ‘Let your light shine bright’. People were dancing like they would never stop, then suddenly the Year Twos formed a conga line! After the Year 2 dance, the parents were let in and started to break it down with DJ Raphi on the screen, it was a blast! Since the disco ended, the Year Twos have never stopped and continue to party on! – Vivienne Cooksley
Hip, hip, hooray! The students were showing their best moves and Mr Price was the DJ. DJ Mr Price said it was time for the boys vs girls dance off. The girls went first, they were hard to beat, they got 8/10. The boys were going next and we got 7/10. Mr Price then said we could go and refresh with juice boxes, popcorn and cookies in our bright clothes. Hopefully we can do the disco next year again. – Luca Gambotto
Last Friday there was a burst of excitement as the disco was about to start. What could be better? As we went into the hall, we saw a mountain of candy on the table. Then we had a dance off, the girls won by 2 points. We built a conga line, I think we broke a record. At the end of the disco we had popcorn and juice. – Nicholas Ma
The Year 2 Disco was amazing! The Year 2s were allowed to choose songs like, ‘It’s Raining Tacos,’ and we also did a girls versus boys dance. Mr Price rated our dance moves fairly. Then we made the longest conga line in the world! Our parents came and had the best time of their lives so let’s dance on! – Archer Trautwein
The Fizzics Education Science Incursion
On Wednesday the Year Twos had an exciting science incursion, they learnt about planets and how they orbit. There were lots of cool things like a machine that let you hear almost anything, even a whisper! We made a tea bag rocket using fire and an empty tea bag. Guess what? It actually flew! We had the most exciting time! – Thorsen Kazimierczuk
The Cardboard Challenge
Tools down! Tools down! It was the cardboard challenge of the year, the Year 6 students helped the Year 2’s to build three dimensional shapes and showed them how to use the tools. We were presented with a challenge and had to build a wind-powered vehicle. Our team (James, Gordon and Jack) built a boat with wheels, it was controlled by a sail. It was big enough for one of us to fit in it. – George Cooper
Ready, Set, Go! As we rushed outside to the cardboard mountain, Gordon, Jack, George and myself thought of an idea to build a boat with wheels on the bottom. Before we started, the Year Six students showed us how to use the tools. We also had jobs, I was the designer, Gordon was the resource collector, Jack was the manager and George was the photographer. Tools down! Our design was made!
Vroom, Vroom went the bus, click went the seat belts and we were off to Shore School for the Cardboard Challenge. We put our bags against the wall and we gathered with the other students from Shore and Loreto. We then went off in groups and we practised with the tools. We made a flying car, we did it with two drivers. Then it was time to leave so we said our farewells and went back to school. – Haroo Choi
Anglicare Toys n’ Tucker
A message from Ms McKenzie:
Anglicare Toys and Tucker Campaign
It is the season of giving and a wonderful opportunity to help our young learners to share in the joy of giving.
Each year Redlands partners with Anglicare Toys and Tucker Campaign. Our aim is to make Christmas a time of celebration and fun for families and especially children in need in Sydney this festive season.
Please bring all gifts to either Prep or Junior School Receptions by Friday 1 December.
Thank you for your support of this important community opportunity to give.
Christmas Mufti
Students across the school have the opportunity to wear “Christmas Mufti “ on Tuesday November 28. We will have our Junior Campus Carols for K-6 students that morning and will be collecting Gold Coin donations for Anglicare. Mufti can be as simple as wearing a red t shirt or a Santa hat to wearing themed costumes.
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848