Head of Junior School
Time to Pause
In our final assembly of this first term, I spent some time with students and staff reflecting on a message from our very first assembly on the first day of term. It was here that I asked students to focus on just one word that I hoped would define their growth in 2019. Similar to last year, instead of having a longer-worded goal, the focus on just one word helps students and teachers to remember and refer back to this word through the year. As I had shared previously with students, my #oneword2019 was ‘pause’, with the notion that I would be more deliberate in pausing, reflecting and appreciating many things about my life that can sometimes be lost in the everyday busyness. I also shared that unfortunately, I have not been as good as I would have hoped to be with this goal but as one student pointed out, “You have three more terms to go, Mr Guha!”
I also congratulated our many new students and staff on such a successful transition and start to their time at Redlands where many have already added significantly to our community already.
A hallmark of any good school is its busyness and no one could ever say that Redlands does not meet this measure. Therefore, it is even more important for students and teachers to rest in the breaks and I do encourage families to pause and step away from school and find things to do together that brings you happiness.
I wish everyone a restful break and safe travels, where taken, and we look forward to welcoming the students back on Tuesday 30 April. Please note that students should be in Winter uniform for Terms 2 and 3, which includes blazers every day, except Wednesday when we have Sport.
Sports Luncheon
It was a pleasure for me to join many Redlands families at last Friday’s inaugural Redlands Sports Luncheon, an event celebrating 120 years of Redlands Sport. We were delighted and proud to welcome a star-studded group of Redlanders as our special guests: three time Olympic sailor, Karyn Gojnich (Class of 1978), bronze medal winning Olympic rower, Janusz Hooker (Class of 1987), Australian Rugby Wallaby number 803, Lachlan Mackay (Class of 2000) and four time Winter Olympic snowboarder, Holly Crawford (Class of 2001). The four guests were also later joined on a panel Q & A session by Redlands first Olympian, Gergaynia Beckett, who had competed as a swimmer at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne whilst still only 15 years of age and at school!
Our special guests entertained the audience with memories of their school days, stories of their respective journeys to become elite athletes at the highest level, and the many life skills and lessons that Sport had taught them, which they had then applied in other aspects of their successful lives. There were a number of key and recurring messages and one that resonated with me was the notion of resilience after failure and how each of them had used disappointments as a point of learning and a catalyst to move forward. This growth mindset approach to learning is a familiar story that we talk to our students about in many different contexts so it was reassuring to hear Redlands students from yesteryear share this same philosophy.
International Day
Our School’s diversity was again on display this week as the School celebrated our annual International Day amidst a sea of colour as students dressed up in either national costume or national colours. We were again grateful to many parents who were able to come in to classes and share their own international backgrounds, cultures and experiences, which added significantly to the richness of the day.
Easter Service
Staffing News
As we end the term, we say farewell to Music teacher, Mr Michael Warby. We thank Michael for his collegiality and passionate teaching over the last three years and wish him well as he continues his journey as a Music educator closer to home. In his place, we are delighted to welcome Ms Danielle Vita to our Music department and look forward to her energy and passion for the subject which has seen her train and teach in New York before also teaching in Hong Kong and now Sydney.
Second Hand AFL Kit
Next week, our Yr 10 students are heading off to Arnhem Land on a Service trip and the students are hoping to take any AFL gear that families may have that they could pass on to the Aboriginal community who they will spend time with. Any contributions would be gratefully received by the group and can be dropped off at Junior School reception on the last day of term for the Yr 10 students to collect.
Are you Travelling in the Coming School Holidays?
During your travels, we would be grateful if you could collect hotel or airline toiletries as we will be having collection points in the Junior and Secondary School offices for donations in the first few weeks of Term 2. These items will be donated to Every Little Bit Helps who provide toiletries to men and womens’ shelters, people experiencing domestic violence as well as refugee centres.
Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize Collection and Artist in Residence Program
The Redlands Konica Minolta Art Prize Collection will be on display at the School at a special event on Thursday 16 May.
Tickets available here. Drinks and canapés will be served during the evening. This is a parent only event.
Mr Ari Guha
Head of Junior School
aguha@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022