Head of Junior School
Hugh Zheng – Young Archie Finalist!
Congratulations to Yr 3 student, Hugh Zheng, whose self-portrait has been selected as a finalist in this year’s Young Archie competition. Hugh’s work is currently on display in the Art Gallery of New South Wales where it will be until 3 September and I am looking forward to visiting the exhibition in the upcoming break. The winners will be announced this weekend but simply being a finalist is a significant achievement; well done, Hugh!
2023 Oxford University Computational Challenge
Recently, eleven Yr 5 and Yr 6 Redlands students participated in the Oxford University Computational Challenge, an international challenge designed to help students develop skills to produce programmed solutions to computational thinking problems.
From this, the students’ results have been received and were very impressive. Avisha Sashipal (Yr 6) was awarded a Merit and achieved the highest score in our Junior School and Sasha Grant (Yr 5) achieved the 2nd highest score. All of our students who entered the competition performed well and our Yr 6 students showed remarkable growth in their skills in comparison to their first OUCC last year. Congratulations to Leo Avins, Jackson Humphreys, Max Humphrey, Feargal Lambert, Liam Liang, Charles Li, Antony Vass, Hudson Williams and Zackary Yeh. We look forward to presenting them with their certificates and acknowledging their achievements in our first assembly next term.
Chess Team Success
We are thrilled to share that our Junior School Representative Chess Team has emerged victorious from the Metropolitan Primary Competition, where they competed in the Championship grade this term, showcasing their exceptional skills, strategic thinking and teamwork.
Amidst strong competition, our students: Sebastian Gu, Robi Hamori, Peter Phillipou and Enrico Viese Vivaldi, with support from the reserve team of Hamish Casey, Xavi Clissa, Charlie Halliday and Feargal Lambert, displayed remarkable dedication, sportsmanship, and a true passion for the game. Their hard work, countless hours of practice, and unwavering commitment have resulted in this well-deserved triumph.
The road to success was challenging, as our team faced formidable opponents throughout the tournament. Nevertheless, they remained focused and determined, employing their strategic brilliance and demonstrating outstanding teamwork.
Congratulations to each member of the Redlands Junior School Representative Chess Team for their outstanding achievement.
Term 3 Staffing News
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Argiro Anagnostu to the role of Dean of Teaching and Learning (P-6) commencing Term 3, 2023. Argiro joined Redlands in 2019 and has been working as the eLearning Coordinator on the Junior Campus. Prior to joining Redlands, Argiro gained extensive experience teaching in international schools and led a teaching and learning department at her previous school overseas. Argiro has also excelled during her time at Redlands as the recipient of the 2021 Roseby Award for Outstanding Achievement and, more recently, the shared recipient of the Redlands Innovative Teaching Fellowship in 2023 which sees her presenting at an international conference in the upcoming break in Philadelphia.
At the end of this term, we say farewell to Mr Hugh Brakell who leaves Redlands after four and a half years and we extend our gratitude to him for his dedication and service to our School.
We also farewell our Gap Year Student, Ms Iris Buisman, who takes up an opportunity to study at university in her home country of The Netherlands, where her family are. We thank Iris for her work with us this year.
As already communicated to Class 5Y, we are delighted to welcome Ms Erin Higginson to our Year 5 team who joins us from West Moreton Anglican College in Queensland. Ms Higginson flew down from Brisbane yesterday for the day to meet the students and have time with Mr Brakell in the handover.
Connected to Mr Brakell’s departure, I am pleased to confirm the appointment of Ms Kate Osborn as the Year 5 Coordinator for the rest of the year, a role she held at her previous school and simultaneously, congratulate Ms Vanessa Jones who steps into the Year 5 Assistant Coordinator role.
Our Visual Arts teacher, Ms Paula Reinhold, will step into the Acting Coordinator of Visual Arts K-12 next term which will mean she will teach on the Senior Campus. For Term 3, we welcome Maddie Godsell to teach Visual Arts in the Junior School, a place she knows well as a Redlander.
Next term also sees Mrs Kate Hurley (Year 3) and Mrs Jasmine Lo (EALD) on deserved Long Service Leave after more than a decade of service to Redlands and welcome Ms Heidi Moore (Year 3) and Ms Amber Mun (EALD) respectively to take their roles.
Compost Tuesday
As mentioned last week, our environmental leaders launched Compost Tuesday and focused on putting their knowledge of what goes into compost into action by collecting compostable materials and putting them in the compost bins. It was great to see the Environment Representatives guiding and educating their respective year levels and the group are now planning to commit to doing this every lunchtime next term.
Semester One Reports
Junior School student reports will be available to parents via the online parent portal next week. A notification will be sent to you when they have been uploaded for you to access. Back copies of your child’s reports are also available via Redlands Pulse.
To access the reports, parents will need their Redlands Pulse username and password. Parents requiring assistance should email pulse@redlands.nsw.edu.au as soon as possible.
Do take some time over the break to read through the report with your child and acknowledge and celebrate areas of growth and progress. As students return for Term 3, class teachers will spend time with your child looking at aspects of goalsetting for the second semester, which they will share at the Student-led Conversations in Week 4 (7-11 August) with details coming out at the start of next term.
Science Club
We are pleased to host a Junior School Science Club next term led by an external provider, The Brainy Bunch Kids. Please see the flyer for information and booking details via the website.
Junior Music Festival: A Night With the Stars
Each year, our annual Junior Music Festival is a highlight in the Junior School calendar; an event in which every Junior School student will enjoy the opportunity and experience of performing on stage at least twice. Music is an area in which all Redlands students have a variety of opportunities to be involved in, both within our curriculum and cocurricular offerings, as will be showcased at this event.
Connected to this, please note some key information below to assist your planning for this event.
Attendance: ALL Junior School students are involved and are expected to attend
Date: Thursday 3 August
Time: 4.30pm – 6pm
Venue: Robert Dunnet Hall, Junior Campus
Bookings: Ticketing information will be released at the very start of Term 3
Uniform: Full Winter school uniform including blazers
Afternoon Tea: On the day, all students will stay at school between the end of the day and the start of the show so should bring a small afternoon snack.
Collection: At the end of the show, students should be collected from classrooms
I have no doubt that the 2023 Junior Music Festival, A Night with the Stars, will be another wonderful evening.
End of Term
It has been another term of highlights and achievements and I extend my gratitude and appreciation to students, staff and families for the various roles we play in our School community.
As we approach the midyear break, I hope that families are able to take time for rest, relaxation and renewal. As is also the case for our staff, these times away from Redlands are very important for all of us as they then allow us to be at our very best when we are here.
Rest, in whatever sense, is different for all of us which and I hope that the mid-year break allows you to relax and recharge. We also say goodbye to a few students and families and wish them all the very best and much happiness in the next chapter of their schooling.
To those of you travelling near or far, I wish you safe travels and we look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Tuesday 18 July. Please note that the Junior School Office will reopen on Monday 17 July and I will send a detailed Term 3 letter towards the end of the holiday break.
Gala Arts
Friday 21 July, 6.30pm
The Concourse
Please join us at Gala Arts at the end of the first week of Term 3, an exceptional evening of entertainment where we celebrate the talents of our students, and book your tickets via the QR code in the following invitation.
This annual Creative and Performing Arts festival showcases the plethora of talents of the diverse Redlands student body from Year 7 to 12. The Festival was created to showcase the creative talents of Redlands students whilst at the same time promoting Inter-House competition and House spirit. Students perform in dance, instrumental, theatre and vocal categories. Visual Art photography work will be on display in the foyer and the winner will also be announced at the event.
Redlands Gala Ball – Early Bird Tickets Available Now
Uniform Shop
Holiday Opening Hours
The Uniform Shop will close at 4pm on Monday 26 June and reopen on Monday 17 July 2023. The shop will also open on the first day of term 3, Tuesday 18 July 2023.
Back to School Vouchers
A reminder the Back to School Vouchers will expire on 30 June 2023. If you need any additional winter uniforms or planning ahead for Term 4 summer uniform, please visit the shop before our last day on Monday 26 June.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022