Head of Preparatory School

Head of Preparatory School

PREP SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS

International Day

International Day provided us with a wonderful opportunity to connect with our Redlands families this week who came from over 51 different countries. We often talk about the diversity that exists in our community and it was so good to see it being displayed with colour, traditional dress, flags, language and music from the minute our students walked through the Reception. A big thank you to Bing Lin who organised a wonderful concert of music, singing, dance and poetry recital from our Chinese and Taiwanese families. Yr 2 participated in The Amazing Race with an international flavour and we warmly welcomed many parents across the Prep to come and share their culture with us. Days like this are so important to connect, learn from each other and to appreciate the diversity of our school community.

Staff News

Our OOSH Coordinator Ms Trinetta Newbond has resigned from her position and will be sadly leaving us at the end of this week. Trinetta has worked at Redlands since 2016 and has led the OOSH and Vacation Care teams and programs with enthusiasm and passion. Trinetta has decided to return to the classroom and teach again and we look forward to seeing her back here at Redlands on a casual basis both as an OOSH and classroom teacher casual role. Trishna Rai (current Late Room Coordinator) will be acting OOSH Coordinator for the Vacation Care program these holidays.

Our beloved school Counsellor Elizabeth Forster is leaving us this week to take up a position with Autism Australia. Liz is very sad to say goodbye to staff and families but will be working closer to home which will make life easier for her as her little ones head off to school. We thank her for her kind and compassionate way she has worked with many students and families throughout her time here at Redlands.

Julia Michaels will return to a casual teaching position as Fiona McKenzie returns from long service leave next term. We look forward to welcoming Fiona back. We thank Julia for her extraordinary Christian Studies work this term. She has stepped into many different roles this term to help out and be the ‘creative director’ of our Harmony Day and International Day videos and decorations. Her Prep Gathering Easter story will never be forgotten.

Kate Hurley (1 Red) will be on Long Service Leave for Weeks 1-4 Term 2 and will be covered by Rachel Haines. 

Term 2 Information

Next term, a single Welcome Letter will be sent from me on behalf of all of the Prep staff. This letter will arrive as an email at the end of the holidays and will provide you with any information that is needed as we move towards Term 2. There will not be any individual grade letters coming out next term. We will also be communicating updated information around our strategies to move forward with our car line safety and procedures. Thank you to all those families and parents who have provided feedback and suggestions.

Can I please ask that if you have questions during the holiday period around Prep sport, uniforms, term dates or general information regarding Prep that you head to the Prep Redlands Pulse page.

Kindergarten Information Sessions 

Early next term we have a number of Kindergarten Information Sessions for current Redlands House Seniors and Transition Gold families, and external families, to learn more about how Kindergarten at Redlands provides an exceptional foundation for our youngest learners:

  • Wednesday 21 April, 9am: Kindergarten Information Session for Transition Gold parents
  • Wednesday28 April, 9am:  Kindergarten Information Session for Redlands House Seniors parents
  • Tuesday 4 May, 9.15am:     Kindergarten Information Session for external families

If you know of any families who would like to learn more about Kindergarten at Redlands, we would be delighted to welcome them on Tuesday 4 May. 

Please see the invitations below for more details regarding these events.

Happy Easter

I would like to wish all our families a very Happy Easter and an enjoyable break time. How lovely is it that we are able to travel just a little further these holidays. I would like to thank all our families for your continued support as we emerge from restrictions and embrace connection once again. Please stay safe over the holiday period and I look forward to seeing you all in Term 2.

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