Community Update

This week saw the launch of the Redlands Strategic Plan which will guide the direction of our School for the next five years. As in all aspects of Redlands life, our journey to 2025 will continue to be one shared in community. Parents, staff, students, alumni, Board Directors and members of the wider School community have all contributed to an abundance of thought that has shaped the five strategic drivers of our intent.

Our strategic drivers of Culture of Innovation, Personal Excellence, Quality Staff, Culture of Wellbeing and Sustainable Facility Development will guide us in nurturing every student to achieve their potential. Together, these drivers support our aspiration for Redlands as a leading contemporary and innovative school inspiring students to adapt, create and thrive in our complex global community.  We are excited about the journey our School will take in the next five years and look forward to working in partnership with the Redlands community to implement our Strategic Plan.

The safety and wellbeing of the Redlands community remains at the core of our planned return to On-Campus Learning in Term 4. Our planning continues under guidance from NSW Health and the NSW Association of Independent Schools, and we remain sensitive to the needs of our school community. We will share our Return to On-Campus Learning Plan with families very soon. 

Thank you to those who have generously given through our Foundation and Service programs. There is still time to contribute.  To read more about these important and noble causes please visit Foundation.

If you are looking to connect with our community for support then please reach out to us here at the School or the passionate and diverse experience of our class and year group parents, the RPFA and Friends of Groups that support Redlands families.

We continue to monitor advice from NSW Health and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW and will keep our community informed.  A reminder that all COVID-19 related communications to parents and other relevant information is posted on the COVID-19 Page of Redlands Pulse. Our ICT team are also available to provide remote technical support to assist students (and parents) and can be contact at isupport@redlands.nsw.edu.au.

I remain grateful for the continued guidance and support our community provides and, as ever, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Community Engagement team should you have any feedback, suggestions or questions.

The Community Engagement team wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful break with your family.

Keep well and stay safe.

Mr Grant Birse
Head of Community Engagement
9908 6406
gbirse@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Head of Secondary School

The Medium Close Up

Teaching film techniques and the various screen shots to my Yr 7 English class this week brought home the realisation that we have been looking at each through the lens of the medium close up shot for 10 weeks now. People’s faces, their backgrounds and their camera angle can tell us a lot, however.

This screen shot of Ms Putnam’s Yr 8 Tutor group engaging in some online mindfulness was taken very early on this term, and I have been holding onto it ever since. It brings me such joy! The faces of the students and Ms Putnam are delightful and the entire scene beautifully reinforces the sense of community at Redlands. Tomorrow we farewell each other and the term in a series of Year Group Assemblies followed by a short Secondary School Assembly. It will mean once more viewing each other through the lens of the medium close up, which nonetheless affords us the opportunity to connect and celebrate our shared experience at this time.

Term 4

There are many wonderful events scheduled to take place early next term, such as the final Yr 12 Student-led Assembly and the Yr 12 Secondary School Farewell Assembly. We are also looking forward to celebrating the beginning of Yr 12 with our current Yr 11 cohort and inducting the 2022 leadership group of Captains and Prefects.

The IB and HSC Examinations take place, marking a significant end to schooling for our Yr 12 students. And we are able to welcome back the students in a staggered fashion across the final weeks of the term.

A full plan of Term 4 will be published before we return to school in Term 4. The first four weeks of Term 4 are published below for your information.

NAPLAN

Parents of students in Yr 7 and 9 will shortly receive the 2021 NAPLAN results via mail. NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that allows parents to see how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy against the national standard and compared with their peers throughout Australia.

Interestingly, the NAPLAN 2021 summary results data published by ACARA on 25 August reports that the global COVID-19 pandemic has had no significant impact on students’ literacy and numeracy achievement at the national or state level. In addition, the long-term trend data reveals a steady improvement in most literacy and numeracy outcomes, with a number of year levels and domains showing a gain in learning equivalent to a school term since testing began. There have been some steadily improving results across all areas and levels, and most notably the ongoing downward trend in writing in Yr 5, 7 and 9 has begun to reverse, fattening and showing signs of an upward trend. This is positive news given the efforts taken to support student writing improvements, through formal and informal tasks, and teacher modelling within and across subject disciplines.

If you’d like to explore your child’s NAPLAN results, please make contact with the Dean of Studies, Mr Randall, early next term.

Wellbeing in the Holidays

Last night we met with Yr 11 students and families to explore a number of important events for Term 4. Ms Jansons, Dean of Students, reminded us all of some key features to monitoring and nurturing our wellbeing over the holiday period. Ahead of the holiday period, we are reminding students of the following:

Look after your brain and body. Make sure to take time to relax and connect with others.

Study, but keep it in perspective (if in Yr 11 or 12). For students in the senior years, it’s important to make a plan, take lots of down time, and find your allies (parents, study buddies).

For students in Yr 7-10, move outside, step away from the screens and engage with nature. Read a book or meet up with friends for a walk or swim.

Feeling worried? We all do sometimes. Remember to draw on previous skills (positive self-talk, control/uncontrollable, self-care, stability rocks) and employ them. But if you are still feeling shaky, then seek support. Visit the counselling iLearn page and reach out to us.

And most of all, enjoy the opportunity for a break! This holiday period, more than any other, we all should prioritise opportunities for self-care.

Stay well and enjoy the break from school.

Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811 

From The Principal

As we come to the close of the term, on behalf of all staff, I pass on our heartfelt thanks to Parents and Carers for your incredible support throughout this period of Remote Learning. I have aimed to attend a wide range of Zoom sessions during the term and have greatly appreciated the constant support and encouragement from the various Parent Contact Groups and the RPFA committee. We often highlight the importance of the partnership with Parents in educating our students, this has never been more evident than this term. Staff have greatly appreciated and respected the role that you have played in ensuring that the various educational programs could be implemented. This has been particularly so for our younger learners.

As we look ahead with hope and optimism regarding the staged return to On-Campus Learning next term, we will be sending out more detailed communication regarding our COVID-safe plans prior to the commencement of Term 4. The Critical Incident Management Team has continued to review research and plans from schools and other educational institutions around the world, which has been most beneficial and illuminating.

With the change in the schedule of lessons for our Yr 12 students, senior staff have been working with the students and a group of parents to determine the most effective program of events to farewell and thank them as a group. We look forward to the Yr 12s returning next term and sharing special events with them to celebrate their wonderful contribution to the School.

One of the great rewards of working in education is that each year students inspire you through their actions and words. Often this will be most remarkable through the actions of our youngest learners. I was moved by the Preparatory School students writing letters to the residents of Bougainvillea Nursing Home, to let them know that they were thinking of them during this time of separation from their families. As you can imagine this gesture had a significant impact on the residents who in turn wrote letters of thanks to the students in response. A wonderful reminder of the power of thinking beyond your own needs and assisting others, something that has been prevalent throughout the school community this year.

While it will be a very different break, may you and your families enjoy a different pace together, as we look ahead positively to Term 4.

Mr Stephen Webber

Photo Caption: Girls Athletics Captain Emma Mahon in action at the Senior Athletics Carnival where she broke two records in the 1500m and 800m, held since 1977 and 1999 respectively.
See the Secondary Sports section for a list of the Senior Athletics Carnival Champions.

Foundation

Belinda Oxley Scholarship Appeal

I would like to thank all members of our community who have contributed towards the means-tested scholarship named after Belinda Oxley – remembered as a dedicated educator with a passion for visual arts and we are delighted to name the 2023 Scholarship after her.

With everyone’s support, we have achieved 86% of this year’s target. If you still wish to join us and be part of this very honourable cause, you can do so in many different ways – make a donation with your Term 4 school fees, contribute as part of your corporate giving program and/or purchase a pack of 12 Greeting Cards (empty) created by our talented students.

Example of Greeting cards designed by students:

PURCHASE HERE.

The means-tested Redlands Scholarship Fund is a registered charity with Good2Give, which is a Workplace Giving platform that enables companies to empower their employees to donate to charities and not-for-profits with no need to keep credit cards or bank details up to date. Some companies also offer matching gifts. Companies involved are, for example, Baker & MacKenzie, BT, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, NAB, QANTAS, Stockland, Westpac.

Legacy Gift of Class of 2021 – Final Call

The highly anticipated, student designed T-towels and tote bags, have arrived to Redlands. Our team has packed up the orders; if you included a postage in your order you should receive it by next week otherwise they will be posted via students once they are back on campus. There are only few last items left for purchase

ORDER HERE

Happy holidays everyone!

I would like to wish all our families a very enjoyable break and some downtime together during the holidays! We look forward to connect with you all once the restrictions are relaxed and will update you on our events early next term.

Mrs Dana Casimaty
Director of Development
dcasimaty@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9858

RPFA

Parent Get-Together Save the Dates

Wed 6 Oct Yr 8 Welcome to Term 4 and “Good Riddance to Lockdown” Drinks from 7pm.

Proposed online G&T tasting session ($70 for a tasting pack and one hour with a brand ambassador). Please contact Redlands Class of 2025 if you are interested in joining.

Fri 5 Nov Year 10 Drinks Night from 7pm

When the kids are away on their harbour cruise… More details closer to the time.

Book Club

The Redlands parents book club had a really good evening last Thursday discussing Bernardine Evaristo’s prize winning book Girl, Woman, Other.

Our first book for Term 4 will be The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne. Date/time will be confirmed after the start of the term. The second book we will be discussing is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

Enquiries and new members welcome. Please contact Katherine Dixon or call 0432619890 for further information.

Walks on Tracks

Walks on Tracks is back!

If you are fully vaccinated – we can technically walk in groups of 5 and as we usually walk in pairs anyway, this will be more important when we stop to regroup; we must take care to stop in groups of 5 and keep socially distanced at those times.

If you are not fully vaccinated – you can still join us and again, as we walk in pairs you can walk in a pair but when we stop, you will only be able to stand/sit with one other person. 

Walks during the term break will be:

– Wed 22 Sept Balmoral to Chinamans Beach – meet at Balmoral outside The Boatshed at 8.40am

– Wed 29 Sept Seaforth – meet at Orso carpark, bottom of Spit hill at 8.40am

The walk on Wed 6 Oct will be Beauty Point – meet at Orso carpark, bottom of Spit hill at 8.40am

For more information, please email Ann Marie Kimber or call 0406691533.

We wish everyone a restful break and look forward to catching up next term.

2021 RPFA Committee rpfa@redlands.nsw.edu.au

President: Michelle Tea

Vice President: JP Forrest
Secretary: Jo Lloyd 
Treasurer: Annette Swann
Committee – Anna Maidon, Anna Maria Stillone, Christine Walsh, Karen Nicholson, Lilian Li, Maria Kinsela, Monique Scattini, Sally Swan

Chaplain

Reflecting on a term in lockdown, holidays in lockdown and at least some of next term in lockdown, has led me to see some of the deep gains of this time. I was writing a list of the things I have found or discovered in the term and I was surprised to find myself writing the word ‘joy’ repeatedly. This gave me reason to pause, ‘Am I really joyful? Has Joy really found me as a result of lockdown?” I had to acknowledge that I am and it has. But don’t stop reading there is more to this. I am not saying there are not some hard things but there is joy as well.

I realised there was joy in connection. I think we too often jump to think about the connections we have lost; we cannot visit someone in person, we miss our workmates, coffee dates and drinks at the pub. However, I realised that I have had a host of different connections: deeper talks with the one person I can exercise with. I have made friends with a number of junior high boys in my local area as they construct bike jumps outside my window. I have connection with my barrista team as I visit each morning for my coffee in a more leisurely way. I have a profound connection with my mother as we spend endless hours together after her short visit has become 12-plus-and-counting weeks. I have a different connection with my grandchild as we regularly face-time with her as she eats her dinner. She even said “grannie” last night! So many different and perhaps deeper connections bring me joy.

I realised there was joy in the simple pleasures of life. Being less busy in the morning means I have appreciated the dappled sunlight through the trees in the early morning and the delight of birdsong as dawn breaks. I have taken a walk most days down to the local park and revel in the rippling water of the harbour and the little children laughing with their parents. I have taken to brewing tea in a pot, using an Italian coffee maker on my BBQ and picking flowers for my home. All these are the result of the slower pace with less things crammed in and less in person obligations. So, my heart and mind have time to breathe and be filled with joy, of the little things.

I have discovered again the joy that comes from mediation and prayer on the rich and ageless words from God in the bible. I have pondered over the letter of Peter, the kaleidoscope of emotions and experiences in the Psalms, the grace and poignance of the words of Jesus in the gospels and the rich concepts of eternity in Colossians. In them I have heard the resonance of life, repentance, truth and joy of the love of God. My body may be locked down but my soul soars as if lifted by eagle’s wings.

So here you see lockdown has led to joy. This is echoing the words in Philippians “Rejoice, in the Lord always”, Paul says and then goes on to discuss contentment concluding:

“¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4: 4,12,13)”

Paul, here is writing from prison, in chains (now that is lockdown!) He shows that even in lockdown we can find contentment and joy, when we rest on the strength and perspective of Jesus.

I hope today you can find in this time a deepening joy.
May God grant you a restful, refreshing and joyful break,

Ms Bronwyn Lihou
Senior Campus Chaplain
blihou@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9909 3133

Ms Fiona McKenzie
Junior Campus Chaplain
fmckenzie@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop will be closed during the school holidays and reopen on Tuesday 5 October and resume normal opening hours from Term 4.

We are working under a COVID Safety Plan which requires all uniform orders to be placed online through Flexischools.

Please allow 24 hours after placing your orders to collect during the following times:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8am – 4pm and Thursdays 8am – 6pm.

There will be no blazers embroidered during these holidays and we ask students to hold onto their certificates until the end of Term 4. 

We will continue to update any change to our opening hours on Pulse.  If you need to contact the Uniform Shop, please email us at uniformorders@redlands.nsw.edu.au

University and Careers Advisors

UAC Updates 

On-time UAC applications close on 30 September (after this, a late fee applies). 

Following changes to the HSC timetable UAC has announced its revised dates for ATAR release and first university offer rounds: 

New UAC timetable: 

• ATARs released Thursday, 20 January 2022. 
• Change of preference deadline midnight Friday, 21 January 2022. 
• HSC results released Monday, 24 January 2022. 
• Offers released Wednesday, 26 January 2022. 

Changes to the UAC timetable will be available on the UAC website  soon.  

https://www.uac.edu.au/ 

Australian Scholarships Resource and Database 

https://studyworkgrow.com.au/scholarships/ 

Scholarships for Women 

The Women’s College within The University of Sydney 

Multiple scholarships for academic merit, leadership, co-curricular talent and financial need. Closing date 5 Oct. More info: www.thewomenscollege.com.au 

UNSW Women in Engineering Scholarships Program applications are OPEN! 

The UNSW Women in Engineering Scholarships Program is accepting applications until 30/09/2021. With multiple Faculty scholarships on offer valued at $10k per annum for the min. duration of the program, as well as donor scholarships available, female-identifying Year 12 students with an interest in engineering are encouraged to apply! https://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/scholarships/id/1562/5214   

University of Newcastle – Adjustment Points for all students 

UoN is pleased to announce they will be providing all school leaver students with 5 adjustment points for all programs (excluding the Joint Medical Program).

These additional adjustment points are in recognition of the extraordinary challenges Year 12 students have faced since the start of last year. We would love to see these extra points providing encouragement for students to continue to strive for their best results.

The 5 adjustment points will automatically be applied by UAC and there is no need for an application. Students are eligible for a maximum of 12 adjustment points from UoN. 

Mrs Justine Fowler and Ms Clare Hurst
University and Careers Advisors
careers@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Year 12

It is hard to believe that this is perhaps my last Note Day article as Yr 12 Advisor. Whilst I will have the opportunity to speak with you at Valedictory Dinner on 1 February 2022, I want to thank you for your support of me in the role of Year Advisor. I have always appreciated the support and connection with you as we have guided your child through Secondary School.

Each day, I have left home with a spring in my step knowing that I would see the students of this Year Group. Just this morning, I waded through the thousands of photographs and videos of the cohort to put together a collage of memories for our Year Assembly on Friday. This was an incredibly emotional experience for me as I recalled the many events and moments with these students from Year 7 to now.

The 2021 cohort will go on to achieve great things. Encourage them to remain connected with each other as they move onto university because, as we know, friendships forged in childhood can be so important and foundational in our lives. Please stay in touch with me and the school as we are keen to learn of their next steps and future paths.

 Upcoming Dates

• Final student led Assembly Friday 8 October 2:45pm.
• Final day of Year 12 classes Wednesday 13 October.
• Yr 12 Farewell Assembly Thursday 14 October.
• Until 25 October, students will continue to have access to their teachers and the campus in small study bubble groups. 
• After 25 October, whole cohort access is possible and throughout the weeks preceding the final IB and HSC examinations.
• Further details about the modified timetable and a schedule for study bubble sign-ups (with friends or in subject classes) will be made available in Week 1 of the September/October holidays.
• Valedictory Dinner The Big Top Luna Park 1 February 2022.

Year 11

Term 3 Recap

As we come to the end of a long Term 3, I would like to say how incredible all of your children have been during this unprecedented time. As well as being Year Advisor, I have the privilege of teaching two Yr 11 classes, and every day they have studied diligently despite the circumstances, always attending lessons and often with their sense of humour still intact! I think they may be quite relieved at having a break from Ms Mountain always making them individually say ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’ each lesson! Whilst it has been a term like none of us have ever experienced, it has also created memories and a sense of appreciation and resilience that perhaps we will all look back on fondly. I know that the students in my classes have regularly met my new puppy and understand that the strange noises coming from our Zoom lessons are a combination of my puppy biting my ankles or snoring loudly!

I want to thank the Yr 11 Tutors for all the care and concern they have shown towards every student this term, while many of them have also been juggling their own home families. I also want to thank our Assistant Year Advisor, Jess Howard, who has been an invaluable support this year and is taking parental leave at the end of this term. We all wish her the best at this exciting time in her life, as she and her partner become parents for the first time in the next few weeks.

Yr 6 Junior School Wellbeing Day

After enjoying the Secondary School Wellbeing Day last week, a number of students kindly volunteered to help out at the Yr 6 Wellbeing Day at the Junior School this week. Each of the Yr 11s did a fantastic job at leading a group of Yr 6 students, creating fun and laughter and establishing rapport with them that will also help facilitate their transition to the Secondary School at the start of 2022.

Mock Trial

The Yr 11 Mock Trial team have made it through to the last 16 teams in the NSW Law Society Mock Trial competition. The competition ran face-to-face in Term 1 and 2 of this year and then began running remotely this term. Due to the convincing number of points that Redlands gained in the first 3 rounds, they have progressed through to the final 16, coming 6^th overall, out of 90 NSW schools. The next round Redlands is representing the Defence in a virtual Zoom criminal trial of ‘destroying or damaging property’, against Sylvania High School. 

The team includes Louise Colin, Charlotte Harman, Sophia Maxwell, Sophie McMillan, Jack Murray and Callum Wardman-Browne.

Science Olympiad Awards

Congratulations to the brilliant Yr 11 students who received awards at the Science Olympiad:

ARTiculate French: La Francophonie Webinar

Last week some Yr 11s attended a Webinar for students of French. Dr Carolyn Stott, who is a former parent of Redlands, spoke on La Francophonie – the French-speaking world. Thank you to Madame Barbeau for supporting this event. Below are some reflections from the students:

Jacqui Gray

“It was an extremely engaging, insightful and interactive webinar which taught us about what it means to be a Francophone, all the different countries that speak French around the world and the history of the French colonial empire. It is not just citizens from a country where the dominant language is French, it is the community of individuals who speak French and cherish its culture all over the world. It was a great way to spend a lock-down afternoon and I am grateful it was made available to us.”

Charlotte Harman

“Speaking French is something I take for granted but being able to understand a 45-minute presentation completely in French made me realise how far I had come since Year 7. This presentation also opened my eyes to the opportunities for French study in university – interesting exchanges such as the Science Po Dual degree in which students gain a Bachelor of Arts at Sciences Po university in Paris, and a Bachelor of Arts/Economics from USYD. I’m so grateful to have the skills to converse with millions more people.”

Callum Wardman-Browne

“It was magnifique. Entirely in French, but that was a good way to test our skills. It was healthy to remind myself why I chose to study French: the culture, people and global reach. Sometimes I forget that French is a global language, the webinar taught me to familiarise myself with francophone cultures outside of France such as Haiti, Quebec and the Democratic Republic of Congo – which according to the webinar is the second largest French speaking country.”

I hope you all have a restful holiday and that your wonderful children take some time out away from screens to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

See you in Term 4 – the first term of Yr 12, class of 2022!

Ms Rebecca Mountain
Yr 11 Advisor
rmountain@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462

Year 10

Term 3 Holidays

On behalf of the Yr 10 Tutors and Ms Eleanor Martin, I would like to wish all of the Yr 10 students and families a well-deserved break after a challenging 10 weeks of Remote Learning. Yr 10 have handled remote learning well, and many students have done their best to maintain a steady school routine, build resilience and connect with each other over the last 10 weeks. 

In the upcoming two-week break, I would like to encourage all of Yr 10 to step aside from technology and continue building connections with friends and family. Term 4 is always a busy term with the Yearly Exams along with a few other exciting initiatives in the works to keep Yr 10 busy until the end of the term which includes a Careers Week which will assist Yr 10 with resume, cover letter, interview preparation and communication skills. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Eleanor Martin along with our Year 10 Tutors who have supported Year 10 this term and kept Tutor Groups optimistic, positive and connected over the last 10 weeks.

Have a lovely break everyone and thank you to all the parents for their continued support. 

Mullets for Mental Health update 

A BIG congratulations to Yr 10 for fundraising over $4000.00 for the Mullets for Mental Health Fundraiser! This has doubled our Yr 10 fundraising goal of $2000.00 which is exceptional. The money raised will go towards research into the early detection, prevention and treatment of common mental health disorders.

As the goal of $2000.00 was achieved, Ms Martin will be having a crazy hair makeover and Mr Walker will be getting his haircut, by Ms Gemma Van de Peer, in the style of a mullet which will be showcased during Friday’s Zoom Year Assembly.

As there is still two weeks to go, continued donations would be greatly appreciated via the Yr 10 fundraising page:
https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraiser/RedlandsYear1020215428  

Athletics and XC Age champions and runners up

Congratulations to the following students who achieved Age Champion and Runners Up in the 15 and 16 years XC, held at the end of Term 1. These students pushed themselves on the day and overcame many mental barriers to finish in first and second place.  

Last term, in the last week of school, Yr 10 represented their respective House groups at the Secondary School Athletics Carnival. It was impressive to see the amount of participation by Yr 10 with most students competing in a track event to support each other and their Houses. Amazing House spirit! 

Congratulations to the following students who achieved Age Champion and Runners Up at last term’s Athletics Carnival in the 16 Years Boys and Girls age groups.

Congratulations to Lachlan Binnekamp who won the overall Boys Champion of Champions, making him the fastest male athlete in the school. 

A special mention also to Harley Van der Pluijm and Sam Chubb who competed in all 5 track events! 

All students will be congratulated individually at this week’s Zoom Yearly Assembly to commend their fantastic efforts. 

Science Olympiad Competition. 

Congratulations to Jack Forrest and Matthew Fry who participated in the prestigious Australian Science Olympiad competition. Both Jack and Matthew spent time before school and at lunchtimes preparing for the Olympiad. Jack received a credit which is a great achievement. 

Well done gentlemen! 

Mr Nicholas Walker
Acting Yr 10 Advisor
nwalker@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9909 3133

Year 9

Thank you to Yr 9 parents for your incredible communication, support, patience and willingness to reach out for further conversation to ensure your teenagers were doing OK during Term 3 Remote Learning. At a time when students socially thrive and hold their friendships close to heart, this has been a complete change in their day-to-day lives. And yet, students have adapted, managed, adjusted and continue to do so.    

Parents, please reiterate our Yr 9 Pastoral Team message to students this week – Thank you to Yr 9 students for your tremendous energy, open-mindedness, strength and gratitude throughout this term.  While some mornings were more difficult than others to Zoom in and join your classes with a positive mindset, you continued to amaze your teachers and Year Advisors with your “we can do this” attitude and humour.  It was a full term with managing assessments while learning remotely and personal organisation and self-management were truly tested.  However, your honesty and willingness in asking for help showed character and highlighted your desire to persevere throughout. These next two weeks are yours to relax, reflect, spend time away from screens (or at least your laptop screen) and catch-up on whatever it is you want to spend time on.  While it continues to look different to past breaks, we will adjust, accept the changes and find the things we can do to bring joy to our lives. 

To all Yr 9 families, have a restful, relaxing and fabulous term break!

Best wishes from Ms Kim Hurley (not pictured) 

Carnival Results

These results are usually shared via a school-wide assembly at the start of Term 3.  With the many changes to schedules this term, students were formally acknowledged and celebrated for their performances during a school-wide video presentation this week.  Congratulations to the Yr 9 students below:

Athletics Carnival

Sophia Rolon – Under 14 Girls Runner Up

Lara Farrell – Under 14 Girls Age Champion

Alexandra Tanner – Under 15 Girls Runner Up

Henry Charles – Under 15 Boys Runner Up

Eva Osborn – Under 15 Girls Age Champion

Charlotte Hugman – Under 16 Girls Age Champion

Isaac Brooks – Under 15-16 Intermediate Boys Division Champion

Eva Osborn – Under 15-16 Intermediate Girls Division Champion

Special mention for Isaac Brooks breaking the 1989 record for Intermediate Boys 1500m.  Way to go, Isaac!

Cross Country Carnival

Daisy Thomas – 14 Girls Age Champion

Charlie Parker – 15 Boys Runner Up

Isaac Brooks – 15 Boys Age Champion

Yr 9 Mullets for Mental Health  – We are ALL EARS for Mental Health

Thank you very much for your contributions so far! We have not quite met our goal yet but please continue to donate, the link will remain active throughout the end of September.  And remember, you do not need to have a mullet to donate!

Black Dog Institute’s Mullets for Mental Health: 1 in 5 of us will experience symptoms of mental illness in any given year. In Australia that’s around 5 million people. And roughly 60% of these people won’t seek help. For the month of September we will be sporting mullets and raising funds to show support for mental health research.  Please donate and support our mullets and empower everyone in Australia to look after their mental health. 

Help Yr 9 reach $1700 by the end of September – Donate Here

Ms Alissa Ynson
Yr 9 Advisor
aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9865

Year 8

Mullets for Mental Health

Black Dog Institute’s Mullets for Mental Health has encouraged some of our Yr 8 students to shape and grow a mullet for the month of September to raise much-needed funds for mental health research. Fundraising for this wonderful cause allows better research into the early detection, prevention and treatment of common mental health disorders.

Year 8 have raised $3049 so far and have already their original target of $2000, however we would love to fundraise more.

If you would like to contribute to one of the students who has ‘styled-up’ a mullet, please access the team through: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/redlandsyear8legends

One Foot Forward this October

October is Mental Health month, and we are encouraging students to join the Yr 8 Redlands team to walk as many kilometres as they can throughout the month to continue raising funds for mental health research and resources for the Black Dog Institute. Mental illness is very common. Most of us will know someone experiencing mental illness, or even experience it ourselves, at some point in our life.

Students have been emailed all details, and we encourage students to sign up prior to the holidays.

To register and join the REDLANDS YEAR 8 LEGENDS: https://www.onefootforward.org.au/join/REDLANDSYEAR8LEGENDS

R U OK Day?

Our Tutor groups raising awareness

Redlands Secondary School Wellbeing Day

The Redlands Wellbeing day was a wonderful opportunity to bring awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing for our Yr 8 students. Students worked in teams of their choosing to navigate a packed schedule involving a series of self-directed challenges and activities.

Student Reflections:

On Wednesday, September 8th, we got the opportunity to have a wellbeing day where we completed a handful of activities in groups to relax, connect and recharge. My most enjoyable activity was the scavenger hunt as it gave my friends and I the opportunity to move around both inside and outside the house and even get a little creative with some of the prompts. My funniest moment was our attempt at a “group hug” while in lockdown. With many failed attempts we came up with a creative tactic through Zoom. Having a well-being day today or any other day as a matter of fact is so important for me as lockdown has certainly been exhausting both mentally and physically and to take the time to just pause and relax makes it so much easier for myself. This day also gave me the opportunity to connect with some of my closest friends which is just as important because this interaction is clearly limited from lockdown making it so important to stay in touch and make sure everyone isn’t overwhelmed and is doing well during these difficult times.

Annabelle Hwang

The most enjoyable activity from Wednesday was the exercise task because it was good to get out to walk and call my friends. The funniest moment was the MasterChef activity because our group did it as a ‘contest’ and it was exciting to race each other to put our treats in the oven. I think it was important to have a wellbeing day because it was useful to disconnect from the screen and have some time to reflect on the term and school in lockdown. It was also nice not to have to do work and have a more relaxed structure to the day. It was important to connect with my friends so I can stay motivated to keep on doing the things I like and it helps with the worries of online school.

Remie Gibbs

Even if it’s not face-to-face, connecting with friends over Zoom or FaceTime has been a highlight and necessity for me during lockdown. Wellbeing day allowed me to connect with friends that are not in my class and I have not seen often during these, precisely, 74 days. We were able to share our thoughts, and talk about what we’ve been doing to keep busy, whilst still feeling a sense of connection and closeness. Wellbeing day was definitely a highlight as I made a meal with my group, watched a TV show and went for a long walk, all over a voice chat. It is important to stay connected to the people you are close to, especially during these tough times.

Krishna Gupta

Sport

Last week the Sports department launched the Summer Sports Season. Students who have signed up to representative sport over summer will now have access to sport specific training sessions via the Redlands Sport iLearn Page. All students (and parents) also have access to and are encouraged to log onto Redlands Secondary School Zoom Fitness where a range of fitness sessions are available throughout the week.

Friday Night Live

The Arts Captains are organising a “Friday Night Live”. This event was initially scheduled for Friday 10 September and has now been moved to next term, giving students more of an opportunity to prepare and record a performance and send it through over the holiday period. More on this exciting event, led by our Arts Captains Maddie and Felix, next term!

Students wishing to be involved should submit a video of their act to the Friday Night Live assignment page in the iLearn Student Leaders course. It can be Vocal, Theatre, Instrumental, Dance, Comedy, Rap, Poetry reading – anything to showcase your talent and creativity. Submissions will remain open over the holidays. 

Library Over the Holidays

The holidays are fast approaching and reading contributes greatly to your wellbeing. The Library is anxious to support students with their wide reading. Students can email to reserve print books and arrange to pick them up. They can also borrow via Sora (the Redlands online book collection). Students can download the SORA app – or use SORA in the web browser: https://soraapp.com/welcome

The Instructions are also on the News page of the Library catalogue.

Have a Wonderful Holiday Break

Yr 8 are encouraged to take the holidays to rest and renew, and step away from their laptops and screens. Tutor Time has focused on connection and wellbeing and we anticipate students will be able to apply strategies learned at school this term, during their holiday. We wish all students a happy holiday, and are appreciative of the challenges posed at this time.

Ms Lisa Vale
Yr 8 Advisor
9968 9837
lvale@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Year 7

Term 3 Holidays 

Mrs Willis and I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the parents and students for the many ways that you have come together over the past 10 weeks. We are amazed by the resilience of our Yr 7 cohort and the continued, positive approach demonstrated day in and day out.

To you, the parents – thank you for taking the time to check in with your children; thank you for being a part of their educational journey, especially at a time when we know very little about what the next day, week or month is going to bring. We know that we have a little more hard work ahead of us until we are back to On-Campus Learning, but we will continue to navigate this space together.

I hope these holidays provide our Yr 7 students and their families with the opportunity to rest, relax and recharge, and above all, be happy, safe and connected with loved ones.

Wellbeing Day 

It was great to see our students involved in such a wonderful day. There were so many fantastic stories and great pictures from the day. A big thank you to all the students for being open and willing to participate in the day. Great stuff. 

Mr Edward Atkins
Yr 7 Advisor 
eatkins@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9909 3133

Head of Junior School

Wellbeing Wednesday

What an uplifting occasion Wellbeing Wednesday was as our Junior School students and staff enjoyed a different pace and range of activities. After ten weeks of Remote Learning, the feedback from students was that this was something that they enjoyed immensely and I am grateful to our staff for their planning and preparation to organise 28 live sessions across the Junior School to engage with the students.

I also acknowledge some of our Yr  6 Technology Student Leaders who confidently led two well-planned and coordinated sessions utilising breakout rooms and even a blended learning option with students on site. Yr 5 students enjoyed a GarticPhone Fun Game session where they put their technology and creative talents to the test in breakout rooms run by Cameron Petrie, Amelie Swann, Chloe Howard and Jessica Jackson. 

The ‘Design Your Own Magnet’ saw Chloe Howard, Eva Simpson, Jessica Jackson, Misato Ueno and Orla Collins running create and chat rooms with Yr 3 students who celebrated and shared their amazing magnet creations.   

Parent Connection and Feedback 

In our final staff meeting of the term, I was delighted to welcome our Junior School Parent Group Coordinators, Rebecca James and Becky Gait, as a ‘surprise’ final agenda item. From my conversations with them both over the term and feedback that they had received from other parents, Becky and Rebecca warmly articulated gratitude to the staff on behalf of the parents. As you can imagine, the generous comments were graciously appreciated by our staff including our Principal, Mr Webber.

Looking Forward to Term 4

As previously communicated, the current advice from the NSW government is that schools will have a phased return as outlined below:

TG, Kindy, Yr 1 & Yr 12           Monday 25 October

Yrs 2, 6 & 11                             Monday 1 November

Yrs 3-10                                    Monday 8 November

Hence, all NSW schools will commence Term 4 with Remote Learning and our Junior School timetables will follow the same structure as is currently in place after one or two refinements earlier this term.

I will send Junior School families a Term 4 information letter towards the end of the second week of the holiday break and Term 4 timetables will be uploaded at this time too.

Please be reminded that Term 4 starts on Tuesday 5 October.   

Junior School Ethics Olympiad Team

Congratulations to our inaugural Junior School Ethics Olympiad team who placed 10^th in a field of 30 schools from across Australasia. Redlands was given an honourable mention from the judges as our team of five competed against schools from across Australasia where they analysed and discussed real-life, timely, ethical issues.

The team of Eliana Angus, Isabelle Bannon, Kernel He, Alex Heller and Chloe Petering were impressive in their application of ethical theory and presenting their case, as well as listening to other teams and posing provoking questions in each of the three heats across the day.

 Yr 6 Remote Visual Arts

Staff Professional Learning

Building Community in our Online Classrooms

Despite it being the final week of a whole term in Remote Learning, it was inspiring to join 35 Redlands colleagues yesterday morning as we joined other teachers from across Melbourne and Sydney to be inspired by Tina Blythe and Kurt Wootton from the Harvard Graduate School of Education as they led a workshop on Building Community in our Online Classroom. Having heard Tina Blythe present at a conference in 2019, her online presence and delivery was equally impressive in tandem with Kurt Wootton and provided rich stimulus for all in attendance.

When Change Has Legs: Leading Growth in Classrooms and Schools

In the second week of the holiday break, Redlands is delighted to partner with Project Zero Australia to host a major online academic conference. With keynote speaker, Jim Reese, from Washington International School, as well as a number of workshops, some led by Redlands staff members, the day promises to be a highly engaging learning opportunity for staff across the world who will join us in this global online platform.

My thanks to our Head of Teaching and Learning, Mr Matthew Bentley, for his leadership and organisation of both professional learning opportunities for our staff and for K-12 educators across the world.

Staff Achievement

Congratulations to our School Counsellor, Mr Alessandro Digiacomo, who has been invited to speak at the upcoming 2021 School Counsellors and Psychologists Conference. In a short space of time, Alessandro has provided high-quality support for our students, staff and families and his role across into the Secondary School will be of added value as we plan and prepare for the best possible transition for Yr 6 into Secondary School.

Request for On-Campus Learning for Children of Essential Workers: Week 1, Term 4

Parents of students wishing to be considered for On-Campus supervision are asked to submit the online request form for the first week of Term 4 using the link below. This should be completed by 10am on Friday 1 October to allow sufficient time for staffing to be organised based on the numbers ahead of the long weekend.

Please click HERE to submit a request for Week 1, Term 4

Redlands Cyber Hub

A timely reminder ahead of the holidays of our Redlands Cyber Safety Hub specifically for our community, which contains current, research-based information and assistance for our families and staff. I encourage any family who has not explored this resource to do so.

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

Head of Preparatory School

Term 3 Reflections

As Week 10 draws to a close, we take time to stop and reflect on the term that we have just lived through as a school community. The words that come to mind that describe our incredible young learners over the past ten weeks are: resilient, courageous, caring, kind, humorous and empathetic. I am in awe of our students and staff with everything that they have set their minds to and achieved. Jumping into Initialit sessions, writing lessons and watching how our clever staff have used many different techniques to ensure growth in numeracy skills have been the highlight of every day for me.

I want to thank all our families for all your support this term. You have supported home learning every day and I thank you for letting us Zoom into your homes. We have seen family pets, heard musical instruments played, written to friends in nursing homes, made cupcakes and participated in many more fun and engaging experiences together. At times it hasn’t been easy, but I am so thankful for the connection we have together which has helped during those tricky times. This is what makes Redlands the special place that it is.

On behalf of all of us in Prep, we wish you all a restful break from routine. I know we can’t travel anywhere, but I hope you get to enjoy the beautiful weather, green parks, blue water and time to connect with friends outside. I look forward to seeing you all next term. Our first day of Term 4 Remote Learning will be Tuesday 5 October.

Term 4 Week 1 Request for On-Campus Learning for Children of Essential Workers

Parents who are essential workers can lodge a request for on campus learning support for the week of Tuesday 5 October – Friday 8 October. Booking requests close again at 8am on Friday 1 October. This will allow sufficient time for staffing to be arranged.

https://forms.gle/gdGWXGwWnmUU7Rhg8

Acts of Kindness

Letters to Bougainvillea

This week the residents of Bougainvillea Nursing Home wrote back to our Year 1 letter writers. I was lucky enough to read some of the letters and cards before they were posted to our students, and I must admit the beautiful words and messages made me quite teary. The effect that just one act of kindness can have on another human being is so powerful.

We welcomed Mrs Hunt to the Year 1 Assembly, who spoke on behalf of her husband Darren, the Village Manager of Bougainvillea. She was able to share stories and information about the residents and outlined the impact that the Year 1 letters have had with the residents. Let’s hope that after this lockdown period, we can visit Bougainvillea and meet these lovely people.

Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848

Redlands House and Transition Gold

Summer Uniform for Term 4

A reminder to families that as we enter Term 4, it is time for the children to wear their Summer uniform. For Redlands House children, this means a short sleeve yellow or BLUE shirt with shorts or a skirt, fleecy vest or fleecy jumper. For girls opting to wear tights under their skirt, please make sure they are navy blue.

Please also remember that the children will still require a hat each day.

Thank you from Mrs Huon

A big thank you to all of our wonderful families at Redlands House. It has been a challenging term with many twists and turns! The staff highly value and greatly appreciate your ongoing support and contributions to our preschool program. I encourage you to continue to provide us with your feedback regarding day-to-day preschool life, events or activities. It is this feedback that contributes to our Quality Improvement Plan and helps us to navigate through change when necessary. My email contact is chuon@redlands.nsw.edu.au or please feel free to pop in for a chat at any time.

Wishing you all a restful holiday break and I look forward to seeing you all next term.

Mrs Chemane Huon
Redlands House and Transition Coordinator
chuon@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9904 1448

Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848

Secondary Sport

Redlands Sports Podcast

This week we were lucky enough to have the 2021 Sports Captains Olivia Donoghue and Dillon Hayford on the podcast, It was great to hear about their time at Redlands as well as their take why they think sport it important, how they have face challenges in sport and also what message they have for the younger students. The podcast is available on Soundcloud and iLearn (Secondary School Sport – Podcast)

Athletics 

Whilst we were unable to have a formal school assembly to present the Athletics Carnival awards, please take a look at the highlights video here with the results below. 

Age Champions & Runner Ups

Divisional Champions

Official Records Broken

Overall House Results

Basketball 

Save the date! At 5.30pm on Thursday 14 October Redlands will be hosting a basketball Zoom with Sydney Kings player, Angus Glover who will be joined by Sydney Kings Assistant Coach, Fleur McIntyre on overcoming setbacks and adversity, and what it takes to play and coach at the highest level.

Well done to the following students who have won the Week 2 Basketball Challenge, gaining the most points for their age group (based off their Sportly team registration). Prizes will be handed out next term!

The Week 3 basketball challenges are now available on the Sportly app and will be open from Thursday 16 September to Sunday 19 September. Keep your eyes peeled on your email and on the Sportly app at the beginning of the holidays, we will be announcing a fun family challenge for you to complete during the holidays.

Sailing

This week, Redlands Sailing launched the first round of the Redlands E-Racing Series. Each week, Redlands Sailors will have the opportunity to compete against each other across the globe in different classes of boats. This week racing was done in the Laser Class at Kiel, Germany. Congratulations to our top five sailors this week: Oliver Noakes, Hamish Kennedy, Alissandra Braden, Alex Gibbs and Katina Casimaty.

Secondary School Sport and Co-Curricular Photographs

Secondary School Sport and Co-Curricular activity photos are ready for ordering. Please visit the Melba Studios website, www.melbastudios.com.au. Select school orders and enter the password, WINNIE.

If you have any questions, please contact Melba Studios directly on (02) 9438 4566 or email sales@melbastudios.com.au

Zoom Fitness Holiday Sessions

Zoom Fitness sessions are great way to start your day and maintain your fitness throughout the holidays. Live zoom sessions will run across the second week of the holidays. Students are encouraged to attend as many sessions as they wish, and we encourage all members of the same household to join in the sessions.

ZOOM FITNESS – HOLIDAY TIMETABLE

A reminder for the Zoom sessions, that students need to be:

• Online and ready to go prior to the Zoom starting 
• If students are more than 10 minutes late they will not be admitted into the Zoom Session
• Zooms set to mute with cameras on 
• Have a water bottle and a gym towel 
• Please wear appropriate fitness attire (in line with mufti day attire ie: no singlets, appropriate length shorts).

In addition to this, any student wishing to continue their preparation for their Summer Rep. Sport is encourage to access all of the sessions and information that is up on iLearn under their relevant sport.

Mullets for Mental Health

For the month of September, a number of Secondary School students, along with Mr Jack Gooding our Director of Coaching: Rugby and Athletic Development, are shaving in mullets in support of the Black Dog Institute and Mullets for Mental Health.

FOLLOW MR GOODINGS PROGRESS

Mr Gooding is documenting the whole process, including the cutting of his hair and the progress towards a true flowing mullet across the whole month. Along with a blog detailing the process, there will also be a number of ‘invitational barbers’ who will give their thoughts around mental well-being as well as offering their assistance in manicuring the mullet.

This is a wonderful opportunity to support a charity and have some fun during this lockdown period.

To date, our Redlands teams, coming from all Secondary School Year Groups, along with Mr Gooding, have already passed the $10,000 mark for donations. This is an amazing effort from all involved and we can only imagine the fantastic mullets that are currently gracing our online classrooms and zoom sessions.

Click on the link above to see Mr Gooding’s blog and his celebrity barbers.

“When I was 15 years old I had a very important person in my life come and ask me ‘Who’s your hero?’ I said, ‘I thought about it and it’s me in ten years. So I turned 25 ten years later and that same person comes to me and goes, ‘Are you a hero?’ I said, ‘Not even close!’ She said why and I said, ‘My hero is me at 35.’ You see, every day, and every week, and every month, and every year of my life, my hero is always ten years away. I’m never going to be my hero. I’m not going to obtain that and that’s fine with me because it keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing” 

Matthew McConaughey – Acceptance Speech at the Oscars

Ms Alison Cox
Head of Secondary School Sport
sports@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Snowsports

2022

Redlands Provisional Snowsports Calendar

Interschools

Interschools is a great place to find further information regarding all Snowsports events including the latest news.

Further details can be found on Redlands Pulse – Snowsports.

Bruce Campbell
Snowsports Administrator
0413 764 445
bcampbell@redlands.nsw.edu.au

or Ms Eliza Peirce
Snowsports Administrator
epeirce@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Ballet and Dance

Feature Photo: 2019 End of Year concert, Cinderella. Front row dancers – Nina Casey-Brown & Kyle Banfield, Ella Banfield & Samuel Harrap, Jade Patrick & Sebastian Tang.

As we approach the end of Term 3 we would like to thank all our students and teachers for their continued efforts, and family members for their support during these challenging times.

We wish all our families the very best for a restful holiday break.

Important Dates 

Curtains Up: Broadway Reopens

We are so excited to spread the news: New York quicksteps, foxtrots and pirouettes towards theatre heaven as Broadway opens at full capacity for the first time since March 2020. Several blockbuster musicals, including Hamilton, Wicked, The Lion King and Chicago, will restart performances immediately. Previews for Six, Chicken & Biscuits and Is This A Room begin later this month! 

Drama and Theatre – Musical 2022 – Auditions

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical  is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure. Drama and Theatre are holding auditions for their 2022 production for the cast and orchestra online from 17 September to 4 October. Auditions are open to students from Year 6-11 (Class of 2021).

Please see the Drama and Theatre page on Redlands Pulse for further information.

Class of the Week 

Each week during Term 3 we chosen a class that demonstrates a collective drive to learn and excel in practice whilst Remote Learning.

For our last week of term congratulations go to Ms Amanda’s Contemporary Year 6 class:

Contact Us

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us at dance@redlands.nsw.edu.au with any questions or concerns.

We also ask that you check our Ballet and Dance page on Redlands Pulse for updates (click here) .

Stay safe and keep well.

Ms. K Martin
Head of Redlands Ballet and Dance Academy
kmartin@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Drama and Theatre

As Term 3 draws to a close I would like to thank all those who have supported our Drama and Theatre students while in Remote Learning. The resilience of our young people, the creative positivity of our teachers and tutors and the support of our parent community is something for which we can be very thankful in these challenging times. We wish all our families the very best for a refreshing holiday break. 

Musical 2022

Please note, the Company size (Cast, Crew and Orchestra) will be strictly limited to a maximum of 60 due to COVID restrictions.

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears. 

“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek….” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek 

Audition Information

Who can audition? 

Auditions for the cast and orchestra are open to students from Yr 6-11 (Class of 2021). ALL students wishing to be part of the musical MUST audition. Students must complete a singing and acting audition. This year there will be a Dance Ensemble. Any student who would like to be a part of this ensemble must learn the choreography material for the audition. In preparation for auditions students will need to include information on audition forms which identifies their outstanding commitment, attitude, punctuality and behaviour. This can be in any area of the Arts.

When are the auditions? 

Auditions will be held online from 17 September to 4 October through iLearn. Email drama@redlands.nsw.edu.au to be added to the course page. 

Callbacks for cast and band (if required) will be announced 3pm Friday 15 October 

Callbacks will be held online Sunday 31 October and the Cast and Band announced on Friday 12 November. 

How do you audition? 

All auditions will be held online with submission via iLearn. Download the Audition pack here. Complete audition information form and submit your audition on ILearn (Year 7 to 11) and share via Google folder (Year 6) by 4 October. 

When are the rehearsals? 

There will be an online holiday workshop for lead roles in the last week of the January school holidays. During Term 1 2022 rehearsals will be held on: 

Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtime for principals for Vocals 

Wednesday from 5.00-7.00pm for Principals for Acting 

Friday from 3.30-5.30pm for Choreography and Orchestra 

Sunday 10am-5pm for Full Company including Production Crew and Make up team. 

A detailed rehearsal schedule will be available from the Drama and Theatre Office fortnightly throughout the rehearsal period. All students must attend scheduled rehearsals.

Mrs Joy Daley
Coordinator of Theatre and Drama
drama@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9860 

Music

Music Lessons* (*Free life lessons with every purchase!)

I recently stumbled upon a lovely anecdote on an online platform. The lesson was a wonderful reflection on the myriad of benefits and gifts that come ‘free with purchase’ when one engages with music learning.  We’ve talked about the well-asserted wellbeing aspect, but the benefits of music learning are even further reaching. Within this particular anecdote, someone asked a parent about why they bothered with the significant time, money and energy investment involved in positioning their child to learn to play piano.  

As the story goes, the parent’s response was poignant, and they stated that they ‘couldn’t care less’ about what instrument their child played. They had run a cost/benefit analysis, and they considered the ROI to be vast. In summary, they knew that more than just weekly piano lessons, they were investing in:

• positive experiences that develop discipline, resilience and focus;
• lessons in self-respect, and taking pride in the care of one’s body and belongings;
• learning to respect and welcome the input and guidance of others;
• opportunities to be gracious in failure and humble in success;
• those days when their child is ‘too tired’ but they honour their lesson commitment anyway;
• those moments when their child wants to quit, but doesn’t;
• lessons in making and accomplishing goals and the sense of self-efficacy that follows;
• learning to play the long game – it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to play beautifully. In life, success seldom happens overnight, but is as a result of smaller, repeated, dedicated actions;
• learning to step back and keep the bigger picture in view as they work as a team player;
• the opportunity to build friendships and create lifelong memories;
• and the chance to create something beautiful and of lasting value.

When we invest in our children’s music-learning, we know we don’t pay for the accrual of mere ‘note-pressing’ piano skills, but rather the world of opportunity and personal growth to which these experiences provide a door.  They might not thank you yet, but they will one day! Thank you from your teachers in the Music Department in the meantime. We see what you do, and we applaud you for it.

The Redlands Senior Instrumental Competition 2021

Senior Instrumental Competition finalists will be emailed shortly with information regarding a revised plan for the event to take place, pending restrictions and allowances once we return to school after Week 6. Should the event be able to proceed as hoped, it would be live-streamed. Yr 12 finalists, though technically graduated – would be so welcome to return to school to participate in this event.

Date Changes and Cancellations

Please keep your eye on the Music Events dates on Pulse in case of adjustments in the weeks and months ahead, in light of our rapidly changing context.  We regret to inform that the Yrs 8, 9 & 10 Showcases have officially been cancelled, with the assessment components to be reimagined as video uploads.  We will be seeking ways to provide vital Performance experiences ‘in house’ once students are back on campus. We look forward to sharing our music in this way again soon.

Auditions

Testament to the extraordinary opportunities across the Performing Arts at Redlands each year, we encourage you to jump over and have a look at today’s Drama Department Note Day entry.  The Musical has been announced for 2022 – with information now available regarding auditions! This is a wonderful chance for us to collaborate as departments, and we are delighted to encourage all Redlands musicians to consider auditioning for the band of this fantastic and rewarding show.

AMEB Examinations

In light of our current circumstances, we have temporarily amended our usual policies regarding our ability to offer private music tuition during the Term 3 holidays. Whilst the majority of our tutors will be having much needed rest and time with their families (and we heartily support this), some tutors with students nearing their AMEB exam uploads have graciously offered to provide a further lesson or two to students over the break. This is to advise that Redlands has given permission for this to occur, so long as it follows all our usual Zoom protocols as per the school term.

Have a Wonderful Break!

Whatever your plans for the coming weeks, we trust your homes will be filled with peace and rest.

Though the Music Office will be closed over the break, please email seniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au or juniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au by the end of the week with any urgent queries or action points ahead of the coming term, and we’d be delighted to help you.

Wishing you a soul-nourishing break.

Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12 (Acting)
seniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au 
9968 9820