Redlands House/Transition Gold
Please note that all Upcoming Events for Prep are now on their own Note Day article/page.
This Head of Preparatory School page will consist of general information from the Head of Preparatory School.
Sleep for Improved Health, Resilience and Academic Performance
The importance of a good night’s sleep is well established; however, over 30% of primary school children and 70% of teenagers are sleep deprived. This has significant consequences on many areas of their lives including learning and academic performance, as well as emotional and mental health.
You are invited to attend a parent workshop with Lisa Maltman, Director of The Sleep Connection. The aim of the evening is to share knowledge, practical strategies and tools to support sleep health. Ms Maltman recently addressed our Secondary School parents and was well received. This workshop will focus on building good sleep habits in our Preparatory and Junior School age groups. Parents will be given a questionnaire which will become a resource to support and guide family conversations at home.
The workshop will take place in the Arnold Library, Junior School, on Wednesday 18 September between 4.30–6.00pm. Please click here to register your attendance.
This workshop is provided by Redlands in support of student wellbeing. If you would like to know more about the presentation, or have any questions, please feel welcome to contact Ms Samantha Kourakis, Dean of Students. skourakis@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Play Based Learning
Learning through play is a term used in education and psychology to describe how a child can learn to make sense of the world around them. Through play children can develop cognitive and social skills, mature emotionally, and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments. The inquiry-based nature of play is supported through the social interactions of teachers and children. Teachers take an active role in guiding children’s interactions in the play.
While it may sound simple, play-based learning is a complex form of natural enquiry that requires an experienced educator who knows each child’s overall development, emerging strengths and interests. Educators embed elements of teaching and learning within the play experiences that children are interested in and naturally drawn to and therefore more likely to stay engaged with.
How do we do this? Within a class, some children in the room who may be interested in gardening, may be encouraged to chart and document the growth of the plants across the term. While other children may be supported to write/draw a ‘menu’ for their dramatic play restaurant, a child who is deeply interested in dinosaurs may be encouraged to discuss and document the similarities and differences between the various dinosaurs he has come across. These early literacy skills of pre-writing, drawing and mathematical concepts of classifying and charting are explored through play in ways that are authentic and meaningful to the child.
Wednesday Lunch Orders for Cremorne Seniors
In Term 4, Redlands House Cremorne Senior classes can order their lunch from the canteen on a Wednesday only. Families will be able to order from a limited menu via the Flexischools online ordering system. An email will be sent to families of Redlands House Seniors with instructions, at the beginning of Term 4.
Mrs Audrey Fellowes
Head of Preparatory School
afellowes@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848