From the Principal

As some of you are aware, today is the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States – my home country. (More of you are probably aware of the Black Friday sales that follow!)

The origins of Thanksgiving stretch back to some of the earliest English settlers of what would become the United States, the Pilgrims, who arrived in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. After a successful harvest in 1621, they held a feast with the Native American Wampanoag people of the local area in November where they gave thanks to God for the bountiful harvest, but also for the Wampanoag people who assisted them that year.

For me, Thanksgiving was a holiday where my family would come together to give thanks for the year that was, to go on a long bushwalk in the crisp later autumn air, to watch an American football game (hopefully my Baltimore Ravens were playing) and then enjoy a bountiful “feast” which always included turkey, corn pudding and pumpkin pie.

At the Secondary School Carols on Tuesday, our Chaplain, Ms Philips, reflected on the spirit of Thanksgiving and how we should all use the opportunity to give thanks.

So, as we come to the end of the school year, but also in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would like to express my gratitude to all the people who make Redlands such a special school and community, specifically:

• To the students – for your passion, open-mindedness and love of learning
• To the staff – for your dedication, commitment and care
• To the parents – for your support, trust and partnership

Thank you.

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

Round Square Global Membership

I am pleased to announce that earlier this week we were informed that Redlands had achieved Round Square Global Membership

We hope that with this move to Global Membership, Round Square at Redlands will flourish even more as we embed and explore the Round Square IDEALS of International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership and Service, and further collaborate with other schools globally across the Round Square community.

Mr Sean Corcoran 

Photo caption: Our youngest learners on stage yesterday at the the Redlands House end of year concert.

Community Update

My thanks to all of the important groups of committed and generous volunteer members for their assistance and support through 2024. In particular, Brittne Whitelaw, the President of the RPFA, Grahame Petersen, Chair of the Foundation Advisory Committee, Natalie Davies, President of the Redlanders Alumni Association and Karen Nicholson, our outgoing and long serving Chair of the Friends of Groups, thank you for your leadership and guidance through an extraordinary year of connection for our community in our 14oth year, highlighted by our Festival of Redlands. 

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 Coralie Amos OAM Scholarship and the expansion of our High Country Campus through our inaugural Giving Day.

A reminder to join us for our Community Carols this Sunday at 5pm at St Peter’s Cremorne. This informal gathering offers a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together to enjoy the joy and peace of the season. Light refreshments will be served and all are welcome.

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 2025 events.

I have been overwhelmed by the warmth and generosity of our community through 2024 and look forward to meeting more of our parents and carers through 2025.

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

Thank You

We would like to thank all members of our community for your incredible support this year. Every contribution (financial or volunteering time and expertise) matters and helps us to build a long-term and sustainable Culture of Giving at Redlands.

We are so grateful for continued support which provides us with wonderful opportunities to continue enriching the learning environment for our students. With everyone’s support we have raised just over $1.3 million, with 83% going towards the High Country Campus Appeal and 16% to the Coralie Amos OAM Scholarship Appeal. The remaining 1% has been contributed to the Library Fund.

Our journey will continue next year with the Coralie Amos OAM Scholarship Appeal. We will be working closely with the Master Plan project team and bring more updates next year about the upcoming development plans.

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 Book Sale

Second hand book sales will be taking place on December 2nd and February 21st.

It’s a busy time as we enter the last week of the 2025 school year with celebrations and pre-Christmas gatherings. Stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to take a minute to pause and take it all in. Our children grow up so fast, every memory is precious.

Thank you for all your support this year, we wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing you all next year!

Upcoming Parent / Family Get-togethers 

Contact us to list your event.

Walks on Tracks

Will be back in 2025!

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

Book Club

Last week a number of book club members had a fun night out to see the new film Lee starring Kate Winslet.

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.

The last meeting of the year will be Monday 2^nd December at 11am as a Christmas lunch. We will be discussing Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt and celebrating another fun year of reading. New and old members are invited to come along even if you have not read or finished the book!

For some summer holiday reading inspo and the planners the books planned for terms 1 & 2 of 2025 are:
 
·         Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
·         Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
·         The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
·         At the Foot of the Cherry Tree by Alli Parker

Senior School Parent Year Representatives

We are currently in the process of putting together an amazing group of parent year representatives for the senior school in 2025.

You will work together with a small team of other parents in your year group to organise social events, facilitate community communication and welcome newcomers to the school.

If you are interested in being a rep, please send us an email signalling your interest here!

More details on the role of senior school year reps are available here. 

Offers to get involved or suggestions on what you would like to see are always welcome!

Volunteer Five

• Name: Tara Boris
• Role: Head of Friends of Groups
• Children: Charlotte (Yr 9), Eloise (Yr 7) and graduates: Anderson (2024), Madeleine (2023)

1) Which superhero would the Friends of HoFoG be: Black Widow – no actual super power but ya’ get the job done!

2) Why you decided to be HoFoG: I think it’s important to “show up” and help out however you can. It’s all for the kids!

3) Why you would encourage others parents to volunteer: It’s a super easy way to be connected to the school community and administration … and you get to know what’s really going on without asking your kids “annoying questions” 😉

4) Trading places with my children: Yes, please!

5) What are your volunteer survival tips: Be optimistic, have a “she’ll be right” attitude but, most importantly, don’t forget we’re all volunteers – treat each other kindly 🙂

Supporter Gear

NEWS FLASH: FREE DELIVERY to the Uniform Shop for pick up now available!

Summer sports and cocurricular comp season has started! For the first time we can 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. Go Redlands!!   

The Week in Pictures

A group of Year 6 Class Parents organised a Farewell Fiesta to celebrate Year 6 students graduating. The event was held at the Neutral Bay Club and attracted almost 300 people between students, siblings and many parents. The night was fantastic fun for all.

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, Alli Levitch-Edwards, Michelle McDonald, Emma Okhovat, Kathryn Parsons, Sophia Stewart-Kasimba.

Head of Secondary School

2024 – What an Extraordinary Year!

My heartfelt thanks go out to all students and parents for another outstanding year of learning and growth in the Secondary School at Redlands. There have been so many individual and collective achievements this year and the vibe on the Senior Campus has been one of positivity, joy, togetherness and purpose. A standout this year for me has been working with a broad and committed range of Redlands staff on key projects such as Moonbah, Study Centre and the Library transformation. Our students are so fortunate to have such dedicated and diverse teachers and it has been a joy to see the wonderful relationships between students and staff flourish over the year. The School community began the year by ‘stepping beyond’ and concluded the year ‘with heart’. Nothing sums it up quite so effectively as our outgoing and incoming Year 12 slogos. 

And Merry Christmas!

We experienced our first taste of Christmas this week with Carols, an opportunity to reflect spiritually on the birth of Jesus and by bearing witness to the benefits of a giving mindset.

Our performers sang beautifully, our Music teachers encouraged everyone to join in, our Chaplain led the Service and our tree was surrounded by student and family generosity, for the Share the Dignity ‘It’s in the bag’ campaign. On behalf of the Secondary School staff I want to wish all students and parents are joy-filled and peaceful Christmas.

Save the Date – Day of Growth Tuesday 28 January 2025

On Tuesday the 28 January, when new students commence at the School, all students in Year 8 to 12 will be engaging in a 20-minute Coaching Conversation with a teacher as part of our Day of Growth. This will take place on site at the Cremorne Campus.

What you need to know about these Coaching Conversations on the Day of Growth

• All Year 8 to Year 12 students are required to attend in person in their School uniform on this day
• All Year 8 to Year 12 students will meet for a 1:1 with their Tutor or a Middle, Senior or Executive member for a Coaching Conversation
• The Coaching Conversation will be supported by iGrow data and the focus will be on looking back to look forward
• All students will set goals which will be shared with parents and carers
• Details and specific times will be shared in January with parents and students – please look out for updates to ensure your child/ren attends their scheduled appointment
• Year 7 students will engage in this process later in Term 1, once they are settled

Why make this adjustment?

This approach is a slight adjustment to previous years and marks our ongoing commitment to strengthening our feedback processes. Instead of meeting via Zoom, we look forward to connecting with students in person. As part of our wellbeing framework to develop each young person’s independence and confidence, the student will engage in this coaching conversation independent of their parents. In recognition of the wealth of data we have on each student, we anticipate rich data-informed conversations that get to the heart of each young person’s educational journey. Out of respect for the valuable partnership we hold with parents and carers, we will share key details so you can powerfully support your child/ren’s experience at Redlands.

Staffing Updates

After a thorough recruitment search for our new Dean of HSC which involved a significant number of external and internal candidates, I am pleased to announce Ms Sarah Matthews as the Dean of HSC from 2025.

Having prior curriculum leadership as a Subject Coordinator at her previous school and pastoral experience as a Year Advisor, Assistant Dean of Students and now Acting Dean of Students where she has illustrated her expertise in managing and supporting students and their parents, Sarah offered a strong and compelling vision for the next iteration of Stage 6 development at Redlands.

Ms Lucienne Willis will step into the Acting Dean of Students role for Term 1 2025, while Ms Marita Jansons remains on Long Service Leave.

Furthermore, I’d also like to extend my congratulations to members of the Mathematics department. Ms Libby Busch will be the Mathematics SCO from 2025 and Ms Gordana Prodanovic will be the Mathematics Assistant SCO from 2025. In 2025 Ms Karen Pittard, our current Mathematics Subject Coordinator, will be moving to a newly formed strategic role supporting Mathematics Assessment and Feedback from Stages 3-6. Given our strategic priority to develop student excellence via pathways and programs, we look forward to Karen working with a team she knows well, and across into the Junior School, in support of truly innovative, rigorous and differentiated Mathematics assessment and feedback methods. Karen has been instrumental in developing and supporting the Mathematics faculty at Redlands over many years and we are grateful for her ongoing service to the students and staff.

Finally, there are a number of new staff commencing at Redlands in 2025. You will have lots of opportunities to form relationships with them in the new year and I am deeply appreciative of the students and parents who will provide them with a warm welcome to Redlands.

Given he is commencing with us on a casual basis from this week, I did want to introduce you to one new staff member, our new Head of Drama and Theatre, Mr Steven Fry, who will formally commence this role in 2025.  A huge thank you to Ms Kathryn Smith who stepped into the Acting role of Subject Coordinator for 2024. We are indeed lucky to have so many talented and committed staff across the Drama and Theatre spaces at Redlands.

Year 10 Rock their Commercialisation Challenge Week at Macquarie Uni

This week our Year 10 cohort have been on site at Macquarie University for a Commercialisation Challenge. The one-week program uses data collected on student motivations to place them in ‘founder’ teams with their classmates – each is allocated either CEO, COO, CTO, CMO, CFO or Head of Product. Throughout the week they’ve engaged in learning sessions with entrepreneurs and experts about what it takes to bring a product to life and make it successful in the market. Our key supporters are Uncle Toby’s,  Australian Payments Plus product Beem, UTS startup gathera and Macquarie University Incubator SoCreative.

By the end of the week, students will have gained new knowledge about the commercialisation processes, experienced market analysis, mastered Business Model Blueprint (BMBP), and crafted compelling presentations.  Students enjoyed sessions with subject matter experts representing their allocated founder ‘role’. It was a stellar line up! Thank you – Jaid Hulsbosch (Redlands parent) for the marketing insights, Redlander Charlie Marriott from Atlassian for explaining just what a Head of Product does, Polina Nesterova for a hands on explanation of COO (spoiler, it encompasses everything), Daniella Aburto Valle (Redlands parent) for her data insights as CTO, our very own Pete Matruglio for his in depth analysis of the many hats a CFO wears and to top it all off we had the yellow Wiggle, otherwise known as Sam Moran, detailing his pivot to founding a startup.

Year 10 are incredible. On the first day they found out about their strengths and areas for development, based on a Marlee assessment, which might have been confronting for some – however, they leant into the discomfort, have worked collaboratively in teams and are beginning to resemble Stage 6 students, which has been one of the core aims of the program. A sincere thank you to Ms Liz Green, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning Strategist, all the staff who have supported Year 10 this week and our fabulous parents who have offered their services, shared their wisdom and expanded Year 10’s world. We are looking forward to each group’s final pitches on Friday this week.

UN Youth Voice Competition

Sophie Wong (Y7) received a Highly Commended award at the State final of the UN Youth Voice competition, held at NSW Parliament last Friday.

As one of the youngest students, Sophie courageously took the stage as the first speaker, presenting her ideas on improving large-scale industrial agricultural practices. Not only that, despite intense pressure, she also delivered an impressive impromptu speech on how trade agreements can incentivise sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.

Special thanks to all of Sophie’s public speaking teachers who guided her journey. A heartfelt thanks to our Geography expert, Mr Millham for his invaluable support throughout Sophie’s preparation stage.

Pockets – End of 2024 Update

Students in Year 9 and 10 will be receiving their 2024 Pocket Authorisations for blazer embroidery via direct email to their Redlands email address tomorrow. The paper certificate is no longer required and the Uniform Shop has a list of the Authorisations to confirm eligibility when the blazer is dropped off for embroidery. All students must be in full uniform, including blazers, for Speech Night. Students requiring embroidery on their blazers may take them to the Uniform Shop on Thursday 5 to Friday 6 of December. If you believe there has been an error or an award is missing, please fill out this Form to request a review.

Students in Years 7 and 8 will be awarded Merit Certificates for their cocurricular participation at the start of next year, and students in Years 11 were sent their Authorisations in Term 3.

Community Christmas Carols – Sunday 1 December, 5pm

Families are invited to join in Community Carols at St Peter’s Church on Sunday 1 December.  We look forward to seeing you there.

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 Y7-12.

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

Special acknowledgment goes to the following students for their outstanding contributions: Betti Butcher, Madison Noes, Edward Chang, Ashleigh Li, Lucile Thompson, Remie Gibbs, Sahara Nicholas, Ava Atkinson, Aiden Van Hulsen, Megan Kirkpatrick, Angus Baker, Freya Kittle, Millie Winton, Elenor Blankenstein, Remy Morris, and Ale Scali. Each performer brought their unique flair and enthusiasm, making the event a truly memorable experience.

Highlights of the concert included beautiful vocal solos, energetic dance routines, and inspiring instrumental performances that reflected the students’ dedication and creativity. The addition of stand-up comedy brought laughter and lightheartedness to the program, showcasing the diverse range of talents within our school community.

The Bougainvillea Christmas Concert not only celebrated the festive season but also highlighted the importance of community, collaboration, and creativity. It was a privilege to witness the joy and pride on stage, and we look forward to more inspiring performances in the future.

Thank you to the staff, Alissa Ynson, Kate Moore and Lisa Vale who supported the performers in their preparation and encouraged their artistic expression. 

Roots and Wings: Exploring Growth Through Poetry

In the Poetry and Writing Club, students have been delving into themes of personal growth and self-discovery through creative expression. This week, the task was inspired by Miss Genevieve Comino’s prompt, Roots and Wings. Students were asked to write a poem about the journey of growing up, imagining themselves as a tree with roots representing their past and wings symbolizing their future.

The activity encouraged students to reflect on the people, places, and experiences that have shaped them while considering the dreams and aspirations guiding their paths forward. Through this exercise, they explored the interplay of stability and ambition—balancing the grounding comfort of their roots with the boundless possibility of their wings.

Reflecting on Roots

For many students, their roots symbolized family, traditions, friendships, or lessons from pivotal experiences. These roots provide a sense of belonging and identity, anchoring them in moments of uncertainty. Yet, as some students highlighted, roots can also be complex. Challenges in their past may sometimes feel like tangled roots, but they often carry the nutrients that foster resilience and personal growth.

Imagining Wings

The wings, in contrast, were described as symbols of hope, freedom, and potential. Students expressed their dreams in vivid imagery: soaring towards careers, creative endeavors, or the kind of person they hope to become. Some imagined their wings as strong and determined, others as tentative and fluttering, reflecting the mixture of excitement and apprehension that often accompanies stepping into the unknown.

A Creative Challenge

To deepen their engagement, students were encouraged to use at least one simile and one metaphor to bring their ideas to life. The results were moving and insightful.

One student, Ina, shared a powerful piece titled A Glass, Full?, which examines how negative emotions can stifle growth and break the balance between roots and wings. Another student, Lexie, contrasted “the things of the past” with “the trials still unseen,” capturing the tension between nostalgia and anticipation.

Encouraging Reflection at Home

This creative task provides an excellent opportunity for parents to discuss growth with their children. Ask your child about their roots—what keeps them grounded and where they draw strength. Then, explore their wings—what dreams they have and what fears or challenges might be holding them back.

These conversations can open the door to understanding how your child views themselves and their journey. Just as trees grow stronger with deep roots and wide-reaching branches, so do young people flourish when they feel supported in their foundation and free to dream of the future.

The Beauty of Growth

Roots and Wings reminds us that growth is not about leaving one behind for the other; it’s about finding balance. For students, this exercise was a chance to reflect on how their past and future are intertwined, and for parents, it’s a beautiful reminder of the role you play in nurturing both their roots and their wings.

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

Service

Tuesday 26 November saw the finale of the Christmas Drive in the Secondary School. Students spent time in the middle of the day with their tutor group filling their bags and writing cards for the recipients. It was wonderful to see a high level of engagement across all year groups with special mention going to Year 12 Dumolo Blue and Year 7 McDouall Green who brought in an impressive number of items and bags and were dedicated to the cause. 

A special mention must also go to Service Captains Lachie and Charlotte who, in their short time in this role, have already left a mark on the school community as a result of their deep commitment to helping others, their energy and their dedication to developing students’ understanding of what it means to serve. 

It is also essential to commend the Year 12 HSC cohort who stepped up and truly served with heart in their organisation of the drive. They considered how to advertise the drive, how to motivate students across the school and educate them about the cause and they made Christmas cards for the recipients of the bags. A particular highlight for many of them was spending time with a younger tutor group helping them to think about the cause. One HSC student commented: “I think it was very useful to see the young teenagers getting involved, and actually putting thought to how they can help and act towards this drive. I felt a sense of accomplishment from helping out.”

Thank you Redlands Secondary School and families for supporting Share the Dignity this Christmas and helping to bring some kindness and joy to women and families doing it tough. 

Ms Rosanna Peterson
HSIE Teacher
rpeterson@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Year 11

Holidays

As the year draws to a close, we would like to wish you and your family a joyful and restful Christmas holiday. These holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to spend time with loved ones, reflect on the year gone by, and recharge for the exciting year ahead.

For your child, these holidays mark an important milestone as they transition into their final three terms of school. It’s a time to celebrate their achievements so far while also preparing for the challenges and opportunities that Year 12 will bring. With this in mind, we encourage students to use this break as a time to strike a balance between rest, personal wellbeing, and purposeful academic preparation.

Here are some key suggestions to share with your child to help them start the new year feeling confident, prepared, and ready to embrace the final leg of their school journey:

Review and Revise:
Allocate some time each week to revisit key content from the Preliminary Course. Organising notes, revising syllabus dot points, and practicing past paper questions are excellent ways to consolidate knowledge and build confidence for the upcoming year.

Set Realistic Goals:
Encourage your child to reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement, setting clear and achievable academic and personal goals for the year ahead. Goal-setting can provide focus and motivation as they approach their studies.

Maintain a Healthy Routine:
Balance is key during the holidays. Encourage your child to schedule regular breaks, enjoy outdoor activities, and prioritise sleep. A well-rested mind is crucial for effective study and overall wellbeing.

Engage with Family and Friends:
Spending quality time with loved ones and engaging in activities they enjoy can help students recharge emotionally and build resilience for the year ahead.

As parents, your support and encouragement play a pivotal role in helping your child navigate this important stage of their education. We encourage open conversations about their progress and goals and are always here to provide guidance or answer any questions you may have.

May this Christmas break bring peace, joy, and the warmth of family to your home. We look forward to an exciting year ahead as we embark on the final year of their schooling journey.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Ms Lisa Vale
Yr 11 Advisor
9968 9837
lvale@redlands.nsw.edu.au  

Year 10

Commercialisation Challenge

This week, the Year 10 cohort has relocated to the courtyard building at Macquarie University to participate in the Redlands Y10 Commercialisation Challenge. This hands-on event provides an incredible opportunity for students to develop critical and creative thinking skills while learning directly from successful entrepreneurs and industry experts. Throughout the week, students have worked in teams to tackle real-world business challenges, gaining insights into product development, market analysis, and business modelling. On Friday, they will return to Redlands for an engaging Trade Show, where they will pitch their innovative ideas to an audience. We are proud of their dedication and look forward to seeing their creativity shine!

Locker Clear Out

As we approach the end of the school year, students are reminded to begin clearing out their lockers over the next few days. All personal belongings, including books, equipment, and other items, must be removed before the holidays. The lockers will be thoroughly deep-cleaned and reassigned for Term 1, 2025. Early preparation will help ensure that students are not overwhelmed with packing on the final day and can leave for the holidays with ease.

Summer Holidays

With the end of term fast approaching, we wish all students and families a happy and restful summer break. Whether you are travelling to new destinations or enjoying a staycation at home, we hope this holiday season brings relaxation, joy, and the chance to recharge. Thank you for a fantastic year, and we look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an exciting 2025!

Mrs Lucienne Willis
Yr 10 Advisor
lwillis@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Year 9

Enjoy the Break

With the end of term fast approaching, we wish all students and families a happy and restful summer break. Whether you are travelling to new destinations or enjoying a staycation at home, we hope this holiday season brings relaxation, joy, and the chance to recharge.  

Thank you for a fantastic year, and we look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for an exciting 2025! 

Thank You Miss Barr

As a year group we have been very fortunate this year to have Miss Meagan Barr as the Assistant Year Advisory (AYA). She has developed the pastoral program, identified and worked student leaders within the cohort and organised our recent Schools for Impact program.  

Miss Barr has been a huge source of support for all of our Year 9 students, providing advice, guidance and mentoring in her calm and collected way.  

We wish her all the very best as she takes on the challenge on Year Advisor to the incoming Year 7 in 2025. 

We sincerely appreciate all that you have done for us this year. 

Locker Clear Out

As we approach the end of the school year, students are reminded to begin clearing out their lockers over the next few days. All personal belongings, including books, equipment, and other items, must be removed before the holidays. The lockers will be thoroughly deep-cleaned and reassigned for Term 1, 2025. Early preparation will help ensure that students are not overwhelmed with packing on the final day and can leave for the holidays with ease. 

Mr Tobias Horan
Yr 9 Advisor
9968 9872
thoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Year 8

Week 7 – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas

As we move into the last week of term, there is an anticipatory energy in the school as students look towards their upcoming Summer break. I’m feeling it too, so I wrote a little poem for you.

I can almost hear the sleigh bells ringing and the carollers singing.

The scent of candy cane is the air and Christmas trees are appearing everywhere.

Gratitude and giving are inspiring all, and everyone is getting ready to take up the call.

As the summer holidays arrive, I do hope everyone continues to thrive.

May all the best come to pass. I wish everyone a wonderful, merry Christmas!

The spirit of community and giving that we see at Christmas was certainly embodied in our school carols service this week. Our Yr 11 senior singers led the school through a range of classic carols: Silent Night, Away in a Manger and Joy to the World. Students also worked together in Tutor groups to create bags of gifts to donate to ‘Share the Dignity’ to make the lives of many individuals and families that much brighter this Christmas.

Subject Spotlight: Tech Dragsters

On Friday of last week, our technology classes enjoyed the opportunity to race their dragsters in the Fahl Garden, after spending the term designing and building their vehicles. Well done to all the classes who created excellent, speedy crafts!

Science Symposium

On Friday afternoon, students were wowed by the knowledge of their peers and enjoyed watching some crash bang experiments in the Science symposium. Whether it was learning about understanding the melting points of ice, the breaking points of balloons, or the cleaning power of vinegar, as a guest judge, it was fascinating to explore student experiments and read about the processes students went through and the results they obtained. Experimenting with slime / goo was certainly a favourite and created for some interesting testing! The winners of each category were well deserved, and earned a festive sugary Christmas stocking!

Meanwhile, inside Redlands Hall, gouts of fire were being produced while coloured balls were exploded into the air. It was an exciting time for our spectators. Thank you to all the Science staff who were able to make this engaging event happen.

It’s the End of Term – Time to Enjoy a Rooftop Zooper Dooper

Today, we celebrated the year that was with a small Yr 8 rooftop party. Our amazing Assistant Year Advisor, Ms Wang, organised zooper doopers for everyone and boxes of chocolates for each House group to share. Students were able to relax in the open air (we got in just before the midday storm!) and enjoy each other’s company. At the end of the party, I brought the cohort together to thank Ms Wang for organising the event and to show gratitude to each of their Tutors, who have worked amazingly this year to deliver the Pastoral Care program and to care for each and every one of their tutees.

Speech Night

The Redlands 141st Secondary School Speech Night is fast approaching on Wednesday 4 December. The evening is a wonderful celebration of all our students’ achievements this year. Please make sure you view Pulse for all the relevant details.

Term 4 Key Dates and Upcoming Events:

• Speech Night (and Term End) – Week 8: Wednesday 4 December

Mr Jimmy Tod-Hill
Year 8 Advisor
jtodhill@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462

Year 7

History Excursion – Chau Chak Wing Museum

Year 7 students recently visited the Chau Chak Wing Museum, where they explored the fascinating world of ancient history. They marveled at well-preserved mummies and examined unique artefacts that provided insights into the daily lives and beliefs of ancient civilizations. Engaging exhibits on ancient languages captivated the students, helping them understand how people communicated in the past. Interactive videos brought history to life, making the experience both educational and entertaining. The students thoroughly enjoyed the excursion, leaving with a deeper appreciation for the rich legacies of ancient cultures.

Reflection – Rafael Nicholas

On the 25 of November, half of my year embarked on a journey to the museum located near Sydney uni. At the museum we learned so much that was linked to our history lesson this term. In our history lessons, we have been learning a lot about Rome and how it was governed and so the roman part of the trip was really linked. My personal favourite part of the museum was the hands-on part where we had a chance to touch some artifacts ( with gloves on). It was quite cool because there was so much we could learn by being close to it such as what it was made of.

Reflection – Alex Read

Our History excursion showed us much more than sarcophaguses and Roman artifacts; it showed us the ethics behind the showing of mummies in museums. Strangely enough, we also learnt that the game pass the parcel came from the unwrapping of mummies! When we looked at the Roman areas, however, we were surprised that they were such a complex society. We had learnt that the romans were complicated in our history classes but the hands on experiences that we had in the museum opened our eyes to the real life applications of roman cultural knowledge. I loved the fact that we could handle real Roman, Neanderthal  and Egyptian artifacts in a clean environment as holding these relics of the past was truly eye opening. I loved this visit and would certainly go again if I could.

Reflection – Aashray So

I loved learning about all the different cultures at the museum. My personal favourite was the ones relating to Egypt. My classmates and I learned all about the intricate process of constructing a mummy. This was fascinating, as well as learning about why other countries are so interested in Egyptian culture. However, I also enjoyed learning about Roman history. This experience was cultivated from learning about the funeral rites and handling ancient artifacts from ancient Rome and other times in out past. This as well was highly enjoyable. I think the school’s excursion to the museum was an eye-opening experience and one that extended our learning from the classroom to experiencing it in real life. All in all, this has greatly helped me and has adjusted my viewpoint on history forever.

UN Youth Voice Competition

Sophie Wong (Y7) received a Highly Commended award at the state final of the UN Youth Voice competition, held at NSW Parliament last Friday. As one of the youngest students, Sophie courageously took the stage as the first speaker, presenting her ideas on improving large-scale industrial agricultural practices. Not only that, despite intense pressure, she also delivered an impressive impromptu speech on how trade agreements can incentivise sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. A special thanks to all of Sophie’s public speaking teachers who guided her journey. A heartfelt thanks to our geography expert, Mr Millham for his invaluable support throughout Sophie’s preparation stage.

Excellent work, Sophie! We are incredibly proud of you!

Shout Outs

Congratulations to Joshua Rantall and Alexia Tsacalos who have received certificates for their completion of the 2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge. 

A huge shout out to Sophie Wong for her beautiful reading of the school prayer during our Christmas Carols Service this week.

Locker Clear Out 

As we approach the end of the school year, students are reminded to begin clearing out their lockers over the next few days. All personal belongings, including books, equipment, and other items, must be removed before the holidays. The lockers will be thoroughly deep-cleaned and reassigned for Term 1, 2025. Early preparation will help ensure that students are not overwhelmed with packing on the final day and can leave for the holidays with ease.

A Final Farewell

A heartfelt thank you to all our Year 7 families and special friends for your ongoing support throughout this important year. It has been a privilege to watch our students grow and navigate the challenges of high school with resilience and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see them continue to thrive as they step into Year 8. Wishing you all a joyful Christmas filled with love, family, and friends, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2025 for another exciting chapter.

The Walkers

Ms Abby Walker
Yr 7 Advisor
9968 9818
awalker@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

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.

As we move through the final few days of the term please see below a reminder of key events and timings:

Speech Day Timings for Wednesday 4 December 

A quick reminder of the key timings for student movements for the Junior School Annual Prize giving on Wednesday 4 December, 11:00am at the Star.

• 6.50am drop off at school (Allister St): All Junior Concert Band, Junior Jazz Band, Junior Strings students: note, given the early departure these students will be bussed to the Star from school.

• 7.50am drop off at school (Allister St): Junior Choir Students: note, given the early departure these students will be bussed to the Star from school.
• 9.00-9.15am (no later than 9.15am) arrival at The Star for all Prize Winners (to be announced Monday 2 December)
• 9.20-9.30am (no later than 9.30am) arrival at The Star for all other students

Staffing News

From the start of the 2025 academic our Junior School Visual Arts Teacher, Paula Reinhold will be taking up the position of Redlands Secondary School Visual Arts Teacher. We are very pleased that our students will have the opportunity to reconnect with Ms Reinhold in their senior years. I acknowledge and thank Paula for her superb contribution to Redlands Junior school over many years.

I am pleased to inform you that Mrs Jane Lancaster has been appointed as our Junior School Visual Arts Teacher from 2025. Mrs Lancaster is an experienced and expert primary school educator and has worked in a number of independent schools including MLC (Croydon). Her current role is with NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) where she is supporting schools in their implementation of the new visual arts syllabus.

We also farewell Mrs Jen Jackson (Literacy Support Teacher) at the end of the year. Mrs Jackson has worked with, and supported so many of our students over many years and I thank her for her wonderful service to Redlands. We wish Jen every success for her future endeavours.

Community Christmas Carols – Sunday 1 December, 5pm

Families are invited to join in Community Carols at St Peter’s Church on Sunday 1 December.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Vacation Care

Farewell Miss Anna

Tomorrow is Miss Anna’s last day as the K-6 OOSH Manager at Redlands. We wish her all the best as she takes on her next adventures. I know the OOSH community will miss her smile, her care and compassion for all the students and their families who visit OOSH.

Mr Ruddy Franco and Mr James Knaap will step into the OOSH Coordinator roles so please contact  them if you have any questions regarding Vacation Care or OOSH 2025.

Vacation Care

We’re excited to announce that Vacation Care bookings are now open via HubHello! Click here to access the program and to book your children. 

As we conclude our busy term and school year, my sincere thanks to our students for their hard work and contribution to all areas of school life, to the staff team for their excellent efforts and to Redlands parents and carers for your ongoing support. It has been a great pleasure looking after the superb Junior School students this year and I wish the School every success for 2025 and beyond. And finally, my very best wishes for the summer break and the festive season.

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 Y7-12.

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. 

Mr Ian Holden
Head of Junior School
iholden@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022

Head of Preparatory School

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and calm summer break. At the end of any school year, I am always in awe of the growth that our young learners demonstrate both in the classroom and in the playground. This year is no different. The beauty of Redlands prep has always been providing an inclusive environment and quality teaching for students to have a balanced approach to the start of their educational journey. The wellbeing program that was driven by Mrs Clinton has underpinned everything that we do, the language we use and the connection we then build with our community, so special and unique.

I know that I will have many conversations with families over the next week before the end of the term but I wanted to use this opportunity to thank the Redlands prep community for such support and friendship over the last four years. My favourite time of the day has always been saying hello in the morning, waving goodbye in the afternoons and eating my recess and lunch on the Friendship Bench with my little mates. Redlands will always be a part of my life and I have been honoured and privileged to have looked after your children and helped guide their early development for four years.

Christmas At Redlands 

A Message from Fiona McKenzie, Junior Campus Chaplain

This year at Redlands we are going to be having several opportunities to share in the joy of Christmas. 

Anglicare Toys ‘n’ Tucker

A wonderful opportunity to give is our annual Toy’s ‘n’ Tucker giving for Anglicare. Bring your gifts to one of the receptions by Monday 2^nd of December. Gift ideas can be found here.  

Redlands Community Carols

Families are also invited to join in Community Carols at St Peter’s Church on Sunday 1 December.

Term 4 Dates for Prep School Students

As the term starts to get busy, can I please remind families to keep an eye on the school calendar that can be found on Pulse. If there are any questions related to any event, please don’t hesitate to email Ms Pontes or myself for clarification.

Prep Games Day – November 29

A Message from Ms Longworth

We are excited to be having our Prep Games Day on Friday 29th November. It is going to be a great day full of fun activities! 

What to Wear

New uniform or PE uniform

What to Bring 

• Hat 
• Water bottles
• Recess and Lunch (canteen orders will still be available)

Schedule

• 8-8.20am – Regular arrival time
• 8.20-8.30am – Students will go to classrooms for roll call
• 8.30-10.30am – Kindy and Year 1 Rotation of Activities  (Year 2 Normal Class time)
• 10.30-11am – Recess
• 11am-1pm – Y2 Rotation of Activities (Kindy and Year 1 Normal Class time)
• 1pm – End of Day – Regular lunchtime and classes after lunch.  Normal pick-up time apply.
• After school activities – OOSH and Prep Sport are on. 

Parents are welcome to watch during the allocated time for their child’s year group.

In the instance of wet weather, a Pulse notification will be sent to all families at 8.30am.

Vacation Care

Farewell Miss Anna

Tomorrow will be Miss Anna’s last day as the K-6 OOSH Manager here at Redlands. We wish her all the best as she takes on her next adventures. I know the OOSH community will certainly miss her smile, her care and compassion for all the students and their families who visit OOSH.

Mr Ruddy Franco and Mr James Knaap will step into the OOSH Coordinator roles so please reach out to them if you have any questions regarding Vacation Care or OOSH 2025.

Vacation Care

We’re excited to announce that Vacation Care bookings are now open via HubHello! Click here to access the program and to book your children. 

Our upcoming holiday program is packed with a range of activities, many of which have been carefully planned with input from our amazing kids and families. From creative Christmas arts and crafts to sports and outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season!

As we look forward to a fun-filled program, we also have some important news to share: This Friday, November 29 will be Ms. Ana Nogueira’s last day with us at Redlands. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Ana for her dedication and passion in working with the children and families in our community. We are excited to announce that Ruddy Franco, along with James Knaap, will be stepping into the role of OOSH management. They are both excited to bring their energy and expertise to the program, ensuring that the great work continues.

As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, relaxation, and quality time with family and friends. May 2025 bring new adventures, success, and happiness to all!

Lucy Hill Library Borrowing

A Message from Mrs Roberts

A gentle reminder that borrowing from the Lucy Hill Library has ceased for the year,  but there are still library books that need to be returned please.

If you or your child have books, please return them to school as soon as possible.

If you can’t find books, please have a conversation with Mrs Roberts on Monday. Thank you.

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 Y7-12.

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. 

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

Redlands House and PreKindergarten

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 andPreK 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 2025.

Important Dates

• 2 Dec –   Last day for Extended Care
• 3 Dec –   Last day of Term 4 – Half day finish at 12 Noon

Community Christmas Carols – Sunday 1 December, 5pm

Families are invited to join in Community Carols at St Peter’s Church on Sunday 1 December.  We look forward to seeing you there.

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 approach the holiday period, it’s important to think about how you can continue staying active and honing your skills, both in sport and beyond. Taking time to keep moving and practicing your skills brings benefits far beyond physical fitness. Here are some key reasons why staying active is important:

• Physical Wellbeing: Regular activity helps maintain your fitness levels, builds strength, and reduces stress. This ensures you return to school ready to perform at your best—both on and off the field.
• Skill Development: Whether you’re part of a team or pursuing individual goals, consistent practice is the key to improvement. Holidays are a great time to focus on refining your techniques, experimenting with new approaches, or working on areas of weakness without the pressure of competition.
• Mental Health: Staying active can boost your mood, sharpen your focus, and provide a positive outlet for energy. It’s also an excellent way to build resilience and manage any holiday stress.
• Team Contributions: If you’re part of a team, your effort during the break helps you come back stronger, prepared to contribute to collective goals. This is especially important for upcoming seasons or competitions.
• Building a Balanced Routine: Holidays are a great time to discover activities you love. Explore new sports, try recreational activities, or take part in casual games with family and friends.

Use this time to find ways to stay engaged and active—whether it’s shooting hoops, going for a run, practicing yoga, or trying out a new skill in your chosen sport. Set small goals for yourself and enjoy the journey of improvement.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone come back refreshed, energized, and ready to make the most of the opportunities ahead!

“Champions are made when no one is watching.” – Unknown

Redlands Secondary Sports Calendar

• Saturday 30 November – Summer ISA Round 6 (last round of the year)
• Saturday 30 November – Rowing – 2024 Sydney Girls High School Regatta
• Sunday 1 December to Friday 6 December – Basketball – Australian Schools Championships
• Tuesday 3 December – last day of 2024 – NO SPORT

Basketball

Three Redlands Basketball teams will represent the school at the Australian Schools Championships  held at the Gold Coast from Sunday 1 December to Friday 6 December.

Simon Gleeson

Football

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s a great time to reflect on the football season and look ahead to an exciting 2025. Over the weekend, Football NSW hosted its annual Football Coaching Conference at Valentine Sports Park, where over 500 coaches gathered for a weekend of learning, inspiration, and collaboration. We were honoured to have former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold as one of our special guests.

The conference featured an impressive range of speakers, including technical directors, head coaches, and Football NSW coach educators, who led both theoretical and practical sessions. The variety of insights shared was invaluable, offering fresh perspectives on the development of grassroots players and pathways to becoming a professional footballer.

We were particularly fortunate to hear from some outstanding football experts from around the globe, including representatives from Brazil, England, and the USA. Among the many notable instructors were:

• Trevor Morgan, Coach of the Australian Joeys
• Graham Arnold, Former Socceroos Coach
• Peter Sturgess, England FA Junior Coaching Expert
• Hannah Winterburn, Assistant Coach of the Future Matildas

One of the highlights was a series of four insightful sessions led by a well-known technical director from Brazilian club Vasco de Gama. These sessions focused on Brazil’s unique approach to player development, particularly the emphasis on futsal as a tool for enhancing creativity in young players.

The calibre of speakers and the wealth of knowledge shared over the weekend were truly inspiring. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from experts both locally and internationally. The ideas and strategies shared will undoubtedly benefit coaches at all levels, and we’re excited to bring these fresh insights back to our Redlands coaching team as we prepare for the 2025 season.

Looking forward to another great year of football development!

Mr Gomez Director of Football Redlands, Technical Director of Vasco de Gama Mr Gabriel Bussinger, Mr Nes Assistant Head of Sport Redlands

Rowing

Hello Rowing Families and Students

Attached is the regatta information for the Sydney Girls High Regatta, this is a full coed regatta with equal racing opportunities for both boys and girls in terms of single and double sculls.

Students (and parents) should pack for wet weather with 15-25mm of rain forecasted at Penrith on Saturday.

Any updates to this draw will be communicated on Friday morning (29/11).

Sydney Girls High – Regatta Info

Kind Regards

James Petering

Sailing

Pacers – Mini Teams Racing Regatta Against Cranbrook

Last Saturday Redlands hosted a mini teams racing regatta against Cranbrook at the Squadron. This event provided a good opportunity for some friendly competitive racing, giving our sailors a chance to demonstrate their abilities in a competitive environment in the lead up to our teams racing regattas next term. This event involved a rotating format between two of our Redlands teams from the Pacer Squad against two teams from Cranbrook. A 10-15 knot north-easterly provided the perfect conditions for Racing on Sydney Harbour, allowing us to get through a full 8 teams races in the normal morning session. Overall, the race results were extremely positive, with Redlands winning a total of 6 of the 8 races.

Throughout the session the sailors put in an awesome effort to achieve these results. A combination of good starts and fast boat speed saw many of the first few races won in a 1-2 combination finish. Some of the more complex races involved close battles between the two teams, with our sailors employing teams racing tactics and team work to make sure their teams came out on top. In many cases, this involved decisions about whether to sail towards the finish line, or to hold back and engage some of the rival boats, to allow Redlands to get into a winning position. The coaches were extremely happy with many of the new skills the sailors demonstrated on Saturday, as well as in recent training sessions. The Sailors have shown great progress in both their fleet racing and teams racing skills this term. 

Elliots

On Saturday the Elliot sailors made the most of the pleasant north-easterly conditions and continued to refine their boat handling skills within their crews. Specifically, the sailors were focusing on their understanding of angles of sailing, as well as refining their sail trim to get the most out of their boats and sail fast. The sailors were also able to get in some racing before the end of the session, giving them a chance to implement some of their newfound skills. Over the last few weeks, the Elliot sailors have shown a great deal of improvement as they have begun to sail, and even race competitively, without instructors onboard. The coaches have been impressed with the recent improvement and look forward to seeing continued development as we begin to focus more on racing in the second half of the season.

Tennis

The sun was shining and we had a great day of tennis on Saturday, with some fabulous matches.

There were some great wins by the following teams:

• Redlands 2 defeated Cammeraygal 2
• Redlands 1 defeated Cammeraygal 1
• Redlands 4 defeated Cammeraygal 3
• Redlands 7 defeated Killara High 3
• Redlands 14 defeated Killara High 5
• Redlands 16 defeated St Pius 13

This weekend is the Finals and the last round of the season so enjoy the tennis and let’s finish with some great matches!

Please ensure you check Clipboard for details of the time and venue and be on time for your matches.

The End of Year Tennis Celebration will be held at Mosman Lawn Tennis Club on Friday 29 November – we look forward to seeing you if you have registered your attendance.

We will be holding Tennis Camps in the January holidays on Monday 20, Wednesday 22 and Friday 24 January – please register your attendance by clicking on the following links:

Blue and Yellow Training Squads

Gold, Navy & White Training Squads

Best of luck to all teams this weekend!

Friends of Tennis

Welcoming our new friends of Tennis committee

• President: Camilla B
• Treasurer: Shane E
• Secretary: Marcia and Tom O
• Marketing and Communications: Kathryn P

If you would like to join the Friends of Tennis, please email Camilla – camilla@byron.se

Touch Football 

For our away fixtures, the bus departs from the Adams Center. Please be prompt with timings for departure.

There is NO training next week as term comes to a close. The final session for Touch this term is this Saturday’s fixtures.

Regarding predicted Wet Weather this weekend;

• Unless communicated through the school channels (via Redlands Pulse & App notifications/ Email from Ms Parsonage) students should assume all fixtures are on.
• Students should bring with them a change of Sport Uniform and towel (for our Kinross Trip Saturday) to allow for comfort on the bus home following games.

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: Bye
• 2nds Girls: Rose boddy
• 3rds Girls: Bye
• 4ths Girls  Ingrid Rowe
• 5ths Girls: Bye
• 6ths Girls: Darcy Mennie
• Junior A Girls: Stella Aranchikov & Mila Lipscomb
• Junior B Girls : Emily Scott
• Junior C Girls : Mia Spector
• Junior D Girls : Sophie Wong
• 1sts Boys : Digby Scott
• Junior A Boys : Arlo Wainberg
• Junior B Boys: John Grinham & Xander CHristan- Hare

Looking ahead:

Seasonal fixtures are now available in the files tab on the Touch Football Pulse page.

Weekly games will have timings confirmed on the students calendar for each team.

Please see below for reminders.

• Redlands sport shorts and an athletics singlet (or Redlands sports polo) to play in.
• A Redlands hat for sun protection during training and games is encouraged.
• Bring plenty of water for games.

Jordan Parsonage

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

Sports Prizegiving

Mr Sharma and I would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who made this week’s sport prize giving assembly a success. Thank you to our parents and carers who were in attendance. The student’s enthusiasm, dedication, and outstanding performances over the course of the year have truly made this event memorable. Congratulations to all the award winners for their hard work and exceptional achievements. Their commitment to excellence is commendable and sets a high standard for others to follow. We also want to take a moment to acknowledge those who may not have received an award. Your effort, sportsmanship, and determination have not gone unnoticed. It is your passion and commitment that contribute to the overall success of our sports program, be it our Non-Representative Program or our Representative Program. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey, and let’s continue to support and uplift each other in the spirit of sportsmanship for Redlands Junior School Sport.

2025 Term 1 Dates

As you would be aware our Sports page on Pulse has been updated with quite a number of dates, events and information relating to Term 1 Sport, 2025. As per Mr Corcoran’s letter to Junior School families this week the first day back is a Wednesday and so there will be no sport. However there will be compulsory sport trials for all those families who have nominated a representative sport (Saturday sport) for their child Week 1, date being Saturday 1 February 2025. Please see our Junior School Sport pages on Pulse for more details.

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

Dance Academy

As the Academy packs away the End of Year Performance, we reflect on the year and the wonderful achievements made by all.

It was clear in all shows at The Concourse that each and every dancer has developed and grown throughout the year, which has made our teachers glow with pride and look forward to 2025, where that nurturing and guidance can continue.

Many of the emails that have been so gratefully received comment on the joy that filled the stage and the auditorium, and wonderful community spirit within the Academy.  Nothing beats that performance buzz!!!!

We would like to thank everyone who made the magic happen!

Friends of Dance and all the parent volunteers who managed to apply make and buns to hundreds of extremely excited students.

Mr Owen, Director of Music Performance, who brought together a very talented group of Redlands musicians to perform live for us.

Property Services for transporting hundreds of costumes/props and sets to and from Chatswood.

Marketing for the wonderful artwork.

Administration for doing everything none of us see.

Teachers for incredible choreography and getting students into the right costumes and on stage at the right time.

Our wonderful student stage crew with Mr Hummerston at the helm.

Our design team.

Our incredibly talented cast, each and every one of you!

And last of all our amazing audience!!!!!

End of Year Performance | Photos & Video

We will be uploading links for photos and the video from the performances at Chatswood to our EOYP Pulse page as soon as they are received. 

Enrolling in Dance 2025

Academy Enrolments

Enrolments open to all Redlands students at 10am on Tuesday 3 December.

Please see our RDA Pulse page for further details.

Current Academy Students

Please note Semester 2 2024 classes will not roll over to Semester 1 2025. This means that if your child is currently enrolled in an Academy class you will need to re-enrol them for Semester 1 2025.

Please note that enrolments at the Academy are per semester. Students enrol for:

• Semester 1, which covers Term1 and Term 2
• Semester 2, which covers Term3 and Term 4

Priority Enrolments

Current students enrolled in Term 4 2024 classes are given priority (first option) to re-enrol in 2025 in the same genre they are already enrolled in.

Priority enrolments open 10am on Friday 29 November and close end of day Monday 2 December.

Please note you will be able to enrol your child in a new genre of dance when Academy enrolments open to all at 10am on Tuesday 3 December.

Costumes

A reminder that all costumes need to be returned to the Academy Office as soon as possible. Costumes should be returned in a bag with the student’s name clearly written on the bag.

Lost Property

We have lots of items in our Lost Property cupboard. Please pop along and have a rummage before the end of term. Any remaining items when term ends will be disposed of. 

We also have a separate Lost Property Box with items from the End of Year Performance. Again, any items left at the end of term will be disposed of.

Have a wonderful holiday and we look forward to seeing you dance again in 2025.

Prep & Junior Student – Cocurricular Photos

To view and order cocurricular Dance Academy photos please see below:

1. melbastudios.com.au
2. Click on ‘Schools’
3. Password: Murdoch
4. Please click the check box to acknowledge the shipping will be manually adjusted prior to charging

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.

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

Drama and Theatre

End of Year Extra Curricular Drama Showcases

 

Kindergarten and Year 1 were very excited to share their work with you in their wonderful end of year Show and Tell.  Kindergarten Musical Theatre, led by their wonderful tutor Mikayla Bargh performed various songs and scenes. Their performance of A Rainbow Connection brought tears to many eyes. Year 1 performed various songs with a simply outstanding rendition of Colours of the Wind led by our wonderful Drama and Theatre tutor Andrew Wang. 

 

Years 2, 3 and 4 Musical Theatre also performed outstanding showcases with shows ranging from Hercules to The Lion King to Year 2’s Magic Beach and a truly beautiful version Castle On A Cloud. 

 

Year 3 Musical Theatre – Hercules

Year 4 Musical Theatre – The Lion King

 The Acting program also performed successfully to an adoring crowd. Alice in Wonderland was a real hit. 

 

 

 

 

Alice in Wonderland – Years 3-6 Acting

 

 

 

 

 

Year 5 and 6 Acting performed a gripping court room drama , I guess the Big Bad Wolf will need to appeal. 

 

Year 1 Acting nailed their self devised version of the Three Little Pigs they called Pig Town. 

 

 

Year 3 Acting 

 

 

 

Music

Last Friday, members of our Senior Horn Ensemble performed at an important Citizenship Ceremony, attended by the Governer General and North Sydney Mayor. The students played two pieces for the incoming citizens to welcome them. Thank you to  Ms Lawton, Mr Xu and Ms Hales for supporting the experience as well. 

Redlands Dance Academy Concert – Music Collaboration

Last Friday and Saturday, our Advanced String Ensemble, and select performers, had the opportunity to perform in the Orchestra Pit for the Redlands Dance Academy End of Year Concert. It was a great opportunity for our students to experience collaborative music making in a real-world live artistic context.

Congratulations to these performers for these two performances, and we thank the Dance Academy for inviting us to be part of their concert. 

Students Can purchase backstage photos from the link below:

View & Order Your 2024 Redlands Dance Photos by WinkiPoP Media

Follow This Link

Enter your name, email and the password: 2024RDLS

AMEB 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.

Studio Concerts

We’re finishing up our studio concerts on the Senior Campus this week, with only two more to go! 

Well done to all students who were part of our studio concerts. 

Discontinuation for 2025 Reminder

Should your child wish to discontinue from any of their Music commitments, please complete the Notice of Change Form on the Music Pulse pages by Friday 29 November to avoid late notice charges in the new year. This greatly assists us in supporting our casual workforce with work and income guarantees, and we thank you for your assistance to this end. 

Join the Friends of Music! 

Music is really thriving at Redlands, with over 500  students involved across the School, P-12 across Private Tuition, Ensembles and Performance Opportunities. 

The Music Calendar is full of exciting events and opportunities, and we are grateful to the support from our Music families in helping us make things happen. The Friends of Music is a passionate group of parents and carers who help out with events, costumes, stocktaking, resources, and general help as needed! Any help we get is invaluable. 

We are in particular need of leadership in the space, with our current parent leadership team stepping down this year. 

Join our dedicated team! Those interested should contact the Friends of Music at redlandsfriendsofmusic@gmail.com. 

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)