Head of Junior School
Welcome to 2021
It has been wonderful to have enjoyed having our students back on campus today as we start the 2021 school year full of hope and excitement. Yesterday’s orientation session for our new students allowed them to feel much more settled today and it was lovely to see our current students taking care of them during breaks and in the classrooms as I have wandered around the Campus through the day.
Despite the drizzle, there has been palpable energy and I acknowledge the preparative work of our teachers, support staff and Facilities team over the holidays to allow us to hit the ground running.
In our Welcome Assembly this morning, we welcomed our new staff and our new students, and our Principal, Mr Webber, spoke to the students about the importance of gratitude which resonated with students and staff alike.
Unable to sing together, the students also enjoyed listening to the stunning voice of Head of Junior Campus Music, Mrs Richardson, singing our National Anthem and in particular, we recognised the importance of the change of word in the second line from ‘young and free’ to ‘one and free’ to be more inclusive of Australia’s indigenous communities and acknowledging our ancient past.
During this assembly, I shared three key messages for the students for the year ahead and I encourage you to engage in conversations with your child on the topics, just as I intend to also do over the year.
The first was about the significance of our School Values: Respect, Honesty, Fairness, Compassion, Responsibility and Moral Courage, as key qualities of being a good person and our hope that these values intrinsically become part of our students’ character. As I explained to the students, an important role of the School is to grow noble people as well as good thinkers and learners and I asked the students to strive to aim to live these values, both at school and at home and not just when someone else is watching.
My second message centred around us all focusing on just one word that we hope might inspire and define us in 2021. This has been a theme for the Junior School for the last few years where instead of having longer-worded goals, each student and teacher has chosen to focus on just one word for the year. I shared my own word for 2021, perspective, and my aim to look to see wider perspectives on a range of matters, particularly from the students in some of our decision-making and to focus on keeping things in perspective at all times.
Some of the classes have already discussed this idea and a number of students have shared their #oneword2021 with me already in passing, which I have loved hearing about; but more importantly, why the word is poignant for them. I encourage you to ask your child what their one word for 2021 might be and ask them to explain why they have chosen this word. And you may even like to consider a word yourself and share it with your child?
My third and final message was centred around the inspirational oration of The Hill We Climb by America’s First Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, during President Biden’s Inauguration Day ceremony. In particular, the final words of the poem truly moved me as I shared with the students and share below:
For there is always light
If only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it
I asked the students to look to see where they might be brave this year and be a light for others which has a beautiful connection to our own Redlands School motto, Luceat Lux Vestra – Let your light shine.
The staff and I look forward to supporting each and every child this year as we aim to provide experiences and opportunities to enable each student’s light to shine and to foster the light in others around them.
Meet the Teacher Information Evening (Zoom)
As previously communicated, a letter will be sent tomorrow with the Zoom links to next Thursday’s Meet the Teacher Information Evening.
Yrs 3 and 4 Thursday 4 February – 5.00-5.45pm
Yrs 5 and 6 Tuesday 4 February – 6.00-6.45pm
School Photographs
School photos taken by Melba Photography take place next Thursday 4 February and all students will be required to be in full school uniform including their school blazers for the photos. For this day only, if students have swimming, they should bring their sports kit separately.
Swimming Program (Weeks 2 and 3)
Ahead of our Swimming Carnival on Wednesday 17 February, each Year Group will have two swimming sessions commencing next week and parents should have received notification of this and to provide online permission. This has been coordinated by our PDHPE staff team and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Faye Dongas.
Drop Off, Parking and Pick-Up
I am very grateful to parents who supported this morning’s staggered drop off which made for a smooth arrival for our students. Please be mindful that many families are new to Redlands and are getting to grips with new parking and pick-up arrangements. For families using the carline process, please remind your child to wait with the duty teacher at the Junior School gate and follow the guidelines clarified in the letter sent last week. It is also important to arrive as close to 3.20pm as possible to avoid additional congestion to our younger Prep School students’ departure times. We have duty staff looking after the children at all gates and bus stops until 3.45pm so do not worry if you are held up in traffic or a little late. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation and support.
2021 Junior School Captains
After the formal announcement of our new Junior School Leaders for 2021 at last year’s Speech Day, I was delighted to re-introduce these students to the Junior School in our assembly, where they were duly recognised again. As I shared with the students, I have every confidence that they, alongside every one of their peers in Yr 6, will set a wonderful example to the rest of the Junior School in the year ahead and we wish them all the best in their student leadership roles.
Junior School Captains – Caroline Brown and Alexander Heller
Arts Captains – Lillyah Rafferty and Sam Ashby
Sports Captains – Amelie Dewar and Jeffrey Benoliel
Cowper House Captains – Zoe Potter and Daniel Benoliel
Dumolo House Captains – Zara Marks and George Andrews
McDouall House Captains – Ava Keller and James Forrest
Roseby House Captains – Charlotte Algar and Charlie Reeves
Class Parent Representatives
We are always fortunate to have parents volunteer for the role of Class Parent each year and class teachers will seek interest for this role at the Meet the Teacher evening next week. The role is not an onerous one but is one that makes such a huge difference for families in the class, particularly our newer families to Redlands. If you would like to nominate as the person for your child’s class or if you have any questions about the role, please do feel free to contact either of our Junior School Parent Contact Group Coordinators, Rebecca James, or Becky Gait who will be only too willing to assist.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022
