Head of Junior School
JUNIOR SCHOOL UPCOMING EVENTS
2021 Young Archie Finalist – Viraj Tandon (Yr 4)
In a week where we have recognised the significance of the Arts at Redlands, we were ecstatic to hear that Yr 4 student, Viraj Tandon, was this morning announced as a finalist in the 9-12 age category in this year’s Young Archie 2021 competition.
His painting is entitled, My Grandfather’s Secret Garden, and accompanying the painting, Viraj wrote, “This is my Nanu and his secret garden which is tucked away at the back of his house. It is an enchanted garden full of beautiful fruit trees, colourful flowers and fragrant herbs that he loves to grow and share with us. Even the Cockatoos love it so much that they often visit to feast on the figs and other fruit. I always laugh when he chases the birds away. I look forward to picking the chillies and lemons so that my grandmother can make chilli-lemon jam!”
Viraj’s painting was selected from more than 2100 entries with guest judge artist, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran. The Young Archie Finalists will go on display in the Art Gallery of New South Wales alongside the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes from Saturday 5 June until Sunday 26 September and the winner of the Young Archie competition will be selected from the Finalists and announced on 31 July 2021 at a special event held at the Gallery. The Young Archie artworks will soon go live on the website of the Gallery of New South Wales.
My family and I always enjoy visiting this exhibition and this is the first time that Redlands has had a finalist in this prestigious competition so it will have added meaning when we visit this year. Congratulations, Viraj.
Innovative Learning and ICT
On Monday, we were thrilled to host the termly meeting of the NSW branch of the Independent Primary School Head of Australia (IPSHA) Innovative Learning and ICT Group. With 45 staff from 28 different independent primary schools, the session allowed for schools to share presentations focused on innovative technology use in primary school teaching and learning. Our Junior Campus eLearning Coordinator, Ms Argiro Anagnostu, coordinated a Virtual Reality experience for our guests exploring how to Make Thinking Visible with Virtual Reality Glasses, and as the only school who led two workshops, our second presentation was most ably and expertly delivered by some of our Yr 6 students. Our Yr 6 Student Technology Leaders Orla Collins, Emma Cruttenden, Lucy Goodsall, Kernel Hu, Ruairi Lambert, Max Nicholson, Rowan Petersen and Misato Ueno, delivered a presentation on The Power of Student Agency in Driving Digital Innovation. Watching them confidently present to an audience of ICT teachers and leaders was both inspiring and filled me with immense pride and from their presentation and a number of or visiting schools have reflected on how they might provide their students with greater voice and agency in their learning.
My thanks to Ms Anagnostu, the Yr 6 students involved and our wider ICT team who helped facilitate a wonderful afternoon of professional learning for many staff and schools.
Cyber Safety Resources Hub
Following on from my note in last week’s Note Day and my mention of this resource at this week’s Junior School Class Parents meeting, I wanted to remind families of our recently-launched Cyber Safety Hub specifically for our community; a central point of the latest, research-based information and support in the area of technology for our families and staff, which includes a range of relevant topics such as:
- Cyber safety guides
- Managing screen time
- Creating a safe home
- Gaming
- Setting up parental controls
- App and Game reviews
We have received positive feedback already from parents about the recent parent webinar and the hub and I share one such comment below and encourage every family to take some time to visit the hub; I am sure you will not be disappointed.
“Just wanted to pass on that I thought the cyber safety ySafe session last week was exceptional. Yasmin London was a very articulate and informative presenter, and her material was extremely relevant for every person with young children, including teenagers. I also found her resources to be very practical. It felt like it should be compulsory for all parents!! Thanks so much for arranging it, we are very fortunate that the School provides access to such high quality resources.”
Staffing News
As many of you may have read recently, this week marks the end of Mr Darren Kuilenburg’s 13-year tenure as Coordinator of Music P-12. Mr Kuilenburg’s visionary leadership has overseen incredible growth and development in the department across both campuses in curriculum and cocurricular areas and like many of our Junior School staff, I have enjoyed working alongside him and we have been grateful for his dedication and service to students and our wider community. As he takes up the Director of Music role at International Grammar School, I know you will join me in wishing him all the very best in this exciting new opportunity for him.
Connected to this change and until his replacement joins us, Mrs Amy Richardson, our Head of Junior Campus Music steps into Mr Kuilenburg’s shoes in an Acting capacity and in turn, Ms Katherine Moses steps into Mrs Richardson’s Music leadership role on an Acting basis too. We congratulate them both on these short-term promotions and I know that they will continue to serve our Music programs and community with their passion and dedication.
Next Monday, we welcome Mr Alessandro Digiacomo as our new Junior Campus Counsellor. Mr Digiacomo will work on our campus on Mondays – Wednesdays each week and then on the Senior Campus on Thursdays and Fridays when Ms Courtney Karpin works on the Junior Campus. This split campus role will be especially beneficial and relevant for our transition of students from Yr 6 to Yr 7; a stage of schooling that Mr Digiacomo has had plenty of recent experience in, which I know will further enhance our support for all students at this point of transition.
Biggest Morning Tea – Thursday 27 May
This morning, Yr 4 hosted a sumptuous and scrumptious bake sale as part of this Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea in support of the Cancer Council. It was wonderful to see the year group come together in support of this important cause and guided by Mrs Benneyworth, the students took the lead in this community initiative. We are grateful to parents and community members who have support this fundraiser by making a donation at our online fundraising page here and with a few more cakes to sell, the students have raised well over $2,877 so far; a truly wonderful achievement!
Redlands Arts Luncheon
It was a pleasure to join parents, Board Directors, alumni and colleagues at yesterday’s inaugural Redlands Arts Luncheon to recognise the significance of the Arts at Redlands, 100 years of scholarships at Redlands and the legacy of former teacher, Belinda Oxley, in whose name a means-tested scholarship awarded to a Yr 7 student for the entire secondary schooling has been set up this year.
The School was thrilled to welcome back former students: Amelia Carroll (Class of 2011), Amy Cheung (1989), Cloudia Elder (2011) and Max Glanville (2009), all of whom have moved on to thrive in the Arts. As guest speaker and panellists, they spoke with great passion and fondness of how the Arts at Redlands had influenced them at School and now in their lives.
I have certainly missed opportunities to connect with our community in social contexts and thank all of our community who were able to attend this fundraising event.
National Virtual Debating Competition
Congratulations to our Yr 6 Debating team who won their first debate this week in the National Virtual Debating Competition. The team won with some excellent speeches and a great model and rebuttal from Caroline. Brown. The team continue their national debates over the next few weeks and I am hoping to join them for their next debate next week.
Student Health
Parents are reminded that students should be kept at home if they are unwell or developing flu-like symptoms. We have seen an increase in the number of students being sent home during the day where they have come to school slightly unwell. Aside from spreading germs to others, we know that students find it very difficult to learn when unwell and it is better for them to rest properly and return when fully recovered. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.
CHAPLAIN
This week’s article from our Chaplains Bronwyn Lihou and Fiona McKenzie can be accessed via the button above.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022