From the Principal
Welcome back to all families for the start of Term 3, and a very special welcome to the new families who have joined our learning community from the USA, UK and Singapore, as well as other local schools. We also welcome back Head of Junior School Mr Ari Guha from his long service leave, and I sincerely thank Mrs Audrey Fellowes for taking on the position as Acting Head of the Junior Campus during his absence from school.
On Monday the first Redlands Teacher Led Conference was held. Usually we host one or two keynote speakers, but this time our Head of Secondary School, Sean Corcoran, delivered an introduction to the day. He explained that the theme of the day was “Recipes for Success” and that 70 of our “Master Chef” teachers had volunteered to present, all in all, 33 different “dishes” which they would share with their colleagues. These dishes were served in three courses, each of 45 minutes. Other teachers could attend 3 of these sessions to “taste and try”. After lunch all teachers met in their Year Groups or Faculties to report on what their “meal” had offered and how they might see opportunities to “bake up” that “recipe” in a form that they would like to try in their own classrooms. It was a day that inspired all and recognised that we have an increasing number of “Master” Teachers within our own staff at Redlands. Some years ago Sir Ken Robinson (google him) spoke of how education needs to move from an industrial model to an organic model. At Redlands we have a rich mixture of top-down and bottom-up leadership, with teachers who tend a rich soil from which our students can grow as they learn.
During the vacation period a group of Year 11 students, accompanied by Mr Jon Gray and Ms Amy Richardson, undertook a Service learning trip to Peru where they trekked, explored and worked on a service project on Ticonata Island. Not only have they returned with new skills and wonderful stories and memories, they have also developed an awareness of the unique culture of the local community’s traditional way of life.
145 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 represented Redlands at both the Redlands Cup and Sydney Interschool Championships in Thredbo, achieving the following results:
Sydney Interschools:
34 podium finishes, 20 team and 14 individual – 17 Gold, 8 Silver, 9 Bronze
1st in Secondary Coed Overall, Coed Skiing, Coed Snowboard
1st in Primary Coed Overall, Coed Skiing, Coed Snowboard
Redlands Cup:
29 podium finishes, 19 team and 10 individual – 10 Gold, 5 Silver, 14 Bronze
I make special note of Tasman Forest, who won both the Division 1 Boys Snowboard and Snowboard Cross events at the Sydney Interschools and was awarded the Redlands Cup for Boys Snowboard!
I wish the 72 individuals and 42 teams who have qualified for the NSW Interschools all the very best as they take to the slopes at Perisher at the end of August.
This year’s Redlands Cup had a record 630 competitors from 52 schools and I thank Coordinator of Snowsports Mr Bruce Campbell, the Sports department and other staff and parents for their efforts in staging such a successful Snowsports event.
Construction of the New Learning Hub powered ahead during the holiday break with the completion of the Level 2 concrete pour; and the Level 3 concrete pour commenced today. The image below provides a visual of how the New Learning Hub construction is progressing. Our two main campuses were abuzz with activity over the past three weeks, with our dedicated Facilities and ICT teams completing over 50 major tasks ranging from extensive lighting replacements to ICT audits and polishing of the school buses.
Updated Communications Look and Feel
As a result of the brand research that was undertaken in 2017 and updated communications positioning in 2018, we have developed a new look and feel for our communications which is being progressively rolled out over the next six months. It will be launched in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Independent Schools education feature this weekend, both in print and online.
Dr Peter Lennox
Photo caption: Camaraderie and fun amongst our youngest competitors at the 22nd Annual Redlands Cup Ski and Snowboard Championships.