From the Principal

It has been a significant week in the history of Redlands as our first group of Year 9 students have commenced their Term 1 residential Moonbah program at our beautiful High Country Campus just outside of Jindabyne.

Redlands has owned the High Country Campus since the early 1990s and our first Winter School (a Term 3 residential schooling and snowsports program) was held on the site in 1996. Since then, Winter School has continued to grow in popularity, and now more than half of the Year 10 cohort regularly apply to attend this signature and bespoke Redlands program.

For many years, Redlands has explored how we might open up the High Country Campus residential experience to more students and the current Moonbah program was a key initiative born out of our current strategic plan to achieve this end. Over the past few years, many people have put forth a tremendous amount of effort into the development of this program and it has been incredibly exciting (and a bit emotional) to see it come to fruition.

As the Moonbah North Star Statement articulates, “The Year 9 Moonbah Program, is underpinned by Redlands’ commitment to the development of each student’s personal growth. Living in community and on country at Redlands’ High Country Campus outside of Jindabyne, students connect, learn and lead to foster deep understanding and critical thinking via a rich and varied interdisciplinary curriculum. Through the 9-week program, students deepen independence, responsibility and are empowered to become the authors of their future selves.”

I have spent this week with the Moonbah staff and students at our High Country Campus and it has been a truly special experience to already see this North Star Statement coming to life.

When I arrived on Monday afternoon, I spent time with the Moonbah Echoes class during their initial reflective writing exercise and students said they appreciated the time and space to deeply reflect. Later that afternoon, Mr Ezekial, the Wellbeing Coordinator, led the first assembly and shared with the students one of my favourite sayings about how they will be “stepping out of their comfort zones” but will grow so much from the experience.

That afternoon, after a tour of the new student dorms led by Brodie and some of the boys, I joined in a game of football as goalkeeper on the somewhat damp HCC pitch and faced up against Ari’s team. Fortunately, I had Stella on my team who was excellent in defence and I even saved some stinging shots from Arav’s right boot. (A lowlight for me that evening was at dinner discovering that Jack was a Plymouth fan, and he wanted to rub it in that Plymouth had beaten my beloved Liverpool to knock them out of the FA Cup.)

The next morning students were up early for their physical activity and while many of the students were running or walking the mini cross country course around the campus, I led a morning basketball skills session for Freja and Emily. I also dropped into an online ballet class being run in Building 4, otherwise known as the “Rec Room”.

After breakfast, students attended their classes from a suite of interdisciplinary core units and electives. The four x 90 minute lessons allow students to navigate their own learning journey in a more personal and deeper way. I enjoyed hearing the various ideas coming out of the High Country Helpers lesson, a combined HSIE and Service Learning Unit, and Lachlan was already pitching his group’s idea of a legacy project of constructing a greenhouse on the High Country Campus. He was also badgering me about extra funding for his group’s project and I told him they would need to submit a proper business case for this project and that the CFO and I would review it.

I also joined an Environmental Learning class and we hiked to the dam on campus for our lesson. There each group set up a 10 x 10 metre area where we collected soil and water samples, recorded meteorological data and made detailed observations of flora and fauna. Georgia, Emily, Lily and I were amazed at how much detail you start to notice in the land around you when you have the time and space to closely observe it. We also tried to identify the different varieties of eucalypt tress by their leaves and bark.

On Wednesday we had a full day Aboriginal Cultural Immersion led by the Wandana Aboriginal Education group. Staff and students began the day with a “Sweeping Ceremony” to welcome us to country and ochre face painting. We then learned about culture, reflected on our own journeys, painted our own journey stones and finally helped to paint our Moonbah and High Country Campus story in a shared artwork which will stay on site.

As I am sure you can tell from a taste of my three days at Moonbah, it is a truly special experience for our students.

However, their own words probably best sum up the first week of Moonbah.

• “The learning is great. Having longer periods (90 minutes) allows us to go deeper into our learning and have more control over it because we can move at our own pace.”
• “I love having more practical lessons and learning outdoors.”
• “The food is awesome! I can’t wait for chicken parmi night tomorrow night!”
• “The dorms are great. I have already made heaps of new friends.”
• “The friendship groups are spread out more. I am mixing with new people and living with each other lets us get to know people better.”
• “I was pretty nervous before we came down here. But I am loving it now.”
• “The Rec Room in the afternoon is great. There is so much to do.”
• “The morning wake-ups are tough, but I am getting used to it.”
• “The staff are really nice.”
• “Trivia night last night was a lot of fun.”
• “I was pretty sad saying goodbye to my family and my puppy coming here. I had a little cry on the bus ride down. But now I don’t want Moonbah to end. I have a countdown and I am sad I only have 58 days left here!”

Thank you to the parents who have put their trust in us for this wonderful educational program for their children. I believe it will be an experience they will never forget.

Mr Sean Corcoran 

Photo Caption: it was a remarkable first week of the Year 9 Moonbah program at our High Country Campus. 

Community Update

It was a pleasure to attend the first meetings of the RPFA and Secondary School Parent Contact Groups (PCG) this week, where community activities and projects were shared and discussed. Thank you to our various parent group volunteers and leaders who continue to explore ways to keep our community connected, included and supported within the many and varied aspects of school life.  If you are looking to connect with our community for support then please reach out to the passionate and diverse experience of our class and year group parents, the RPFA and Friends of Groups that support Redlands families.

We look forward to welcoming our community to the much loved Twilight in the Garden event next Friday 21 February. Twilight in the Garden, for parents and carers, provides a wonderful opportunity for our new families to connect with our School community on the Fahl Garden on our Senior Campus. Fingers crossed the weather holds for us this year!  We are expecting this to be another sold out event so please purchase your tickets early here.

Redlands is delighted to launch ‘Voice Notes’, a speaker series dedicated to illuminating and discussing challenges and opportunities that impact education.  Our Voice Notes series kicks off with a breakfast event on International Women’s Day (IWD) with Julie Inman – Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, leading a vital conversation, on the advancement of gender equality, empowerment, and safety in an increasingly digital world. Revenue generated from this very special event will be donated to Mary’s House Services who provide essential accommodation for women and their children fleeing domestic and family violence or abuse.  Tickets for this not to missed event can be purchased here.

A reminder that the best place to stay up to date on what’s happening at Redlands is through Pulse. We will shortly be running some sessions on how to use Pulse effectively and intuitively to access all of the vital information our community seeks – contact information, term dates, calendars, events, sport fixtures, school and absentee notices and other key links. More information on these sessions will follow very soon.

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

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

Foundation

Second Hand Uniform Sale

We are grateful to our community and RPFA for their endless efforts to support parents and the School. The RPFA conducted another very successful Second Hand Uniform Sale on the first Saturday of this term. This team effort not only supported numerous members of our community but also raised $3,253 for the means-tested Scholarship Fund.

A huge kudos to JP Forrest, Rebecca James, Jo Lloyd, Brittne Whitelaw and Mara Bond who were sorting out items and ready for customers to come in on Saturday morning.

Redlands is Part of a Wider Giving Society

We are delighted that our means-tested Redlands Scholarship Fund is a registered charity with Good2Give which is a Workplace Giving organisation. This platform enables companies to empower their employees to donate to charities and not-for-profits, straight from their salary, with no need to keep credit cards or bank details up to date and in most cases offers matching gifts.

Many prominent employers such as Westpac, Citibank, BT, NAB, Qantas, Stockland, Baker & MacKenzie, Deutsche Bank and others are part of this program. If you have a workplace giving account and would love to contribute to our cause, please visit here.

Alumni Update

Jasmine Black RL 2024

Well done to Jasmine Black (School Captain 2024), who was recently selected in the Young Matildas Squad for the 2024/25 season! The Young Matildas will play in the upcoming PacificAus Sports Four Nations Tournament, to be held in Canberra from 17 – 26 February 2025. She’s also assisting Redlands Football as a coach this season. 

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

Redlands Parents and Friends

See you next week for Twilight in the Garden on Friday 21 February – a wonderful evening that brings together parents and teachers from across the school community to meet and greet new and old friends.

This is the first social event of the year to welcome new parents and connect with the community. Held outdoors (weather permitting) in the Fahl Garden on the Senior Campus, it’s a wonderful evening that brings together parents and teachers from across the school community.

Reserve your tickets here

We look forward to welcoming you.

Upcoming Parent / Family Get-togethers 

Thank you to all our parent volunteers who work to organise and host these wonderful community get togethers!

Contact us to list your event. Please provide a date, time, location and RSVP details if relevant.

Walks on Tracks

We’re back on track for 2025!

Weekly guided walks around the northern Sydney area are organised by Ann Marie, a wonderful RPFA volunteer. This is a great way to meet other Redlands parents and get in shape, plus a wonderful way to spend a morning discovering the many paths of the Sydney area.

The invitation for walks is open, so if you have friends or family who you think would like to come along, please feel free to bring them. Dogs are also welcome on most walks, look for the ???? below .

Walks start at 8.50am and are roughly 1 1/2- 2 hours. For those with the time, we love to stop for a coffee afterwards. In case you’re running late, just text Ann Marie so they can wait for you. Walks for the rest of this term:

Any questions, please contact Ann Marie on 0406 691 533. See you walking!

Book Club

The Redlands Book Club is a group of Redlands parents – past and present – who share a love of reading. New members are always welcome! The Book Club meets twice each school term to discuss a book, rotating among members’ homes. Occasionally, outings are also organised to events, movies or shows that are tied in with books. If you would like to join Book Club, and learn where we are meeting this month or simply want to know more, please contact Monica or Sabiha.

Next 2 Meeting Dates!

We are excited to announce our next two meeting dates.  Please lock these in your calendars:

• Thursday 27 March morning at 10:30am/11am – to discuss Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
• Thursday 8 May evening at 6:30pm/7:00pm – to discuss At the Foot of the Cherry Tree by Alli Parker

June Book

For those who really like to plan ahead, our 4^th book of the year, to be discussed in June, will be The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi.  We have yet to set a date for this meeting.

Volunteer Five

Stay tuned to meet your Friends of Groups (FoG) volunteers and learn about the fun these groups have supporting sport, theatre and other student interest groups. 

Supporter Gear

Free Delivery to the Uniform Shop for pick up now available!

Get kitted up for summer sports and cocurricular comp season! Parents, carers and family can proudly represent our students in supporter gear!! Order your cap and polo here. Can’t wait to see all the supporters carrying the blue and gold in 2025. Go Redlands!!   

The Week in Pictures

Last weekend was the annual Year 12 mums Hunter Valley retreat. Wine tasting, dancing, axe throwing, more wine, swimming, amazing food, more wine… You get the idea.

Only select photos can be released due to the strict ‘what happens at the Hunter stays at the Hunter’ policy among participants. Suffice it to say, it was a good time!

Do you have event pics you want to share? Please send them to RPFA Note Day.

RPFA Committee

President: Brittne Whitelaw
Vice President: Carrie Taylor
Secretary: Jennifer Mast
Treasurer: Joe Russo
Committee: Daniella Aburto, Tara Boris, Ali Levitch-Edwards, Michelle McDonald, Emma Okhovat, Kathryn Parsons, Sophia Stewart-Kasimba.

Head of Secondary School

Seventy of our Year 9 cohort have nearly spent their first week at High Country Campus on the Moonbah program. It was such a joy to see them all arrive early on a sunny Saturday morning for the send-off and then see them all arrive at the Campus six hours later to slightly chillier weather. Ms Godsell welcomed them off the bus for an Acknowledgement of Country and then the students started to unpack, settle in and meet and key staff.

Mr Atkins and his team were keen to begin – to put all of their thinking and preparation into action and the first weekend was filled with an induction and some free time. It was wonderful to be down there with the first ever cohort and we certainly experienced four seasons in one day. We had electrical storms, hail the size of gold balls and a power outage (which didn’t last long due to the new generator).

There was some trepidation in the first few days as students acclimatised to a new setting, which is to be expected. But there was also feelings of surprise and joy – ‘I thought it would be so hard. It’s great here – can we stay for two terms?!’ The students love their dorms, the three recreation rooms and the dedicated music and dance spaces.

Mr Corcoran’s arrival was highly anticipated and we both enjoyed having dinner with the students and staff across a couple of nights. I know Mr Tod-Hill, Ms Wunder and Ms Willis and other staff are also keen to join Cohort 1 down there in the coming weeks. The students have already commenced writing letters and postcards to those back home. If anyone wants to send them a kind word, the postal address is PO Box 91, Jindabyne, NSW 2627.  

The Year 7 Information Webinar

Thank you to all parents and families for the overwhelmingly strong turnout on Monday evening for the Year 7 Information Webinar with presentations from Dean of Studies 7-10(Acting), Alissa Wunder, Dean of Students (Acting), Lucienne Willis and Dean of Activities, Jon Gray. Expectations were clarified around classroom engagement, assessments and examinations, digital citizenship, academic integrity, social-emotional learning, camp and cocurricular opportunities. Overall, Year 7 are embracing exposure to a range of subjects and they should be prioritising their Student Planner for organisation. Students were reminded to check their iLearn courses for daily tasks and parents were reminded to find all news and important documents pertaining to all subjects on the Year 7 Pulse page. The full video with slides is included here for your reference: 

The Transition to High School and the Tech Tango – Jocelyn Brewer

Sydney-based psychologist Jocelyn Brewer has a special interest in cyberpsychology and digital wellbeing spoke to Year 7 parents on Wednesday night. She began by telling us that young people do not really see a difference between their online and offline world. Jocelyn doesn’t preach to parents about how to parent. She recognises that each family has its own values system. What Jocelyn says is very important is that the parents of that family make their family values clear and defined to their children – and then parents need to walk the talk of their values. She also said we need open and transparent ways of working with our children. Kids love rules. Do not secretly track them – tell them you’re going to monitor their smart-devices and be open and clear about it. Set rules for your children and then be consistent with following through on these.

Jocelyn used a wonderful water safety metaphor to explore the complexities of digital use and young people in tech spaces. Essentially, she asked are young people prepared to swim in digital waters? A pool, lake, river, surf, ocean? All forms of water pose different risks and require alternate skills and strategies to stay afloat.

She also advised that we take a keen interest in the world of our children – what is going on, what they are interested in, who they follow, etc. Jocelyn reminded parents that if we are not interested in the small stuff of our child’s life, then they might not come to us with the big stuff, when they need to.

Fundamentally, Jocelyn advocates for all parents to utilise a Technology-Use Agreement with their children. Further details and resources will be made available for all parents in the coming week.

Year 11 & 12 Students Get Organised 

Senior students in Years 11 and Year 12 HSC and IB programs have hit the ground running. In Core lessons Academic Deans, Ms Boase and Ms Matthews have emphasised the importance of sound organisation skills to ensure students are able to effectively plan their time in relation to key learning tasks. To assist students in their planning, the School has provided students with a large A1 calendar for their ‘at home study spaces.’ Students have been encouraged to organise their study areas paying attention to decluttering their space, ergonomic seating and good lighting. Students were excited to receive their planners from the Stage 6 Administration Assistant, Ms Leanne Kells.

International Women’s Day – March Forward Breakfast

Monday 10 March, 7am-9am

Redlands is pleased to announce the first event in our inaugural ‘Voice Notes: Illuminating Issues that Matter’ series. The series aims to spark conversation on issues impacting education and will span a range of topics across 2025.

We are starting the year by marking International Women’s Day with a breakfast event in conversation with Australia’s e Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. An event not to be missed.

Please also save the date for future Voice Notes events throughout the year: 

Term 2: Gen AI: Who’s Really in Control?
Thursday 8 May – evening event

Term 3: The Future of School: Seeing Around Corners
Thursday 7 August – breakfast event

Term 4: Navigating a Changing World
Thursday 30 Oct – evening event

Twilight in the Garden

Our Twilight in the Garden event provides a wonderful opportunity for our new families to connect with our school community on the Fahl Garden on our Senior Campus. We are expecting this to be another sold out event for parents and carers, so please purchase your tickets here.

Musical Tickets Now Available

Book Your Tickets Here

Learning Plus Volunteers

Learning Plus (support) are looking for volunteers with weekday availability and a desire to contribute regularly to the Redlands student community working with Yrs 7-12.

We need calm and confident community members who understand confidentiality. We need writers (scribes) and readers. You need to have legible handwriting and the ability to communicate in English.

Our volunteers find this a rewarding activity and a fantastic way to support students at Redlands.

We need volunteers to start training now! 

Contact sprovisions@redlands.nsw.edu.au to express your interest or request more information. 

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

Cocurricular Clubs

Clubs in Full Swing Following the Activities Fair

Following the enthusiasm of last week’s Activities Fair, students eagerly participated in the many clubs and societies offered this week. With a wide range of activities catering to different interests and talents, students have been embracing new opportunities, building friendships and engaging in meaningful pursuits outside the classroom.

Whether it was strategic thinking in Chess Club, mentoring in the Big Sister Club or teamwork in Theatresports, it has been fantastic to see students immerse themselves in their chosen activities. The Gardening Club kicked off with an engaging introduction to sustainable gardening, while the Etching Club began carving their etches on magazine cutouts.

For parents looking to support their child’s involvement, we encourage discussions about their experiences in these clubs – what they enjoyed, what they learned and what they hope to achieve. Encouragement from home plays a significant role in sustaining student engagement and commitment.

Below is the weekly schedule of clubs for reference:

As the term progresses, we look forward to seeing students continue to develop their skills, form new friendships and take advantage of the many enriching experiences these clubs provide. If your child is still considering joining a club, it’s not too late – encourage them to get involved and try something new!

For any questions regarding club participation, please reach out to nwalker@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Nick Walker
Coordinator of Activities
nwalker@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Year 12

International Women’s Day Breakfast

High School Musical

Book Your Tickets Here

Redlands Study Program

School Portrait Photos

Yesterday, student portrait and sibling photos were taken. If anyone missed having their photo taken, please make a note of the date for make-up for the portrait photos – Thursday 6 March. Students will need to be in their full School uniform, clean shaven, with hair off the collar or tied back and no make-up. Only one pair of simple gold or silver stud earrings are permitted to be worn. The catch-up photos for Siblings have been moved to Friday 7 March in conjunction with the Summer Sports photos on that day.

School Clubs Return

School clubs are back for 2025 with students having the opportunity to sign up during last week’s Activities Fair. Most clubs have hit the ground running this week already holding their first sessions. Clubs are an excellent way to engage with the wider school community, upskill and provide a point of interest for a CV or job application.

For anyone not able to sign up to a club on the day, you can still drop into your choice of club next week and discuss joining with the supervising staff and students. You can find all the club times and locations published in the banners on iLearn and by visiting the Cocurricular page on Pulse.

eSafety Commissioner – Fake News and Information

In today’s digital world, not everything you see, hear, or read online is true. Fake news, altered images, and misleading videos can spread quickly, shaping opinions and influencing decisions. Some content is deliberately created to deceive, while other misinformation spreads due to misunderstanding or lack of verification. Before sharing information, it’s important to check the facts, question the source, and think critically to avoid amplifying false or misleading content. Stay informed, stay sceptical, and always verify before you trust.

A wonderful conversation piece to have at home. 

Learn More

Save the Dates

Please also save the date for future Voice Notes events throughout the year: 

Term 2: Gen AI: Who’s Really in Control?
Friday 9 May – evening event

Term 3: The Future of School: Seeing Around Corners
Thursday 7 August – breakfast event

Term 4: Navigating a Changing World
Thursday 30 Oct – evening event.

Year 11

School Clubs Return

School clubs are back for 2025 with students having the opportunity to sign up during last week’s Activities Fair. Most clubs have hit the ground running this week already holding their first sessions. Clubs are an excellent way to engage with the wider school community, upskill and provide a point of interest for a CV or job application.

For anyone not able to sign up to a club on the day, you can still drop into your choice of club next week and discuss joining with the supervising staff and students. You can find all the club times and locations published in the banners on iLearn and by visiting the Cocurricular page on Pulse.

Representing your Peers

Nominations are now open for the Student Representative Council. Students are able to put themselves forward to represent their Year Group and work together with a dedicate team of students to help shape the culture and student life at Redlands. Expressions of interest can be made here, and to find out more speak to Mr de Vries.

Entries will close by 8am Friday 21 February.

The Musical 2025

Cast, Crew and Staff have been preparing and rehearsing enthusiastically to bring Disney’s High School Musical to The Concourse, Chatswood on the 5-7 March. Tickets are available now so get in quick before they sell out! 

Book Your Tickets

School Portrait Photos

Yesterday, student portrait and sibling photos were taken. If anyone missed having their photo taken, please make a note of the date for make-up for the portrait photos – Thursday 6 March. Students will need to be in their full School uniform, clean shaven, with hair off the collar or tied back and no make-up. Only one pair of simple gold or silver stud earrings are permitted to be worn. The catch-up photos for Siblings have been moved to Friday 7 March in conjunction with the Summer Sports photos on that day.

Public Speaking

Four Redlands students competed in the next phase of the competition Branksome Hall Re:Solved public speaking competition this week. The students were debating the topic of mandatory voting in national elections against schools worldwide, under the rules of the Canadian debating system.

These students are:

• Marcus Richardson (Y11)
• Elizabeth Whelan (Y11)
• Elenor Blankenstein (Y12)
• Andy Guan (Y10)

The winners from the quarter finals will be announced tomorrow at midnight! A big thank you to Ms Vyvian Kang for her support of our students. 

Mr Richard Millham 
Year 11 Advisor (Acting Term 1)
rmillham@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Year 10

The Ethics Centre Young Writers’ Competition

Congratulations to Serei Bayley in Year 10, who won The Ethics Centre Young Writers’ Competition in December 2024 in the Under 18 Years category. Serei wrote an essay on “Rethinking the Way We Give,” calling for a more concerted effort to assess where we give our charitable donations. Her award makes it the second year in a row for Redlands students to be honoured for their ethical thinking and communication. In 2023, Sophie Yu was highly commended for her essays on prisons and restorative justice. 

Tutor Time this Week

Two significant themes to come out of the Day of Growth conversations at the start of the year were: academic improvement through consistency and having effective study habits and organisation. 

As students have had the first two weeks to settle into the term, part of Tutor this week was dedicated to the type of planning needed to realise these goals. 

Two key documents to assist with this are: 

1. Year 10 2025 Assessment Calendar – this provides students with an overview of each term and the due weeks for each task. This should be used to guide study plans on a weekly basis. 

1. Weekly Study Timetable or Y10 Redlands 2025 Semesterly Planner Calendar (841 x 594 mm) – Students are encouraged to have a consistent weekly structure with time blocked in to complete home learning, review/revise classwork (study) and complete formal assessment work. The attached planner is a good starting tool for this. 

A completed version of this template printed out and displayed in study spaces (along with a printed assessment calendar) may be a good start for those students aiming to develop good habits throughout the course of the year.  

Serving your Peers and the School – the SRC

Have you ever wanted a fun way to get service experience, work on a motivated team and help others in the school? Well, then put your hand up and nominate yourself for the SRC! 

If you are interested – please post an expression of interest here.

Entries will close by 8am Friday 21 February. 

School Clubs Return 

School clubs are back for 2025 with students having the opportunity to sign up during last week’s Activities Fair. Most clubs have hit the ground running this week already holding their first sessions. Clubs are an excellent way to engage with the wider school community, upskill and provide a point of interest for a CV or job application. 

For anyone not able to sign up to a club on the day, you can still drop into your choice of club next week and discuss joining with the supervising staff and students. You can find all the club times and locations published in the banners on iLearn and by visiting the Cocurricular page on Pulse. 

The Musical 2025

Cast, Crew and Staff have been preparing and rehearsing enthusiastically to bring Disney’s High School Musical to The Concourse, Chatswood on the 5-7 March. Tickets are available now so get in quick before they sell out! 

Book Your Tickets

Start Up Bootcamp: Idea to Action 

T1: Wednesdays 3:30-5:30pm 

This exciting new extra-curricular program is open to students in Years 7-11 wanting to experience “startup life”. Anyone can join, not just students with existing entrepreneurial projects or ideas.

Working with a team of Experts in Residence each week, and hearing from guest speakers from the startup ecosystem, you’ll be well supported as you explore innovative new ideas and even turn one into a real-world startup venture! 

Full Day offsite to the MQ Incubator

Evening Pitch event

See the brochure for more information!  

School Portrait Photos

Yesterday, student portrait and sibling photos were taken. If anyone missed having their photo taken, please make a note of the date for make-up for the portrait photos – Thursday 6 March. Students will need to be in their full School uniform, clean shaven, with hair off the collar or tied back and no make-up. Only one pair of simple gold or silver stud earrings are permitted to be worn. The catch-up photos for Siblings have been moved to Friday 7 March in conjunction with the Summer Sports photos on that day. 

Mr Tobias Horan
Yr 10 Advisor
9968 9872
thoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Year 9

A Smaller Cohort on Campus and the Inaugural Moonbah Cohort

Last Saturday, the Year 9 cohort underwent its greatest change to date, as it split in half, with half of our students adventuring down to the High Country Campus to become our inaugural attendees on the Moonbah program, while the other half remained behind ot the Cremorne Campus, eagerly waiting their turn to travel to Moonbah in Term 2.

It will be business as usual at Cremorne, as students get right into the flow of their learning and preparing for assessments. After the Week 1 Day of Growth Conversations, we are excited to see how Year 9 will harness their knowledge and skills, and utilise the support available to them at school, to achieve continued personal growth.

As the term plays out, I am excited to hear of the amazing experiences our Moonbah students will have at the High Country Campus, living on country for the term, with a great chance to connect, learn and lead – all while developing skills of deep understanding and critical thinking via a rich and varied interdisciplinary curriculum. I will be fortunate enough to attend Moonbah in Week 5, where I will be able to report directly ‘from the ground.’ I am looking forward to the experience!

Burn Bright

Just before the cohort separated, we had the invaluable opportunity to come together last Thursday and engage in a day of important personal and social growth, led by Burn Bright. Our male and female students were each presented with thoughtful sessions based around personal values and how to engage in behaviour that affirmed your ‘brand’; respectful interactions with others in the community and developing resilience and strategies for overcoming challenges. While the sessions involved fun team activities, Students were also afforded space to be vulnerable as an individual, offering honest responses to questions around feelings of uncertainty, agency, friendship and personal aspirations. There were some touching follow up conversations between students, involving deep connections (and some tears!) being formed between peers. It was a valuable day and I look forward to such positive messaging carrying over into how students navigate the year ahead.

Redlands Clubs are Go!

After the successful Activities Fair last Thursday, school clubs are back and better than ever. Most clubs have now hit the ground running, holding their first sessions this week and we are looking forward to bringing everyone back for more in Week 4.

If you were not able to sign up to a club on the day, please do yourself the favour of visiting one of the many club sessions next week. Clubs are great places to meet new people, learn new skills and have great fun! You can find all the club times and locations published in the banners on iLearn and by visiting the Cocurricular page on Pulse.  

Start Up Bootcamp – Wednesdays 3:30pm-5:30pm

An exciting new extra-curricular program is now open to students in Yrs 7-11 wanting to experience ‘startup life’. Anyone can join, not just students with existing entrepreneurial projects or ideas. The only criterion is being enthusiastic about innovation! Working with a team of Experts in Residence each week, and hearing from guest speakers from the startup ecosystem, you’ll be well supported as you explore innovative new ideas and even turn one into a real-world startup venture!

Whether or not you actually plan on becoming an entrepreneur, the transferable skills, resilience, and creative confidence you’ll build through this program will help you excel in a range of aspects in school and everyday life. See the brochure for more information and a sign-up link. Places are limited, so get in fast!

Serving your Peers and the School – the SRC

Have you ever wanted a fun way to get service experience, work on a motivated team and help others in the school? Well, then put your hand up and nominate yourself for the SRC!

If you are interested – please post an expression of interest here

Entries will close by 8am Friday 21 February.

High School Musical – The Musical

It’s that time of year again, where we can gather as a Redlands community and share in the love of singing, dancing and theatre, whilst watching the amazingly talented Arts community of Redlands thrive, in their element, at The Concourse, Chatswood. Of course, it is musical season!!

This year, Redlands is performing Disney’s High School Musical and it is sure to be a fantastic show of laughs, singalongs and good times. Get your ticket before they all run out! 

Book Your Tickets

School Portrait Photos

Yesterday, we moved through student portrait photos and sibling photos. If students missed the photo due to being absent, please make a note of the date for make-up for the portrait photos – Thursday 6 March. Students will need to bring their full School uniform, although I will have some spare blazers. The catch-up photos for Siblings has been moved to Friday 7 March in conjunction with the Summer Sports photos on that day.

Students who are currently on the Moonbah program will have a date announced for later in Term 2.

Term 1 Key Dates and Upcoming Events:

• Parent Webinar: Your Relationship with your Teen – Week 5: Tuesday 25 February
• High School Musical the musical – Week 6: Wednesday 5 March – Friday 7 March
• NAPLAN – Week 7: Wednesday 12 – Friday 14 March
• Jazz in the Garden – Week 7: Friday 14 March
• Year 9 Stay at School Information Evening – Week 9: Monday 24 March
• Battle of the Bands – Week 11: Monday 7 April
• Term 1 Ends – Week 11: Friday 11 April

Mr Jimmy Tod-Hill
Year 9 Advisor
jtodhill@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462

Year 8

Activities Fair

Last week’s Activities Fair showcased the wide range of clubs and cocurricular programs on offer, with something for everyone, whether you love sports, creativity, leadership, or tech. Year 8 students are encouraged to join at least two activities to meet new people, try something different, and make the most of their school experience! Below is a list of the offerings for 2025 and the Pulse page.

Cocurricular Clubs 

Monday

• Etching Club – Lunchtime, LH1.7
• Big Sister Club – Lunchtime, LH3.6
• Knitting Club – Lunchtime (Weeks A & B), LH1.2
• Lumos – Lunchtime, L1.4 & L1.5
• The Irregular – Lunchtime, LH2.6
• Physics Olympiad – Lunchtime, R4.1
• Round Square Club – Lunchtime, LH3.8
• Senior Acting Club – Lunchtime, Drama Studio
• Matthew Talbot – 6:30 AM – 8:14 AM (Offsite)
• Francophone Culture Club – After School, L13

Tuesday

• Beekeeping Club – Lunchtime (Week B), LH Rooftop
• Environment Club – Lunchtime (Week A), LH Rooftop
• Gardening Club – Lunchtime, LH Rooftop
• Chinese Culture Club – Lunchtime, L12
• Book Club – Lunchtime, Roseby Library
• CODEx – Lunchtime, H16
• Senior Theatresports Club – Lunchtime, Drama Studio
• Chemistry Olympiad – Lunchtime, R41

Wednesday

• Painting Club – Lunchtime, LH1.3
• Science Club – Lunch 1, R42
• History Club – Lunchtime, LH4.4
• Start-Ups Club – After School (3:30 PM – 5:30 PM), LH4.9 & LH4.10

Thursday

• Bougainvillea/NBCC – Lunchtime, LH3.1
• Chess Club – Lunchtime, H19
• Duke of Edinburgh – Lunchtime, LH3.6
• eSports Club – Lunchtime, LH3.7 & LH3.8
• Textiles Club – Lunchtime, LH1.6
• Model UN – Lunchtime, LH2.7 & LH2.8
• Junior Olympiad – Lunchtime, R41
• Mock Trial – After School (4:30 PM – 6:30 PM), LH2.6

Friday

• Printing Club – Lunchtime (Week A) / Tuesday (Week B), LH1.7
• Titration Club – Lunchtime, R31
• Biology Olympiad – Lunchtime, R42
• Senior Production Club – After School, Drama Studio
• Debating – After School, Learning Hub Levels 2, 3 & 4

Startup Bootcamp: Idea to Action 

T1: Wednesdays 3:30-5:30pm 

The perfect introduction to innovation and entrepreneurship with a learn-by-doing approach. This exciting new extra-curricular program is open to students in Years 7-11 wanting to experience “startup life”. Anyone can join, not just students with existing entrepreneurial projects or ideas. 

Working with a team of Experts in Residence each week, and hearing from guest speakers from the startup ecosystem, you’ll be well supported as you explore innovative new ideas and even turn one into a real-world startup venture! 

Whether or not you actually plan on becoming an entrepreneur, the transferable skills, bias towards action, resilience, and creative confidence you’ll build through this program will help you excel in every aspect of school, work, and life. 

See the brochure for more information! 

Live link to brochure and sign up

Year 8 Camp

Redlands prides itself on its values-driven, real-world education. Our Camps are integral to this.

Building upon prior outdoor camp experiences, The Outdoor Experience is a transformative program designed to foster leadership, teamwork and resilience in students.

Set in the picturesque Myall Lakes, this program centres the student experience on group dynamics and collaboration. Through a variety of outdoor activities, students will face challenges that require them to work together, communicate effectively, and support one another.

A key focus is the development of empathy and compassion. Students will learn to understand and appreciate the perspectives of their peers and and how to be part of a community.For all information prior to departure (including the packing list), please visit the following link.

Student Medications

All student medication must be accompanied with a Redlands Medical Authority Form. MAFs are located on the Outdoor Education Camps section on Pulse.

Year 7

Stage Assembly  

This week’s Stage Assembly was filled with exciting opportunities including  StartUp Bootcamp (more information below!) and the upcoming school musical, High School Musical! The musical is taking place in Week 6 at The Concourse, Chatswood and is an amazing demonstration of the talents of our students (with some Yr 7 students included!), both onstage and backstage. Personally, I think this is one of the highlights of our school calendar and I encourage you to book your tickets here before they sell out! 

Book Your Tickets

We also celebrated four students who have embraced the start of their Secondary School journey with dedication, kindness and perseverance. Congratulations to Clara, Reuben, Esther and Edward, who received With Heart Awards for their commitment and contributions. The whole cohort is embodying the values of With Heart as they navigate this new chapter. Keep up the fantastic work! 

Start Up Bootcamp: Idea to Action 

T1: Wednesdays 3:30-5:30pm 

This exciting new extra-curricular program is open to students in Years 7-11 wanting to experience “startup life”. Anyone can join, not just students with existing entrepreneurial projects or ideas.

Working with a team of Experts in Residence each week, and hearing from guest speakers from the startup ecosystem, you’ll be well supported as you explore innovative new ideas and even
turn one into a real-world startup venture! 

Full Day offsite to the MQ Incubator

Evening Pitch event

See the brochure for more information!  

Club Focus: Book Club ????

“Book Club is a cosy and great environment where students from Yr 7 to Yr 12 talk, smile, laugh and connect with each other and books. It’s an escape from overwhelming life and you forget about any problems or stress. Book Club is a safe place, a second home, an escape from reality. From the free food to the random tangents it is the place to be and the place you’ll love.” 

Emilie Thomas 

Club Focus: Run Club ????

“We are two Year 7’s that started run club this week with four other kids. Run Club is a great opportunity to meet new friends, get ready for cross country and improve your overall fitness. We run from St Leonards park, around 1-4 times and back, it has lots of hills with a mix of flat areas. It is a great way to challenge yourself (especially if you’re in year 7)! Regardless of age or experience, Run Club is a great way to put yourself out there and try your hardest. For example, today we got PB’s for trying to catch up with the older kids. In conclusion, you don’t have to be the best runner to join you can come for a good time!” 

Scarlett Coles and Beth Millar  

Year 7 Meet and Greet Parent Event

Tuesday 4 March, 5.00pm

Meagan Barr
Year 7 Advisor
mbarr@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Head of Junior School

What a fantastic week it has been, highlighted by our 3-6 Cross Country Carnival yesterday! It was an event filled with enthusiasm, determination and most importantly, the incredible spirit of our school community. Watching our students push themselves, support one another and take part with such commitment was a wonderful spectacle.

The Cross Country Carnival is a great event because it highlights to the students the importance of striving for our personal best. Whether they were leading the race or simply aiming to finish, each and every runner demonstrated the spirit of perseverance. It is this dedication to effort that makes us grow – not only in sport but in all aspects of life. The ability to set goals, challenge ourselves and push beyond our comfort zones are qualities that will serve our students well in their learning and future endeavours.

I would also like to commend all of the students who participated to not only achieve their personal best, but also to earn points for their House. Not everyone enjoys running, and for some, stepping up to the start line took immense courage. Yet, so many of our students took part to earn points for their House, showing a wonderful sense of team spirit. Being a member of a team means sometimes doing things we find difficult, and I congratulate every student who gave it their best for their House and School.

Encouragement and support were also standout aspects of the event. The cheers from the sidelines, the pats on the back at the finish line and the kind words exchanged between competitors demonstrated the School Values in action. These moments of sportsmanship remind us that celebrating others’ achievements does not take away from our own but rather enhances the experience for everyone.

Finally, a heartfelt congratulations to every single competitor. Regardless of where you placed in the race, your willingness to participate, your determination to finish and your ability to lift others up make you all winners in the truest sense. A special thank you to our staff and volunteers who ensured the event ran smoothly and to our families for their continued encouragement and support.

Finally, I would like to extend my appreciation to parents for your cooperation in observing the new car line pick-up procedures. These changes have proved to be far safer and the system is becoming quicker every day as everyone learns their role. A reminder to drivers to please display the nameplates on the passenger visor using the rubber bands provided. If you need a replacement nameplate, please contact reception.

Twilight in the Garden

Our Twilight in the Garden event provides a wonderful opportunity for our new families to connect with our school community on the Fahl Garden on our Senior Campus. We are expecting this to be another sold out event for parents and carers, so please purchase your tickets here.

International Women’s Day – March Forward Breakfast

Monday 10 March, 7am-9am

Redlands is pleased to announce the first event in our inaugural ‘Voice Notes: Illuminating Issues that Matter’ series. The series aims to spark conversation on issues impacting education and will span a range of topics across 2025.

We are starting the year by marking International Women’s Day with a breakfast event in conversation with Australia’s e Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. An event not to be missed.

Please also save the date for future Voice Notes events throughout the year: 

Term 2: Gen AI: Who’s Really in Control?
Thursday 8 May – evening event

Term 3: The Future of School: Seeing Around Corners
Thursday 7 August – breakfast event

Term 4: Navigating a Changing World
Thursday 30 Oct – evening event

Musical Tickets Now Available

Book Your Tickets Here

Learning Plus Volunteers

Learning Plus (support) are looking for volunteers with weekday availability and a desire to contribute regularly to the Redlands student community working with Yrs 7-12.

We need calm and confident community members who understand confidentiality. We need writers (scribes) and readers. You need to have legible handwriting and the ability to communicate in English.

Our volunteers find this a rewarding activity and a fantastic way to support students at Redlands.

We need volunteers to start training now! 

Contact sprovisions@redlands.nsw.edu.au to express your interest or request more information. 

Michael Quach
Head of Junior School
mquach@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Redlands House and PreKindergarten

Lunar New Year Celebrations

What a fantastic celebration of culture! Lunar New Year is such a special time for many communities around the world, filled with traditions, delicious food and joyful gatherings. Opening your doors to family and friends to celebrate together made this a wonderful experience, fostering a sense of connection and community. Thank you to Ms Hamilton for organising the event, and a special thank you to all the parents who helped make this event successful and fun for the Redlands House students.

Seniors and PreK Sport

This week, our focus was on enhancing gymnastics skills and hand-eye coordination. Students practiced log rolls, forward rolls, balance beam activities, as well as jumping, hopping and skipping. Additionally, they engaged with the mini trampoline to further develop their motor skills.

The PreK students particularly enjoyed playing with large balls, while also demonstrating notable improvement in their hand-eye coordination through activities involving smaller balls.

Supporting a Sense of Belonging

Children have a strong need for affiliation and a strong sense of belonging after separating from their caregivers. When separating, children instinctively seek their own protection and membership by forming close attachments to their peer group. It is essential to encourage positive interactions and bonding with new peers to promote resilience and restore a sense of belonging. Remind the children of their support resources, such as their teacher, and encourage children to seek out new experiences and form positive relationships with others.

Separation anxiety is a common experience for many children, and parents can be faced with many challenges when it comes to dropping off their little ones at preschool. It can be tough for both the child and the parent to manage the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. However, with patience, understanding and some helpful strategies, you can make the separation process smoother.

Establish a Consistent Routine

Children thrive on routine and predictability. Establish a consistent morning routine that includes comforting activities such as cuddling, reading a favourite book or singing a familiar song before heading to school. Consistency provides a sense of security for your child and can ease their anxiety about leaving you. Pack bags the night before to minimise morning chaos.

Stay Calm, Positive and Confident

Children possess remarkable perceptiveness and can easily sense your emotions. Therefore, it’s essential to remain calm and composed during drop-off, even if you’re grappling with your own anxiety. Offer gentle words of encouragement and remind your child about the enjoyable activities awaiting them at school. Your reassuring presence can significantly ease their anxiety. When providing explanations, strive to be concise and straightforward, avoiding a tone that might sound pleading.

Create a Goodbye Ritual

Establish a special goodbye ritual that provides comfort and reassurance to your child. It could be a secret handshake, a special hug or a kiss on the hand. Whatever ritual you choose, make it meaningful and consistent. It signals to your child that you are leaving but will return later.

Resist the Urge to Hover

While it’s natural to want to linger and make sure your child is okay, hovering can prolong the separation process and increase your child’s anxiety. Once you’ve said goodbye, trust that your child is in capable hands and resist the urge to constantly check in. Short and sweet is key! 

Acknowledge Your Own Feelings

Separation anxiety isn’t just challenging for children; it can also trigger strong emotions in parents. It’s okay to feel guilty or worried about leaving your child but remember that separation is a normal and healthy part of their development. If you’re struggling with your own emotions, seek help and try not to let it interfere with your child’s morning drop-off.

Picture Books 

These can serve as a valuable tool for initiating conversations with your child about their fears and concerns. Engaging stories and colourful illustrations provide a non-threatening platform for addressing difficult topics. For a curated list of picture books designed to help children navigate their fears and anxieties, you can explore the following link. In addition to this, we’d recommend The Invisible String by Patrice Kart and The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. 

Extra Resources

Common Concerns with Separation Anxiety

Soothing your Child’s Separation Anxiety

Kids Health Article – Separation Anxiety 

Twilight in the Garden

Friday 21 February, 6pm

Our Twilight in the Garden event provides a wonderful opportunity for our new families to connect with our school community on the Fahl Garden on our Senior Campus. We are expecting this to be another sold out event for parents and carers, so please purchase your tickets early here.

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

Deputy Head: Students (K-2)

It has been another fantastic week in the Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms. Now that the children have settled in, they are really starting to dig deeper into their learning and their inquiry units. We also held our first K-2 assembly, which was a special opportunity for the children to come together and celebrate.

Drop-Offs

Just a little reminder that morning drop-off is between 8-8.20am. Please could we ask that parents leave when the bell rings (or before), so that the children can line up and get to their classes quickly and smoothly. Many thanks.

Sustainability

We are keen to introduce the children further to the United Nations’ 17 World Sustainability Goals. Year 1 are working on composting, and we are encouraging children to recycle waste food in our ‘Foodcycler’, which can be put back into the garden.

If your child or family have been working on living a more sustainable lifestyle (such as reducing food or water waste, or completing a beach clean-up) then please let us know by sending a short email explaining what you have been doing, along with a photograph to: kpontes@redlands.nsw.edu.au and we will display them in our Reception area.

Kindy PE!

A very warm welcome to our Kindy students! We have had a wonderful few weeks playing games and working on fundamental movement skills. Our focus has been on jumping and landing, running, hopping, skipping, throwing and catching.

We are well-resourced and have access to a wide range of gymnastics equipment, which the students have enjoyed using to develop their core strength and balance. The trampolines have certainly been a big hit!

Jacqui Longworth
Junior Campus PDHPE Teacher

Twilight in the Garden

Our Twilight in the Garden event provides a wonderful opportunity for our new families to connect with our school community on the Fahl Garden on our Senior Campus. We are expecting this to be another sold out event for parents and carers so please purchase your tickets early here.

Ashley Bentley
Deputy Head: Students (K-2)
abentley@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Deputy Head: Students (3-6)

We warmly invite parents to join us for our fortnightly assemblies, where we celebrate student achievements, share important updates and enjoy special class presentations. Each assembly is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their learning, and we would love for you to be part of these moments.

If your child’s class is presenting an item, we encourage you to come along and support them. Assemblies provide a chance to connect with the school community and see firsthand the wonderful things happening in our classrooms.

Please check roster below to find out when your child’s class will be presenting. Assemblies are held from 1.50pm – 2.20pm. We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating our students together!

Twilight in the Garden

Our Twilight in the Garden event provides a wonderful opportunity for our new families to connect with our school community on the Fahl Garden on our Senior Campus. We are expecting this to be another sold out event for parents and carers, so please purchase your tickets here.

International Women’s Day – March Forward Breakfast

Monday 10 March, 7am-9am

Redlands is pleased to announce the first event in our inaugural ‘Voice Notes: Illuminating Issues that Matter’ series. The series aims to spark conversation on issues impacting education and will span a range of topics across 2025.

We are starting the year by marking International Women’s Day with a breakfast event in conversation with Australia’s e Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. An event not to be missed.

Please also save the date for future Voice Notes events throughout the year: 

Term 2: Gen AI: Who’s Really in Control?
Thursday 8 May – evening event

Term 3: The Future of School: Seeing Around Corners
Thursday 7 August – breakfast event

Term 4: Navigating a Changing World
Thursday 30 Oct – evening event

Kate Moore
Deputy Head: Students (3-6)
kamoore@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Secondary Sport

In sports, hard work is the foundation of success. Athletes spend countless hours training, refining their skills, and pushing their physical and mental limits. This dedication is what sets them apart and allows them to achieve their goals.

Perseverance is about continuing to strive for success despite facing obstacles and setbacks. In sports, this could mean recovering from injuries, bouncing back from losses or overcoming personal challenges. It’s the ability to keep going, even when the going gets tough.

Athletes must constantly learn and adapt. This involves studying their own performances, understanding their opponents, and staying updated with the latest techniques and strategies. Continuous learning helps athletes stay competitive and improve their game.

Success in sports often requires significant sacrifices. Athletes might have to give up leisure time, social activities or even certain comforts to focus on their training and goals. These sacrifices are a testament to their commitment and determination.

At the heart of it all is a genuine love for the sport. This passion fuels the hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifices. It’s what keeps athletes motivated and driven to achieve their best.

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pelé

Pelé’s words remind us that achieving greatness in sports (or any field) requires dedication, continuous effort and a passion for what you do. Do you have a favourite athlete or sport that inspires you?

Mr Graham Nes
Acting Head of Secondary Sport

Redlands Secondary Sports Calendar

• Saturday 14 February – ISA Round 8
• Monday 17 February – ISA Basketball Trials
• Tuesday 18 February – CIS Girls Football Cup
• Thursday 20 February – CIS Boys Football Cup

Winter Sport Registrations – Now Open!

The Winter 2025 Sport Registrations opened on Monday 10 February. Students are reminded to check Redlands Pulse for their sporting commitments, noting that all sports will have 2 mandatory training sessions per week, with all 1st teams (AFL, Football – Boys & Girls, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Tennis – teams 1-3) having an additional Strength & Conditioning session. These sessions are designed to help ensure youth athletes can actually tolerate their sporting loads and develop strength, power, coordination, balance and resilience, and the gym won’t overload them. This is completed via Clipboard.

Students in Year 7 – 11:

1. Choose a Representative Sport where you have 2 training and Saturday Sport commitment
2. Choose a Non-Representative Sport where you will have a commitment on Thursday afternoons (there are additional costs involved with non-representative sport)

Students in Year 12, 2025:

1. All year 12’s are encouraged to do a Representative or Non-Representative Sport for the Winter Season or choose to utilise the school study space.

Moonbah Term 1 Students:

1. If you completed a Non-Representative Sport for the Summer 2024/25 Season, then you must choose a Winter Representative Sport (you will trial for your teams during the first weeks of Term 2)
2. If you completed a Representative Sport for the Summer 2024/25 Season you can choose a Non-Representative option or a Winter Representative Sport.

Moonbah Term 2 Students:

1. If you completed a Non-Representative Sport for the Summer 2024/25 Season, then you must choose a Winter Representative Sport (you will be placed in teams for Term 3 competitions)
2. If you completed a Representative Sport for the Summer 2024/25 Season you can choose a Non-Representative option or a Winter Representative Sport.

To see a breakdown of what sports are on offer, timings cost where applicable please see Redlands Pulse – Secondary School Sport (then each individual sport for the Winter Season)

Winter Representative Sport has a Saturday commitment to it with most matches taking place on Saturday mornings (the majority of games are an hour commitment anywhere between 8:00am and finishing by 2:00pm – not including travel time). Please keep this in mind as you complete this form.

This online process of Winter Sport selection is the only method of registration. Emails to the Sports Department will not be accepted.

Performance & Wellbeing Workshop

Elite Performance & Wellbeing Solutions for Emerging Athletes

Empowering Female Athletes for Success in Sport and Life

As part of the school holiday programs, we are excited to offer a Performance and Wellbeing Workshop designed to equip emerging female athletes and students with the essential tools to enhance their performance and overall wellbeing. Elite Performance & Wellbeing Solutions for Emerging Athletes is an insightful and practical session led by a team of industry-leading experts in sports science and athlete health.

This presentation is tailored specifically for female high school-aged students who aspire to reach their full potential in sport while maintaining physical and mental wellbeing.

The workshop is open to all girls in Yrs 7-12 is mandatory for all Secondary School Girls 1^st teams from the Summer Term 1 2025 and Winter Term 2 2025 seasons.

What to Expect

You will hear from an esteemed panel of professionals who specialize in optimizing athletic performance and long-term health:

• Dr Nicole Sly: Sports & Exercise Physician – Learn about injury prevention, recovery strategies and the importance of managing workload.
• Ashleigh Gellert: Physiotherapist – Understand the role of movement, strength training and rehabilitation in staying injury-free.
• Ashleigh Brunner: Advanced Sports Dietitian – Gain insights into optimal nutrition strategies for energy, recovery and peak performance.
• Suzie Rhydderch: Clinical Psychologist – Discover techniques to build mental resilience, manage stress and foster a strong athletic mindset.

Event Details

Location: Redlands Hall
Date: Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 April 
Time: 8:30am – 10:30am
Cost: $40

Registration Link: HERE

Registration Closes: 10:30am Monday 10 March 

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert knowledge and practical strategies that will help you thrive as an athlete. We look forward to seeing you there!

Basketball

Redlands Basketball families, please save the date for our End-of-Season Basketball Dinner and Awards Night, celebrating the 2024/25 season. Join us on Thursday 27 March from 6:00pm to 9:30pm at Dee Why RSL. The evening will feature lucky door prizes, a special guest speaker and trivia – a great way to wrap up our season and celebrate our players.

Simon Gleeson
Director of Basketball 

Fitness Centre

Over the holidays and first few weeks of Term 1, the Fitness Centre has had some welcomed additions to the space with new equipment and new initiatives and processes to better support students in their programs and experience in the gym. 

Our new programming application, Lumin Arc, will allow staff within the Fitness Centre to create greater individual considerations for students amongst our program structure and improve the ability to track progress throughout training programs and provide feedback. Students who sign up for open gym or attend an Firsts session will be provided with their program via this application – more information can be found on Clipboard in the activity selection. 

Injury Clinic

Redlands has recently welcomed the introduction of an Injury Clinic in collaboration with HRPS Physio. This new Triage Clinic located in the Health Centre on Monday mornings is designed to support student follow up from incidents reported at Sport over the weekend and create a plan of action and guidance for both students and parents. Led by Chris Bailey and Luke Heath, HPRS Physio has an extensive history in athlete rehabilitation and return to sport, both working in elite and high-performance sport (AFL, NRL, Rugby 7’s, A-League). Students will be provided with an appointment time following incidents reports via Clipboard and parents can contact mlundquist@redlands.nsw.edu.au for further information. 

Football

• Reminder that the Football Registration is still open please go to Clipboard for details
• Congratulations to our Alumni Football Player Jasmine Black who was selected for the Australian Junior Matildas!
• CIS Cup 2025 information: we have two teams representing Redlands Football .
• Girls Senior team will play on Tuesday 18 February at Valentine Sport Park against Arndell Anglican College, 2:30pm kick off.
• Senior Squad team will play on Thursday 20 February at Cromer Park 1, 9:15am kick off.

Hockey

It was great to see the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos playing in the Sydney Pro League over the weekend. The future is definitely looking bright for Australian Hockey! Before the Winter season commences, Redlands will be offering a Mouthguard fitting on site by PROFIT. The fitting will be on 5 March. Those who elect to use this service will have to fill out a form and return it on the day.  More details to come once Winter Sport selection closes – all Rugby students will be emailed.

Netball

Welcome to another exciting year of Netball at Redlands Secondary School!

As the Director of Netball, my primary responsibility is to ensure our Netball program provides the highest level of support for both players and coaches. My goal is to create an engaging environment where every player can thrive, both on and off the court. At Redlands, we strive to develop smart, thinking Netball players who have the confidence to adapt in every situation.

Our coaching philosophy revolves around fostering a fun, test-fail-learn culture. This approach encourages players to take risks, learn from their experiences and grow. By embracing this mindset, we believe players will not only enhance their Netball skills, but also develop key life skills such as self-mastery and effective problem-solving, and the ability to deliver their personal best when it matters most.

I’m a lifelong lover of Netball, having coached and played from beginner to elite levels throughout my career, and I look forward to working with our passionate coaches and dedicated players to continue to raise the bar and make this netball season one to remember.

Here’s to a great season ahead!

Hollie Shukri
Director of Netball

Sailing

We have had great sessions back this term and a friendly welcome to all our Year 7 students. As we come closer to the end of the season, we wish all the best to our Pacer Sailing students in the following regattas

• ACT Sailing Regatta – 22-23 February
• Pittwater Sailing Regatta – 1 March
• NSW All School States Sailing Regatta – 14 – 16 March

Rowing

Term 1 has commenced with a flurry of regattas along with some strong training by all year groups and crews.

Roseville Regatta

Almost all of our Girls crews travelled to Iron Cove to race in the Roseville regatta with the Girls 1^st crew remaining at Mosman RC for training. Some of our notable results are outlined below but special mention should be reserved for the Year 10 and Senior small boats that managed to bring home some bling.

• SGYr8 2x: 2^nd – D.Corneli, M.Tahuil-Gonzalez
• SGYr9 Div1 4x+: 3^rd – S.Yates, S.Halliday, O.Polok, E.Hurley, Cox: L.van Hulsen
• SGYr9 Div2 4x+: 3^rd – M.Hugman, A.Beatty, J.Kwan, A.Connell, Cox: K.Benoliel
• SG 4x+: 2^nd – F.Richardson, K.Budden, S.Polok, I.Campbell, Cox: L.Chen
• SG 4x+: 3^rd – Z.Halliday, I.Crennan, G.Hurley, L.Wainberg, Cox: C.Pedro Inacio
• SGYr10 2x: 1^st – L.Goodland, I.Solgaard
• SGYr10 2x: 1^st – E.Simpson, L.Forsyth
• SGYr10 1x: 1^st – A.Ford
• SGYr10 1x: 2^nd – G.Ford
• SGYr10 1x: 3^rd – Z.Trevena
• SGYr8 1x: 3^rd – P.Brown
• SGYr10 Div1 4x+: 2^nd – A.Ford, L.Goodland, G.Ford, I.Solgaard, Cox: L.van Hulsen
• SGYr10 Div2 4x+: 3^rd – A.Crennan, S.Kaye, E.Simpson, L.Forsyth, Cox: L.Law
• SGYr10 Div3 4x+: 3^rd – M.Hugman, Z.Trevena, O.Polok, S.Yates, Cox: K.Benoliel
• SG 2x: 1^st – F.Richardson, K.Budden
• SG 1x: 2^nd – L.Wainberg
• SG 1x: 3^rd – G.Hurley

AAGPS Regatta

The Year 8 and 9 Boys travelled to Hen & Chicken Bay on Saturday 8 March to race against the GPS schools. The combinations were mixed up to allow some additional races with Year 8 students also competing in the Year 9 divisions.

NSW State Championships

A select group of students attended the NSW State Championships at Penrith on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March. Athletes, clubs, and schools from around the country attend this regatta which is now viewed as a miniature national championship.

Some of our notable results include the following:

• CWU17 2x: Semi-Final – L.Goodland, I.Campbell
• CSB 4x+: 4^th in Final – J.Meek, H.Dobson, C.Morrison, A.McInnes, Cox: A.Lee
• CMU16 2x: 6^th in Final – C.Feros, C.MacDonald
• CMU16 4x+: 8^th in Final – F.Kerr, C.Feros, C.MacDonald, R.MacLochlainn, Cox: J.Feller
• CWU21 4x: 5^th in Final – K.Attard, J.Hugman, A.Winder, A.Hwang
• CWU16 1x: Semi-Final – P.Brown
• CSG 2x: 6^th in Final – A.Winder, A.Hwang
• CMU19 4x: 4^th in Final – J.Meek, H.Dobson, C.Morrison, A.McInnes
• CWU17 1x: Semi-Final – L.Forsyth
• CMU17 1x: Semi-Final – K.Newman

Year 7 Term 1 Rowing

We have been delighted with the progress so far of the Year 7 students on water. The coaches have had them on water each session so far with the coaches coxing each crew. They had their first morning session recently on Thursday morning and are now at a stage where they are starting to cover distances greater than 1km each session.

In coming weeks we will look to group students into crews with the intention to settle on combinations for training on Saturday 1 March to lead into the NSW Heads of the River regattas.

Rowing Presentation Dinner

Presentation dinner for students and families from Year 8-12 will be held on Tuesday 1 April with doors open at 6:00pm and formalities commencing at 6:15pm at Zest (Spit Bridge). Ticket sales for this will open in early March.

James Petering
Director of Rowing

Snowsports

As winter approaches, we will be hosting an information session on Tuesday, 18 February, in the Junior School Library. This session is specifically for all new families joining the Redlands Snowsports program.

If you plan to attend, please complete the FORM to confirm your attendance.

Tennis

We had a great day of trial matches on Saturday – well done to all students. We are looking forward to starting the NSTA Comp this Saturday 15 February. Please check Clipboard for your teams and location of your match this week.  Please be on time for your match and ensure you complete the scoresheets with your results.

The Development Squads will be playing at Mosman Lawn Tennis Club – please check your time.

Good luck to all teams!

Touch Football

End of Season Celebration: 25 March 

All players from Years 7-12, including their families, are encouraged to attend our End of Season Celebration where coaches will announce season award winners.

Purchase your tickets here

Trainer of the week: This season we will name players/trainers of the week throughout the term on Note Day each week. These players demonstrate commitment to the team in training and strong performance in games.

• 1sts Girls: Sam Wighwtick, Mintie Field
• 2nds Girls: Kat Lam
• 3rds Girls: Inge Anderson, Charlotte Dubenviore
• 4ths Girls : Mikka Currie
• 5ths Girls: Mel Franco, India Harrsion, Sami Beck
• 6ths Girls: Alice Franchesci
• Junior A Girls: Agnus Anderson, Mila Lipscomb
• Junior B Girls : BYE
• Junior C Girls : Elosie Kelly, Sophie Wong
• Junior D Girls : Josie Perry
• 1sts Boys : Rafael Rolon
• Junior A Boys : Nova Sebel
• Junior B Boys: Jeremy Beggs
• Year 7: Henry Whelan

Looking ahead:

• Saturday 15 February (Term 1, Week 3) – ISA Round 8
• Saturday 22 February (Term 1, Week 4) – ISA Round 9
• Saturday 1 March (Term 1, Week 5) – ISA Round 10
• Semi Finals – 8th of March
• Grand Finals – 15th of March

Rugby

As students undergo their Winter sport selection, please jot in your diaries 5 March for Mouthguard fittings buy PROFIT for those who want. Those who elect to use this service will have to fill out a form and return it on the day.  More details to come once Winter Sport selection closes – all Rugby students will be emailed.

Jordan Bird  
Director of Touch Football and Rugby

General Sport Information

Fixtures

• All student training and fixture details will be available to families under My Schedule on Redlands Pulse. Additionally, the weekly Fixtures (The Redlands Rhino) can be found on the Secondary School Sport page on Redlands Pulse from Wednesday each week. Please ensure you check Redlands Pulse Friday afternoon to ensure you have the latest fixture information.

Uniform

• The Redlands sports uniform should be worn to all trainings and matches (students are not permitted to wear any non-Redlands branded clothing). In the event of inclement weather students should wear their Redlands fleece or sports tracksuit.
• Students must wear trainer style sneakers that are preferably white with non-marking soles. It is part of our shared responsibility to ensure that students wear footwear that aligns with the activity to be undertaken. High top sneakers, Vans, Converse etc. are not appropriate for School Sport.

Saturday Sport Absences

• Parents are required to log an absence via the Sports Absence Form available on Redlands Pulse – Secondary School Sport (under ‘Quick Links’ prior to missing any training session or weekly fixture.
• Any student unable to attend a Saturday fixture due to illness, is required to submit a Medical Certificate to their Sports administrator by the Monday morning following the missed fixture.
• Injured students are required to attend all training sessions and Saturday fixtures.
• Failure to do any of the above will jeopardise a student’s eligibility for Colours, Pockets, and Awards and result in school disciplinary action.
• Please refer to the Student Planner 2024 for full details on requirements for participating in a Representative Sport.
• Bus Transport
  • When travelling on Redlands transport the Redlands school rules are in place and students should be always upholding the values of the school:
    • Have good behaviour, safe behaviour and appropriate language at all times.
    • Follow the driver (and supervising staff) instructions at all times.
    • Obey the transport rules and regulations at all times (seat belts must be worn at all times).
    • Leave the bus how they found it (no rubbish, no mess).

Students who fail to meet the standards of the above will face school disciplinary action.

Wet Weather

• Unless communicated differently or in the morning of the session (via Redlands Pulse & Clipboard), all training sessions are to be deemed ‘on’.
• Students should bring with them a change of Redlands Sport Uniform (Thursdays only) or their school uniform (Tuesday) if there are light showers during training.

Redlands Concussion Protocols and Updates

Following the publication of the AIS Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport, the School has released a new Concussion Procedure along with a Concussion Referral and Clearance Form and a Graduated Return to Sport Framework. These documents can be found on Redlands Pulse and are linked below:

• Concussion Procedure
• Concussion Referral and Clearance Form
• Graduated Return to Sport Framework

In addition, we have published a Concussion Information Sheet which summarises how concussion is managed and the pathway a student must follow to return to competition.

• Concussion Information Sheet

Key points include:

• recognising red flag signs or symptoms of concussion (call 000 immediately)
• a student suspected of concussion must follow the graduated return to sport framework before they can return to competition
• a parent/carer is now required to take their child to a healthcare practitioner within 72 hours of the incident for the initial consult and again after 14 days symptom-free (at rest) before the resumption of contact training

Please read the procedure and if you have any queries on how a student will be managed following a suspected concussion, feel free to reach out to the designated Concussion Officer for each campus.

The following staff members have been designated as the Concussion Officer for each campus:

• Ms Mia Lundquist (Secondary School)
• Mr Eddy Atkins (High Country Campus)

Summer Sport

A reminder that all key information for the season has been uploaded onto the Secondary School Sport page of Redlands Pulse, if you have any additional questions, please reach out to the appropriate Sports Administrator listed at the bottom of this page.

Sports Photos

All Sports Photos are available for parents to view / purchase on the SPA Images Website 

Photo Library >> Schoolsports 2022-24 >> select your sport

Password (redlands2024) Redlands has an agreement with SPA Images that we will only use the images for marketing purposes.

Melba has finalised all photos taken of sport teams and co-curricular activities and they are now available for parents to view and purchase. Please visit the Melba Studios website, Select the ‘Schools’ icon. The password for access is winnie.

Summer Sport – Key Contacts

Junior Sport

Cross Country Carnival

Under beautiful conditions we held our Cross Country Carnival at St Leonards Park yesterday. Year 3 students were perhaps the most excited and enthusiastic group as this was their first Cross Country Carnival and are to be commended for their participation and spirit. While races were run in grades, the use of the entry number system allowed the data to be put back into separate age groups and it was pleasing to see some very fast times across the board. Thank you to the following parents who assisted as event marshals on the day;

Mayumi Staley, Karalee Fielding , Monique Scatinni, Kym Morcos, Leah Schramm , Dene Gambatto, Sonia Vatcher 

Congratulations to Roseby House who won the House cup. Congratulations to captains Zoe Todd and Rafael Mascheroni who led their team to victory.

Winning House

• 1st Place – Roseby                1210 points
• 2nd Place – McDouall           1189 points
• 3rd Place-  Cowper               1184 points
• 4^th Place – Dumolo                1165  points

Congratulations to the following students who were named Age Champion and Runner up on the day

IPSHA Team

Congratulations to the students announced at our sport assembly on their selection in the 2025 Redlands Cross Country Team. Our team, made up of the top 5 finishers for both boys and girls in their respective age group (not the grades they ran in at the event) will now run at the IPSHA carnival. Students announced as part of this IPSHA team at our assembly were presented with their ‘bus ticket’, securing a place on the school bus to this event. Those students selected in the Redlands team will now be attending IPSHA Cross Country and parents will receive an information package for this event once IPSHA has sent attending schools final information. 

Redlands Cross Country Carnival Photos

As you would be aware, we organised for a professional sports photographer to attend the Junior School Cross Country Carnival to take some photos for parents and the School. There are some great shots online for you to view and or purchase or download. Please follow the steps below to view this folder that is only accessible to Redlands families and will be uploaded in the coming days

Log In Here

1. Click prompt to Access Gallery
2. Select – Redlands Icon
3. Select – 2025 folder
4. Select Event i.e. Junior Cross Country Carnival
5.  Enter: Name & Email Address
6. Enter Password: Dunnet01
7. Select- View album

There’s a whole range you can choose from. Prints, Personalised Prints, Canvas, Framed Photos, Digital Images to mention a few.

IPSHA Tennis

Congratulations to Andy and Zac from Year 6 who represented Redlands at the IPSHA Tennis trials earlier in the week. The boys performed to the best of their ability and should be commended on their selection. Special mention to Andy who was selected into the IPSHA Tennis side which will now compete at the CIS Championships later this term.

Rep Sport Summer Sport Term 1

Good luck to all our sporting teams who commence their summer sport season this week. A reminder to check your app each week in regard to your child’s team as our teams are ‘fluid’, meaning teams may change from week to week depending on 3 main criteria:

ABILITY                    in direct comparison to other students across the sport

ATTENDANCE        any student who misses 2 games in a season unrelated to sickness may be moved

ATTITUDE                this is based on behaviour at trainings, on game day and not limited to the sporting arena

Parents and carers are reminded to check the teams each Friday afternoon for changes that may have taken place at training during the week. Students may at times be asked to fill in for other teams occasionally due to absentees etc.

Representative Sports – Saturday Morning Match Wear

Just a reminder for all families who represent Redlands in Saturday Sport, only Redlands Sports Uniforms and match day kit is to be worn. Each family should own either a school tracksuit and or a fleece that they can wear over the top of their playing kit if they are cold.

Any incorrect item will now be confiscated as all students have received the same message.

Non-Rep Sport recommencing Term 1

Students were reminded about the three ‘rights’ and how they impact upon their involvement in Redlands Sport in Term 1. Students are asked to adhere to these;

• Right place
• Right time
• Right equipment

Can you please ensure your check your child’ activities to see what sport they are commencing in this term making sure they bring the appropriate gear and or equipment to sport.Non rep families are also reminded to check the home page of Pulse as well as their individual sport pages on a regular basis for updates.

Redlands Pulse Orientation and Navigation Video

Our intranet, Redlands Pulse, is the first port of call for all Junior School Sport related enquiries. A video has been produced to show you how to navigate through Pulse. You can view this short video here.

Redlands Pulse

The Junior School Sport pages on Redlands Pulse will continue to be the ‘source of truth’ for all information relating to sport this term. I am asking that if parents have an enquiry relating to sport that your first port of call will be the Junior School Sport section of Redlands Pulse.

Sport Information Booklet

For all Sport information regarding what sports we offer when, how to navigate our documents, as well as information on Uniforms and Carnivals please refer to our Parent Information Booklet on Pulse.

Parent Sport Presentation

As a reminder for the structure of sport in the Junior School please select the following link to view a short video which has proved beneficial in the past both to new and returning families.

Sport at a glance  

Term 1 Upcoming Dates

For Term 1 upcoming dates and key events these can be viewed by selecting this link.

Sport Calendar

The sport calendar for Term 1 onwards is available online on Junior School Sport Page. You can also view it by selecting here; 2025 JS Sport Calendar

Wednesday Sport Inability to Train

If your child has an injury that prevents them from training, please send through an email to Junior Sport juniorsport@redlands.nsw.edu.au requesting they ‘sit out’ of training for that particular session. We can then forward this to the relevant external coaching staff. Where applicable please include when they can return to normal training, so coaches are aware of this. That way coaching staff are aware of an injury that prevents them from participating at the venue but also allows us to be aware of periods where they are medically required to ‘sit out’.

Representative Sport Student Absence

If students are absent on match day, parents are required to complete this online absence form. This will allow your responses to be passed on electronically to your child’s coach efficiently and at short notice. The Student Absence link can also be found on the Junior School Sport Page on Redlands Pulse.

Please don’t hesitate to view our Sport Information page on Redlands Pulse if you have any questions pertaining to Sport.

Mr Trevor Dunne
Head of Junior Sport
tdunne@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022

Dance Academy

Thank you so much for taking the time to read last week’s Note Day. We’re pleased to see that our week is running much smoother, with class transitions and pick-up points working better. Junior parents are reminded that if your child has a gap between the end of the school day and the start of their Dance classes, you can either pick up your child or sign them up for OOSH at a reduced rate. Please see OOSH for further details.

Volunteers

We have one box of green costumes left from the 2024 EOYC that needs washing! If anyone could kindly volunteer to wash them, it would be greatly appreciated. A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers who have done an outstanding job already washing and folding and to Jenny Krallis for organising as well as washing so many of these costumes!

Teachers have been thrilled by the positive and focussed environment they are teaching in, with such a wonderful cohort of students who are loving their dancing and making progress already! Please remember to pack hair/bun kits so that we can make sure that students are properly prepared for their classes. Neat hair tied back off the face is proven to provoke focussed learning in dance.

After Dance Parent Pick-Up Point

Our parent pick-up point is located in front of the play equipment outside Parkes Hall.

At the end of class, Monday – Friday, unless your child is going to OOSH, Academy staff will escort students to the parent pick-up point. Please meet you child promptly at the pick-up point. Any students remaining after 5 minutes will be taken to OOSH, which may incur a fee.

At the end of class on Saturdays, Academy staff will escort students to the parent pick-up point. Please meet you child promptly at the pick-up point.

Please see the map below for the location of the parent pick-up point. 

Dancing at Moonbah

We had our first Moonbah online class on Tuesday with our Year 9 Intermediate and Advanced 1 Ballet students. They are looking forward to their Jazz and Contemporary classes. The space is great, and although 7am seems quite early for class, they are embracing it. What a fantastic way to start the day!

Senior Performance Groups

Preparation is already in progress for our Senior Performance Groups. We are working behind the scenes to ensure we enrol in the most appropriate performance opportunities. Details will be out very soon!

Away From Class

If you child is sick or will miss their dance class, please complete our RDA ABSENCE FORM

Enrolling in Dance

Enrolments are still open. We offer Ballet, Character, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical and Tap classes.

For details on dance classes offered please visit our RDA TIMETABLES Pulse page.

To enrol CLICK HERE.

Any Questions?

For the most up-to-date information on all things dance please

CLICK HERE FOR REDLANDS DANCE ACADEMY PULSE PAGE

And please contact us with any questions, concerns or feedback.

A reminder that if you wish to make an appointment to speak with Ms Revie, please contact the Dance Department.

Thank you for your continued support.

Ms Gilly Revie
Head of Redlands Dance Academy
grevie@redlands.nsw.edu.au
02 9908 6488 

Dance Curriculum

Important Dates

Any Questions?

Please contact us at amoore@redlands.nsw.edu.au with any questions, concerns or feedback.

Mrs Ashleigh Moore
Subject Coordinator of Dance (Acting)
amoore@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Drama and Theatre

Extracurricular Drama Program

We hope everyone is enjoying their first week back with the Drama and Theatre Extracurricular program.

Please follow these links to find information concerning  pick up times and process and general timetabling information on Pulse.

Please feel free to contact the Drama and Theatre Office drama@redlands.nsw.edu.au at any time if you have any queries you don’t find the answer for on Pulse.  Catherine MacKinnon, our Administrator, is here to help you.  When emailing, please tell us your students full name, Year Group and class they’re either enrolled in or are interested in.

Also, a friendly reminder that Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 Musical Theatre classes all finish at 5pm in Semester 1 with a 5pm pick up at the Gerard Street Gate on the Senior Campus.

Amber Virtue and Catherine MacKinnon
Extracurricular Drama and Theatre Team

Senior Excursion to OnStage

Music

Please come along on next Thursday 20 February at 6pm for our start-of-year Friends of Music Meeting. It is a great opportunity to see what the Friends of Music is all about, or more generally find out about our program and ask any burning questions. 

We are grateful for the enthusiastic support of our Friends of Music who give their time because of their belief in the importance of creativity, community and collaboration.  We extend the invitation to all Junior and Secondary School parents to consider becoming one of our Friends of Music (FoM) in 2025!  To find out more, feel free to leave your details via the Friends of Music Expression Form.

We are excited for another year of music making, and we can’t wait to see you at our many events this year!

Ensembles are Back!

It’s great to hear the excitement through the corridors as the first Band, Strings and Choir rehearsals have begun. Our ensembles are energised and ready to go for a fun and rewarding year ahead!  

One of the most rewarding pay-offs for any young musician is when they can join their music-making with the music-making of their peers. Time spent practising scales and parts in disciplined solitude at home, suddenly finds rich reward when their part is layered with another part and another part – creating something bigger and far more exciting than we can ever achieve on our own. Important life lessons are imbued in the ensemble context, and it’s no wonder that wellbeing benefits are proven and extensive, as we learn to take musical risks in a shared way – supporting, stretching and succeeding alongside our peers.

We are so fortunate at Redlands to have such support for the Arts, with rich and diverse opportunities for our students to develop themselves creatively. This week saw beaming smiles on faces, and a fresh, chatty buzz in corridors and classrooms as our ensembles from P-12 launched for 2025. 

Introducing… the Adjudicators for the Performance Competition Finals!

We are excited to announce that we have brought in the best of the best to adjudicate the finals of our upcoming Performance Competition. The adjudicators we have selected are at the top of their field, renowned performers in each of their respective categories. And here they are!

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be doing features of these amazing adjudicators, as well as revealing our Alumni Adjudicators for the Semi-Finals next week. Stay tuned! 

Music Performance Competition – Sign Up Now!

The Music Performance Competition is now live! The competition is open for all instrumentalists, vocalists and pianists from Yrs 3-12 who are taking private tuition.  Registrations are due by 8:00am Monday 24 February Week 5. 

Click HERE to learn more and sign-up! 

Jazz in the Garden

What’s a better way to kick off the year with a “launch-of-season” musical event where you can lie back and enjoy some Jazz? That’s right, Jazz in the Garden is coming on Saturday 15 March.

Jazz in the Garden is back bigger and better than before. We’re excited to be including ensembles from both the Junior and Senior Campus to launch our year. 

The following ensembles will be performing:

• Junior Jazz Band
• Junior Voices
• Senior Voices
• Jazz Combo
• Intermediate Stage Band
• Advanced Stage Band
• Intermediate Guitar Ensemble
• Advanced Guitar Ensemble

Please keep your eye on Note Day for a link to book tickets in the coming weeks!

Meet the Team: Junior Academic Music

Meet our Junior Academic Team! Capably led by Ms Moses, the Junior Academic team are dedicated to outstanding music curricular and cocurricular experiences in P-6. They are early education experts who are masters of their craft.

Events Term 1

Our Term 1 events are live on our Pulse Music Calendar: We encourage all parents to bookmark this page to keep an eye on what attended events are available throughout the year. 

Here to help!

Keep your eye on Pulse and the MUSIC EVENTS page to ensure key dates are all on the family calendar and reach out to your campus Music Office if we can assist in any way.

Mrs Jacqueline McGlade  
Junior Music Administrator | juniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au | 9908 6495
CLICK FOR  JUNIOR MUSIC PULSE

Ms Kirsty Hales
Senior Music Administrator | seniormusic@redlands.nsw.edu.au | 9968 9820
CLICK FOR SENIOR MUSIC PULSE 

Ms Katherine Moses
Junior Campus Music Subject Coordinator (P-6)

Ms Victoria Williams
Secondary School Music Subject Coordinator (7-12)

Mr Mathew Owen
Director of Music Performance (P-12)