Head of Junior School

Head of Junior School

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please note that all Upcoming Events for the Junior School are now on their own Note Day article/page. 

This Head of Junior School page will consist of general information from the Head of Junior School. 

New Principal Visit, Mr Stephen Webber

This week has seen our incoming Principal, Mr Stephen Webber, spend time in our Redlands community and specifically time with some students and staff during his day on our Junior Campus. I know that the week has been both an important and energising week for Mr Webber and we look forward to his leadership next year, continuing on from the forward momentum of the School under Dr Lennox’s time as Principal.

Yr 6 Legacy Fair

Last Friday our Yr 6 students organised a wonderful Legacy Fair for the Junior School, raising funds for a gift that they wanted to leave behind them ahead of moving to the Secondary School next year. With an array of games and activities alongside a range of refreshments, the Junior School students enjoyed a lovely lunch time with accompanying music from our student rock bands. My thanks are extended to Yr 6 and their teachers for their meticulous planning and preparation and to the Yr 11 student helpers too. The students raised $3,268 which will be split between buying some outdoor storage and seating for the playground areas as well as a contribution towards the Redlands Peter Lennox Scholarship, an opportunity that the Yr 12 Class of 2019 students also raised money for last term.

Yr 6 Car Wash

Our Yr 6 students have also planned a car washing fundraiser towards the two focus areas mentioned above and will be doing this here at Redlands in the staff carpark on Saturday 16 November. Further details on booking a timeslot will be communicated in the next two Note Days so watch this space!

Second Hand Sports Shoes Collection

Connecting to the Yr 4 STEAM Day, we are also inviting all students to support a second hand shoe drive across the School and kindly ask that if you have any second hand shoes from students in Kindergarten to Yr 6, please drop these off at the Junior School Office before Friday 8 November when we will ship them to Warlawurru School in Red Hill. Redlands supported Shoes for Planet Earth three years ago and below is a summary of how donations can be accepted:

  1. Sports shoes only please
  2. No holes and good soles
  3. Clean shoes 
  4. Tied together in matching pairs
  5. Ensure laces and inner soles are intact.

Students will be informed of this in assembly next week too and any donations will be gratefully received.

Operation Christmas Child

Thanks to students and families who were able to support Yr 4 student, Alexis Mar, in her drive to support Operation Christmas Child, a project run each year where gift-filled shoe boxes are sent to children in poverty around the world. Alexis has done this for a number of years and asked other students to consider helping this year too. The shoe box the child receives is likely to be the only gift in their lifetime. Within each shoebox is: 

  • Something to wear;
  • Something for school;
  • Something to play with;
  • Something for hygiene, and 
  • Something to love.

Any boxes not returned yet should come back to school by next Monday, even if the box has not been filled.

Junior Campus Bush Dance

The Bush Dance team have now sold over 420 tickets for this Saturday’s family event! Please note that Trybooking has now closed, families can still purchase tickets at the door on the night. The Bush Dance team need volunteers to help with pack down after the dance 8.00 – 9.30pm. If you can offer your time, please sign up here. I look forward to seeing many of our community there again.  

Parking Behaviour Reminder

I find it very disappointing and frustrating to have to apologise to our neighbours for the behaviour of a small minority of our parents who feel it is appropriate to berate neighbours when they are in the wrong.

Just this week, a lady came in to Reception and acknowledged the efforts of our teachers to alleviate traffic with the car line system and aim to make the afternoon pickup smooth for everyone. However, as a neighbour, she regularly sees parents park over her driveway, double parking in places and illegally parking by the crossing.

To her horror (and mine), she had a Redlands parent yell expletives at her when she asked if they could move so she could get out of her driveway. This is appalling and I dread to think what students who may have observed this would think too. As a School, our values are an integral part of who we are and the personal attributes that we hope to instil in students. I don’t think it is much to ask to expect parents to model these too and ask the very small minority of parents that this applies to, to think carefully about their behaviour in front of both their own children and others.

Acting Heads of Junior School

From an auction item at last term’s Redlands Gala Ball, Juliet and Oliver Cooke metaphorically stepped into my shoes on Monday, assuming the leadership role of the Junior School. Their first decision to add an extra five minutes to recess and lunch breaks was enthusiastically received in assembly and the day included a number of experiences for them including classroom visits, recess duties, reading to students and speaking to a prospective family. I thank them for making my day a little easier and know that they enjoyed this glimpse of the role too.

Dante Minassian (Yr 5)

I am thrilled to hear that Yr 5 student, Dante Minassian, has been offered a role in the Australian Ballet Company’s production of Sylvia. This is a wonderful achievement for Dante and we wish him all the very best in this exciting opportunity.

Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022