Head of Preparatory School

Head of Preparatory School

Harmony Week

Monday 18 – Sunday 24 March

Orange was the colour of the day today as we celebrated Harmony Day and inquired together into the ‘why we celebrate it’ in our classes. Respect, as we all know is one of the Redlands values and is continuously used in teachable moments in the early years. This week we have again focused on what respecting others really means and how we can demonstrate the value daily. Our students have been using books, songs, art and craft, music and examples of food to show how diverse we are. In response to this sharing, we model and guide how to inquire about these things through questioning and curiosity rather than judgement and baseless comments.

Sadly, there are too many experiences in our students’ lives that can start to form opinions, judgements and bias in the early years. You only have to turn on the endless array of reality TV options or news items to see how quickly little minds can absorb unhelpful judgements, stereotypical opinions and unkind ways that people talk to and treat each other. The early years is our small opportunity in time to cement the true value of how to respect each other through thoughtful and inquiring words and acts.

Please join me is discussing the importance of Harmony Day with your child and encourage them through conversation that it means so much more than just wearing orange for the day, it is a ‘snapshot’ in time for us all to remember the importance of respecting others and celebrating the richness that diversity brings to us all.


Calling Parent Volunteers

International Day 9 April 

The wonderful Redlands International Day will be held on 9 April. This is a day for us to celebrate the rich international flavour that makes Redlands the diverse and inclusive community that it is.

As always, we would love to welcome parents into our classrooms who would like to share their own unique culture with our students. This may take the shape of storytelling, books, costumes, music. dancing or art and craft experiences.

If you would like to come in and share with your child’s class and grade between 11am-1pm, please get in touch with your specific grade coordinator (Ms Knox, Mrs Hepers or Mrs Eggleton) and they will be able to coordinate the activities and volunteers.

We are also hoping that some our families will once again share special food with the children at lunchtime. Last year this was a big hit and the students loved experiencing different tastes from around the globe. Please get in touch with me directly if you would like to be share in our lunchtime global feast.

Thank you to those families who have already reached out offering time and food! The cut-off date for volunteering will be Friday 22 March. As a team, we will then sit down and coordinate what the day will look like.


Raise Dough: Bake a Difference 

What: A bake sale for Raise Foundation
When: Monday 25 March lunchtime (classes will be staged)

How can we be involved: Get together and spend Sunday Funday baking your favourite treats!

  • Please label any Tupperware containers so they can come back to you. 
  • Drop off on Monday morning in the Prep Meeting Room. 
  • No nuts or nut products to be used and label any Dairy of Gluten Free options.
  • Bring gold coins in if you would like to buy any cakes!

Junior Campus families and students are encouraged to support this Year 10 student initiative to raise awareness and donations for Raise Foundation.

Raise provides youth mentoring to 13–15-year-old students around Australia. These young people are grappling with issues like anxiety, depression, loneliness and bullying. With 1 in 4 young people saying they feel lonely all or most of the time, there’s never been a better time to support the work of Raise Foundation.

 Not only are we providing access to a trained mentor we are supporting our Year 10 Redlands students who devised this fundraising initiative in their Commerce group project last year. Raise Foundation loved the concept so much they wanted to use it immediately. We have just heard word that one of their corporate partners utilised our students’ concept and raised $3000 in a single event! That’s enough to sponsor 1.5 entire mentor/mentee programs. Let’s see if we can do better!


Term 1 Parent Topic Talk

Equipping your child to navigate anxiety and distress.

8.30am Tuesday 26 March

In recognising the vital role parents play in equipping their children with essential life skills to face challenging situations and emotions, we invite you to join us for a talk facilitated by the school counsellors. This session will focus on equipping your child to navigate challenges associated with anxiety and distress. Delve into the fundamentals of understanding distress and anxiety as we explore what these emotions might look like in your child. Discover the importance of building distress tolerance and learn to identify different manifestations of anxiety. We will provide valuable insights into practical strategies to help your child work through distressing situations. From distinguishing between hypo and hyper reactions to implementing effective coping mechanisms, you’ll gain actionable tools to support your child’s emotional well-being. Additionally, we’ll address separation anxiety and its impact across different age groups. Empower yourself with effective parenting concepts and practical tools to guide your child through challenging times.

For seating arrangements, please click the link to RSVP.

Kindergarten 2025 Engagement Session

  • Who:    Current PreKindergarten and Seniors
  • When:  9am-10am Tuesday 2 April 
  • Where: Arnold Library

We warmly invite all current PreKindergarten and Redlands House Seniors to the 2025 Kindergarten engagement session on Tuesday April 2. Transitioning into Kindergarten will be a focus for our conversation as we share the strength of our prep wellbeing program as well as share expectations around what starting school looks like.

We will also be taking a peek into the Kindy classrooms and meet our classroom and specialist staff who will become key people in your child’s Redlands journey.


Grandparents Day

Tuesday 11 June 

Please note that this year Grandparents Day will be held on Tuesday 11 June. This hopefully gives families ample time to book those flights and get spare rooms ready.

Easter Break dates

Good Friday 29 March – Easter Monday 1 April

Students return to school on Tuesday 2 April.

Last day of Term 1

Thursday Friday 12 April

Uniform Shop

We are currently working towards having the new uniform available to purchase online through Flexischools by mid Term 2.  In the meantime if you wish to purchase any additional items ready for the cooler weather, please email uniformorders@redlands.nsw.edu or call us on 9968 9850 and we can take your order.  You are welcome to come to the shop anytime to purchase items or have a uniform fitting.  No appointment is necessary.

Students transitioning from the old uniform will be required to wear their old winter uniform from the start of Term 2. The Uniform Shop continues to stock the old uniform for purchase at reduced prices and can be ordered online  through Flexischools.   All sports uniforms including fleeces and tracksuits are also available to purchase online.

Please check your child’s uniform requirements before the end of Term 1 including representative sports uniforms.

Easter Trading Hours

The Uniform Shop will close at 4pm on Thursday 28 March and reopen on Wednesday 3 April at 8am.

End of Term Holiday Opening Hours

The Uniform Shop will close at 4pm on Friday 12 April and reopen on Monday 29 April. We will also open on the first day of Term 2, Tuesday 30 April.

If you have any questions, please contact us for assistance.

Uniform Shop Opening Hours

Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848