From the Principal

As we come to the end of the year, it is great to see the Christmas spirit alive and well around Redlands. Earlier this week we held the Junior Campus Christmas Carols and Redlands House End of Year Christmas Concert, and tomorrow we will hold the Secondary School Christmas Carols. Each celebration has been marked by festive cheer, colourful attire, important Christmas messages and, of course, wonderful music. We also look forward to students and families joining us for our Redlands Community Carols at St Peter’s Anglican Church from 5pm this Sunday 3 December.

It has also been great to see the Christmas spirit shine through Service Learning initiatives across the School. On the Junior Campus, students have been collecting gifts for Anglicare’s Toys and Tucker program for those in need, while on the Senior Campus each House has had a Christmas drive for their designated charity: Cowper – Matthew Talbot; Dumolo – Children’s Medical Research Institute; McDouall – First Nations Reconciliation; Roseby – Headspace. In addition, on Monday afternoon 35 Junior Campus students from Redlands House to Year 6 performed a Christmas concert for the residents of Mackillop Grange Retirement Village which included dance, violin and Christmas carols. 

The profound impact they had on that community was summed up by the following reflection shared by one of the residents at the end of the concert: “It gives us great hope, because in this gloomy world of war, hate and greed, you have shown us – by giving us your time and your talent – your generous spirit of caring and sharing. You are tomorrow’s world, and our hopes for the future.”

As I reflect back on my first year as Principal, I am so proud of all our many and varied accomplishments, whether in service, leadership, academic or cocurricular pursuits. My focus for this year was on reconnecting community, and I truly believe our community is now as strong or stronger than at any time over my seven years at the School. While I will share more in my Speech Day addresses next week, I want to especially thank you, the parents and carers, for your continued partnership in support of your children, our staff and the School. I also thank all members of our community who supported us this year in raising funds for the means-tested Dr Sue Morey AM Scholarship, the restoration of the Liggins building and the expansion of our High Country Campus.

A specific strategic focus this year has been on integrating and advocating sustainable best practices across the School, and I am proud to say that Redlands has been recognised for our efforts in being awarded the 2023 Sustainable School of the Year at the 2023 NSW Environmental Education Awards on Friday evening. A huge congratulations to all of the students and staff across the School who have driven our sustainability efforts and in particular, our Sustainability Manager, Kimberlee Chipper.

I wish you and your families a safe, joyous and blessed Christmas and holiday season, and look forward to seeing you at our end of year events next week.

Mr Sean Corcoran 

Photo Caption: It was wonderful to get into the Christmas spirit at the Junior Campus Christmas Carols and Redlands House End of Year Concert this week. 

Community Update

It was such a joy to attend our Junior Campus Carols and Redlands House and Transition Gold End of Year concerts this week. Our youngest students dazzled our staff, parents, grandparents and carers with stories, carols and songs that reminded us of all of the significance and importance of this time of year. I have also caught myself whistling Feliz Navidad through this week, one of the highlights from the concerts.   

With over 500 uniform fitting bookings made to date, our Uniform Shop has been extremely busy outfitting incoming and existing families into the new uniform.  This exciting project has seen the first review of our uniform in 40 years, culminating in a new era of school attire that is stylish and comfortable, that allows for individual choices and proudly identifies our students as part of our school community. A reminder that the new uniform will be transitioned into the School over two years beginning at the start of Term 1, 2024 and concluding at the end of Term 4, 2025. For those families wishing to responsibly dispose of their existing uniform items, we are currently finalising a recycling program through our sustainability team and this process will be advised shortly.

With the end of another school year approaching, the Redlands Parents and Friends Association continue to actively bring our various groups together. A number of social events still remain in the calendar and these can be found here along with our 2024 events.

My thanks to all of the important groups of committed and generous volunteer members for their assistance and support through 2023. In particular JP Forrest and Brittne Whitelaw, the respective outgoing and incoming Presidents of the RPFA, Grahame Petersen, Chair of the Foundation Advisory Committee, Natalie Davies, President of the Redlanders Alumni Association and Karen Nicholson, Chair of the Friends of Groups, thank you for your leadership and guidance through an extraordinary year of connection for our community, highlighted by our Autumn Fair and Gala Ball. 

We are fortunate at Redlands to have a community with a strong and generous tradition of service and giving and we thank all members of our community who supported us this year in raising funds for the means-tested Dr Sue Morey AM Scholarship and the expansion of our High Country Campus.

I have been overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of our community through 2023 and look forward to meeting more of our parents and carers through 2024.

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

The Community Engagement team wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful break with your family over the festive season and summer holidays.

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

Foundation

Legacy Gift Class of 2024

I was delighted to attend the Year 12 Assembly and share with our students the history and importance of this student-led initiative which started in 2016. I was impressed to hear from students’ first hand what LEGACY means for them and how interested they were to hear what previous cohorts left behind.

Year 12 have opportunity to volunteer next year in various areas and this provides an additional opportunity for leadership, teamwork, time management and service.

Thank You

I would like to thank all members of our community for your incredible support this year. All support (monetary or volunteering) gets us closer to build a long-lasting Culture of Giving at Redlands. Thank you to all our donors who supported us this year for the Dr Sue Morey AM Scholarship, the Liggins Restoration Appeal and the High Country Campus Appeal.

Our journey will continue next year with the High Country Campus Appeal raising funds for the expansion of this wonderful campus outside Jindabyne for the Year 9 Experiential Learning Program and we will provide a further update at the beginning of next year regarding the naming of another means-tested scholarship.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and peaceful and enjoyable break.

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

Redlands Parents and Friends

Second Hand Textbook Sale – for Current Yr 6-11 Students

A final reminder not to miss the Second Hand Textbook sale next week on Mon 4 December.  A great initiative to ease pressure on the wallet and the environment! Book lists have been sent via email and are also available on year group pages as well as the RPFA secondhand book sale page. Please see more information on Pulse. If you do want to purchase some second hand textbooks, we suggest you don’t complete the Box of Books order until you know what books can be fulfilled. Any books you wish to donate from this year to the sale would be greatly appreciated. Big thanks to the dedicated parent volunteers making this sale come to life: JP Forrest, Kate Kesby and team! All proceeds raised will go to the Dr Sue Morey AM Scholarship Fund.

Coming Up

Parent / Family Get-togethers  

Walks on Tracks

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.

We will be doing TWO walks before we say goodbye for the Christmas break.

1 Dec we are joining the Walk Against Family and Domestic Violence in Mosman. Led by Mosman Mayor Carolyn Corrigan, the walk will begin at Rawson Oval on 1 December at 10am and conclude at the Headland Park Artist Precinct in Georges Heights.  Book tickets!

Our usual walk is set for 6 Dec Mosman to the Rocks. Meet at Mosman Bay ferry.

Any questions, please contact Ann Marie on 0406 691 533.

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, including annual attendance at the Sydney Writer’s festival in May. If you would like to join Book Club, or simply want to know more, please contact Monica or Sabiha.

Our Christmas lunch took place today where we discussed Mans’ Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Stay tuned to join us again next year!

Behind the Scenes with RPFA: Meet your Class Parents

Class Parents (CP) play a pivotal role in building connections and fostering a supportive social spirit among parents and children outside the classroom. From welcoming new families, organising class playdates and events, to facilitating communication between the school and families, these dedicated superstars are the backbone of the Redlands community. Follow this series each week to meet your 2024 Class Coordinators and Parents, put a face to a name, discover what they do, AND keep an eye out for opportunities to join the team!

Names: Jennifer Harris and Jenny Krallis
Shared Role: Prep School Class Parent Group Coordinators for 2024
Kiddos: Kindy, Year 1, Year 2, Year 6, and Year 8.

CP Five with Jennifer and Jenny

 If you could choose a Class Parent theme song what would be the title?

 “I’m only one WhatsApp away” (sung to the tune of “I’m only one call away”)

 Why did you decide to be a Class Parent?

Redlands has a wonderful community of staff and families who work together to really support all our children. Taking on the PCG roles is our way of helping to foster this community. It’s also a great way to make friends across different year groups who you may not necessarily interact with regularly.

Why would you encourage other parents to volunteer for this role?

It’s really great knowing that you’ve helped families build connections that will last them throughout their time at the School (and often beyond). In particular you can have such a positive impact on families that are new to the School.

If you could trade places with your children for a day what would you most want to experience?

Jenny K –  Maths lessons because the way maths is taught now feels much more inspiring than the way we learnt back in the day…  and I’d definitely audition for the school musical.

Jenny H – Music lessons! I’ve always wished I could play an instrument. Year 7 recorder was as far as I got unfortunately! Our children are so lucky to have the opportunity to choose from so many instruments. Perhaps my kids can teach me ????.

Thank you to all our wonderful Prep, Junior and Secondary School parent volunteers who have worked so hard this year to welcome new parents, connect the parent community within their year groups, help parents find answers to their questions and share school information. From Your Coordinators Nancie Pageau (Secondary School), Michelle McDonald and Catherine Grinham (Junior School), Jenny Krallis and Jennifer Mast (Pre and Prep).  xxoo

Parent Power Needed: Join the Team in 2024!

Next year, teachers and Class Parent Coordinators will be doing a Shout Out for Class Parents and Year Coordinators.  A great opportunity to meet other parents and get involved in your school community. All you will need is a sense of fun, enjoy people wrangling, a Working With Children Check, and have a spare couple of hours a week. Keep an eye and ear out for the call for volunteers in Week 1 of school next year, or let us know now if you are interested here.

The Week in Pictures                                            

On behalf of the RPFA, our 2023 Class Parent Coordinators arranged thank you gifts for support teachers and staff. Class Parents and Year Parents arrange end of year thanks you for the individual class teachers across the Prep, Junior, and Secondary School. Thank you to everyone for their generous donations to show our appreciation for all of the hard work at Redlands to ensure our children shine!

Pre, Prep and Junior Schools joined forces and were able to provide support staff and teachers who work across the two campuses with $75 gift vouchers, which can be spent across 70 different brands. Additionally, each staff room received an edible chocolate tree to help spread the joy of Christmas and gratitude across the teams.

At the Secondary School, Parent Reps and their Coordinator organised individual gifts for the Year Group support team (Year Advisor, Assistant Year Advisor and Tutors) and beautiful hampers will be delivered to each of the supporting departments.

The festive spirit was buzzing at the Year 8 drinks at the Fernery!

Over 35 students from Redlands House to Year 6 performed a Christmas concert for the Mackillop Grange Retirement Village and shared 85 handmade Christmas cards. The residents enjoyed the visit so much they asked the students to perform again next year. Thank you to Rebeccah Rothwell and Bing Lin for bringing this wonderful initiative to life.

Outgoing/Incoming RPFA Exec Team Lunch

Today’s Legacy Fair

Do you have pictures of parent / family get-togethers you want to share?

Please send them to RPFA Note Day.

A Final Few Words From the RPFA President

Wow! What a busy, fun-filled year it’s been! From our Twilight drinks in our beautiful Fahl Garden, to our humongous Autumn Fair, fabulous Gala Ball and more recently our much-loved Melbourne Cup event…combined with all the wonderful coffee catch ups, class and year dinners, picnics and end of season Friends of Group events! I think it’s safe to say that our community has fully embraced and celebrated our first year of ‘return to normal’ after the isolation of COVID! On that note, the newly elected RPFA committee would like to extend a massive thank you to the outgoing RPFA Executive Committee, and the awesome teams who have gone above and beyond as PCG coordinators, Class and Year Parents, Friends of Group leaders and all the other amazing volunteers throughout!

We are so lucky at Redlands to embody an inclusive and welcoming culture and we look forward to celebrating this in 2024, Redlands 140th Birthday year. Our first event to kick off the year will be the Twilight Drinks in the Fahl Garden on 16 Feb 2024, so please lock in the date! In the meantime, we hope you have a most wonderful holiday season, are able to spend some treasured time with close friends and family, and have a chance to re-fuel for another wonderful year ahead! We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you in 2024.   

Brittne Whitelaw

RPFA Committee

President: Brittne Whitelaw
Vice President: Carrie Taylor
Secretary: Jennifer Mast
Treasurer: Joe Russo
Committee: Monika Crennan, Michelle McDonald, Lisa Middlebrook, Karen Nicholson, Emma Okhovat, Sophia Stewart-Kasimba

Contact us!

Head of Secondary School

Study Centre Evolution for 2024

Independent Learning Supported by Dedicated Offerings and Spaces on Redlands Senior Campus

In 2024, the Study Centre will be expanded to three distinct spaces to support student independent learning, underscoring our commitment to deepening a culture of wellbeing and supporting and challenging students to achieve personal excellence. We are excited to announce and offer our Illuminate Scholars Program.

Independent learning is the personal learning students engage in outside of school hours and/or timetabled lessons. Independent Learning encompasses, but is, much more than ‘homework’ and includes active and regular revision, application of knowledge and collaborative experiences which enhance academic growth and success.

A range of age and stage appropriate offerings for Secondary School students, supported by clearly delineated spaces, bolsters students’ engagement with independent learning strategies and underpins an academic culture defined by high expectations and high support.

Offerings and Spaces for Independent Learning During the School Term

Roseby Library

Year 12 Study Hub: Learning Hub Level 2

Illuminate Scholars Program: Learning Hub Level 3

Illuminate Scholars is an opt-in extra-curricular program (paid), open to students from Year 7 to 12 who wish to engage independently in a supported environment for an extended period of time, from one to four nights per week.

The Illuminate Scholars program enables students to have greater access to support and guidance via Academic Coaches (tutors) who may be high performing Redlands alumni, university students, Education students and retired teachers, able to provide academic support across Mathematics, English, Science and other subjects.

Students will receive afternoon tea and dinner.

Personalised Possibilities

Depending on a range of factors such as a student’s age, Coaching Conversation Goals, cocurricular commitments and living arrangements, there may be a desire or need to engage with the Illuminate Scholars program one or more days per week, or more often in one particular term. A discussion with the Year Advisor and Dean of Studies may support a deeper understanding of a student’s needs. Students who need to develop their executive functioning capacity or those who require a dedicated space for study in a ‘high support and high expectations’ environment will benefit from the Illuminate Scholars program.

Redlands Christmas Carols Friday 1 Dec

On Friday 1 December, students will be attending an afternoon filled with joy and compassion at our school’s “Festive Day of Compassion and Carols”.

The day kicks off at 12:00 with a Carols Service in Redlands Hall, accompanied by our dedicated Tutors from McDouall and Cowper.

Simultaneously, on Level 2 and 3 of the Learning Hub, Dumolo and Roseby will lead Compassion and Gratitude Activities. Students from various Year Groups will engage in rooming activities, fostering a sense of unity and compassion. The day continues post-lunch with more activities in Redlands Hall, creating lasting memories of compassion and celebration. For a touch of festive spirit, students are encouraged to wear a hint of Christmas attire, such as red ribbon or antlers. A gold coin donation is also welcomed, with all proceeds contributing to our Christmas causes. Please note that all students are required to wear their normal school uniform on Friday 1 December.

Secondary School Speech Night 

Wednesday 6 December 

Here is a summary of the information sent to all families via a Pulse Notification last week. We look forward to celebrating the year’s achievements for students in Years 7-11 at Secondary School Speech Night next week.

The final few days of Term 4, 2023 look to be joy filled and fun. We have some exciting community events lined up for the students and staff, culminating in Formal Assemblies on Tuesday 5 December before Speech Night on 6 December. I hope you have a beautiful Christmas, filled with joy and generosity. Thank you for another great year – the support, cooperation and trust of parents is so valued by the Redlands Secondary School Staff. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

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

Uniform Shop

Uniform Appointments

All families are welcome to make an appointment for a new uniform fitting for 2024.  Bookings are available this year until 14 December and again from 8 January to 25 January.  Please click HERE to make an appointment. 

A few reminders for transitioning into the new Redlands uniform:

• There will be a two year transition period. All students should be in the new uniform from Term 1, 2026.
• During this transition period, students can choose to wear either the new uniform or the old uniform.  They cannot mix elements of old and new uniforms. 
• The only exception to this is the blazer.  Junior and Secondary School students are permitted to wear the new blazer with their old uniform or their old blazer with the new uniform.

Holiday Opening Hours

Please click HERE to see our holiday opening hours for December and January.

Uniform Returns/Exchanges

The Uniform Shop will accept returns and exchanges on our current uniform providing tags are still attached for the remainder of this term. Please check if you have any items and return them to us as soon as possible.

Blazer Embroidery

Students requiring embroidery on their blazers can drop their blazers to the Uniform Shop after Speech Night on Thursday 7 or Friday 8 December.  We are unable to accept embroidery on new blazers until the end of Term 1 2024.

Please email uniformorders@redlands.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions. 

University and Careers

Please see the Careers Pulse page for more information on events, pathways and career exploration.

University Rankings- What they Mean and their Value

Learn More

Upcoming Events

Sydney Design School Information Sessions

30 November, 1pm

We run Info Sessions throughout the year to introduce our courses, unique philosophy, Educators and industry focused approach to learning. Our Director Amanda Grace gives a presentation and hosts a Q&A. Info Sessions are free to attend. Register Here

UNSW | #CareersUnlocked: Trends, Threats, and the Future of Cyber Security

30 November

In today’s digital age, cyber-crime is skyrocketing at an unprecedented rate. The cyber security industry is set to nearly triple in size over the next three years, making it a field of unparalleled growth and opportunity. Here’s a staggering fact: the industry demands more than 16,000 cyber security professionals. That’s right, this field is not just growing; it’s booming! In fact, Australia is estimated to increase its computing capacity by around 250% over the next two years. But how can you seize these exciting career opportunities?

Join a distinguished panel of academic and industry experts as they unravel the complex landscape of cyber security. You’ll gain invaluable insights into the rising trends and imminent threats and understand why hacking is on the rise, directly impacting businesses and personal lives. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to unlock your career in one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving industries of our time. Find out More

QUT Campus Tours

1, 6 and 8 December

Book Here

University of Sydney | Alumni Festival

2 December

Finishing school and curious about what university life might be like? Join us at the University of Sydney for the Alumni Festival. With the campus open to everyone, this is your chance to explore behind the scenes of some of our state of the art facilities, discover the colleges and get hands on with our exciting research. We’re excited to give our future students opportunity to connect with some of our incredible alumni – including big names like Dr Karl, Jordon Raskopolous and Adam Liaw – and show off our incredible campus. Find out More

UNSW | Info Week

13-15 December 

Join us at our Info Week events to get personalised advice and all the information you need to finalise your UAC preferences. Your ATAR doesn’t have to be a make or break. Info Week is your opportunity to learn more about your transition to uni – tour our campus, attend lectures, and chat with current students and academics to explore how your UNSW journey could look. Find out More

University of Newcastle | ATAR Info Day 2023

14 December

Join us on campus at our ATAR Info Day to get all your questions answered to kick start your uni journey! If you have questions about studying in 2024 or didn’t quite get the marks you need, our ATAR Info Day is a chance to chat with our admissions and pathways teams to help you understand your adjusted ATAR and entry options. Bring your mates and grab a free bite to eat, relax with some live music and talk to our team about degrees, changing preferences and alternative entry options. You’ll also have the chance to take a tour of our beautiful campuses and chat with current students to find out what uni is really like. Our info sessions are held on the day that ATARs are released and prior to the close of change of preferences for consideration in the December Round 2 (14 December), so it’s perfect timing to get the advice you need to finalise your UAC application. Find out More

Sydney University Info Day

15 December

Students attending will have the opportunity to get personalised course advice before finalising their UAC preferences, along with information sessions and campus tours. This is their chance to experience Sydney.

UTS | Info Day

15 December 

Info Day is your chance to explore undergraduate course and pathways options. Speak 1:1 with UTS staff, attend an info session or join a campus tour to discover more about your options at UTS. Find out More

Explore Your Options at Macquarie

12–17 December 
10am to 4pm every day
On Campus and Online
Book Now

Selective Universities Virtual Presentation

John Hopkins University, University of Toronto and Cambridge University 

13 December 10am 

Register Here

Sydney Design School Experience

17 January 2024 9.30am – 4pm

Workshop in January for creative students in Years 10 – 12. It’s ideal for anyone considering a future in design to find out about a career in interiors. Experiment with colour, explore materials and discover 3D rendering tools. Find out what an Interior Designer does, meet our Educators and get a feel for our School. Designer for a Day Workshop
Ground Floor, 65 Berry Street, North Sydney. Cost $99 Register Here

Medical Ethics – Free Live Session

20 January 2024

500 free places for students aged 14-18 to join a free session focused on medical ethics. During the session our doctors will explain why it’s vital to understand medical ethics when applying to med school and how to understand moral dilemmas and ethical questions doctors face every day. It’s highly likely that you’ll be asked ethics questions designed to test your understanding of medical ethics so it’s really important you understand some of the questions you will face at medical school interviews. Register Here

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

Year 11

Key Dates

• 22 November Peer Support Training for New Yr 11
• 22 November Student-Led Conferences Online
• 5 December Last Full Day of Term 4
• 6 December Speech Night 
• 30 January First Day of Term 1
• 6 February SS Swimming Carnival 
• 28 March SS Cross-Country Carnival 
• 15-29 April Term Break 
• 28 June Yr 12 Formal 

Planning for a Productive Summer

This summer will be a different break for our Yr 12 cohort. This is a summer that will be time for rest, recuperation and rejuvenation. However, it is also a time for planning, consolidation, reflection and preparation. Today, this message was shared with the cohort and will be reinforced tomorrow in our Year Meeting. Please see guidance and resources provided to students below for ensuring they are prepared to have a summer with some routine and focus.

Why Study During the Holidays?

It’s crucial that you are using your summer break to get ahead in your studies. It is a great time to catch up and consolidate all that you have learned, fill in any missing gaps in knowledge and prepare for what is to come next year.

This will reduce your stress levels during the start of next year as you will feel ready to continue on with your studies.

There are 4 things you should do every school holidays

1. Revise subject content
2. Study ahead for the next term
3. Get on top of your assessments
4. Relax!

Some helpful tips on how to do this:

• Create a study plan with reasonable goals
  • Write down dates of events or plans that you have – if they are in your schedule you won’t double book yourself and then be demotivated when you didn’t use the time to study
  • Create reasonable goals – be specific and break them into small manageable goals
  • Set yourself deadlines
• Study in small chunks:
  • Use the Pomodoro techniqueLinks to an external site. for time management – this is where you take a 3-5 minute break every 20-25 minutes and then a long (15-30min) break every 4 pomodoro sessions.
  • Study first thing in the day
• Catch up on notes:
  • Go through your syllabus
  • Prioritise catching up on your notes for your least confident topics

Revise what you covered last term

• Consistent and spaced repetition will help you commit content to memory
• Study with a friend – make a plan to meet at the Library or someone’s house
• Work on your assessment tasks that are coming up in Term 1

Examples of different study timetables for the holidays

View Here

Christmas Carols

Tomorrow, Christmas Carols Service will take place for students during P4 or P5. The Heads of House and the House Captains have organised for students to participate in various service initiatives along with the Carols Service. Thank you to all students who have been running and organising these special holiday events for our students.

Thank you to the following students who will be performing at the Christmas Carols service tomorrow: Olivia Everingham, Tara Gold, Ahnu Guan, Will Howard, Hallie Hunt, Sholto Mirrlees-Black, Scarlett Thorp and Jocelyn Wang.

Ms Alissa Ynson
Yr 11 Advisor
aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9865   

Year 10

2024 Melbourne Universities Tour

Science Symposium

Year 10 were involved in a Science Symposium where they were required to present and discuss their latest research findings, ideas, and engage in discussions on various scientific topics. There were a range of different scientific disciplines presented. A panel consisting of staff and executive members evaluated the projects, and commendations are in order for the following students:

• Communication/Presentation: Cam Simpson – Lets Bounce!
• Most impressive scientific methodology: Amynta Field – Slip, Slop, Slap
• Most original idea: Anoushka Lee – How do different liquids affect lipstick pigment?
• Overall winner: Aiden Van Hulsen – Which materials are better flood prevention?

University of Sydney Challenge

Earlier in November, eight Year 10 high achievers in Science and Design Technology spent a day being young entrepreneurs at the University of Sydney, learning about renewable fuel solutions and pitching their own innovative idea that uses, or amplifies the use of, renewable energy. The day began with Professor Kondo-Francois Aguey-Zinsou, a leading scientist in hydrogen fuel and storage, sharing his research about the opportunities for green hydrogen to be used as a sustainable energy source. Drawing from his inspiration, Redlands students worked with peers from different schools to ideate and prototype solutions for a sustainable future from hydrogen-powered buses elevated on stilts to solar-powered filtration systems and compost bins with movable parts. Of the eight students, five pitched an idea that made it into the final round of judging. Well done to Andreas, Andrew, Lachlan, Katherine, Marko, Michael, Thea and Tobe for their individual out-of-the-box thinking and excellent collaborative skills.

Mock Trial

The NSW Mock Trial Competition is an exciting opportunity for Year 11 students (2024) interested in law, public speaking, acting and critical thinking to participate in simulated courtroom trials. Redlands are looking for a collaborative and passionate team of six students to form this co-curricular club. All details were emailed to Year 10 this week.

Key dates

30 November              Year 10 Harbour Cruise (7-10.15pm)

1 December                Secondary School Carols Service (onsite)

3 December                Community Carols, St Peter’s Church (5-6.30pm)

5 December                Final teaching day of term.

6 December                Speech Night (The Star).

Merry Christmas

Yr 10 has celebrated many successes this year, and the rewards have far outweighed the challenges. The Pastoral Care team are privileged each day to participate with our cohort’s academic journey. We recognise and applaud just how hard they have worked and the outstanding effort they have consistently applied. We celebrate their achievements whether they be great or small and share with pride the progress they have made with their learning.

I would like to thank the wonderful members of our Yr 10 Pastoral team. Throughout the year, they have collaborated to inspire, support, and encourage our students through their Year 10 year. The creation of opportunities provided for each individual to be the best version of themselves has been wonderful watch, and they have endeavoured to instil in our cohort, the courage and motivation to make an effort, and character to seek and endure challenging tasks.

Lastly, may your holidays sparkle with joy and laughter, and your summer break be full of peace and happiness. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2024 as our students begin their Yr 11 studies.

Merry Christmas, and best wishes for the new year.

Ms Lisa Vale
Yr 10 Advisor
9968 9837
lvale@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Year 9

A Year in Reflection 

This year has unfolded with a tapestry of amazing experiences for our Yr 9 cohort. From the enlightening immersion in Arnhem Land to the collaborative and inspirational Yr 9 Experience Project Week, our students have navigated challenges and celebrated numerous successes. It’s been a journey where the rewards far outweighed the obstacles.

We understand that Yr 9 is a time of grappling with various demands—heightened academic expectations, shifts in friendship dynamics, and the quest for autonomy and identity as budding young adults. It’s a privilege for Mr Millham and me to guide this cohort through their academic and personal journeys. As we approach the year’s end, I want Year 9 to recognise that their stories are just beginning, and exciting opportunities await as they transition to Year 10.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the dedicated members of our Year 9 Pastoral team. They serve as key mentors, working tirelessly to support, set high expectations, and encourage our students to be the best versions of themselves. The Pastoral team has instilled in our cohort the courage and motivation to engage with the world around them. Together, we acknowledge and applaud Yr 9’s hard work, celebrating their achievements, whether large or small, and taking pride in the progress they’ve made. It’s been wonderful to witness each individual step up and embrace opportunities this year.

To all Yr 9 families, I wish you a joyous and restful break, whether in Sydney or abroad. May it be a time of rejuvenation, connection, and happiness. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you back in 2024 as our students embark on their Year 10 studies.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and the very best for the new year.

Mrs. Lucienne Willis

Key Dates

• 1 December                Secondary School Carols Service (onsite)
• 3 December                Community Carols, St Peter’s Church (5-6.30pm)
• 5 December                Final teaching day of term.
• 6 December                Speech Night (The Star).

Mrs Lucienne Willis
Yr 9 Advisor
lwillis@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Year 7

Yr 7: A Year of Firsts; A Year of Growth

As we come to the end of the school year, it is a fitting time to consider the transformation and growth we have seen from our Yr 7 students this year. The wide eyed, a little scared and a little confused young people who walked through the school gates in January are now far behind us. Yes, there have been some challenges along the way but with the support of their Tutors and school staff, the cohort has leant into those challenges, always with an eye towards learning how to be their best selves. There is still a lot of learning and opportunities for growth to go, but Yr 7 have officially made it through their first year in the Secondary School, and we are so proud of their achievements and the caring, compassionate and courageous people they are becoming. They had some wonderful moments this year where they were able to ‘let their light shine’. While there are far too many events to name, a few moments stand out as particularly memorable:

• Yr 7 Camp – this a challenging time for many due to the physical demands of canoeing, mountain biking and hiking, all while navigating a new cohort and developing new friendships.
• The Swimming and Athletics Carnivals – both of these events brought students together supporting each other in their House groups and challenged them individually to get involved physically by swimming a length of the pool, running a lap of the stadium or launching themselves over the sand in long jump.
• NAPLAN – students were pushed to demonstrate their literacy and numeracy skills in their first formal examination setting in the Secondary School.
• Cross Country Carnival – it was wet and cold, but everyone still got out there and ran the course with a smile (or grimace) on their face.
• Peer Support Sessions – a wonderful way for our students to absorb invaluable advice and guidance from our Yr 11 mentors as the cohort were still learning the ropes of the Senior Campus.
• Tutor Coaching Conversations – a space for students to reflect with their Tutor on their successes and shortfalls, developing goals for each term with the aim of building on their strengths and findings strategies to tackle their challenges.
• Yearly Examinations – a condensed time of focus, study and effort, where students were tested on their knowledge and skills, and encouraged to build their examination technique for the future.
• STEAM days – a wonderful couple of days of collaboration and initiative as students worked together to design ingenious ways to reduce waste.

Of course there were also Saturday Sport, Gala Arts, the Musical, Dance events…and the list goes on, beyond the scope of this Note Day entry.

Yr 7 can be commended on the way they have navigated the highs and lows, and everything in between, this year and I look forward to seeing the heights students will climb as they move into Year 8 in 2024.

And for a fun flashback, see below for an image of the cohort directly after Y7 camp in Term 1; my how they have grown!

Rocking in the Quad

Last week ended with some bouncy beats and terrific tunes as a range of Yr 7 musicians performed rock music in the Quad. It was wonderful to see Leo, Apollo, Andy, Eddie, Lucas, Otis and Harley busting out some rocking tunes, in spite of the rainy weather.

Vaccinations

Nobody likes needles and on Friday the majority of Yr 7 were once again faced with the tough knowledge that it was time to be vaccinated, and they would each need to endure the sharp prick of a needle in the arm. Our first round of vaccinations in Term 1 was a tricky affair, with many students being quite apprehensive about the process. This time around, though, it was smooth sailing for the cohort. Yes, there were still a couple of tears, but everyone rolled through the process smoothly, getting their dTpa shot and then going on with their day.

Holiday Ideas and Interesting Reading from The Redlands Irregular

This year, students have enjoyed the interactions and plethora of activities offered by the School’s various cocurricular clubs. One such club is the school’s online newspaper, The Irregular. As the year has come to a close, several students have written review articles on topics such as The Arts at Redlands and the impact of the Matilda’s World Cup campaign on women’s sport. The Irregular has also published some excellent ideas for activities that might bring joy over this upcoming holiday break. You can check out the articles on The Irregular page on Pulse.

Happy Holidays

Mrs Adam and I want to wish everyone all the best for a wonderful holiday break. I hope it offers some lovely time with family and friends, and a time to unwind, recharge and enjoy all the moments having some free time offers us.

We want to thank everyone who has helped Yr 7 find their way this year, particularly extending our gratitude to our Yr 7 Tutors who have worked tirelessly in support of the cohort. They have cared for each student as an individual, seeking to inspire, guide and encourage them towards being their best selves. We greatly appreciate their efforts, as I know the students do too.

I also want to wish our Assistant Year Advisor Mrs Adams all the best for a successful maternity leave. She has been a crucial figure of support to the cohort and we will miss her care, compassion and insight next year – but we look forward to welcoming her back for 2025!

Yr 8 is just around the corner, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2024, ready to tackle a new adventure.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful new year.

Term 4 Key Dates and Upcoming Events:

• Final teaching day of term: Tuesday 5 December
• End of Term and Speech Night at the Star: Wednesday 6 December

Mr Jimmy Tod-Hill
Year 7 Advisor
jtodhill@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462

Head of Junior School

The festive spirit has continued this week and our K-6 Christmas Carol Service was a very special occasion gathering as a Junior Campus.

In this final Note Day of 2023, please take time to read through reminder information about the final events of the term and early information ahead of 2024.

Year 5 Shark Tank

This term, Yr 5 students have developed their entrepreneurial skills through their participation in an exciting Shark Tank unit of study. The cross-curricular learning experience challenged students to apply mathematical thinking, problem-solving and creativity to develop a product that addressed a need within their community. Students worked collaboratively to conduct market surveys, research material suppliers and design product prototypes. In preparing their product pitch, they also investigated market competitors, production costs and profit margins for their business.

Last Friday, one representative team from each class shared their pitch with the year group as part of the Shark Tank Showcase. The finalists were thrilled to receive feedback from special Shark Tank judges: Mr Guha, Ms Green (lnnovation and Entrepreneurial Learning Strategist) and Ms Soldo (Children’s Strategy Leader at UNICEF). The judges and Yr 5 teachers were so impressed with the sophisticated and passionate presentations. Congratulations to the finalists and all Year 5 students for their engagement in this unit of work. 

Staffing News

I am grateful for the dedication and expertise of our staff team and thank them for their collegiality and guidance of every student this year; we know the difference every interaction can make. As we approach the end of term, we say thank you and farewell to the following staff and thank them for their service to our Junior School community.

• Mr Adrian Carter leaves Redlands after thirteen years to take up the role of K-12 Head of PDHPE at Glenaeon School. ‘Coach’ Carter, as he is affectionately known by students and colleagues, will be greatly missed by our community and we have been grateful for his long and dedicated service as both a PDPHE teacher and previous Head of Junior School Sport. As a man of integrity and with a rare ability to teach and relate with equal capability with Preschoolers and Yr 12 students and every age group in between, this leadership opportunity is one that is perfect for Coach Carter and we wish him much happiness in this new challenge for him.
• Mrs Melanie Cleary leaves us after more than a decade as an inspiring Year Coordinator and teacher. As some may recall, Ms Cleary took 2023 off for personal health reasons and I am thrilled to confirm that she is very well but stepping back from full-time teaching. Ms Cleary will pop in next Monday to see students and colleagues which we look forward to.
• Ms Annabel Coome leaves us to return to Victoria and we are grateful for her work in Year 6 over the last two years and her wider contribution to the Junior School.
• Ms Vanessa Jones finishes with us after a year to explore opportunities that align with her passion for wellbeing and Positive Education and we thank her for her contributions this year.
• Ms Holly Farthing leaves our Learning Plus team after concluding her year contract to return to full-time classroom teaching closer to home.
• Ms Courtney Barker-Finegan leaves our Teacher Aide team to travel next year.

2024 staffing information and new appointments will be included in the 2024 start-of-year welcome letter.

Anglicare Toys and Tucker

Thank you to all of our community who have generously supported Anglicare Toys and Tucker campaign again. As was shared with the students this week, theirs and your care and compassion will make such a difference to the Christmas experience for so many children, who are much less fortunate.

Spreading Christmas Cheer in the Community

On Monday afternoon, over 35 students from Redlands House to Yr 6 performed a concert for the residents of Mackillop Grange Retirement Village in Mosman. With dance, violin and Christmas carols, the students created a wonderful sense of Christmas spirit which the residents loved and were greatly appreciative of and they have already put in a request for a return visit next year. At the end of the concert, 85 beautiful Christmas cards handmade by whole Yr 2 were handed out to the residents. 

One of the residents, Wilma Costello, expressed a moving note of gratitude at the end as follows: “It gives us great hope, because in this gloomy world of war, hate and greed, you have shown us – by giving us your time and your talent – your generous spirit of caring and sharing. You are tomorrow’s world, and our hopes for the future. “

My thanks are extended to all of the students involved, supported by their families and most ably coordinated by Prep and Junior School parent, Ms Bing Lin.

Year 6 Graduation Assembly

We are looking forward to welcoming Year 6 parents and carers to join us for our Yr 6 Graduation assembly next Tuesday 5 December, commencing at 2pm in Dunnet Hall.

Junior School Speech Day

A reminder below of the times and arrangements for this final compulsory event for each student with everyone involved in at least one aspect. School blazers are required to be worn by all students for this formal occasion.

Yr 5 and Yr 6 – Time to Save Student’s Learning on iPads

As the year draws to a close, we would like to remind families about assisting their children with managing content and files on their iPads. During the term break, Redlands ICT will recall all iOS Apps that are either deployed or managed by the School. While every effort is made to keep data from Apple Apps such as Pages, Keynote, iMovie etc, from time to time this may be deleted and not retrievable. Our strong recommendation is to back up and save any work students have done during the year to ensure no data is lost.

How can students save their work?

The safest way to protect any work on the iPad is to perform regular backups of your child’s device. Any work that is saved in the cloud will be safe when an App is removed. To mitigate the risk of losing any important work, Redlands ICT recommends performing a back of your child devices and that any particular special work is saved in a secondary location.

How do I complete a backup of our iPad?

Detailed instructions HERE

How do I share important documents via AirDrop?

Detailed instructions HERE

Looking Ahead to 2024

A detailed welcome letter will be sent to all families in the latter part of January outlining important information for the year head. For your reference, please note the term dates below assist you in your planning of any holidays.

2024 Term Dates

• Term 1
  • Monday 29 January (orientation session for new 2024 students only)
  • Tuesday 30 January – Friday 12 April
• Term 2:
  • Tuesday 30 April – Friday 28 June
• Term 3:
  • Tuesday 23 July – Thursday 26 September
• Term 4            
  • Monday 14 October – Wednesday 4 December

Year 5, 2024 BYOD Information

Yr 4 and new families will shortly receive a letter outlining the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) iPad program all Year 5 and Year 6 Redlands students.

It is expected that students will have their iPad ready at school for Redlands network configuration from the first day of term.

More detailed information can be found on the designated BYOD Program Years 5-6 on Pulse.

2024 Stationery Lists

These will be uploaded to Pulse before the end of term and we have considerably reduced the requirements and most stationery being centrally purchased by the School, thus supporting our sustainability drive and ensuring parents are not buying pre-packaged bulk stationery packs.

Thank You and Farewell

2006

2023

I have been humbled and immensely thankful for the various acknowledgments of my tenure at Redlands since 2006 and as Head of Junior School since 2009. I have loved my time here.

I have been grateful for the many personal messages from families, colleagues (past and present) and students, many of whom have long since passed through the Junior School gates and a number of former students now making waves in the world of work who have connected on LinkedIn to share a story and express gratitude.

And what has struck me most is the granular detail in which they can recall moments and interactions that I have had with them or their children in years gone by, many of which had slipped my own memory. It has only reinforced to me how significant every interaction we have with a student is, however small, and the power it has to make a difference in their future lives, without perhaps anyone knowing it in that moment.

In leaving, I carry with me a treasure trove of moments; moments that have defined and enriched my life in ways beyond measure and helped to shape the person I am. I leave with a heart full of memories and I look forward to being a strong supporter of the School’s bright future, wishing the staff and my replacement, Mr Ian Holden, all the very best as Redlands celebrates its 140^th year in 2024.

If I do not see you in person between now and the end of the term, I thank parents for your support of Redlands again over this year and wish you all a restorative and rejuvenating Christmas holiday break, hoping that you can enjoy time with loved ones, a true Christmas gift.

Thank you, Redlands.

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

Head of Preparatory School

The Joy of Giving at Christmas

It began to feel like Christmas this week as we were treated to a wonderful Carol Service for the whole Junior Campus organised by Ms McKenzie and the incredible Music team, led by Ms Moses, Mrs Roberts, Miss McInnes and Mrs Anderson. Christmas mufti, carol singing and the very cute Kindergarten nativity characters all created a sense of excitement for the season, and most importantly for the true message of Christmas to be shared and celebrated.

As we all start to spend weekends buying presents and preparing feasts for our families and friends, I do hope that we can all stop and reflect on the most precious gift of all, the birth of Jesus. The nativity is such a beautiful story to tell and share and I encourage you to help your child grasp the idea that Christmas is a day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and to celebrate his life and to be grateful for it through the joy of giving to others.

The annual Toys’n’Tucker drive has again been a huge success with so many donations in our Prep Reception. Thank you to all our families who have been so generous in helping others experience the joy of receiving this Christmas. Anglicare will be collecting all donations tomorrow so it’s not too late if you would like to add anything.

The joy of giving was also shared by a group of Redlands students who visited the Mackillop Grange Retirement Village on Monday afternoon. Over 35 students from Redlands House to Year 6 performed a small concert for the residents that included dance, violin and Christmas carols. The residents were so thrilled and moved by our students’ talents and enthusiasm, that they requested we come back next year! At the end, 85 beautiful Christmas cards handmade by the Year 2 cohort were handed out to the residents. 

One of the residents Wilma Costello gave a moving thank you when she said “It gives us great hope, because in this gloomy world of war, hate and greed, you have shown us by giving us your time and your talent, your generous spirit of caring and sharing. You are tomorrow’s world, and our hopes for the future.” As Head of the Prep School, I could not be prouder of these students and in their humble approach to giving to others. Wilma ‘s words ring true. Our children are the future and their innocence, care and compassion that they show to others needs to bottle and kept for generations that follow. Thank you so very much Rebeccah Rothwell and Bing Lin for organising this event.

Prep Presentation Day

Tuesday 5 December 10am

We are very excited to welcome our families and carers next Tuesday to our Presentation Day event. Students are to be dropped off at normal time in summer uniform (NO BLAZERS REQUIRED). Your child does not need to bring anything to school as all books and other items will be sent home on Monday 4 December. For parents’ quick reference:

What time does my child get dropped off in the morning?

Between 8am -8.20am 

What do they wear?

Summer uniform without blazers. Please ensure that the ties are correctly sitting under collars and shirts are to be tucked in. Black school shoes to be worn and polished please as children will be on stage.

When can they go home?

After the event you will meet your child in their classroom and then leave straight away.

Is there OOSH?

Not for K-2 students

Is Science Club on?

Yes. Please email us if your child is staying for this. They will be picked up at 2pm from Junior School Reception.

Lunchtime Science Club

Tuesday 5 December

If your child is enrolled in The Brainy Bunch Science Club on Tuesday lunchtimes, please be aware that they will be running the last session for the term next Tuesday. If you would like your child to attend the lunchtime session, a staff member will look after your child at the conclusion of the Prep School Presentation Day and take them to the club. Can I please ask that you email Karin at Reception to let her know if your child will be attending the last session.

Please note that your child must then be picked up at 2pm after the session from the Junior School Reception.

We love the Lucy Hill Library

A Message from Mrs Roberts 

Thank you to all the families who have enjoyed the facilities, books and events associated with the Lucy Hill Library this year. Whether you came with a list or just browsed the staff’s suggestions there was always something new to read as the book stock is exemplary.

Eighty students completed the Premiers Reading Challenge and received their certificates. These children who have demonstrated their love of reading for pleasure should be proud of their achievement and motivated to keep going next year. Redlands had many students who earned a Gold or Platinum Certificate this year.

More than eighteen thousand books were loaned to students, parents and teachers this year, which means that this wonderful resource is being well used. If you didn’t join the library this year, please come and borrow next year. Parents may have ten books at a time to supplement their child’s reading choices.

The holiday period provides a wonderful opportunity to explore your local library. The Stanton Library in North Sydney, Lane Cove Library, the Mosman Library, Manly Library and Warringah Mall Library all have good children’s sections. Some of the local libraries also run a Children’s Holiday Reading Program that you can sign up for.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 

As this is my last Note Day for 2023, on behalf of myself and the academic and support staff, I would like to wish all families and friends a very Merry Christmas and a restful break over the holiday period. Thank you for an incredible 2023 that has been filled with fun, laughter and an enormous amount of self-growth and development for our youngest of learners.

I am so ever grateful to all the Class Parent representatives this year who have helped spread communication wide and have been a positive connection point for our new families. I encourage anyone who would like to step into the Class Parent representative role to have a chat with Jenny Harris or Jenny Krallis.

I look forward to seeing you all in the new year and welcoming new families into our community.

OOSH Christmas Vacation Care Program

View Flyer Here

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

Redlands House and Transition Gold

What a wonderful time we have had at Redlands House. We have very much enjoyed our Junior Sing-a-longs with our families and friends. It was lovely to be able to have families in the Preschool, and the children were very excited to sing their songs for you. Our Seniors and Transition Gold concert was a big success, it was wonderful for the children to take the stage and what a great performance it was. Thank you to the Music department for all of their hard work and organisation. Thanks also to the Redlands House staff for preparing the children and ensuring everything ran so smoothly.

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe happy and healthy 2024.

Important Dates

4 Dec –   Last day for Extended Care

5 Dec –   Last day of Term 4 – Half day finish at 12 Noon

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

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

Secondary Sport

As we wrapped up the final week of sport for the 2023 year it is important to instill in the students the need for continuing with any sort of structure and routine particularly when it comes to physical activity over the extended holiday period. Maintaining this physical activity is beneficial for a number of reasons:

1. Maintaining Physical Health – regular activity is essential for overall health, by staying active during the holidays individuals can continue to reap the benefits (improving health, build & maintain healthy bones and muscles)
2. Preventing Sedentary Behaviour and Maintaining Social Interaction – often during extended breaks we lead towards an increase in sedentary behaviour (excessive screen time or prolonged periods of sitting). Regular physical activity helps counteract the negative effects, so get out of the house, go for a run, a swim, get some mates together and play some touch football or basketball, go for a row. Maintaining these social connections during holidays continues to create a sense of community and provides opportunities for positive social interactions.
3. Mental Wellbeing and Cognitive Function – physical activity has been linked to improved mental health and has been shown to positively impact cognitive function and academic performance. It can not only reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression but can help students maintain focus, concentration and cognitive abilities, making it easier to transition back into academic routines when school returns.
4. Energy Levels and Sleep Quality – consistent exercise during holidays can help regular sleep patterns and prevent disruptions that might occur due to changes in routine. 
5. Skill Development and Improvement – engaging is regular activity allows individuals to develop and improve their skills. Whether it is learning a new sport, refining techniques or building on existing abilities, continued practice during holidays contributes to ongoing skill development.

The Sports Department and I are wishing you all a safe, enjoyable and active holiday break. We are looking forward to seeing you all in 2024 for another year of sport!

‘Great decisions are made from the bad decisions from your past. Every lesson learned from every mistake that you’ve made, has given you the wisdom to make better choices to pave a better path, for a brighter future.’

unknown

From the Head of Secondary Sport – Mr Cameron Ellis 

National Basketball Championships Update

We were fortunate enough to take three teams to the National Basketball Championships this week in the Gold Coast.

• First Girls
• First Boys
• Under 17 Boys

This week has been highly successful for us, with both boys’ teams advancing to the semifinals. Special mention to the Under 17 Boys, who are entering the semifinals with an undefeated record. The upcoming semifinals and finals are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, featuring matchups against teams from various regions across Australia.

The First Girls have delivered impressive performances over the three days, facing formidable opponents.

Simon Gleeson
Director of Basketball

Fitness Centre

Injury Clinic

Students now have access to an Injury Triage Clinic at school on Monday mornings 7:00-8:00am with structured support for students undergoing injury rehabilitation.

Injury Triage Clinic is for students who log an incident report over the weekend and are advised to follow up, have ongoing issues or concerns, or are absent at school or sport due to injury. Appointments are delivered by our physiotherapy provider Tensegrity and are designed to better support our students in triaging potential injuries and planning a suitable course of action.

Where appointments or attendance to injury clinic isn’t possible, we advise booking an appointment with relevant medical professionals. If students seek external physiotherapy/medical support, they are asked to fill out the following form and provide details to the school.

View Form Here

About Tensegrity

Tensegrity Sports Clinics’ chiros and remedial massage therapists are experts in movement and function and exist to provide accessible treatment for restoring and improving the wellbeing and performance of their patients.

With more than 10 years of experience working alongside PTs and Sydney’s best gyms, their team will help you smash your performance goals while avoiding injury and reducing pain or discomfort.

Boasting 8 convenient clinics across Sydney, Tensegrity Sports Clinics exists to redefine manual therapy treatment and rehabilitation. Our team of experts deliver patient-centred care by linking the cause and symptoms to their goals. We aspire to improve healthcare by creating a space for people to reach their full physical and performance potential.

About Luke

Luke leads our Injury Clinic sessions on a Monday and is a senior chiropractor at Tensegrity Sports Clinics Dee Why and Bella Vista with a passion for treating athletes. His interest in sports and how the human body performs in sport has led to his passion for treating athletes and aiding them in reaching their full performance potential. Luke played football from a young age on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and continues to be involved in the sport.

Luke uses the vast array of tools chiropractors have at their disposal when caring for patients and enjoys using exercises in treatment.

Mia Lundquist
Director of Strength and Conditioning

Hockey

Good news! Following the U13 Indoor hockey State Championship a couple of weekends ago, Otis Gait has been selected to represent NSW U13 State team at the National Indoor Hockey Championships in January 2024. He’s shown massive determination and resilience to get here following his injuries over the last 18 months and is really excited about the opportunity.
Here’s an action pic of Otis at Orange!

Rowing

Good luck to all the students competing at this weekend’s CGS Regatta in Canberra!

The rowing program is looking ahead to the last week of school term where there are some modifications to the training schedule:

SENIORS: Term 4 Week 9

• Mon 4/12: No Training
• Tue 5/12: No Training
• Wed 6/12: Water (6:30 – 10:00am)
• Thurs 7/12: No Training
• Fri 8/12: Water (6:30 – 10:00am)
• Sat 9/12: Optional Holiday Training – Water (6:30-9:00am)

YEAR 8: Term 4 Week 9

• Mon 4/12: No Training
• Tue 5/12: No Training
• Wed 6/12: No Training
• Thurs 7/12: Optional Holiday Training – Water (6:30-9:00am)
• Fri 8/12: No Training
• Sat 9/12: Optional Holiday Training – Water (8:45-11:00am)

YEAR 7: Term 4 Week 9

• Mon 4/12: No Training
• Tue 5/12: No Training
• Wed 6/12: No Training
• Thurs 7/12: Optional Holiday Training – Water (6:30-9:00am)
• Fri 8/12: No Training
• Sat 9/12: Optional Holiday Training – Water (8:45-11:00am)

The google link for the optional holiday sessions for both 2023 and 2024 can be found at the following:

Seniors

DEC 2023: More Information 

JAN 2024: More Information 

Juniors

DEC 2023: More Information 

JAN 2024: More Information 

James Petering
Director of Rowing

Sailing

The sailors this week had a chance to wind down after the intense training leading up to the Redlands Cup. The Elliott sailors had the opportunity to participate in important man overboard drills. The Pacer Squad has shifted their focus towards teams racing, with various regattas coming up in the new year. Focus on games-based drills that promoted their teamwork has been especially helpful in building these skills. A special mention and good luck as well to our sailing Capitan Alissandra Braden who is currently down in Melbourne competing in the ILCA 6 Sail Melbourne Regatta.

Danielle Steer
Sailing Administrator/ Director of Snowsports

Tennis

Unfortunately, the NSTA season came to a close under wet weather conditions and the students were not able to play their final matches, but we would like to congratulate all players for a challenging but rewarding season this term! We hope all players across divisions were able to develop their skills and matchplay – particularly those new to competition. We look forward to returning to competition next year!

A reminder training will continue as usual this week as the last training sessions of the term but there will be no Saturday sessions. Friday morning makeup training will run for those who missed out on their makeup last week as well.

Caitlin Wong
Tennis Administrator

Touch Football

Rainy conditions last Saturday left a handful of our regional travelling games with a washout, however Sydney based games were lucky enough to go ahead.

Our teams demonstrated great skills in the wet weather, with close games in many of our divisions!

The Junior B girls, Junior B boys closing out the day with great wins, 6-2 and 4-2.

Coaches have nominated the following players for stand out efforts for Round 6.

• Eliana Angus
• Sammy Beck
• Harrison Joesph & Robbie Smith
• Conor Petersen
• Sunny Ho

Good Luck

A handful of school students and many of our coaches are off to the NSW Touch Football Senior State Cup this coming weekend. We wish all the best of luck and look forward to hearing results.

Students: Sam Wightwick (Womens Open division), Alexia Van der Mewre and Arkie Riches (U20s division)

Coaches: Josh, Keaton, Luke, Tommy, Chloe, Portia, Liv, Katie, Emma, Ella and Jordy. (Mens/Womens Opens division)

Enjoy your well learnt break over the Holidays, keep an eye out for Holiday sessions form published through pulse news to keep your skills up for return to sport in Term 1.

Jordan Parsonage
Director of Touch Football & Rugby

Interschools Mountain Biking

The Australian MTB Interschools returns to Thredbo in 2024 for another week of action-packed riding, racing and good times with all your school mates from far and wide. Compete as an individual or as a team and pick which events you’d like to compete in. Registrations will sell out so be sure to rally your mates up and descend on Thredbo for the best week of the school year!

Registrations for this event will be going live in November. Details regarding schedule and formats dropping soon.

To stay up to date with all event & entertainment news, please follow us on socials and our newsletter.

More information can be found here – Australian MTB Interschools

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 Clipboard prior to missing any training session.
• 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 2023 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

• We have been lucky enough to have a relatively dry winter and to start the summer season, we use a number of fields that are multi-purpose and all 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.

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 2022-23 >> select your sport

Password (redlands2023) 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.

Concussion Protocols

Parents and Carers last week received an email containing the Redlands Concussion Protocols, which can also be found in the Key Documents section of Redlands Pulse – Secondary School Sport. A reminder to all that these protocols are for both a return to school and a return to sport. Students who have a suspected concussion are asked to seek medical attention at their earliest convenience.

Summer Sport – Key Contacts

Junior Sport

Final Round of School Sport- Girls Basketball

Congratulations to our Girls Basketball teams for completing their Term 4 season this Saturday. Despite the challenges posed by the wet weather, only two games were able to proceed, with both teams securing victories in their final matches. A special acknowledgment goes to the Year 5/6A team, who maintained an undefeated record throughout the entire season. These exceptional athletes were honoured with their undefeated trophy at our recent school assembly held during the week. Well done to all the teams for their accomplishments!

Fencing

Congratulations to Claire Liang (Yr 5) who completed her last fencing competition of the year over the weekend and took home a Bronze medal in the 2023 State Championships.

Athletics

Congratulations to all our Junior School students who were involved in Zone Little Athletics Championships representing their local club. Peter Phillipou Year 4, representing Mosman Club qualified for regionals in the 400m, well done.

A Thank You to Our Students and Families

As the school year winds up, we take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to the students and families for their contribution to our Representative and Non-Representative Sports programs over 20203. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and unwavering support have truly made a significant impact on our school community.

Our Representative Sports teams have achieved remarkable success this year, showcasing not only their athletic prowess but also their commitment to teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. From nail-biting victories to the lessons learned in defeat, each game has been a valuable learning experience. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to every athlete who proudly wore the Redlands strip, demonstrating resilience, perseverance, and a true sense of school pride.

Equally important are the students who participated in our Non-Representative Sports programs, embracing a diverse range of activities that promote physical fitness and well-rounded development across both Summer and Winter. We commend each student for their dedication to a healthy lifestyle a within our school community.

Behind every successful athlete is a supportive family, and we want to express our deepest gratitude to the families who have been the backbone of our students’ journeys. Your encouragement, cheers from the sidelines in Dunnet Hall and on the oval, and commitment to attending matches across Sydney have not gone unnoticed. Your role in fostering a positive and encouraging environment is invaluable, and we appreciate the sacrifices you make to ensure our students can pursue their passion for sports.

Participation in sports, whether representative or non-representative, goes beyond the physical benefits. It instils discipline, teamwork, leadership, and resilience — qualities that will serve our students well in their future endeavours. As educators, we are proud to witness the growth of our students not only as athletes but also as individuals who embody the Redlands values we hold dear.

As we conclude 2023, let us carry the lessons learned on the field into the holidays and beyond. Together, we will continue to nurture a community that values teamwork, perseverance, and respect.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to our incredible students and families. Your dedication is the driving force behind the success of our sports programs, and we eagerly anticipate the continued growth and achievements of our athletes in 2024.

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

Dance Academy

Redlands Dance Academy would like to thank you all for your hard work, dedication and support whilst we celebrated 25 Years of Dance at Redlands in 2023. 

It has been a huge year with great results in Exams and Competitions and we had some wonderful chances to perform internally with special class watching, solo soirees and of course the Dance Awards. The Dance Awards gave us the opportunity to come together to honour the past, celebrate the present and embrace the future, and we did just that by showcasing all our senior dancers (and some of our junior performers) in spell bounding dances of all genres. We presented our new logo and demonstrated our direction and aspiration for the Academy moving forward.

Our End of Year Performance was an extremely enjoyable experience for all involved and it was clear that our audiences for all three performances left feeling elated and proud. A massive congratulations again to everyone who took part in the creative process from prop and wing making to makeup, to dancing your hearts out. It takes huge commitment and collaboration to make a show a success and we certainly did that.

Moving towards 2024 we are excited to present our updated timetable where you will find some new and exciting opportunities across all ages. In Preschool we are introducing Mini Movers which allows our youngest dancers to experience a little bit of every genre, and Years 1 and 2 are now able to enrol in Hip Hop and Contemporary classes. From Year 3-12 we have introduced Lyrical classes, and from Year 5-12 the opportunity to direct your classical training toward the RAD Discovery Repertoire training program. For details on how to enrol, see below.

We are busy organising workshops, talks and intensive programs that will be available throughout the year such as ‘Dancer Well-being’ and ‘A Conversation with…’.  Once these events have been confirmed, we will provide you with full details and Humanitix links for booking.

Wishing you all a wonderful break and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2024.

Enrolments for 2024

Please see our Enrolments Pulse page and our Timetables Pulse page for details on 2024 classes and how to enrol. Please take the time to read through the information on our 2024 classes, which you will find on both these pages.

Please note that Semester 2 2023 classes do not roll over to Semester 1 2024 classes. This means if your child is currently enrolled in an Academy class, you will need to re-enrol them for Semester 1 2024.

Priority Enrolments

Current students enrolled in Semester 2 2023 classes are given priority (first option) to re-enrol in 2024 in in the genre they are already enrolled in. 

Priority enrolments opened 10am Thursday 30 November and close end of day Sunday 3 December. 

Please note you will be able to enrol in a new genre of dance when Academy enrolments open to all at 10am Monday 4 December.

Academy Enrolments 

Enrolments open to all Redlands students at 10am Monday 4 December. 

End of Year Performances 2023 Photos

Winkipops were front of house and backstage, capturing those special moments during our time at The Concourse!

Images are available as prints, posters and digital download. Please visit our EoYP Pulse page for further details.

Lost Property

Please check the Lost Property cupboards located opposite studio P1.6 in Parkes Hall. We have lots of bits and pieces with no name, waiting to be collected. Please note these cupboards will be emptied at the end of term 4.

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.

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

Drama and Theatre

Drama Celebration 2023

Congratulations to all students who performed in Redland’s 2023 Drama Celebration Evening! Last Friday nights students from Year 3 – 11 came together to celebrate the rich community of dramatic performance. From musical numbers from Oliver! to devised works and physical theatre from our senior students the evening was a success! Thank you to all the parents and families who came to support our incredible drama students!

Matilda JR

Music

What a wonderful year it has been in Music! Whether it’s been in the classroom, in ensembles or private and extra tuition, over 500 students this year have been a part of our Music Department. Some highlights: 

‘

Thank you for a wonderful year of outstanding music making – there’s so much to look forward to next year! The Music Department wishes you a wonderful festive season and a relaxing break.

Junior Campus Music

Rock Band Performance – Year 6 Legacy Fair

Today, as part of the Year 6 Legacy Fair, our Junior Rock band delighted students with an outdoor performance! Well done to Rock Band members Jackson Humphreys, Ella Liira, Alex Read and William Whitelaw. We would also like to thank Mr Mottley for his mentorship, as well as all staff involved with the setup to make the performance possible. 

Senior Campus Music

Rock in the Quad

Our wonderful photographer, Ms Vicki Scarratt, has taken professional photos of the Rock in the Quad Event. Have a look at just some of them below, as well as finding a link to a folder with all photos. 

CLICK HERE FOR ROCK IN THE QUAD PHOTOS

Senior Instrumental Competition – Term 1 2024

A quick note for instrumentalists that the Senior Instrumental Competition will be held in Week 7 Term 1 – so get practising over the holidays for the auditions! 

Auditions will be due in Week 2 Term 1. Requirements for the competition will be in either one or two pieces, with a maximum time limit of seven minutes. Students will present up to two minutes in a video audition that demonstrates both technical and expressive capability. More information will be available on iLearn shortly.

Senior Auditions and Competitions

Congratulations to the successful auditionees for Symphony Orchestra. Please look below for the auditions due early Term 1 in 2024, and check iLearn for further information. 

AMEB Examinations Honour Roll

Congratulations to the following students who achieved wonderful results within their Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) examinations this year!

The results below are a testament to their discipline and determination.

AMEB Examinations – Secondary

AMEB Examinations – Junior

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 PREP & 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)