From the Principal
Good News Week/Community Spirit
Four special bits of news that have kindled the warmth in my soul in a week that has brought us much-needed rain, but also cold and blustery winds, all connect to the importance of community and to kindness toward others.
First, I received two letters this week about caring for dogs of owners who are part of our local community. One was from an elderly gentleman whose dog was hit by a car on Military Road outside the School. His wife had been looking for the dog, which had survived the hit, but had run off. Some students and staff who had witnessed the event told the lady what had happened. She told her husband how kind and helpful those who had seen what had happened had been both when they first met her and in the following days, when they called to ask whether the dog had been found. Five days later the couple were contacted by another local man to let them know that he had found the dog, which was in his lounge room eating a banana! The couple and their dog are happily reunited. The letter concluded: “We have many friends within your School community, but the good hearts of Redlands I had the great fortune to meet on this very stressful journey were outstanding people, both students and teachers alike. Thank you sincerely from our family, to your family”.
Late last week another adventurous dog, which escaped and set out on an adventure, came across in its wanderings and sought to befriend two of our Yr 10 Football girls (Sofia and Marie) who were training in Cammeray Park. They recognised that the dog was lost and took charge. They tried to contact the owner but when the phone was not answered, they walked the dog home. The owner wrote to the School, and when our staff had identified the two girls, she came up to leave a card and a small gift for each of them to express her gratitude for their “sense of responsibility and community spirit”. This kind of behaviour represents true community spirit and we are all very proud of all those who display it unhesitantly.
Third, I reported on a number of wonderful sporting successes last week. This week I am able to speak of the sports prowess of the parents who formed Rowing crews and competed against parent crews from other schools at the Great Autumn Regatta for parents and other supporters, which took place last weekend at the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith. Nine Redlands crews (the highest representation from all the schools) which had trained in an exemplary fashion, inspired by their children’s Rowing, displayed their own fitness and skills.
Three crews won medals at the Regatta: Dogs of W’Oar won Gold in the A final, the all-women’s crew of Menop’oars won Bronze in the B final, and the OAReos won Gold in the C final.
We congratulate all the parents and past parents who participated and thank most sincerely this year’s organisers, Kevin Bush and Sonja Price, and also our Head of Rowing, James Petering. Another fine example of School community spirit.
School Representative Sport
It appears that there is some misunderstanding on the part of some parents of Secondary School students about the fact that Redlands requires all Secondary students to participate in a Representative Sport for one season (summer or winter) each year. The only exemptions that are made are for students who are following at a high level the Dance Academy program, or for a student who has a medical condition that precludes the student from playing a sport for Redlands. All Secondary students are also expected to pursue a fitness activity offered by the School on Thursday afternoons if they are not engaged in a Representative sport.
There is nothing new about this and the expectation regarding sport participation is made clear to all parents of students whose children are entering the Secondary School. The only change that has been made during the past 12 years was the reinstatement of a compulsory Representative Sport for Year 12 students in their final year. There is no doubt that a healthy body supports a healthy mind and also playing in sports, most of which are team sports, builds collegiality among students and a belonging as a member of Redlands.
With the increasing amount of time that many school age children are spending in passive activity with their electronic devices, there is an increasing concern that children are becoming obese and not pursuing a healthy lifestyle.
There are of course many other reasons for students to engage in sports activities, all of which relate to the holistic program which Redlands offers to students.
Many independent schools still require students to play representative sport in both seasons each year. The two key reasons why Redlands does not impose this higher commitment is that we also have a very strong Performing Arts program, and many other Cocurricular activities. We recognise that students can sometimes take on too many things across the Cocurricular offerings, therefore our Pastoral leaders keep an observant eye on those who may be trying to do too much at the detriment of their academic studies. Further, Redlands appreciates that its students really like the range of Cocurricular activities, which are provided as choices, but we cannot offer all sports and therefore we give students the option to take an external sport in one season each year.
Gala Arts 2019
How does Gala Arts simply keep getting better and better? This year, in response to the wishes of the Prefects and members of the Student Representative Council who wished to expand inclusivity in the Redlands Arts program, a new category of Visual Arts was introduced. With support and assistance of Mr Harpley and the Visual Arts Department, an exhibition of student photography was on display and the winners were announced at the conclusion of the evening.
The Performing Arts Captains kept the audience greatly amused, as well as informed, as they introduced, like professionals, the 24 items in the program. It was wonderful that the judges were all Redlanders and the high standards of performance across the program made it very challenging for them to decide upon the winners in each category. We also congratulated Dumolo upon winning the House Shield for 2019.
I sincerely thank Marita Jansons, Alyssha Clarke, Joy Daley, our House Mentors and all the other teachers and tutors involved in supporting the students in this spectacular celebration of the creative arts.
Gala Arts is one of the very special events in the Redlands calendar. It brings together the talent across the whole Performing Arts program at Redlands. It is also fitting that it concludes with the finale of the Showcase by Year 12. We wish those in coming years all the best as they take the stage to share their talents and entertain the audience. The pipeline of talent shows no sign of narrowing.
Dr Peter Lennox
Photo caption: A fitting finale to a wonderful celebration of the creative arts with the Yr 12 Showcase at Gala Arts.