From The Principal
As I write the final Note Day article for the year, we are looking forward to our end-of-year celebration events and with Christmas approaching and our Carols services this week, we are reminded of the hope and joy in the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus. As we give thanks for the many gifts we share, it is a time to focus on the importance of serving and giving to others. Our Service Captains Charlotte Harman and Alex Gibbs have been busy promoting the Anglicare Toys’ n’ Tucker program and I encourage all members of the community to contribute to this most worthy cause.
A highlight of this week has been the Year 9 Midawarr Indigenous Cultural Immersion Program, which has focused on the theme of ‘Country as Teacher’. The program, run in partnership with Culture College, the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land and First Nations people from NSW, has again been possible through the creative use of technology to connect with and learn from the Yolngu Elders. The opening and closing ceremonies were both memorable events that bookended three days of deep connection and learning for our students in partnership with First Nations people across our vast land.
Congratulations to our Junior School Debating team who recently found out that they have made it through to the Grand Final of the Australian competition, which is an incredible achievement. We are proud of the team and wish them well for the final – Sam Ashby, Caroline Brown, Kai Feldman, Alex Heller, George McIntosh, Chloe Petering and Rafael Rolon, supported by Junior School Debating Coordinator Joel Watkins.
As many of you are already aware, Ms Karen Martin is retiring at the end of this year from her position as Head of the Redlands Ballet and Dance Academy. During her 17 years of service to the School, she has led the Redlands Dance Program to great heights, becoming one of the most highly esteemed in Sydney.
We are pleased to announce that Gillian Revie MacLeod will be commencing as the new Head of the Redlands Ballet and Dance Academy in 2022. Gillian is a highly esteemed director, teacher and performer who trained with the Royal Ballet School from the age of 11 before having a 23 year career with the Royal Ballet Company, dancing a vast repertoire of soloist and principal roles, then tutoring graduate students at the English National Ballet School. Gillian has continued to be a guest artist for the Australian Ballet Company, an occasional teacher and mentor with the Australian Ballet Company and the Sydney Dance Company and a guest teacher for the Royal Ballet School in some of their programs throughout Asia. Gillian already has a strong understanding of the Redlands culture and values as her daughter, Belle, is a Redlander from the Class of 2020.
I have often remarked this year how much we have appreciated the positive support and constructive feedback from the Redlands community. The challenges and uncertainty that we have faced has further strengthened the sense of community in the School, which has been wonderful to witness. May you and your families enjoy a relaxing and peaceful Christmas and holiday period together.
Mr Stephen Webber
Photo Caption: A scene from the filming of the end of year Ballet and Dance performance of Coppelia. The film of the Ballet and Dance Concert will be released on the Ballet and Dance page of Redlands Pulse on 16 December.