Redlands House/Transition Gold

Upcoming Events

Please note that all Upcoming Events for Prep and Preschool are now on their own Note Day article/page.

This Redlands House/Transition Gold page will consist of general information from the Head of Preparatory School.

School Readiness

As we enter Semester 2, many families are beginning to think about the following year and considering if their child is “school ready”. This topic is frequently debated in educational settings all over Australia: Should you hold your child back a year and allow them to enter school at an older age than their classmates?

A global trend in education has seen parents lean towards holding their children back, with research showing little academic benefit in starting early and considerable benefits in starting later. Psychologist, Dr Amanda Mergler, published an article in the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. She found the proportion of parents holding children back until they turned six has almost doubled in the last five years. It has been reported that in NSW the proportion of parents holding children back could be as high as 22 percent.

Many factors must be taken into consideration when making this important decision. Your child’s class teacher is a good reference point. The time they spend with your child in an educational setting, will give them certain insights that others might not necessarily see. Interactions in a group learning space which demand skills such as concentration and on-task behaviour focus, can be very different to the individualised attention you provide at home.

To begin the first formal year of school confidently, teachers are mainly looking for specific skills that fall under the social and emotional areas of learning. These include:

Social maturity – Can they play with their peers and make friends? Can they share and take turns?
Communication – Can they communicate their feelings and needs?
Emotional maturity – Are they very shy and withdrawn? Or very emotional and sensitive?
Self-concept – Will they be able to cope with a formal schooling environment?
Adjustments – Can they adjust to a new environment? It is natural to be hesitant, but overly anxious can mean that they are not ready for school.
Independence – They should be able to dress themselves, open lunchboxes and containers, and be independent in their toileting habits.

Some related articles to this topic can be found here, giving an interesting view on both sides of this debate.

Anxious Kids Seminar – Michael Grose and Dr Jodi Richardson

Today, we see more and more children affected by anxiety to the point of it impacting on their happiness and quality of life. Although anxiety can be a major problem, it doesn’t have to be a lifelong struggle. Award-winning parenting speaker Michael Grose and wellbeing expert Dr Richardson’s highly-acclaimed book Anxious Kids: How children can turn their anxiety into resilience has led to a wave of positive feedback from parents. As a result, they will be hosting seminars across Australia and New Zealand to present their evidence-based approach to managing kids’ anxiety. If you are unable to attend the seminars, there are courses offered held over six sessions. They feature leading authorities from around the world, offering a range of tools to help manage and respond to anxiety, both in the moment and over the long term. The course focuses on mindfulness and breathing, and also features strategies for lifestyle changes, from nutrition to screen time, which parents often discuss with me.

Parking and Car Line Reminder

For families new to the School, please be aware that there is No parking outside of the Prep or Junior School buildings between 7.30-9.00am and 2.30-4.00pm. This zone must be kept clear to allow both car lines to operate efficiently. Junior School parents have also been asked to arrive closer to their 3.20pm end of school day, allowing the Prep Car Line to finish. Kindergarten Car Line begins at 2.50pm and siblings, Yrs 1 and 2 at 3.05pm. If you arrive earlier than these times, please do not park in the Car Line area as this must be kept clear for cars who are coming into the underground collection zone. The orange cones are placed for safety reasons, giving cars a clear view to be able to enter and exit the car park; we would appreciate you not moving these. If you are approached by a staff member, we ask that you please adhere to requests and be respectful in your interactions. There will be teachers on duty from 2.45pm daily to assist with the Prep Car Line process and to keep all members of the community safe.

Redlands Gala Ball

With only a few weeks left until the Gala Ball, start bidding in our online auction for incredible prizes valued at over $50,000.

If you place an online bid by Tuesday 6 August, you are eligible to participate in the Lucky Draw to win one of two Osana Family Health Care annual memberships. The winners will be announced in Note Day on 8 August. The auction will close on Saturday 17 August, 10.30pm. More details in the Foundation section of this Note Day.

Mrs Audrey Fellowes
Head of Preparatory School
afellowes@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848