Redlands Parents and Friends

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Calling all Festival of Redlands Volunteers

Help out at our 140th Birthday Party! Please consider lending an hour of your time to the Festival of Redlands, Saturday 19 October. Demonstrate your House Spirit and garner points for volunteering! Sign up here. 

Tickets on Sale Shortly, Keep Posted so you Don’t Miss Out!

Please join us on Saturday 19 October for an unforgettable Birthday Celebration, shining a light on 140 years of exceptional Redlands education!

From 1-5pm, the Junior Campus will explore the past, present and future of our School with showcases in Performing Arts, Sports, Academics, Visual Arts, Innovative Design and Technology, and Outdoor Education.

Bring the Redlands spirit to life by participating in the Festival of Redlands House Challenge! Compete for the inaugural Festival of Redlands Trophy by racking up points through spirited activities and friendly competition.

How the Festival of Redlands House Challenge Works

Show Your House Spirit: Each House will decorate its own marquee!! In addition, come dressed in your House colours for a chance to win points for the best dressed and best decorated marquee.

Play Sports: Compete in various sports throughout the afternoon. Points will be awarded for participation and winning.

What’s On at the Festival?

Entertainment and Food

The Entertainment Quarter: Head to the Piazza to watch students showcase their musical, dance and drama talents throughout the day.

Visual Arts and Academics Alley: Explore the ground floor classrooms and undercroft of the Margret Roberts building to see displays of our academic and visual arts programs.

Bid for Original Artworks: Check out and bid on artworks created by Prep School students, with proceeds supporting the High Country Campus appeal.

International Food Extravaganza: Enjoy a diverse selection of foods from China, Spain, France, Japan and traditional Aussie BBQ favourites, celebrating Redlands’ cultural diversity and language program.

Alumni Cafe: Treat yourself to barista-made coffee, handmade cupcakes, brownies and cookies baked by the Redlands community.

Sporting Activities

Engage in a variety of activities to earn House points, including:

Field Sports and Rowing Games: Compete in various field sports and rowing events on the oval.

Netball and Basketball: Show off your skills at Dunnet Hall in netball and basketball games.

Climbing Frame Ninja Courses: Try your hand at timed climbing challenges in the Junior School.

Ticketed Activities

Kindi Farm: Visit the farm at the top parking lot and meet the animals.

Mechanical Snowboard Ride: Test your snowboard skills on the urban slopes.

Bubble Soccer: Have fun with human bubble soccer at the Redlands House courts.

Climbing Wall: Challenge yourself on the climbing wall at the south end of the oval.

Silent Disco: Dance your heart out at the Parkes Building’s silent disco and earn House points.

Grand Finale

Don’t miss the ultimate House Tug-of-War to wrap up the festivities! Register on arrival and compete for House bragging rights in this exciting end-of-festival showdown.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you and make this a birthday to remember! Proudly brought to you by the Redlands Parents and Friends Association (RPFA), Friends of Groups, and in collaboration with the Foundation, Redlands Staff, Students and Alumni.

Second Hand Uniforms Tomorrow

We will be holding a second hand uniform sale tomorrow, Friday 13 September from 8am until 10am.

The sale will be held at the RPFA unit, 1 Monford Place, just around the corner from the Uniform Dhop on Military Road.

If people are working and can’t make it in the morning, send a request for items to RPFA2ndhandsales@gmail.com and we will let you know if we have them in stock. 

Our Second Hand Uniform Sales provide great value for families and all proceeds go to the means-tested Redlands Scholarship Fund.

Join the Parent Prayer Meeting

School Chaplain’s invite you to join them, our Principal and a number of Directors at the upcoming Term 3 Parents Prayer Meeting (open to everyone in our community).

• Date: 17 September
• Time: 5.30-6.30pm
• Location: Liggins Staff Room (2^nd floor) on the Secondary Campus.

Alumni Birthday Wishes

As we gear up to celebrate this major milestone, some of our alumni from across the years have messages to share. If you’re Alumni and would like to share a birthday message please email us!

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. Walks for his term:

Any questions, please contact Ann Marie on 0406 691 533. See you walking!

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. If you would like to join Book Club, and learn where we are meeting this month or simply want to know more, please contact Monica or Sabiha.

Our next meeting will be during the week of 28 October, when we will be discussing Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran.

Seen a book you’re dying to read and discuss? Recommend it for our next read!

Kids Giving Back

Kids Giving Back is hosting a mega cooking marathon on 22 September. As the children prepare meals for Sydneysiders in need, they can have fun with friends and bring to life their school values of moral courage and compassion. If you are interested in keeping the kindness cooking – please contact Daniella.

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

Name: Anita Fonseca

Role: Class Parent 1R & volunteer coding lunch club

Kids: Matteo 1R & Stella Redlands House senior

If you could choose a Class Parent theme song what would be the title name?

We are the Champions! I think it motivates me and my kids.

Why did you decide to become a Class Parent, and what do you love most about it?

Because no one else volunteered, someone’s gotta keep it fun! (haha) I was class parent for my son’s Kindy class, I think that qualified me to do it for a second round. It’s a meaningful way to contribute to Matteo’s school experience and I hope to build a supportive community. I love coordinating events and bringing the community together, helping all parents to feel inclusive and supported.

What advice would you give to a parent or carer looking to get more involved in the School?

Jump in! Attend school events, volunteer for small tasks. It is so important and rewarding. It’s a chance to build relationships, support your child’s learning environment and make a lasting impact on your child’s experience. My son is super excited and proud when I come in on Fridays and run the lunch club with another amazing class parent, Daniella from 1Y.

If you could trade places with your children for a day, what would you most want to experience?

Good questions – I think I would love to experience recess, being a kid again, playing and running on the oval, hanging out with lots of friends every day without a care in the world. I would like to find out what is so fascinating about Pokemon cards! Seriously, I’d want to experience the world through their eyes – the simple excitement of seeing your friends every morning, learning new things every day and embracing curiosity and creativity – powerful reminders that often get lost in adulthood.

The Week in Pictures

An amazing meeting was had at yesterday’s Book Club, discussing Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran.

Year 11 parents enjoying a coffee yesterday morning in Crows Nest!

Do you have event pics 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