Community Update
A very warm, albeit socially distanced, welcome to the new school year to our new families and welcome back to our current families. We trust that you were able to enjoy a happy, healthy and peaceful time with your family over the holiday period.
In times such as these we give thanks for the strength of our Redlands community and we continue to work in partnership with parents and carers to make this time as positive and enriching for our community as possible.
We recognise the vital relationship between home and school and provide opportunities for parents to actively engage with the School. The Redlands Parents and Friends Association (RPFA), Parent Contact Groups (PCGs) and Friends of Groups (FoGs) all come together as passionate and dedicated volunteers to selflessly support our School and the wider Redlands community. All of these important groups of committed and passionate volunteer members highlight the vital role our wider community plays in the growth and prosperity of Redlands. These community groups provide a wonderful opportunity for us all to stay connected, included and informed.
Coming together as a community on campus remains a challenge at this time but we look ahead with hope and optimism that restrictions may be eased through this term. Our annual Twilight Drinks event has been postponed at this stage with on campus events not possible in the short term. We continue to assess our planned community events in alignment with advice from NSW Health and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW. While we review our proposed events we encourage a continued connection to the significant and diverse experience of our PCGs, Class and Year Group Parents who support our community.
While on campus events are not possible, it was a genuine pleasure and privilege to be able to attend the Year 12 2021 Prize Giving Ceremony and Valedictory Dinner earlier this week at Luna Park. I have been inspired by the resilience and endeavour demonstrated by this impressive cohort of students in their final years at Redlands, closely supported of course by their families and teachers who shared in the evening’s celebration. We look forward to following the journey of our 2021 Valedictorians as our newest cohort of Redlanders.
It is always a pleasure to hear what our Alumni community have been up to and I was inspired to read of the impressive achievements of Class of 2016 Alumni and Sports Captain, Molly Parker. Molly recently received the Northern Beaches Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year award, having dedicated over 500 hours of her time to Surf Life Saving. Molly’s inspiring story, along with an update from the Foundation team, can be enjoyed here.
A reminder that all COVID-19 related communications to parents and other relevant information is posted on the COVID-19 Page of Redlands Pulse.
I remain grateful for the continued guidance and support our community provides and, as ever, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Community Engagement team should you have any feedback, suggestions or questions.
All the best for 2022.
Mr Grant Birse
Head of Community Engagement
9908 6406
gbirse@redlands.nsw.edu.au