Head of Junior School
Positive Energy
In any given term there will always be ebbs and flows of both energy and busyness but perhaps more so during a whole term of Remote Learning during a period of lockdown in Sydney. Which is why it is remarkable to have felt and seen the continued energy, efforts and commitment of our staff and students throughout the term but even more so as we approach the final week of Term 3. Over the course of this term, I have enjoyed more opportunities than normal to teach classes and be part of classrooms and time with students has always effused energy for me; indeed, it’s one of the reasons why I became a teacher.
When people are passionate and dedicated about what they do, they radiate positive energy. And I have seen the many creative ways in which our staff have created this energy as they have changed or adapted learning and social connection experiences to engage, connect and challenge their students. In return and just as important to recognise, we have been so proud of how our students have navigated their ways almost seamlessly into a virtual classroom environment yet continued to demonstrate all of the traits and values we would expect of them, both learners and people.
And of course, on behalf of staff, I again express gratitude to parents and carers for your roles in this partnership centred around supporting your children as we continue to work together in hitherto untold ways.
Our aim is always to start a term strongly but finish the term stronger and I look forward to a big final week before the deserved fortnight of rest and recharge for our School community.
Wellbeing Wednesday (Wednesday 15 September)
Following on from similar positive student-focused events in the Prep School last week and the Secondary School yesterday, next Wednesday will see our Junior School students and staff enjoy a different pace and range of activities on Wellbeing Wednesday, a day where our staff will lead a series of live Zoom activities for each year group to join in and have some fun. Each year group will have seven half-hour activities in between breaks before finishing the day with Sport as usual and a time to get outside and be active.
Materials
For some activities, it would be helpful for students to have resources and the additional information is shared below to assist in preparation.
Yr 3 will do some cooking with Yr 4 Coordinator, Ms Cleary, and would need the following ingredients: rice bubbles, three Mars Bars, golden syrup, butter, a block of milk chocolate and a lamington tray or equivalent.
Yrs 4 & 6 will also have an opportunity to do make pizza scrolls with our Head of Catering, Mr Joel Squire. To do this session, the students would need the following ingredients: 2 sheets of frozen ready-rolled puff pastry (thawed), 3 tbsp pizza sauce, 100g sliced ham, chopped (or 100g tomato, mushrooms, or olives for vegetarians), 3/4 cup (65g) grated cheddar, 1 egg (lightly beaten).
Yr 4 will be doing a creative art activity with a wooden spoon so if students are asked to use the next few days to look for any creative arts materials such as textas, paint, coloured paper/card, wool, popsicle sticks, googly eyes, pom poms, feathers, etc. They will also need to have strong glue to attach the items to the wooden spoon.
I know the students are excited for this variation to their timetable and I am grateful to all of the teachers involved and our Dean of Students, Mrs Clinton, for her coordination of the day, which will also be important recognition for the efforts of students and staff throughout the whole term of Remote Learning.
Week 10 timetables will again be up on Redlands Pulse for parents to access on Friday.
Rapid Antigen Testing Trial for On-Campus Children of Essential Workers
For parent awareness and as already communicated to our essential workers families, next week the School will trial rapid antigen testing for our onsite Junior School students as well as the staff who will be working with them.
This is one measure the School is currently investigating to ensure the safety of students and staff as we make plans for students to return during Term 4 as per the government guidelines. Rapid antigen testing provides a screening tool to detect possible cases of COVID-19, especially in people who may be asymptomatic. Tests can be performed easily and onsite with test results returned within minutes. More information on rapid antigen tests can be found on the NSW Department of Health site here.
Specialist clinicians from Antigen Logistics will oversee the daily testing process and Redlands staff will be assisting them with the supervision of students each morning during the testing process.
Parents of these students are reminded to submit the online request for again for on-campus learning for the last week of term with booking requests closing again at 8pm on Friday 10 September to allow sufficient time for staffing to be organised based on the numbers.
Please click for Week 10 request: Junior Campus booking
As always, please note that any student’s attendance is dependent upon their health. Students must be kept at home if they show any signs of an elevated temperature or a cold. Any student who presents at school with even the mildest symptoms of COVID- 19 will be sent home and not permitted to return before a negative COVID-19 test result and are symptom free. Students must also not attend if they have been identified by NSW Health as either a casual or close contact of a confirmed case.
Come Dine With Us
I loved this picture of Yr 3 student, Emily Robertson, and the wonderful story this picture told as Emily joined other Redlands students and families in Monday evening’s Come Dine with Us virtual experience led by our Head of Catering, Mr Joel Squire. Joel has been leading similar culinary classes for staff this term and the idea to offer this possibility to parents came from a Junior School Class Parents meeting earlier in the term.
Emily loved making this sumptuous meal for her family and was so excited in the lead up to the evening which didn’t disappoint and I share Emily’s mum’s thoughts below too which captured the essence of the evening perfectly.
“Thank you for such a fun novel change to Monday night dinner! Emily loved being able to independently follow on (with some background supervision) and was so delighted to serve up such a delicious dinner. She was very proud of herself! Thanks again to you and the team for continuing to engage and inspire the kids in these unusual and challenging times. It makes all the difference!”
My thanks are extended to Joel Squire and I know that he was so happy to be able to connect with our students and families in this way.
Being Safe and Responsible Online
In our assemblies this week, I reminded students of the technology responsible user guidelines in their Student Planner which they and you would have signed at the start of the year. This is an important document that helps students to live our School Values in an online space as well as help to keep them and others safe.
Parents are also reminded of our Redlands Cyber Safety Hub specifically for our community, which contains current, research-based information and assistance for our families and staff. I encourage any family who has not explored this resource to do so.
Yr 7 Language Choices
Earlier this week, our Head of Secondary School, Ms Gemma Van de Peer, spoke to our Yr 6 students sharing early information about the language offerings in Yr 7 for them.
Along with Ms Van de Peer and other staff on both campuses, we are already looking at how we can create meaningful and beneficial experiences during Term 4 for Yr 6 ahead of moving to Secondary School in 2022 and will provide parents with this important information in due course too, given that the intended format of the Orientation Day scheduled for 2 November would not be possible with the restrictions in place for schools.
Holiday Reading
We continue to have a steady stream of students borrowing books from the Arnold Library again under our COVID-safe protocols, which has brought joy to students and our library team has them have lovingly packaged up books.
The library will not be open in the upcoming break so do contact them if you would like a selection of reading books for the holiday period. A reminder of the process is outlined below:
- Parents should email the Junior School library directly here with book requests/genre.
- Our part-time library staff will process requests and package books up to be collected from the table outside the Junior School reception building.
- The library staff will confirm via return email the time and date only one parent/child should come to collect their named book package.
- At collection, you must wear a mask and sanitise hands at the entry gate.
- Returning books will be via the book return drop box only which will be outside the school (again, please wear a mask and sanitise your hands at the gate). Any students currently with library books that they wish to return can do so in this way.
Please note that all book collection times will be outside of arrival and departure times for students of essential workers.
Vacation Care (20 September to 1 October)
We are happy to notify K-6 families that Vacation Care will be open for children of essential workers this holiday break. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, our operating times will be 8am – 4pm and numbers will be capped at 30 per day. The program will also be modified to accommodate restrictions; therefore set activities won’t be posted on Pulse beforehand.
Parents who are essential workers can lodge a request for OOSH Vacation Care (20 September to 1 October) by clicking this link. Booking requests for Vacation Care will close at 8pm on Wednesday 15 September to allow sufficient time for staffing to be organised based on the numbers.
Once your request has been approved, confirmation and information outlining logistics and COVID safety measures will be sent via email to you by 5pm, Friday 17 September. Please be aware that all bookings are to be made through the link provided, the OOSH Bookings email is currently not is use for booking purposes.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022
