Junior School
Term 4 Off and Running
It has been wonderful to have felt the energy of the campus return as we have started Term 4 in what promises to be an exciting term again. The dry weather has been welcomed and we look forward to the return of summer Representative Sport this weekend with no less than nineteen teams competing for Redlands across three sports. There are also a number of exciting events across the term as you would have noted in my Term 4 Welcome Letter last week and we look forward to our Year 6 students having a particularly memorable final term of primary schooling.
As is often the case at the start of term assembly, I reminded the students about living our School Values and in particular, highlighted the School Value of Responsibility. Students were able to highlight and share a number of ways in which they could live this value, both at school and at home and I would encourage families to consider building on this conversation.
Date Correction: Ballet and Dance Concert
My apologies as I had incorrectly stated the dates for this term’s Ballet and Dance Concert in my welcome letter. Please note that the concert is on 17 & 18 November, as also published in Redlands Pulse.
Junior Campus Sustainability Project
This week, we have started a six-week Sustainable School Garden project led by ethnobotanist, David Harrington. David is on campus every Monday and will work alongside students to refurbish the existing vegetable garden, complete school wide biodiversity audits and turn the Allister Street garden area into a bush tucker/natural garden. Each Junior School class will have a one-hour session with David and explore our environment as outlined below.
In Yrs 3 and 4, each will do an audit of visible pollinators around the school using a pollinator check sheet and audit the school’s plantings for pollinator value. They will discuss species for pollinators and then plant appropriate species in the Allister St garden using bush regeneration techniques. A secondary goal will be to investigate and discuss what bush tucker species are already in the school and undertake further plantings of bush tucker species in the Allister St garden.
In Yrs 5 & 6, each class will work towards a goal to refurbish and renovate our existing garden area and build two new garden beds that are sustainable and self-watering, using recycled materials. Students will be part of an initial site assessment that will analyse the local garden microclimate using weather monitoring equipment, test the soil for pH, structure and organic material and calculate what materials are required to refurbish the existing beds. Classes will then have the opportunity to use tools and contribute to making the wicking beds and perform the necessary tasks to renovate the space.
I look forward to sharing photos of this project as we move through the term.
Young Investigators Science – Term 4 Program
Our popular Young Investigators Science club is an extra-curricular hands-on Science session run by Eye Heart Science, with whom Redlands has had a long-standing connection. Please see information below and the flyer for budding scientists.
When: Tuesday afternoons
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Where: Junior School Makerspace
First session: Tuesday 18 October
Cost: $175 for a 7-week term (Creative Kids vouchers accepted)
Information: View Here
Transport for NSW School Travel Information
Transport NSW have passed on the following information for students and families who utilise school public transport to assist with student travel enquiries.
2023 School travel applications are now open. Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2023 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g., joint custody).
Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4.
This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2023 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.
If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e., grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, Transport NSW will send an expiry notification via email.
Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2023.
Travel from Term 1 2023
We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card to travel from the start of the school year.
Applications for 2023 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel open at the start of Term 4 2022, so parents/students can apply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.
Most students using the Opal network will not need a new Opal card and can continue travelling on their existing card each year. The start of the year is a busy period for local transport operators, and students travelling without a valid ticket make service planning and operations difficult.
We recognise that for some families last minute changes to school enrolments mean they may not have a School Opal card or Travel Pass for the start of term. In the Opal network, we strongly encourage these families to have their children travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.
Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support our operators we encourage all students to have a valid ticket, as early as possible, from the start of the school year.
Students using School Opal cards are also reminded that they must tap on and tap off in line with the Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use.
Further information can be found HERE
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022