Primary Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE: •
News from the Classroom
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Birthdays
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Student Achievements
Dear Parents and Caregivers, One of the most consistent sounds which seems to permeate our school is that of music. Whether in rehearsals for the school play, or in the multitude of musical instruments which our students are learning to play, or in choir practice, or in the exuberant melodies of ‘Happy Birthday’ being sung to a classmate – music seems to be part of the fabric of who we are at Reddam House. It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that many parents actually chose our school because of the vibrant cultural programme. Certainly, we have become well-known throughout the city and beyond for our excellence in art, dance, drama and music. Yet for all the accolades that our students may achieve at various eisteddfods and other competitions – and there have been many such successes in recent years – there is a far more fundamental reason why we believe the arts are so important. As with all activities at the school, the arts are a means to an end. They are part of the rich texture of our lives, and they allow us to connect with, and develop, our unique personalities, skills and abilities. They nurture creativity and they connect us emotionally and spiritually not only to ourselves but to others. Our cultural experiences throughout life have deep significance into shaping who we become. A recent article made the following fascinating comments, which underline just how powerful an impact music, for instance, can have on our lives. “A browse of the internet yielded plenty of food for thought: secondary students who participate in band or orchestra report the lowest use (current and lifetime) of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs; researchers exploring the link between music and intelligence report that music training is far superior to computer instruction in dramatically enhancing children’s abstract reasoning skills; US Department of Education data reveals that students who report consistently high levels of involvement in instrumental music show significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by Year 12; the very best engineers and technical designers in Silicon Valley are, nearly without exception, practising musicians; and 36 per cent of Australian households contain at least one person who plays an instrument (of these, 63 per cent started between the ages of five and 11 years, and the majority report the influence of parents as the reason they started).” With so many incredible opportunities available for the students at Reddam House to explore their own musical talents, we look forward to even more of them embracing their innate abilities and relishing the chance to enjoy the harmonies and magical qualities of music.
The Reddam House Primary School Newsletter
Volume 22 Issue 14 Friday 20 May 2022
Page 1