Head of Preparatory School

• Print

Redlands Parent Webinar

All parents are invited to a Zoom webinar next Tuesday 3 November, 7.00-8.00pm.

Principal Mr Stephen Webber will be presenting on feedback from the Strategic Plan survey and future direction and there will also be short presentations from our three Heads of Section. In addition, Matthew Bentley, Head of Teaching and Learning will provide an update on the Redlands Learning Platform and the Student Voice survey.

Please reserve your virtual place by clicking here. The Zoom link will be sent prior to the event.

Move It Up Day

Next Friday, 6 November, our K-Yr 2 students will be ‘moving up’ into their 2021 grades from 11.00am-1.50pm. This session is an opportunity for our current and new Yr 1 and 2 students to have their own orientation. Please be aware that each class will be going up to their new grade in their current classes and will be allocated a teacher to spend their time with. The teacher they have for that session will not necessarily be their class teacher for 2021. It will also be an opportunity for any new students entering Yrs 1 and 2 to meet their new peers and familiarise themselves with the environment.

Cocurricular Wet Weather Updates

In the event of wet weather, please check Redlands Pulse to be provided with the most up to date wet weather information for any Prep or Redlands House cocurricular sport activities. The page will be updated by midday for all families. 

Redlands Spirit of Christmas Cards

Thank all to all our creative artists who participated in this wonderful initiative. The selection panel received artworks from K-6 students, demonstrating the incredible range of diversity and creativity we have here at Redlands. With so many wonderful submissions, the final judging was ver difficult! The judging panel included myself, Ms Fiona McKenzie Junior Campus Chaplain, Ms Paula Rheinhold, Junior School Art Teacher and Mrs Caroline Jane, Alumni and Community Relations Manager.

We were thrilled with how positive the response was from our students to support a project which will benefits families in need. Proceeds raised will be donated to Anglicare Toys ‘n’ Tucker Appeal.

Ten artworks were selected to feature in this year’s Redlands Spirit of Christmas card set of 10. Congratulations to all the winners who will be acknowledged with a gift of appreciation during their Assembly time.

Aimee Kang, 4B: “Santa gets bored of flying sleighs sometimes. He decorates the Christmas tree then surfs to your house. That’s why your house may be slightly wet in the morning.”

Anya Price, 5W: “A reindeer symbol of strength, kindness and joyful spirit which we are all in need of in these tough times.”

Yasmin Allan and Bianca Neill 6W: “We were inspired by an Australian Christmas. Just because we don’t have snow doesn’t mean we can’t have a fabulous celebration. We chose a koala who are in danger and are worth protecting, we want to protect the Australian Christmas too.”

Elizabeth Grinham, 5R: “I have done this artwork because my family always goes to the beach on Christmas Day. There is always someone dressed up as Santa!” It is pictured at the top. 

Julia Bush, Milli (Milehna) Meyer and Fiona Russell, 3Y: “We chose to draw a Christmas tree with presents around it because it represents the Christmas spirit and tradition. It is when Jesus was born.”

Leo Wei, 2R: “My drawing is of the Wise Men who are on a journey to follow the star to the light.”

Pax 2Y, Ziggy 1Y, Hendrix RH Seniors and Bowie Staley-Lobos (RH Juniors 2021): “We chose to do our Christmas card about family because that’s what Christmas is all about to us. Everyone deserves to feel loved every day especially at Christmas.”

Samantha Beck, 5Y: “An Australian Christmas, perfectly captures the unique 2020 Australian Christmas to me as it highlights our endangered koalas from the recent summer bushfires where many of their lives were lost. koalas were hurt and their habitats destroyed. My card design is also particularly special as the koala wears a facemask, which represents the COVID-19 global pandemic. Although I highlight two sad events – I hope my artwork brings laughter, joy and Christmas spirit.”

Sibella Collie, RH: “Christmas morning.”

Viraj Tandon, 3B: “I have made a portrait of Mother Mary and Baby Jesus in the Byzantine style. Mother Mary is cradling Baby Jesus in her arms. They are both wearing crimson and gold robes and surrounded by a divine halo.”

The Redlands Spirit of Christmas Cards are available to purchase here. Cost: $25 / pack of 10 or $40 / pack of 20. Delivery expected from Week 5. All proceeds are being donated to Anglicare Toys ‘n’ Tucker Appeal.

Around Prep This Week

This week we celebrate everything French as our Prep Information Board bursts with evidence of learning from our French classes. Our enthusiastic French teacher, Mrs Sylvia Merlot has created an interactive board for our students to share their learning. Learning language in Prep is such an important skill as It broadens our learners’ horizons. It not only provides your child with the starter skills to speak, write and read key words and phrases in a foreign language, but will typically also give insight into the history and culture of societies where the language is used.

Thank you Mrs Merlot for all you do to bring French to life for us all. 

Kindergarten enjoyed their Coastal Excursion to Narrabeen on Wednesday. The rain held off long enough for our students and staff to enjoy the outdoor experience of creating, exploring and investigating the coastal environment. The highlight of my week was watching them return tired, content and filled with joy after their excursion. Thank you to Mrs Finlayson and the staff for making the experience so much fun for all.

Our Yr 1 students participated in AGAT testing this week. The ACER General Ability Tests (AGAT) is a series of tests designed to assist teachers of students aged 7 to 16 years (approximately Yrs 2-10) in their assessment of students’ general reasoning ability. The information gained will provide immediate information to our teaching and learning support staff as they reflect upon and plan for future learning experiences. The results also help us to start creating a data narrative for each student so we can track individual progress at Redlands.

Our Yr 2 and Yr 4 students sat the Allwell tests this week. Using the Allwell Academic Assessments, the testing assesses students using a suite of assessments relevant to ability and achievement. The ability measures are general reasoning, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The tests of achievement are in mathematics, reading comprehension, spelling and writing. Of course, this assessment will be just one in a suite of data measures that our teachers, Learning Plus team and Dean of Teaching and Learning will use to monitor and track student progress and achievement.

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