Redlands Parents and Friends

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Festival of Redlands – Shining a Light on 140 years – Saturday 19 October

Planning is well under way for this first-of-its-kind event for our community to celebrate 140 years of Redlands. Set in the grounds of the Junior School, this event will include games, sports, arts, drama, music, and refreshments and will also showcase our High Country Campus.

To bring this epic occasion to life, we are calling on as many in our school community as possible to volunteer. Contact us if you would like to find out more and the RPFA will be in touch soon!

Birthday Trivia: 1911: Miss GA (Amy) Roseby and her sisters buy the School, which is now named Redlands.

Shining a light On…Friends of Groups

Parents, friends, and the community play an important role at Redlands in enriching student experience.

Operating as sub-committees of the RPFA, Friends of Groups (FoG) support the educational, cultural and sporting activities undertaken across the school. While every FoG has slightly different priorities based on what is needed, their purpose is to build a strong and positive sense of school community within their activity, and support the School’s strategic goals. This generally includes:

1. Building a community around the activity through forming a supportive network that welcomes new members via activities such as:

• Welcome events – morning tea, sausage sizzle etc, especially for Year 7 and new students to the Activity.
• Information events – an initial meeting to discuss the activity or season.
• Walkthroughs of the facilities – such as the Rowing sheds, Macquarie Uni Canteen, Theatre or Auditorium.
• Encouraging people to actively contribute to the FoG Committee and activities

2. Supporting the Activity:

o Encouraging energetic and respectful support (of all participants) at events and matches. Supporting the School’s guidelines and rules in relation to attending, spectator location, social distancing etc.

• Organising after match functions, social activities and the Annual Celebration.
• Acting as a Team Coordinator to assist with logistics and co-ordination of the activity.
• Prepare Activity Handbook – in conjunction with School Administrator.
• Sign On sheet, Timekeeping or Scoring
• Assistant Refereeing or Marshalling
• Making uniforms, costumes, props or scenery

 Current FoGs include:

Stay tuned for next week’s interview with the incoming Head of FoGs, Monika Crennan, to find out more about the valuable role FoGs play!

Redlands Community Concert

It is again time for our popular Redlands students community concert! Calling young musicians from all Year Groups to join. In the past we performed dances, singing, piano and strings for the residents in local retirement villages, receiving heartfelt applauses and appreciations.

• Date: Sunday 16 June 2024 1:00-2:30pm
• Venue: Bupa Aged Care, 18-20 Bardwell Road, Mosman
• Contact: Bing Lin 0422 245 505

This venue has an organ (same keyboard as a piano) that pianists can play.

Expression of interest closes on 26 May. There has been lots of interest this time, consequently we might have to scale back on the number of performances depending on the total length of the program. For instrument players there is an expectation for certain level of competence.

If your children are interested in participating, please join the WhatsApp group.

Upcoming Parent / Family Get-togethers 

Contact us to list your event.

Walks on Tracks

Weekly guided walks around the northern Sydney area are organised by Ann Marie, a wonderful RPFA volunteer. This is a great way to meet other Redlands parents and get in shape, plus a wonderful way to spend a morning discovering the many paths of the Sydney area.

The invitation for walks is open, so if you have friends or family who you think would like to come along, please feel free to bring them. Dogs are also welcome on most walks, look for the ???? below .

Walks start at 8.40am and are roughly 1 1/2- 2 hours. For those with the time, we love to stop for a coffee afterwards. In case you’re running late, just text Ann Marie so they can wait for you. We have planned all the walks for the term so mark your calendars:

• Wed 29 May: Watsons Bay to Dover Heights. Meet at the Watsons Bay Hotel. ????

Any questions, please contact Ann Marie on 0406 691 533.

Book Club

The Redlands Book Club is a group of Redlands parents – past and present – who share a love of reading. New members are always welcome! The Book Club meets twice each school term to discuss a book, rotating among members’ homes. Occasionally, outings are also organised to events, movies or shows that are tied in with books, including annual attendance at the Sydney Writer’s festival in May. If you would like to join Book Club, or simply want to know more, please contact Monica or Sabiha.

A number of Book Club members will be attending the Sydney Writers Festival this month. If anyone is interested in joining in, they can contact Monica or Sabiha (see details above) to find out more.

We are delighted to share the next four books and meeting date:

1. Hello Beautiful by Anna Napolitano – next meeting Thur 13th June at 7:00pm
2. The Women by Kristin Hannah
3. The Other Side of Beautiful by Kim Lock
4. Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran

Behind the Scenes with the RPFA: Meet your Class Parents

A wonderful group of volunteers, Class Parents are in place from Redlands House all the way up to Yr 12. Their efforts in welcoming new parents, organising teacher celebrations and facilitating class social events go a long way in maintaining the connected and engaged school community we enjoy here at Redlands.

Check back here each week to meet 2024 Class Parents and discover how you can get involved!

CP Five

Taking a breather this week. Calling for volunteers to share their story and help other parents get to know the beautiful volunteer faces they can turn to for help!

The Week in Pictures

???? Gold Star photo goes to the Yr 7 Mums who gathered for coffee at JP Forrest’s place last week. Who needs cafes when you have views like this?!

The Redlands Junior School Parents Tennis Day at the Neutral Bay Club. It was another glorious sunny day to be on the court and lots of fun with parents participating in a number of beginner and intermediate clinics and a Round Robin competition. Jenny Harris (Year 1 and Year 3) won the lucky door prize and received a Private Tennis Lesson, Andrew Weston (RHS) won the Round Robin competition taking home the trophy and a brand new Babolat Tennis racquet, Jen Cadman (RHS, Year 3 and Year 6) and Liberty McKinlay (Kindy and Year 4) were the runner ups and received a Private Tennis Lesson each and Jean Amos (Year 4) won the Coaches Choice award and received a tube of tennis balls.

We are looking forward to hosting the Senior School Parents Tennis Day on Wednesday May 29. See above for waitlist details.

Do you have pictures of parent / family get-togethers you want to share? Please send them to RPFA Note Day.

RPFA Committee

President: Brittne Whitelaw
Vice President: Carrie Taylor
Secretary: Jennifer Mast
Treasurer: Joe Russo
Committee: Monika Crennan, Michelle McDonald, Lisa Middlebrook, Karen Nicholson, Emma Okhovat, Sophia Stewart-Kasimba 

Contact us!