Head of Junior School

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Ballet and Dance Performance

What a wonderful way to spend an evening! Last night’s Junior School Performance of the Redlands Dance Academy End of Year Performance was such an uplifting occasion and at multiple times, I found myself moved by the quality of the show. The unbridled joy of our student dancers radiated from the stage as our girls and boys treated the audience to a high-quality performance.

I sometimes wonder whether my untrained (and maybe slightly biased) eye sees these types of shows through rose-coloured glasses so it was affirming to hear the same sentiments from Karen Martin, the former Head of Ballet and Dance at Redlands, whom I had the pleasure of sitting next to during the show.

We know that these special performances are the culmination of a huge amount of time, practice and dedication from our students, most ably guided by our Redlands Dance Academy staff and supported unwaveringly by their families; I extend my appreciation to all involved in whatever aspect for a spectacular performance.

15^th Junior School House Poetry Recital

On Tuesday, we were thoroughly entertained at the 15^th annual Junior School House Poetry Recital, an inspiring and engaging event for students, teachers and families.

This term, every Junior School student has been immersed in poetry having read, written, appreciated, critiqued and presented poems. With one representative selected from each Junior School class, the Junior School enjoyed a magical afternoon with our recitalists showing poise, charisma and confidence as they delivered their respective poems, many their own work, to the audience of students, teachers and their family.

The students also loved hearing poems delivered by Mr Corcoran, Ms Anagnostu, Ms Reinhold and Ms Longworth and I thank them for being part of this event. Congratulations to all of the students for their involvement this term and in particular to the students listed below who impressed the audience.

Junior School Speech Day 2024

As mentioned last term and again in the Term 4 welcome letter, this year’s Junior School Speech Day will take place at 11am on Wednesday 6 December at one of Sydney’s premier event spaces, The Star Event Centre, in Pyrmont.

All students are expected to attend this final formal occasion of the school year with every student performing at least one musical item on stage. Further details including arrival times for the event will be communicated to families next week. The event lasts for approximately 2 hours and culminates the school year at Redlands.

In each Junior School class, six prizes are awarded as outlined below:

• Two prizes for Academic Effort and Achievement
• Two prizes for Outstanding Approach to Learning
• Two prizes for Citizenship

Class teachers award these prizes based on their observations over the year and in conjunction with feedback from specialist teachers who also teach them. In addition, there are some major prizes awarded in Yr 6 only. Students will be notified of prize winners at the start of Week 8 and all prizes will be presented at Speech Day, which will also be the occasion for the announcement of our 2024 student leaders.

Please note that every student will be required to have their school blazer for this formal event.

2024 New Student Orientation and Transition Day

Last Friday, we were excited to welcome over 50 new students who will join the Junior School in 2024 as part of their process of orientation into Redlands. Our current students welcomed their soon-to-be peers with warmth and friendship, as many of the new students commented on to me in the final session I spent with them. All of them left having made a new friend or two, an aim of both theirs and ours for the morning.

For part of the day, Yrs 2, 3, 4 and 5 also moved up a year to the Year Groups that they will be in next year. This allowed them some time with different teachers, new students, and begin to get a feel of new learning spaces and expectations. Students rotated around each classroom doing a series of engaging activities and from speaking to many students and observing them, I know that this time was hugely beneficial for many of them.

On the same day, our current Yr 6 students spent an important day on the Senior Campus as part of their transition to Secondary School next year. Joined by their parents for the first part of the day, I spoke with many of the group the next day who shared excitement about the opportunity to forge some new friendships with new students joining in Yr 7, spending time in a range of exciting specialist classes and also simply wandering around the Senior Campus and starting to familiarise themselves with soon-to-be new surroundings.

2024 Parent Topic Talks

Our termly parent topic talks led by our Student Wellbeing team have been extremely well attended this year and the team are already in the planning stages for 2024’s offerings. As ever, they are keen to hear from parents on topics that you are keen to hear more about and hence, if you have some suggestions, we would love to capture them via this very short survey.

HSC and IB Senior Studies Information Evening- this Monday 20 November

I am often asked by Junior School families about our Senior Studies offering at Redlands where in the final years of schooling, Redlands offers students the choice of either the HSC or IB pathways for students. Whilst it might feel a way off, I am pleased to share information about an upcoming Parent Information Evening for families from Redlands House to Yr 9 and know that this will be insightful for many of you as you look ahead for your child.

Community Christmas Carols

Anglicare Toys n’ Tucker

A message from Ms McKenzie:

Anglicare Toys and Tucker Campaign

It is the season of giving and a wonderful opportunity to help our young learners to share in the joy of giving. Each year Redlands partners with Anglicare Toys and Tucker Campaign.  Our aim is to make Christmas a time of celebration and fun for families and especially children in need in Sydney this festive season. 

Please bring all gifts to either Prep or Junior School Receptions by Friday 1 December. 
Thank you for your support of this important community opportunity to give. 

Christmas Mufti 

Students across the school have the opportunity to wear “Christmas Mufti “ on Tuesday28 November. We will have our Junior Campus Carols for K-6 students that morning and will be collecting Gold Coin donations for Anglicare. Mufti can be as simple as wearing a red t shirt or a Santa hat to wearing themed costumes. 

Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School 
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022