Head of Preparatory School

PREP SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS

How Do We Support our Students after Lockdown?

The last two weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions for our students as they have adjusted back to On-Campus Learning. Reconnecting with friends and teachers has been a focus, as has revisiting some organisational and return to routine skills. Opportunities through play, group work and wellbeing sessions have helped students navigate their way back to our school and its structures and systems. There is nothing sweeter that being in the playground at recess and lunch and watching our students playing and including each other in chatting and sharing time together. As we now move into the countdown to the Christmas holidays, here are some tips from Mr Digiacomo to support our students coming out of the lockdown situation and transitioning back to On-Campus Learning.

Take off the pressure: The transition back into On-Campus Learning is likely to take some time. Lots of children will experience ups and downs. Try your best to support, reassure and comfort them, without putting pressure on yourself to make sure their homework is completed or that they settle into a new routine straightaway.
Renegotiate routine: During Remote Learning it is completely understandable that your family’s routine may have changed. Your child may have also grown accustomed to spending more time in front of the screen than usual. Try to renegotiate these routines with your child in such a way that involves them in the process. Accessing Redlands ysafe page will provide you with some tips.
Think ahead: It’s critical to help children create optimism and excitement for the future, in addition to reflecting on what’s transpired in recent weeks. It’s difficult to stay positive during a moment like this, but pinpointing the things they can look forward to will help them realise that the present circumstances won’t last forever. Why not focus some conversations now around Christmas preparation?
Focus on their strengths: Children possess a high level of resilience and are capable of learning from hardship. They can also learn about their own skills and abilities, as well as how to deal with stressful situations. Inquire about the abilities they learned during lockdown and how they might apply them in On-Campus Learning, such as organisation, self-control, creativity, and so on.
Keep the connection alive: Lockdown proved to be a terrific time for families to connect and try your best to not let this slip away. We understand that children will want to spend more time with friends, which is extremely important, however try to spend time together as a family as well, such as boardgames, outdoor activities, cooking and home crafts.
Validate their feelings and reach out if needed: It is normal for your child to be concerned about returning to On-Campus Learning. Listen to them and reassure them that their feelings are normal and that we’re all adjusting. Please do not hesitate to contact the School if you believe your child’s concern requires more attention.

2022 Classes

This time of the year I often start to receive ‘requests’ from parents for certain teachers for the upcoming new year. Please note that classes will not be formed until later in the year and that at this stage, due to new Grade Coordinators and new staff members, staff grade allocation will also be organised later. With this said, please be assured that when classes are created many factors and variable are taken into consideration to create four balanced classes for each grade. We create the classes first and then attach the teachers to the class.

Our staff and our school systems ensure that all information from interviews, reports to individual conversations with parents is taken into consideration so please trust our process and trust your current classroom teacher that they will be passing on all class profile information to your child’s new teacher.

Notice of Roadworks – Allister St

We have been advised by North Sydney Council that they will be commencing works now on the opposite side of Allister St to our Junior Campus from next week. Please note that parking will be heavily restricted and at times, not available for parents to park on this side of the road. The usual kerbside school parking restrictions apply on our side of Allister St and should be adhered to ensure a smooth pick up process for our moving carlines. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Term 4 Second Hand Uniform Sale

As we are now midway through Term 4, the RPFA are having a quick sale of second hand summer uniform, commencing at 6pm, this Monday 1 November. Quality donations will be accepted 15-19 November. For more details please see the RPFA page.

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