Head of Preparatory School
Making Connections
Our students have settled in well to the school routine and as I watch them line up, eat lunch and navigate the playground, I am constantly reminded about how quickly they have adjusted and how resilient they have become, especially our new Redlands students.
Sometimes the transition to school or the challenges of friendships can be tricky for young learners at the start of their school journey, so it is important for us as adults and educators to provide opportunities to give students strategies, listen and to be there as a voice of encouragement.
The Prep Friendship Club is one avenue that students can use to learn the tools to manage grow and develop their social connections.
Friendship Club is a fun social program which runs every lunchtime, following eating time. It’s a great way for students to meet new friends and build connections with others from across different classes and year groups. All students are welcome to join in with a range of activities on offer, including arts and crafts, puzzles, board games, and LEGO. Friendship Club is facilitated by our School Counsellors, Dean of Students, and Christian Studies teacher, with the help of our wonderful Year 6 volunteers.
Student Voice in Prep
Listening to and respecting the student voice in all areas of learning is such an important aspect to an early learner’s growth. This week our Yr 2 students exercised their student voice by putting together what they felt they wanted our Prep Assembly to look like and what messages they felt were important this week to share from their perspective. Ways they achieved this included the initial brainstorming and bringing together the collective voice to find common threads. They chose to use an Acknowledgement to Country piece written by a 2020 Yr 2 student, seated the students in colour quadrants and talked to them from the centre line of the student body. I asked them why they chose this way and their reaction was they didn’t want to talk at the students but with them. A powerful thought. They went on to share what it means to be a Planet Protector in Prep this year and shared scenarios they had worked on to share friendship navigation strategies. We also had some Yr 6 friends visit to promote Friendship Club. A big congratulations to the Yr 2 students for being courageous with their voice and sharing it with us all.
I look forward to further opportunities where we can authentically embed student voice.
Afternoon Pick Ups
Can I please ask all parents to be mindful that they are socially distancing as well as not gathering after your child has been picked up in the afternoon. It is wonderful to have our parents back on campus to drop off and pick up but we must ensure that we are following the NSW Health guidelines. I would ask that on entering the campus, please head to your child’s Year Group meeting tree as this is where the staff are instructed to dismiss students. We cannot have any parents gathering and continuing to have conversations after their child is picked up please.
A big thank you to parents who have been using the QR Codes before entering the school grounds. If you have grandparents or other people dropping your child off, they must also register, so could you please inform them that they need to take their phone with them.
Thank you for your continued support as we navigate the NSW Health guidelines together.
Transitioning Tips
Click here for some tips on easing back into the start of a new year.
Second Hand Uniform Sale Donations
Further to the success of last year’s online sale, the RPFA is planning another second hand uniform sale in early March – stay tuned for more details. As always, funds raised are contributed towards the means-tested Redlands Foundation Scholarship Fund.
We need your help by donating clean, current uniforms in excellent condition, especially winter items. Please deliver items to the Uniform Shop on individual coat hangers from now until Friday 26 February. Please note, no polo shirts will be accepted due to the introduction of the new PE uniform.
This Week in Prep
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848