Head of Junior School
Hello from Yr 3 Camp
As you read this, our Yr 3 students are enjoying their two-day adventure on their first overnight camp in the Southern Highlands and I am thoroughly enjoying the time away with them and colleagues exploring the outdoors and being immersed in activities. The opportunities that these types of outdoor experiential learning experiences provide us as teachers to get to know the students on a far deeper level is priceless and likewise, the students get a greater sense of who we are as people too.
Wednesday’s on-campus morning of activities with the Outdoor Education Group staff who are with the students and staff for the two days was invaluable in building connections and helping the students get a sense of the activities to come and this allowed the group to hit the ground running as soon as they arrived.
We will write more about the trip next week after they return this Friday afternoon and I extend my gratitude to the team of teachers who look after the children with immense care and commitment whilst leaving their own families too.
Primary Debating Finals
Congratulations to our Primary A debating team who have been successful in qualifying for the semi-final of the Sydney Debating Network Competition. Primary B also had a successful competition narrowly missing the finals by a slim margin.
Our Primary A team will debate against Riverview this Friday evening and be judged by a panel of adjudicators. I know you will join us in wishing the team of Alice Bernath, Bernice Cheung, Jenna Forrest, Raj Jhinghan and Alexia Tsacalos all the very best for this important debate.
Living our School Values
This week, we were delighted to welcome some of our Yr 10 students, most of whom were students in the Junior School, to our Junior School assembly to speak to the students about some of their experiences in how they live our School Values. The Q & A style conversation, expertly guided by two of our Yr 6 Wellbeing Leaders, Alex Read and Aggie Storch, provided our Junior School students with real-life examples of how they too might demonstrate these values day in day out, both in school but importantly outside of a school context. There is something particularly compelling observing students listening intently to students and our Principal, Mr Corcoran, and I watched at the complete engagement of the Junior School students during this part of the assembly and I extend my gratitude to our Yr 10 students: Lachie Green, Krishna Gupta, Imogen Jeffrey-Bilich, Ale Scali, Aiden van Hulsen and Millie Winton for their time, preparation and considered responses.
Community Connections
The last fortnight has seen both our Grandparents and Special Friends Day and Father’s Day celebrations allow us to welcome families and friends to classrooms and on campus. These important gatherings always bring a rich sense of our wider community and I am grateful to the many Redlands staff who have contributed towards the organisation and planning of these days.
Junior School Speech Day 2023 – Change of Venue
Please note that due to the current redevelopment of the event spaces at Luna Park, where we have previously held our Junior School and Secondary School Speech Days, we will be moving both events to one of Sydney’s premier event spaces, The Star Event Centre, in Pyrmont.
Further information will be provided in Term 4 on this year’s Junior School Speech Day which will take place at 11am on Wednesday 6 December. This will include a comprehensive venue guide to assist students and parents with the change in venue.
Term 4 Science Club
Volunteers Needed
Learning Plus (support) is looking for volunteers with weekday availability to assist in the October HSC exam period and beyond. We need calm and confident community members who understand confidentiality. We are particularly in need of volunteer scribes (writers). You need to have legible handwriting and the ability to communicate in English.
Our volunteers find this a rewarding activity and a fantastic way to support students at Redlands.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022