Primary Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE: •
News from the Classroom
•
Birthdays
•
Student Achievements
Dear Parents and Caregivers, As was to be expected, there was a wonderful celebratory mood in the school this past week. Although the school week was shorter than usual, there was plenty packed into it, especially as the classes rounded off their year with reminiscences of the past few months, gathering of personal belongings from the classrooms, and Prize Giving Ceremonies and other enjoyable moments also thrown in. John Lennon once sang that “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”. This past year proved that making plans and trying to plot a way forward in our lives can be thrown all sorts of curveballs. And yet despite all the unpredictability and having to adapt to an evershifting set of circumstances the Reddam House family rose to the challenge. This past week at the Year 5 and 6 Prizegiving I reflected on how our perspective on a situation can change so much about the way we approach it – and the way it affects us. There is no doubt in my mind that the students have succeeded this year because they chose to approach the challenges with positivity and a can-do attitude. Instead of bemoaning the limitations imposed on them, they showed creativity and resourcefulness and it was this which we celebrated at the recent Prizegiving ceremonies. I commend each one of them again for their efforts and for their excellence in all they did. While we hope that 2022 will bring more stability, whatever lies ahead I am sure that the students will approach it with the same optimism and hard work.
I know that the year has brought with it many challenges for our parents and caregivers too, and I want to thank you once again for your input into the lives of the students. While it might be a given that parents will want the best for their children, this has been so evident during the year. We know that The Reddam House Primary School Newsletter
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all those videos of them playing their musical instruments or exercising had a parent on the other end of the video camera, and that many hours were spent assisting with work at home. Your encouragement has been much appreciated by the teachers – and no doubt by the students themselves. I am grateful too for the extraordinary efforts of our teachers, who have faced the unpredictability with resourcefulness and energy. I was reminded each week of their joyful exuberance when I watched the ‘Happy Birthday’ clip in the online assemblies, and in the way they did all they could to make virtual classrooms just as meaningful as the face-toface ones. They certainly deserve our gratitude and I have no doubt that they will enjoy their holidays. I have also appreciated the incredible input of all our admin, cleaning and support staff, who made every effort to keep the school running efficiently during the year. Their hard work might have been largely unseen, but it was appreciated enormously, especially by the teachers and students. Before we head off for our break, though, we need to congratulate Audrey Cheng, who has been doing exceptionally well in sailing. Last weekend, she was announced as the first girl
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finisher in Woollahra Sailing Club’s Optimist Club Series. Well done, Audrey! Congratulations to Daniella Mirny’s selection to the 2022 RNA REPS 13YRS team. Well done Daniella ,this is a fantastic achievement!
Not only is this a special part of the year because of long, lazy summer days, but it is also a time of religious celebrations. Our Jewish families have just celebrated Hannukah, while our Christian families look forward to their celebration of Christmas. We trust that these times were and will be memorable and happy and a reminder of the wonderful people in our lives. I wish all in the Reddam House Primary School family a really good break – and thank you once again for everything during 2021. The staff and I look forward to welcoming you back for another exciting year in 2022. Please also follow this link to access our online Uniform Shop. Enjoy your weekend
Dee Pitcairn Principal
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Reddam House Would like to wish a very happy birthday to Leo Platkov, Nicholas Fasol, Linus Hofmann, Antonis Pitsis, Alameda Fung-Love, Ines Buck, Amelia Price, Maria Shao, Who celebrated their special day this week and over the weekend
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Principal Honour Awards
Reddam House Would like to congratulate the following students on their Principal HonourAwards. Noah Bonnell, Luca Juma- Ross, Geoffrey Li, Siena Gilbert, Larry Aisin Gioro, Stella Grocott and Alex Dubossarsky
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ART GALLERY
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KINDERGARTEN Our Kindergarten students have graduated! The teachers are all so impressed with the progress each student has made and we wish them all the very best as they head into Year 1. To celebrate the end of a wonderful year together, Kindergarten went bowling. It was a fantastic day, filled with laughter, cheers and excitement. The students demonstrated some excellent bowling skills, with a few even scoring a strike! The Kindergarten teachers wish all our students and their families a wonderful, relaxing and safe school holidays. A heartfelt congratulations to you all.
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YEAR 1 This week we enjoyed celebrating the end of Year 1 by going bowling, doing collaborative projects and setting goals for 2022. The students had time to reflect on their experiences and these are some of their comments:-
Sasha Popoff: All the teachers in Year 1 have been very kind and I have learnt a lot. I have loved everything! Octavia Spender-Capps: I loved my teacher and I have enjoyed Year 1. My reading has improved and all the experiments have been exciting. Matthew German: I have enjoyed spending time with all my friends and learning with my teachers. William Feng: I have enjoyed being in my class and everyone has been very kind to me. I've worked very hard, even during lockdown!
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YEAR 1
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YEAR 2 What a happy Week 9 it was in Year 2! We were kept busy revising the work covered in all Key Learning Areas and we had fun sharing our thoughts and memories of the year with our friends and teachers.
In Mathematics we revised the concepts of time and became familiar with vertical algorithms in addition and subtraction. It was easier than we expected! We continue to solve problems and use our critical thinking skills to decide the most efficient way to get to the solution. Year 2 students enjoyed reading the book Searching for Cicadas which tells of a young boy and his Grandpa camping and looking closely at the cicada lifecycle. The children can now retell this story with interesting facts they learned along the way. Our writing skills continued with expanding sentences using very interesting adjectives, adverbs, and verbs to create a clear and interesting image through words. In PDH we continued with our unit on staying safe in the home, school and in public, as we shared ideas on how to stay clear of danger and dangerous items or substances. It was interesting also to discuss ways in which the countryside can be dangerous and ways we can be more alert to stay safe around animals and harmful machinery and chemicals. It has been a wonderful year this year and we stopped to remember just how much we have achieved and grown together. The students are a credit to the school and their families and are ready to take on Year 3!!are a credit to the school and their families and ready to take on Year 3!!
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YEAR 2
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YEAR 3 We’ve made it! Congratulations on completing Year 3, during what will go down as one of the most unusual years at school (hopefully for a while).
Your teachers have been amazed at the maturity you have shown throughout the year and the resilience it has taken to pivot between online learning and coming back to school. You will no doubt look back on this year and share many funny and fond memories. One comment from Hanna Ching stood out in particular, as she was able to find the silver lining to it all; noting that she will miss the many lunches spent chatting with her family which wouldn’t have usually been possible. It will be memories such as these that we will hopefully hold on to, in amongst the funny technological challenges that we can thankfully giggle about now. Below are some memories from the year. We are all very proud of you and wish you all the best for Year 4!
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YEAR 3
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YEAR 4 Year 4, CONGRATULATIONS! What a truly wonderful year it was! It seems so long ago that you walked down the corridor excited to be in the ‘new’ building and full of excitement and cheer about the year ahead. We talked about our goals. Pen Licences, camp, productions, and new sports were all on the minds of many, as important achievements for Year 4. Some happened and were awesome, while others didn’t, as parts of the year were beyond our control. As we look back at the Year 4 cohort, we can’t help but feel proud of the fabulous group of children that we have been so lucky to have worked with. We are amazed at the courage and resilience of all of the children and wish them a well-deserved holiday and a safe and happy 2022.
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YEAR 4
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YEAR 5 & 6 ENGLISH The Year 5 students ended Term 4 by analysing the symbolism of the setting in the movie ‘The Lion King’. They were given the opportunity to apply their knowledge of language techniques by creating examples of phrases that can be used to describe the sunrise at the start. Well done to Year 5 for great work.
This week, the Year 6 classes culminated their study of comedy writing by presenting and dramatizing their parodies. Excellent work, Year 6. Now that the Term 4 examinations have drawn to an end, students may begin to think about some summer reading. It is no secret that reading will improve vocabulary and creativity, but there are also many other benefits. Students are able to put themselves in the ‘shoes’ of others, see different perspectives and develop the life-long skill of empathy. A lot of the students at Reddam House are already avid readers and may have a list of their own, but below you will find some suggestions from the English Department: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Cogheart by Peter Bunzl Wonder by R.J. Palacio Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian A Necklace of Raindrops by Joan Aiken and Jan Pienkiwski Letters from the lighthouse by Emma Carroll The Watertower by Gary Crew The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair by Lara Williamson When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr Tin by Padraig Kenny The Last Wild by Piers Torday The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle by Victoria Williamson The Island by Armin Greder Pax by Sara Pennypacker Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo Coraline by Neil Gaiman Once by Morris Gleitzmann
You may also challenge yourselves by reading some classics and Australian novels such as: · · · · · · · ·
Watership Down by Richard Adams Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by S. C. Lewis The Hobbit by J. R. Tolkein The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall Magic Pudding by N. Lindsay Picnic at Hanging Rock by J. Lindsay
We wish all students a restful and enjoyable break.
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YEAR 5 & 6 MATHEMATICS It was a productive and creative week in Mathematics classes this week. Year 5 and 6 students were given opportunity to use their math's knowledge, skills and understanding in a variety of ways. Year 5 became detectives and were taken on a journey to solve geometry and algebraic puzzles, chance questions, divisibility rules, elapsed time to name a few clues, all with the purpose of solving a murder. Students were completely immersed in their learning whilst creative thinking skills and teamwork were encouraged. The Year 6 cohort, on the other hand, having become experts at solving murder mysteries, created their own mysteries. They compiled many clever and cunning clues and puzzles that required astute mathematical thinking and skill. The background stories and culprit lists were very witty too. On reflection of 2021, we are delighted with the results and the resilience shown from our very capable Year 5 and 6 cohorts. The Mathematics department would like to wish everyone an enjoyable holiday period.
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MUSIC What a year it was! From the lows of lockdown and cancelled performances to the highs of returning to school and resuming ensemble rehearsals, it has been a rollercoaster ride, but the Reddam students have continued to make music in a multitude of exciting ways. It has really been a treat to see the resilience and creativity of everyone involved. For our last week of Music lessons the Primary Music students took the opportunity to perform for one another on their instruments, which was such a lovely way to round out the year. We also enjoyed playing music games and quizzes and even had the opportunity to do some xylophone playing. In particular, the Year 5s and 6s finally got to play the repertoire from Term 3 which we were not able to play as a group due to lockdown. From the Music department we’d like to say well done for all of your hard work and wonderful music. We hope that you have a fun, safe and restful break.
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MUSIC PERFORMANCE It has been a pleasure to watch our Music students develop throughout this year, and especially to take advantage of the opportunities available for performances, competitions and further education. We were so very glad to be able to resume ensembles for single year groups this term, so that after the difficulty of the past six months, students were able to end the year with a return to routine and rigour. Our year ended with our fabulous Year 4 students this week, for the final 2021 rehearsal. These students will progress to our fabulous Year 5-6 Singers next year, and in fact all of our students are most excited about how they will progress on their instruments and ensembles next year. We absolutely cannot wait for an enriching and exciting 2022. Year 5-6 Acappella A small group of private voice students in Years 5 and 6 have been diligently joining together on Monday mornings to rehearse as an A Capella group, which is a choral group with voice only and no accompaniment. It has certainly been tricky with online rehearsals, and face-toface rehearsals split into year groups; however, these talented students have managed brilliantly, and have learned a lot from our wonderful teacher, Ms Currier, and her fun games. We hope that next year will see lots of performances and competition success for these students, and we wish all students a safe and happy school break. Year 5-6 Piano Duets After a long-awaited return to face-to-face rehearsals, Year 5 and 6 students started revising what they have learned during their online lessons. Students focused on jazz and popular music this term. Santiago Smart and Zoe Ching completed two pieces by Christopher Norton and enjoyed playing them in front of the class. Ariel Briner and Avey Sedgers worked on “Lazy afternoon in Dallas” and Janie Kogan made a beautiful recording of the duet piece “Be Our Guest” from “Beauty and the Beast” with her brother Frankie who played the secondo part. You can watch their work at this link
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2022 Young Archie Competition
2022 YOUNG ARCHIE COMPETITION - ART GALLERY NSW The Art Department invites students from Years K-6 to enter the Young Archie Competition. PROCESS 1. Theme: To create a portrait of a person who is special to you – someone who is known to you and who knows you and plays a significant role in your life. 2. For the artwork: - One artwork only per entrant. - Must be on paper (N O T board). - Must be unmounted and unframed. - Must be no smaller than A4 (210 × 297 mm) and no bigger than A3 (420 × 297 mm). - Can be vertical or horizontal. - Any art materials or combination of art materials may be used (eg paint, pencil, pastels, paper collage) but the artwork must be two-dimensional. 3. Entry form MUST be completed by a parent/guardian via the link on their website: (Scroll to the bottom of the website to complete and follow the prompts). This will not be open to submit until the end of January. https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/young-archie/enter/ Once the entry form has been completed and submitted online, please attach a printed copy with the artwork when you hand deliver to the Art Department. (OR email the completed entry form if unable to print: amanda.william@reddamhouse.com.au) 4. Entries close MARCH 1st 2022. Top entrants in years 3-6 will earn points towards their Reddam Cultural Colours. If you have any questions, please contact the Primary Art Department. GOOD LUCK!
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LIBRARY Book Recommendations K-2: MOVE THAT MOUNTAIN by Kate and Jol Temple Puffins and a whale are the feature characters in this story, and they are super cute. The poor whale has become beached, stuck out of the water, and unable to return to the depths of the ocean. There’s no one there to help. Except for a colony of puffins. The puffins try hard to move the whale, but it just won’t budge. It’s only when they really work together that the puffins and whale will see success. Move That Mountain is a reminder that no problem is too big to overcome, and no creature is too small to overcome it. Recommended for ages 4+. 3-4: GANGSTA GRANNY STRIKES AGAIN by David Walliams Ben is getting used to life without his beloved granny. She was a cabbage enthusiast, a Scrabble partner… and an international thief known as The Black Cat. Now, only the memory of their extraordinary adventure to steal the Crown Jewels lives on. Then something inexplicable happens. World-famous treasures are stolen in the dead of night and the clues point to none other than The Black Cat? But that’s impossible? Expect the unexpected in this wonderfully entertaining and funny sequel, which will have readers on the edge of their seats as they join Ben on his quest to unravel the mystery of the return of The Black Cat. Recommended for ages 8+.
5-6: A GLASSHOUSE OF STARS by Shirley Marr A Glasshouse of Stars is an exquisite and heart-wrenching story by Shirley Marr that is influenced by her own experiences as a first-generation Chinese-Australian, who arrived in mainland Australia from Christmas Island in the 1980s. Experiencing the good, the bad and the wonderful that comes with culture shock, the author describes herself as having a Western mind with an Eastern heart, and this description really resonates with Meixing’s story. Being an immigrant and/or having interacted with many over the years, this novel prompts us to reflect on our experiences and exchanges with others. Recommended for ages 10+.
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