Dance Academy

Saturday 24 February: Photos at Class

We will be welcoming Antonia Johnson back to the Academy this Saturday to take class photos. Please could you make sure that hair is very neat and that you have your correct uniform on. Ballet students to wear pink tights (not socks) and no sports uniform for Jazz or Tap please.

Information Morning: Monday 4 March, 8:30-9:15am

We will be hosting an RDA Information morning on Monday 4 March in the Junior Library at 8.30-9.15am. This will give you a chance to meet our Head of Academy Ms Revie and find out what the year looks like for your dancers. Virginia Clayton, Chair of Friends of Dance, will provide information on how you can get involved in our RDA events, and you will also meet the FoD team, who are keen to share their experiences as part of the Redlands Dance Community and how you can get involved.

Second Hand Shoe Swap at RDA

If your tap, jazz or character shoes are getting too small, before you go off to Bloch make sure to check out the “second hand shoe box” that will be left out on Saturdays. These are free for you to take or swap, but there will be a box left on the table inside the office if you wish to make a small donation.

Absent or Away from Class

Dance Class

If your child is sick or will miss their dance class then please complete our RDA ABSENT FROM CLASS FORM. 

Dance for Sport Class

If your child is sick then please complete our RDA ABSENT FROM CLASS FORM and email a medical certificate to dance@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Private Lesson

If your child is sick or will miss their private lesson then please email your private lesson teacher and cc  dance@redlands.nsw.edu.au.  24 hours notice is required for any cancellations. Any private lesson missed with less than 24 hours notice will be charged as a received lesson. Note: for private lessons please do not complete the RDA ABSENCE FORM.

Redlands Pulse

For the most up to date information on “all things Dance” please visit the Dance Academy Pulse page.

Important Dates

For 2024 events please see our Dance Academy Pulse page for a link to Important Dates.

Any Questions?

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 

From the Principal

As most parents are aware, I have been an English teacher throughout my career, so you would not be surprised to hear that I like words. Actually, I love words. As a teacher, I have regularly shared with my students the power, beauty and mystery of words. Therefore, I was thrilled to see that the focus of this week’s Junior School Assembly, which I attended on Tuesday, was on the power of words and the language we use.

Junior School Captains Amelie and Pax reflected on the positive power of words in their respective speeches. Amelie, shared how words can be uplifting and how the quote from Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh, “You are braver than you are aware, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think,” has been inspiring to her and has helped fill her with self-confidence. Pax talked about the importance of setting goals and aspirations to aim for and shared an example of Year 6 Sports Captain, Vinnie, who has worked hard at basketball over the past few years and is now achieving his goals.

While words can certainly have a positive impact, they can also have a negative impact, too. This was illustrated through another one of Mr Holden’s “challenges” at assembly where he asked a student to squeeze as much toothpaste into a container and then attempt to put the toothpaste back in the tube. As you can imagine, this attempt was both futile and messy.

However, the point was clear. Like toothpaste out of a tube, words can’t go back in once they are said, so it is important that we think before we speak and ensure the language we use is respectful, positive and supportive.

At the assembly I also spoke to the Junior School students about character and shared with them a quote I have often referred to by the late American basketball coach, John Wooden, that “a true test of a person’s character is what they do when others aren’t watching”. However, maybe to fit in with the theme of the assembly, I should have altered the quote to say a true test of a person’s character is what they say when some others (parents, teachers, peers) aren’t listening.    

Twilight Welcome Evening

It was great to see so many parents attend the Twilight Welcome on Friday night and I extend my thanks to all the members of the RPFA and to the Redlands staff who organised this event. The wonderful community feeling during the evening can be seen in this video and photos.

Mr Sean Corcoran

Photo Caption: The Twilight Welcome Evening was a wonderful way for our Redlands community to come together at the start of the school year. 

Community Update

It was lovely to welcome our community onto the campus at our Twilight Welcome last Friday evening. We understand that we are not just a school, we are a community and we recognise the important sense of place that Redlands represents. My thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the event organising committee and our operations team for delivering a such a wonderful event. We look forward to welcoming more of our community onsite as the year unfolds.

View Photo Gallery

View Video

It was a pleasure to attend the first meetings of our Prep, Junior and Secondary School Parent Contact Groups (PCG) this year, where I met Class and Year Group Parents and shared the activities and projects currently underway in Community Engagement. Our PCGs continue to explore ways to keep our community connected, included and supported within the many and varied aspects of school life.  If you are looking to connect with our community for support then please reach out to the passionate and diverse experience of our class and year group parents, the RPFA and Friends of Groups that support Redlands families.

We are delighted to invite students, parents, carers and friends to our inaugural Count Her In International Women’s Day Breakfast here at Redlands. Two incredible leaders and changemakers (The Hon. Bronnie Taylor – Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals, Member of the NSW Legislative Council and Vicki Condon AM – Founder, CEO, Executive Director of Raise Foundation) will discuss their commitment to the creation of opportunities for women to earn, learn and lead. Tickets available here.

Textile Recyclers Australia (TRA) has been selected as our uniform recycling partner following a comprehensive review of available options in 2023. TRA will commence the collection of unwanted  Redlands uniforms in Week 7 of Term 1, with each Year Group having a specific day to bring in their unwanted uniforms. Further details of Uniform Recycling Week, including what can and can’t be recycled through TRA, will be provided in the lead up to Week 7.

A reminder that an exclusive opportunity exists for our parent and alumni community to experience an extraordinary program on country through our Redlands Midawarr Trip in May this year. This is quite literally a once in a lifetime experience to deeply explore miny’tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and story-telling at Gulkula, the site of the annual Garma Festival. Places on this exclusive trip can now be reserved by competing a booking form which can be accessed here.

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

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

Foundation

It was very special to celebrate the start of the new school year with members of our Redlands Community including current parents, some of whom also attended Redlands, and staff.

A huge shout out to our fantastic alumni jazz band Tamis Hunter, Zac Nesbit and Austin Stapleton, all Redlanders from the Class of 2022 and currently studying at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Their smooth and funky jazz enhanced what was already a wonderful atmosphere.

Redlanders Association Business Breakfast – Towards Net Zero

A friendly reminder that the Redlanders Alumni Association is working with the School to deliver a terrific series of Business Breakfasts, starting with the first one next month. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Community to get together and learn and share experiences. These events are open to friends of Redlands.

Towards Net Zero

• Date:  Thursday 14 March
• Time: 7:15am for 7.30am start, 9.00am finish
• Venue: The EY Centre 200 George Street, Sydney 2000, Level 35, Room 9
• Cost: $25 – includes light breakfast and barista coffee
• Bookings Close: Friday 1 March

Book Here

Keynote speaker will be Dr Melanie Zeppel, Redlander 1989. Melanie is also a current parent, and works in Carbon & Natural Capital Analytics at New Forests. She is a Superstar of STEM 2023-24, Women in AI: Agribusiness winner 2022, and Scopus: Sustainability Researcher of the year 2019.

Also participating will be Chris Nunn (Moderator), School Captain 1994, Ben Heraghty (Panellist), School Captain 1995 and Nina Cooke, Redlander 2013 (Panellist).

Welcome Back to Campus

Pauline Lyle-Smith, Redlander 1963 

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Pauline Lyle-Smith (Redlander 1963) back to campus while she is in Sydney visiting all the way from London. Pauline took time out of her busy schedule to meet with Principal Mr Sean Corcoran and Dr Jennifer Farrell (Redlander 1962, former President of the RPFA and the Redlanders Alumni Association). Pauline thoroughly enjoyed a student-led tour of recent developments, showcasing the innovative teaching and learning spaces in the Redlands Learning Hub. She was impressed to see collaborative learning in action and impressed with the access to technology that allows students to create, experiment and make their thinking visible. The exhibition of portraits by students in Year 7 2023 were particularly impressive, reflecting the calibre of the Visual Arts program here at Redlands.

Pauline was awarded the Prize for French Language in 1963 and enjoyed a tour of Liggins where Languages, including Latin, continue to be taught. She was one a small number of women who graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Sydney in 1968 and, after qualifying as a solicitor in NSW, practised law at Freehill, Hollingdale & Page (now Herbert, Smith Freehills). Whilst practising law she carried out evening pro bono legal work at the Wayside Chapel in King’s Cross, Sydney.

Pauline’s thirst for adventure took her to London which she made her home. Pauline is the former Mayoress of Hammersmith and Fulham and Deputy Chair of the Britain-Australian Society Education Trust which provides educational scholarships and bursaries.

Pauline continues to support Redlands UK and Europe Alumni Chapter with elegant venues for special events and is always willing to connect with Redlanders.

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

Redlands Parents and Friends

“We’re set up for another wonderful year of connection for our community”

The perfect quote from our Head of Community Engagement, Grant Birse, after a successful Twilight Welcome event last week. We received fabulous feedback about the event and are thrilled to have catalysed many new friendships and connections. A massive thank you is in order to ALL of our amazing volunteers and dedicated school staff who helped make Friday evening such a wonderful event – despite the threat of rain and change in venue! It was a true team of teams achievement.

View Photo Gallery

View Video

Keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of our next event to celebrate 140 years of Redlands.

The RPFA will also be collecting good quality uniforms that can be sold second hand next week; and conducting a sale of second hand uniforms the following week on Thurs 7 March. The School’s Sustainability team will be running the old uniform recycling program in Week 7, so hold onto any Redlands branded items that cannot be sold until then. Please check the Community Engagement section of Note Day for more information.

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, look for the ???? below .

Walks are roughly 1 1/2- 2 hours and for those with the time we love to stop for a coffee afterwards. Yesterday, a great group met at the Woolwich Pier Hotel for a walk around Hunters Hill. What a nice start to the day!

We have planned all the walks for the term so mark your calendars.  Next three shared here:

• Wed 28 Feb: Kirribilli to Pyrmont. Meet at the base of the stairs up to Harbour Bridge, Broughton St, Kirribilli for a 8.40am departure. Ferry back. (No dogs)
• Wed 6 March: Shelley Beach to Curly. Meet at Shelley Beach carpark for an 8.40am departure. ????
• Wed 13 March: Beauty Point. Meet at Orso carpark Spit Bridge for an 8.40am departure.????

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 Writers’ Festival in May. If you would like to join Book Club, or simply want to know more, please contact Monica or Sabiha.

Next month we will be discussing The God of No Good by Sita Walker. The meeting is expected to be in the second half of March as an evening session. Stay tuned here for the date.

Behind the Scenes with RPFA: Meet your RPFA Committee

The Redlands Parents and Friends Association (RPFA) is a group of committed parents who support the broad activities of the Redlands School’s diverse community. The RPFA is your first point of contact for Redlands community events or support. Check back here each week to meet 2024 committee members or to find to how to get involved.

RPFA FIVE with Treasurer

Name: Joe Russo
Role: RPFA Treasurer
Kiddos: Amelia (Year 7), Brendan (Year 6)

If you could choose a RPFA theme song (or super hero), what would be the title name?

Queen – We Will Rock You.

Why did you decide to join the RPFA, and what do you love most about it? 

I was a class parent a few years ago and have always had an interest in being involved in the school community. Brittne (RPFA President) asked me if I would like to join the RPFA, I was a little sceptical and asked if it was because I was an Accountant in a former life – at that point she said “brilliant, you can be Treasurer!” I love the fact that through the RPFA I’ve been able to gain a real insight into what the School offers the students, and it also feels good to give back. I just hope I don’t let down the brilliant team.

What advice would you give to a parent or carer looking to get more involved in the School?

Get involved! Be it as a class parent, event volunteer, become part of a Friends of Group. Whatever you do, get involved. You always get more out of something if you’re prepared to put in.

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

That’s a no brainer. only problem is that I’d want to trade for a term and not just a day… to experience a term in Jindabyne at the High Country Campus would be unbelievable and a memory and experience I think the kids will remember for the rest of their lives – just a little jealous I never had that opportunity as a student!

The Week in Pictures

Twilight Welcome and conversation in action last Friday night at Dunnet Hall

Year 7 Parents Coffee Morning @ Balmoral today

Walks on Tracks in Hunters Hill yesterday.

Gold Star photos goes to Book Club this week….Book Club had a great first meeting of the year discussing The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley and welcoming both new and old members. 

Do you have pictures of parent / family get-togethers 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: Monika Crennan, Michelle McDonald, Lisa Middlebrook, Karen Nicholson, Emma Okhovat, Sophia Stewart-Kasimba

Contact us!

Head of Secondary School

International Women’s Day Breakfast

Please do come along to the School’s International Women’s Day Breakfast. This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is Count Her In. Invest In Women. Accelerate Progress. This week our Student Leaders held their second student and staff panel to explore why investing in women is so important. Ms Green, our Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning Strategist, spoke about the gains that have been made and the ongoing journey for women. She explained how shocking it was, that despite being more skilled and better educated than ever before, women are still more likely to be in low-wage, insecure and informal jobs than men. Moreover, they are receiving less pay than their male counterparts in those roles. The latest estimates are that it will take an investment of 360 billion dollars per year to reach gender equity. Ms Green explained how the reality of these figures can feel distant for our Redlands students who are continuously championed in an inclusive environment, but went on to outline how sadly, economic abuse is very much a reality here in Australia where 1 in 6 women experience being locked out of financial decision making and knowledge; knowledge that can change the trajectory of their lives. She reminded students that last year Dr Christina Curry, Chair of Bayside Women’s Shelter, addressed all of Year 9 and shared many stories about the difficulty of escaping dangerous situations without any financial independence. Globally 1 billion women are denied access to financial tools and bank accounts.

The students were keen to hear about the flip side – how investing in women makes good economic sense. Investing in women unlocks the potential of half the population, effectively doubling the output. Moreover, women are key to ameliorating some of our most pressing social issues—health, education, reducing poverty and fostering more equitable societies. Ms Green and Ms Willis reminded us that when women thrive, so too do their communities. Women’s perspectives and leadership drive innovation and entrepreneurship across a broad range of industries and need to continue to do so, particularly in those that have historically been male dominated. Ms Willis’ story of her maternal and paternal grandmothers, who were both successful small business owners, reinforced these important points.  Now, more than ever, we need to invest in the next generation. We need to encourage young women not to feel pressure to follow the traditional template provided to us by men in power but instead to encourage and champion young women to bring their own unique skills to the fore, leading side by side with their male peers, in a more inclusive and diverse space.

The conversations, informal and formal, taking place at School at the moment are powerful, informative and personal. We look forward to continuing them with you at the IWD Breakfast on Monday 11 March.

Year 7 Experiences and Events

Year 7 have gotten to know each other and their teachers better this week on Camp at High Country Campus in Jindabyne. Below is a picture of Cowper at the top of Mount Kosciusko.

In the coming weeks, a range of events are held by the School in support of Year 7 transition and we strongly encourage all Year 7 parents/carers to attend.

On Monday night, the Meet and Greet provides a chance to meet other Year 7 parents and the key staff who work and learn with our newest community members each day. The Principal and Year Advisor will both speak and parents/carers will have the opportunity to mingle and share experiences. There is no need to RSVP to this event – just come along!  

On Wednesday 28 February from 6.00pm an online webinar is being held for Year 7 parents hosted by the Dean of Studies, called Learning in the Secondary School. We do hope all Year 7 parents/carers can jump online for this event, which will provide information on learning and assessment in the Secondary School.

Study Centre

This week has seen some strong representations of effective studying and help-seeking across Year 8 to 12. Many Year 12 students have been studying in the Year 12 Study Space on Level 2 of the Learning Hub. After moving beyond the Maths exams and English panels from the previous week, IB students are preparing to submit their first EE draft and HSC students busily working on PDHPE, Drama performance essays and more. It has been incredibly affirming to witness the same students studying hard, some independently and others in groups, across Level 2 of the Learning Hub.

Year 8 to 11 students have also shown in up in record numbers to complete home learning and prepare for assessments in the Roseby Library Study Centre which runs from 3.30-7.00pm Monday to Thursday. Some of our Illuminate Academic Coaches commenced this week and offered their assistance to students working in both the Roseby Library and the Year 12 Study Space.

Illuminate Scholars Program

Next week, the Illuminate Scholars Program commences officially on Level 3 of the Learning Hub. We already have good numbers of students enrolling across the week, with half and full sessions now available. A few parents and students have asked questions and we’ve composed a helpful set of FAQs for your support.

View More on Pulse

Illuminate Scholars Program: Frequently Asked Questions

When can my child attend the Illuminate Scholars program?

Monday to Thursday from 3.30-7.30pm. Students may attend one or more days.

Does my child need to stay the entire time?

There are two sessions: a half session (3.30-5.30pm or 5.30-7.300pm) and a full session (3.30-7.30pm).

Why offer half sessions?

Students may wish to spend a couple of hours and then go home for dinner. Other students who go to Sport training like to return to the Senior Campus and jump into 2 hours of dedicated study one evening a week.

Who oversees the Illuminate Program?

The School has employed two Independent Learning Coordinators, Redlander Grace Bracks (2020) and ex-Ascham student Lilli O’Driscoll (2021). They are responsible for the students and Academic Coaches and ensuring that each student is supported according to their needs and preferences. Please see their bios on the Pulse Page.

How many Academic Coaches are employed?

As well as being able to act as coaches themselves, and provide specific Tutor advice and support to students, the Independent Learning Coordinators currently manage 6 Academic Coaches (or tutors) to support and assist students across Years 7 to 12. The coaches’ bios can be found on the Illuminate Pulse page. We are super excited that we have a range of coaches – past students of Redlands, other schools and a variety of ages. As the Illuminate Program grows, we will continue to employ more Tutors – we are keen to employ alumni who have excelled in their studies at School.

What actually happens in an Illuminate session?

Students are greeted by the Independent Learning Coordinator who ascertains their focus for the afternoon, which might be:

• Home learning activities set by the subject teacher
• Revision of prior learning
• Assessment or examination preparation
• Support with difficult topics or writing tasks
• Alternate explanations to assist with deeper understanding
• Support with application of knowledge, such as testing formulas on unseen or more challenging questions
• Composing a study schedule
• Learning new study skills

Together with the Independent Learning Coordinator or an Academic Coach, there is an agreement about how long a student will ‘work’ on an area of learning.

A suitable Academic Coach will be assigned to them, and they may work with the student for 5 minutes, 20 minutes or longer depending on what they need.

Will the Academic Coach sit with my child the entire time?

No. This is not necessary. Tutors are ‘guides on the side’, and sometimes the ‘sage on the stage’. Typically, the student is at the centre and at times, the student will need to ‘work’ independently. The student will need to try on their own, have a go, perhaps make another mistake, before seeking the assistance of the Academic Coach again, who will continue to check-in, offer support and be encouraging.  The aim of Illuminate is to foster and develop confidence in help-seeking behaviours, application of advice and spending dedicated time engaged in focused study.

What does a 1:5 ratio mean?

This means that for every 5 students there is at least one Academic Coach. It does not mean that students are taught in groups of five.

Is this Group Tutoring?

The Illuminate Scholars program is not group tutoring. There are no groups, unless the student or a group of students wishes to work together on a topic or activity. Instead, students receive 1:1 support from Academic Coaches who have excelled in English, Maths, Sciences and the Arts.

Will my child have access to the same Academic Coach?

Generally, yes. The Academic Coaches are scheduled across the four days and tend to work the same days each week. There are enough of them that each child should feel they can establish a connection with a Coach who suits them.

Do the Academic Coaches work in tandem with the Redlands staff?

Yes. The Coaches and Independent Learning Coordinators have met the Head of Maths, Head of English and other key staff such as the Academic Deans and the Library staff. Students experiencing ongoing difficulty or challenge will be raised with the appropriate Redlands staff member, so that we are effectively triangulating support for the student.

Will the Academic Coaches be in contact with the parents?

Yes, if need be. The Academic Coaches, led by the Independent Learning Coordinators, will utilise the School systems and processes, so as to keep parents looped in and to provide feedback. 

What happens at dinner?

At 5.45pm students and staff break for dinner. At this time, the students get a rest, an opportunity to chat with each other and staff and have a run around if need be. Students remaining for the full session are also provided with afternoon tea.

Do students get to stand up and stretch?

Yes. Students are encouraged to take breaks and develop the executive functioning skills to self-manage and be organised.

What happens if my child is sick/absent and misses a session?

A missed session can be made up at another time.

Who do I contact if I need further information?

Please make contact with the Independent Learning Coordinators (Lilli and Grace) on illuminate@redlands.nsw.edu.au

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

University and Careers

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

Upcoming Events

University of Sydney | The Bachelor of Advanced Studies

28 February
Learn about the Bachelor of Advanced Studies and find out how this degree can give you the flexibility to pursue multiple areas of interest and graduate with specialisation in two specific fields of study. Find out more

University of Sydney | Electrical Engineering

28 February
If it excites you to know how electricity can benefit our lives, then Electrical Engineering could be for you. Electrical engineers design the electronic devices, computers, communications systems and power systems that have, and continue to, transform society. This covers everything from the computers and networking equipment enabling the internet to the power stations providing electricity to your home. Find out more

Oxford University Information Session for International Students

28 February

Registrations

STEM + X Webinar Series: Science

28 February
Science careers are more than just lab coats and experiments. The truth is, science is a really broad area to work in. People who have a science degree can work in government, in business, with the environment, or anywhere. Often without a lab in sight. Brought to you with the support of QUT, this webinar unlocks the next-level potential of a science degree. Find out more

University College London

19 March
Loreto Kirribilli is hosting a meet and greet with the recruitment manager from UCL, for students and parents from Lower North Shore schools. Registrations required. More information and bookings here.

Coffee School Barista and Coffee Art course

Year 12 Notices and Key Dates Term 1

All Year 12 students should book an appointment with the Careers Advisors to complete their Year 12 Career Plan if they have not already done so.

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

Year 12

Key Dates

• 21-23 March Secondary School Musical
• 25 March Student and Parents UAC Webinar
• 28 March SS Cross Country Carnival
• 30 April – 10 May  Yr 12 IB Half-Yearly Examination Block
• 28 June Yr 12 Formal
• 26 July Gala Arts
• 20 & 21 June Senior Music Festival 
• 5-16 August YR 12 HSC & IB Trials
• 26-30 August Yr 12 Final Orals & Yr 3-12 HSC Visual Arts Exhibition
• 16-20 September IB Visual Arts Exhibition
• 25 September Valedictory
• 16 October – 8 November Yr 12 HSC Exams
• 21 October – 11 November Yr 12 IB Exams 
• 2024 Term Dates

Year 12 HSC & IB Student Information Session and Breakfast

All Yr 12 students are invited to breakfast on Friday at 8am followed by an HSC & IB Information Session. This is a chance for the entire cohort to come together and receive important information and key advice for the year ahead. We look forward to seeing all students for a prompt start at 8:20am.

Legacy Gift Team Morning Tea

Tomorrow morning kickstarts the planning for the 2024 Legacy Gift team with a morning tea and information session along with planning time for students who have expressed interest in being involved in this special opportunity. The Legacy Gift team will be leading the planning, organising and fundraising contributing to a means-tested scholarship and another gift of their choice that they find meaningful to them and the school. This gift is a way for students to give back to the Redlands community and to support opportunities for future Redlands students. This event takes place immediately following the HSC & IB Information Session and Breakfast. 30 students have put their hand up to lead the planning and to be the representatives for their peers in this process. Thank you to the Canteen staff, Property Services and the Foundation team for coordinating efforts for this event and a special thank you to Dana Casimaty, Director of Development, who continues to work with the student team throughout this process.  

Free Workshop for Parents/Carers of Learner Drivers

Lane Cove Council and Hunters Hill Council will be hosting an online workshop for parents/carers and supervisors of Learner Drivers. This free workshop supports parents and supervisors of learner drivers to be confident and effective teachers. Topics include information about licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, tips for using the learner driver log book and the importance of providing constructive feedback.

The workshop will run on Wednesday 27 March, 6pm to 7:30pm. Participants can find out more here. Please reach out to Mary Zhang, Road Safety Officer, from Lane Cover Council at MZhang@lanecove.nsw.gov.au with any further questions or queries. 

Information Brochure: Help Learner Driver Become Safer Driver Online Workshop. 27 Mar 2024

ISA Tennis Trials

Congratulations and best of luck to Yr 12 students selected to compete in the ISA Tennis Trials this week.

• Isaac Swann
• Matteo Stucci
• Jack Petering
• Apoorv Pilani
• Tristan Wong
• Kabir Yohannan

Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos Catch -up Opportunity

Friday 1 March

A catch-up date for missed Year 7-12 Portrait photos and sibling photos will be offered on Friday 1 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2 Atrium.

All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers for all and ties for boys. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories.  No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.

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

Ms Alissa Ynson
Yr 12 Advisor
aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9865   

Year 11

Pastoral Care – Leadership

In our Pastoral Care Program this week, Yr 11 begun the process of discussions around leadership and what it means to be a leader. In the realm of leadership, it’s important to recognise the impact of energy and purpose. Leaders who maintain a positive and energetic demeanour can inspire their team members to perform at their best. This positive energy tends to rub off on others, creating a more engaging and dynamic work environment where productivity flourishes. Similarly, effective leaders are those who can clearly communicate the purpose behind their team’s efforts. When team members understand the significance of their roles and how they contribute to larger goals, they feel more motivated and connected to the mission. Thus, fostering a sense of purpose within a team is key to building cohesion and commitment among its members.

In the context of peer leadership within schools, the principles of contagious energy and purpose are especially pertinent. Peer leaders, such as SRC Representatives, Peer Support Leadership or mentoring, wield significant influence over their peers through their attitudes and actions. When peer leaders exude positivity and enthusiasm, they can inspire their fellow students to get involved, engage in activities, and strive for excellence. Their energy becomes contagious, fostering a more vibrant and supportive school community where students feel motivated to participate and contribute positively.

Moreover, peer leaders who effectively communicate the purpose behind school initiatives or projects can rally their peers around common goals. By articulating the significance of various activities or events, peer leaders help their classmates understand why their involvement matters and how it contributes to the overall school experience. This sense of purpose instilled by peer leaders encourages greater participation and investment from students, ultimately enhancing school spirit and fostering a sense of belonging. Therefore, within schools, peer leadership that emphasises contagious energy and purpose can significantly impact student engagement and the overall school culture.

Year 11 HSC English: Reading to Write

This term, Year 11 HSC English are enthusiastically exploring the topic, Reading to Write, a unit which involves them reading and unpacking different styles of writing in order to stimulate their own writing skills. The cohort have been engaging in weekly skill workshops to develop their craft, exploring creative writing last week and discursive this week. They are enjoying the challenge of writing in different styles and showing great focus and diligence in their cohort workshops.

Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers – Online Workshop 27 March

Lane Cove Council and Hunters Hill Council will be hosting an online workshop for parents/carers and supervisors of Learner Drivers. This free workshop supports parents and supervisors of learner drivers to be confident and effective teachers. Topics include information about licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, tips for using the learner driver log book and the importance of providing constructive feedback.

The workshop will run on Wednesday 27 March, 6pm to 7:30pm. 

Register Here

From Careers – All information can be found on Pulse

Early Entry

Early Entry University applications do not open until you are in Year 12. The attached applications overview is intended for Yr12 2024 students, however it will give you some information on Early Entry and applications via UAC so that you are aware.

Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos Catch -up Opportunity

Friday 1 March

A catch-up date for missed Year 7-12 Portrait photos and sibling photos will be offered on Friday 1 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2 Atrium.

All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers for all and ties for boys. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories.  No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.

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

Term 1 Key Dates

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

Year 10

Year 10 Week 4: Getting the Little Things Right

This week in Yr 10, students have continued to collaborate with their Tutors in crafting meaningful and sustainable goals for the term, and in some instances, for the entire year. It’s been wonderful to witness students taking greater ownership of this process, developing goals that are personal and attainable. This demonstrates Yr 10 students stepping up and embracing their responsibilities as students nearing the conclusion of their Stage 5 journey, preparing themselves for the challenges that lie ahead in their Senior studies.

In our year meeting today, students engaged with the notion of ‘getting the little things right,’ aligning with our Secondary School-wide goal of supporting our students through high expectations. I asked students, ‘How do the little things have an impact beyond our school experience?’

• School serves as a training ground not only for academic learning but also for the development of essential life skills. ​
• Just as in school, where we contribute to a smooth-running community by attending to the small details and fulfilling our responsibilities, the same principles apply as we transition into adulthood and the workforce. ​
• In both settings, success relies on our ability to collaborate effectively, communicate clearly, and take ownership of our roles. ​
• By mastering these skills in school, we are better prepared to navigate the challenges of adulthood, hold down jobs, and contribute positively to the communities in which we live and work.

Finally, as a cohort, students watched this inspiring address delivered by US Navy Seal Admiral McRaven, which  emphasises the significance of simple actions such as making your bed, facing life’s fears head-on, and the profound impact these habits can have on shaping the future for generations. This speech offered Yr 10 invaluable lessons on resilience, perseverance, and the power of everyday choices as students embark on their journey towards adulthood and prepare to tackle the challenges ahead.

Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers – Online Workshop 27 March

Lane Cove Council and Hunters Hill Council will be hosting an online workshop for parents/carers and supervisors of Learner Drivers. This free workshop supports parents and supervisors of learner drivers to be confident and effective teachers. Topics include information about licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, tips for using the learner driver log book and the importance of providing constructive feedback.

The workshop will run on Wednesday 27 March, 6pm to 7:30pm

Register Here

Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos Catch -up Opportunity

Friday 1 March

A catch-up date for missed Year 7-12 Portrait photos and sibling photos will be offered on Friday 1 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2 Atrium.

All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers for all and ties for boys. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories.  No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.

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

Term 1 Key Dates

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

Year 9

Stage 5 Assembly

A wonderful aspect of Redlands is the responsibility placed on our Yr 12 students to run assemblies. These assemblies are always well considered and are highly engaging as a result. 

This week was the first of our combined Stage 5 Student Led Assemblies and I wish to highlight two key moments from this that shined a spotlight on our Yr 9 students. 

The first was the recognition of Zoe Trevena, who received the first Step Beyond Award for the year. Throughout the Rowing season, Zoe has been challenging herself to step outside her comfort zone and move from the position of a cox to learn to and compete in the single scull events. It takes a great amount of perseverance and confidence to do this, and Zoe should be proud of her efforts. 

The second was the participation of Rupert Perry and Amelie Dewar in an International Women’s Day panel, hosted by Yr 12 student Sophia Rolon. Both students provided unique insights into the importance gender equality. Rupert provided some suggestions on the need for more mixed sporting opportunities and Amelie provided her perspectives why days such as this are important. Amelie acknowledged the need to recognise the achievements of women to this point in gaining a greater level of equality and the need for further change as we look to the future. Their thoughts were well-articulated, authentic and positive – a good start to the conversations we will have over the next few weeks in the lead up to International Womens Day on 8 March. 

Subject Focus – Commerce

On Tuesday, Year 9 Commerce participated in a workshop with our Careers Advisors, Ms Justine Fowler and Ms Clare Hurst. The workshop was designed to assist them in the successful completion of their current Commerce assessment, My First Year out of Home. The assessment task asks students to choose from one of three personas and prepare a detailed process journal that maps their research, ability to present their research in meaningful ways and ultimately their plans for a successful first year out of home. 

Our personas range from ‘Felix’ whose parents are moving to Singapore once he graduates from Redlands. Felix has other plans; he wishes to remain in Australia where his friends will be attending university. Persona 2, ‘Jess’, has a desire to travel post school and is looking into studying in the United Kingdom. Our final persona, ‘Tom’, plans to defer university and start his own business in his parents’ garage. The Year 9 cohort have been instructed to choose the persona that best represents their current thinking and use it as a springboard to explore their own post school options.  

Our Careers team were on hand to walk Year 9 through choosing courses, unpacking the University Admissions Centre, understanding university pre-requisites, and assumed knowledge, explaining HECS HELP loans and some of the finer details of studying abroad.  

In the next phase of the task students must find a suitable place to live, a part time job, prepare a budget and ultimately weave together a cohesive plan that details how they expect to manage on their own in their first year out. This assessment task sits against a backdrop of their Financial Decisions unit where we have been exploring whether Sydney is an affordable city, the median income in Australia and budgeting for a typical Australian family.  

We encourage you to discuss your child’s Commerce task with them as well as what they have been learning about in Commerce this year. 

Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos Catch -up Opportunity

Friday 1 March

A catch-up date for missed Year 7-12 Portrait photos and sibling photos will be offered on Friday 1 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2 Atrium.

All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers for all and ties for boys. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories.  No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.

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

Upcoming Events

We have a few events left in the first part of the term which include: 

• Week 4 – Friday 1 March 1 – Portrait Photos Catch-up
• Week 8 – Musical Week 

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

Year 8

A Normal School Week

This week was a relatively quiet one for the term. However, we might call it the ‘calm before the storm’ as next week, students will face their first assessment tasks for the year, in Mathematics and Technology. It has been good to see students knuckling down in lesson time to complete their work diligently, making sure they are building their capacity to achieve their best in those assessment components.

In our Year Assembly on Monday, we acknowledged students in the cohort who attended the UNSW Gifted Program during the recent holiday break. Dr Poon, the school’s High Potential Learning Coordinator attended our assembly to award certificates to the students. The cohort recognised the intellectual efforts of Lachlan Carter, Lucas Gai, Thys Hulsbosch, Aimee Kang, Olivia Law, Aaron Oh and Gabrielle Thomas.

We also reiterated some key reminders of behaviour and habit expectations for students, ones which we see as crucial for having a successful term and for continuing to build our positive and supportive community at Redlands. We have been discussing these in Tutor time and I encourage parents / carers to affirm these expectations with students too.

• Be punctual to school and lessons
• Keep using your manners – ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’, ‘sorry’
• Be polite and patient in canteen queues
• Take care that the language you use is respectful and uplifting (no ‘put downs’)
• Keep locks on your lockers for security
• Keep the Undercroft and locker area clean and tidy
• Keep using your planner to stay organised
• Remember to get your student planner signed each fortnight

Today in Tutor, we began a new focus for our Social and Emotional Learning program this term, exploring risk taking with students. Now that students have moved through their first year in the Secondary School, we want to challenge them to make the most of the opportunities available to them and to push themselves towards further growth moments. Such challenges involve an element of risk. Students might fail. They might be disappointed. They might not fully achieve their goals. However, without taking such risks they will not grow and they will not develop to achieve their full potential.

This concept of taking risks or stepping outside of their comfort zone, responsibly, is particularly important, given the Yr 8 Camp we are about to head out on in Week 6 (see below for more information). Students were receptive to this concept and engaged well in exploring a variety of scenarios created around the concept of risk taking. A favourite scenario was about heading out with a friend to see Taylor Swift in concert!

Today, we also received a wonderful surprise with our enthusiastic and supportive former Yr 7 Tutor, Mrs Rothwell, visiting McDouall Blue to introduce them to her wonderful new baby girl. Ms Rothwell is currently on maternity leave to look after her new child. The Tutor group were wowed by her baby’s cuteness and very excited to reconnect with their former Tutor.

Yr 8 Camp in Week 6 – Key Details

Yr 8 Camp is just around the corner and we are looking forward to a wonderful week away!

Please check the information below for key reminders and reach out to me (Yr 8 Year Advisor) if you have any questions.

• Outcomes: A focus on the natural landscape. We explore the beautiful rainforests and the coastal sand dunes, rock pools and mangroves of the Mid-North Coast.
• Dates: Monday 4 March – Friday 8 March
• Location: Stuarts Point, Mid-North Coast.
• Meeting Time: 6.30am, Monday 4 March
• Meeting Point: Gerard St Gate (the Undercroft) – Departing from Redlands Lane, Senior Campus
• Returning at: Approximately 2-2.30pm, Friday 8 March
• Activities: Bushwalking, Camping, Camp Cooking, Canoeing, Hiking, Initiatives, MTB and Surfing.
• Food for Day 1: Please pack snacks and lunch for Day 1 (No nut products or lollies).

Packing List and Camp Information:

Camp details can be found here 

• Login – Redlands
• Password – Shine

Medication on Camp:

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

• Prescription Medication MUST be placed into a Webster-Pak from a pharmacy. Medical Authority Form attached.
• Non-prescription medication (Zyrtec etc.) MUST be left in the original box with a Medical Authority Form completed and placed into a clear Zip-lock bag.
• Students should not be carrying Panadol or Nurofen.
• Completed Medical Authority Forms must be emailed to Mr Atkins (eatkins@redlands.nsw.edu.au) by Wednesday 28 February.

Additional Information:

If your child/ren has any cold and/or flu symptoms on departure day, they should not be attending camp.

Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos Catch -up Opportunity – Friday 1 March

A catch-up date for missed Yr 7-12 Portrait photos and sibling photos will be offered on Friday 1 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2 Atrium.

All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers for all and ties for boys. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories. No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.

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

Term 1 Key Dates and Upcoming Events:

• SS Sport Photos: Wednesday 28 February + Friday 1 March
• Year 8 Camp (Yarriabini National Park): Monday 4 March to Friday 8 March

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

Year 7

Year 7 Experiences and Events

Year 7 have gotten to know each other and their teachers better this week on Camp at High Country Campus in Jindabyne. Below is a picture of Cowper at the top of Mount Kosciusko.

In the coming weeks, a range of events are held by the School in support of Year 7 transition and we strongly encourage all Year 7 parents/carers to attend.

On Monday night, the Meet and Greet provides a chance to meet other Year 7 parents and the key staff who work and learn with our newest community members each day. The Principal and Year Advisor will both speak and parents/carers will have the opportunity to mingle and share experiences. There is no need to RSVP to this event – just come along!  

On Wednesday 28 February from 6.00pm an online webinar is being held for Year 7 parents hosted by the Dean of Studies, called Learning in the Secondary School. We do hope all Year 7 parents/carers can jump online for this event, which will provide information on learning and assessment in the Secondary School.

Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos Catch -up Opportunity – Friday 1 March

A catch-up date for missed Yr 7-12 Portrait photos and sibling photos will be offered on Friday 1 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2 Atrium.

All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers for all and ties for boys. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories. No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.

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

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

Head of Junior School

We are now into the rhythm of the term and despite the inclement weather this week, I have been pleased to see our students remaining focussed and engaged in their lessons. In this week’s assembly, the key theme was how our words have the power to impact others both positively and negatively. Using a somewhat messy demonstration of squeezing the contents a tube of toothpaste out and trying to put the toothpaste back in, I shared the message of how once our words are out, we cannot take them back and hence how we choose to use words is so important. At Redlands we seek to use words to encourage, support and inspire rather than words that undermine, demoralise and cause damage. Our students’ world is more complex than ever. They can, unwittingly, be exposed to language that we as parents would not want them to use at home or at school from a variety of sources, e.g. social media, film, TV, song lyrics, etc. Helping your children to navigate this and to make positive choices when using their words is a responsibility we take very seriously, and we appreciate your partnership and support in this regard.

Debating

A big well done to our Yr 5 and Yr 6 Debating teams who both started their season extremely well by winning their respective debates against Loreto. The teams are Primary A: Isha Gupta, Bertram Haines, Sasha Grant, Lillian Abbey, Pax Staley-Lobo, Archer Healy-Smith and Primary B: Audrey Reynolds, Asha Singh, Isla Wong, Georgia Darragh, Emmeline Gallego, Brian Ho.

Junior School New Curriculum Parent Information Seminar

Thank you for your interest in the upcoming Information Session on 27 February which has reached maximum capacity and as such bookings for this session are now closed.  However, due to the overwhelming response, we are excited to announce an additional parent information session. This will be a repeat session to familiarise parents with the content changes and instructional approaches adopted in the revised NSW English and Maths curriculum.

Places are limited and interested parents can reserve a space via the booking link below.

• Date:  Tuesday 5 March
• Venue:  Arnold Library (Junior School)
• Time:  8:30-9:30am
• Book Here  

Upcoming Communication

Parent Teacher Conferences

In Week 7 there will be an opportunity for parents and carers to meet with their children’s class teacher to discuss progress so far in the early part of the term and to establish some learning priorities for the year ahead. A letter outlining the process for booking a time with class teachers will be sent out via Pulse tomorrow at 4:00pm

NAPLAN

Year 3 and Year 5 parents and carers will receive information tomorrow at 4:00pm via pulse about NAPLAN tests that will be taking place in the testing window of 13  to 25 March

Save the Dates

Redlands Photo Days

Redlands school photo days are across the following dates:

• Prep School: Thursday 14 March
• Junior School: Friday 15 March
• Junior Campus Sibling Photos: Week 7, Friday 15 March, 7:00am-7:45am – Dunnet Hall Foyer

For parents with children across both Secondary and Junior/Prep School who would like sibling photos, we welcome you to attend Sibling Photo Day on Friday 15 March on Junior Campus if you didn’t attend the sibling photo session last week.

As we are in a transition phase for the new school uniform, Prep students are to wear whichever option they come to school in on this day as well. There is no need to buy any additional pieces.

International Women’s Day Event

Monday 11 March from 7am

Redlands invites Students, Parents and Carers to our inaugural Count Her In International Women’s Day Breakfast on Monday 11 March from 7-9am.

Hear from two incredible leaders and changemakers committed to the creation of opportunities for women to earn, learn and lead.

Guest Speakers: 

The Hon. Bronnie Taylor – Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals, Member of the NSW Legislative Council 

Vicki Condon AM – Founder, CEO, Executive Director of Raise Foundation.

Click the following link to book tickets.

Term 1 Parent Topic Talk

Equipping your Child to Navigate Anxiety and Distress

Tuesday 26 March, 8.30m

In recognising the vital role parents play in equipping their children with essential life skills to face challenging situations and emotions, we invite you to join us for a talk facilitated by the school counsellors. This session will focus on equipping your child to navigate challenges associated with anxiety and distress. Delve into the fundamentals of understanding distress and anxiety as we explore what these emotions might look like in your child. Discover the importance of building distress tolerance and learn to identify different manifestations of anxiety. We will provide valuable insights into practical strategies to help your child work through distressing situations. From distinguishing between hypo and hyper reactions to implementing effective coping mechanisms, you’ll gain actionable tools to support your child’s emotional wellbeing. Additionally, we’ll address separation anxiety and its impact across different age groups. Empower yourself with effective parenting concepts and practical tools to guide your child through challenging times.

For seating arrangements, please click the link to RSVP.

Grandparents Day

Tuesday 11 June 

Please note that this year Grandparents Day will be held on Tuesday 11 June. This hopefully gives families ample time to book those flights and get spare rooms ready.

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

Head of Preparatory School

Term 1 Wellbeing Clubs

Term 1 Wellbeing Lunchtime Clubs are up and running and Prep students are loving them. This term we have some old favourites that have returned as well as some exciting new ones, all run by our wonderful Prep staff.

These clubs have been specifically designed and planned for our learners to have some time away from the hustle and bustle of the playground and to spend some time just hanging out with friends. We will often find that by Week 4, the novelty of a new school or the return to school excitement starts to wear off and the term routine sets in, this is where providing some alternatives to the routine can rekindle excitement of the day.

Our daily Friendship Club is also a special place where some of our students who find friendships hard to navigate, can sit alongside our counsellors and staff and perhaps talk through ways to develop their friendship skills and networks.

As always in Prep, the voice of our students is important and they make the choice if they would like to head to any of these lunchtime activities. Please use the template below to talk to your child about which one they might like to pop in to and visit one day this term.

Allister Street Parking Update

The Allister Street drop off and pick up processes have been running smoothly, thank you for your ongoing commitment to the safety of the children and for respecting the NSW road rules. Junior Campus Senior and Middle leaders will continue to be visible on Allister Street. Again, we ask that drivers respond to our staff in a respectful manner if you are directed to move on or drive around the block and return in 5 minutes.

A gentle reminder that the 5-minute parking zone outside Redlands House must be strictly adhered to please as parking there for longer periods of time creates a second line of cars that in turn increases congestion and frustration for other drivers.

Please read below an updated parking information poster from North Sydney Council.

Possibility of a Sibling Carline

Community voice is important to us at Redlands so we would like to hear from Prep families who would consider using a K-6 Sibling Carline in the afternoons. Logistics and staffing will need to be organised but the general idea is for any Prep students accessing the sibling carline be collected and wait in Prep until 3.10pm where they will be walked up to the Junior School, meet their older sibling, and together use the Junior School carline.

To provide us with an idea of how many families would access a K-6 Sibling Carline, please fill in the form below. This will be open for a two-week period. The data will provide us with a direction as to whether we proceed with this arrangement for a Term 2 start.

View Form Here

Save the Dates

Kindergarten Parent Coffee Morning

Friday 1 March: 7.45-8.15am

Join the Kindergarten team for a Coffee Catch Up and kickstart your morning while connecting with our vibrant community. It’s an excellent opportunity to mingle with fellow families, engage with teachers and celebrate the first five weeks of Kindergarten. Make sure to join us on Friday 1 March, outside the Kindergarten classrooms from 7:45 to 8:15am for a warm and welcoming gathering!

Redlands Photo Days

Redlands school photo days are across the following dates:

• Prep School: Thursday 14 March
• Junior School: Friday 15 March
• Junior Campus Sibling Photos: Week 7, Friday 15 March, 7:00am – 7:45am – Dunnet Hall Foyer

For parents with children across both Senior and Junior/Prep School who would like sibling photos, we welcome you to attend the sibling photo day on Friday 15 March on the Junior Campus if you didn’t attend the sibling photo day on the Senior Campus last week. 

As we are in a transition phase for the new school uniform, Prep students are to wear which ever option they come to school in on this day as well. There is no need to buy any additional pieces.

International Women’s Day Event

Monday 11 March from 7am

Redlands invites students, parents and carers to our inaugural Count Her In International Women’s Day Breakfast on Monday 11 March from 7-9am.

Hear from two incredible leaders and changemakers committed to the creation of opportunities for women to earn, learn and lead.

Guest Speakers: 

The Hon. Bronnie Taylor – Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals, Member of the NSW Legislative Council 

Vicki Condon AM – Founder, CEO, Executive Director of Raise Foundation.

Click the following link to book tickets.

Term 1 Parent Topic Talk

Equipping your Child to Navigate Anxiety and Distress

Tuesday 26 March, 8.30am

In recognising the vital role parents play in equipping their children with essential life skills to face challenging situations and emotions, we invite you to join us for a talk facilitated by the school counsellors. This session will focus on equipping your child to navigate challenges associated with anxiety and distress. Delve into the fundamentals of understanding distress and anxiety as we explore what these emotions might look like in your child. Discover the importance of building distress tolerance and learn to identify different manifestations of anxiety. We will provide valuable insights into practical strategies to help your child work through distressing situations. From distinguishing between hypo and hyper reactions to implementing effective coping mechanisms, you’ll gain actionable tools to support your child’s emotional well-being. Additionally, we’ll address separation anxiety and its impact across different age groups. Empower yourself with effective parenting concepts and practical tools to guide your child through challenging times.

For seating arrangements, please click the link to RSVP.

Grandparents Day

Tuesday 11 June

Please note that this year Grandparents Day will be held on Tuesday 11 June. This hopefully gives families ample time to book those flights and get spare rooms ready.

When your Child is Away from School or Late

As our students settle into school routines, we often find colds and tiredness also creep in!  Over the last two weeks, we have noticed a large number of students staying home with unexplained absences and this can start to worry myself and the staff as to why.

As COVID isolation and the hypervigilance it created is now behind us, we can together now reassess whether it is completely necessary to be keeping your child at home if they are just tired or a little sniffly. We are certainly trying to encourage students to develop and regain their physical stamina after a few uncertain years. Our staff continue to teach and encourage a high standard of hygiene at school for students to learn in safe environments.

Of course if your child has a temperature or has an uncomfortable cold, please do keep them at home but we do ask that you explain the absence to the school so that this can be recorded in their file as an explained absence.

A reminder again please that if you arrive after 8.20am with your child to please alert Ms Pontes at Prep reception. She will then adjust the absentee list for the day. Ms Pontes or another staff member will take your child to their room as learning time has already begun.

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

Redlands House and PreKindergarten

Staff Changes

At the beginning of the year, we bade farewell to Madame Haverhals as she moved to a new role in the Prep School. Miss Troncoso will now take up the position of Language and Environment teacher in the Preschool, teaching Spanish and Environmental Studies to our Junior, Senior and PreK Students. Miss Troncoso has worked in the Preschool for several years, more recently she has worked as a teacher assistant in the Yellow Class, making the transition to this new role for her should be an easy one. The lovely and very experienced, Mrs Bruce, will work with Miss Hamilton in Yellow Class while a permanent replacement is found.

Water Bottles

Please remember that your child needs a water bottle each at Preschool. Please ensure the water bottle can be opened by your child.  Please no water bottles that have the spray function.  Although the children do like to spray themselves when they are hot, they also like to spray the other children, and this is a health concern.

Nyumbar Indigenous Incursion

Nyumbar offers a range of culturally appropriate and safe educational programs for schools, students and staff to learn about and engage in Aboriginal culture. They promote, teach, share, educate and have fun building a shared future through these programs. Redlands House students were fortunate to have Des and Isaac visit us this week. They told a story of the laughing kookaburra who had to learn to be kind to his friends even if they were different from him. We learnt about Aboriginal symbols and how to draw them as well as symbols for our body painting. Every child was able to add their mark to a group canvas that depicted the many symbols we explored. This artwork will be a wonderful addition to our Redlands House corridor walls and remind us of the rich cultural heritage that we can share when we learn about and hear Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories of the past, present and future.

Sandpit Photos

Individual and class photos for Redlands House and Transition Gold classes will be taken on the following days by Sandpit Photography:

• Tuesday 5 March:     Orange Class Juniors/ Yellow Class Seniors/Blue Class Seniors/PreK
• Thursday 7 March:   Orange Class Senior/ Yellow Class Juniors/ Blue Class Juniors

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

The distinction between a really good player and a great player often lies in a combination of skill, mindset, and work ethic. While a good player may possess fundamental skills and contribute positively to their team, a great player consistently demonstrates exceptional skill, adaptability and leadership.

Firstly, great players exhibit a relentless work ethic, constantly refining their abilities and seeking improvement. They are dedicated to both individual and team success. Moreover, their mental resilience sets them apart; great players maintain focus under pressure, learn from failures and approach challenges with a positive mindset. Great players not only master the basics but also excel in advanced techniques. They continuously push the boundaries of their skills, embracing innovation and staying ahead of the game.

For teenage athletes aspiring to greatness, the advice from many top line professional coaches and athletes is to prioritise both physical and mental development. Commit to rigorous training, seek constructive feedback and learn from every experience. Cultivate a growth mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities for improvement. Embrace leadership roles, communicate effectively with teammates and foster a strong work ethic. Balancing skill enhancement, mental resilience and teamwork is key to transcending from being a good player to a truly great one

‘Good player want to be coaches. Great players want to be told the truth’

Doc Rivers

From the Head of Secondary Sport – Mr Cameron Ellis

Redlands Secondary Sports Calendar

• Saturday 24 Feb – Round 10
• Saturday 24-25 Feb – ACT Team Racing Championships Sailing
• Sunday 25 Feb – NSW Rowing Boys Head of River
• Wednesday 28 Feb – Sports Photos (Tennis, Sailing, Touch (girls*) Basketball (girls*))
• Thursday 29 Feb – Summer Sports Training
• Friday 1 Mar – Sports Photos (Basketball (boys), Swimming, Basketball 1st V, Touch 1st VI)
• Saturday 2 Mar – Summer Sports Semi Finals
• Sunday 3 Mar – NSW Rowing Girls Head of River

Basketball

Combined ISA selections

This past week our Redlands Basketballers trialled for ISA selection.

Congratulations to:

• Eva Osborn and Alex Tanner were selected for the Opens Girls team
• Freja Nixey and Annabelle Kesby were selected in the 16/U Girls team
• Jaydon Hannaford was selected in the16/U Boys team.

Upcoming Events

Round 10 – Final Round

Our last round of the regular season is on Saturday.

There are 11 games at NBISC this Saturday so get along and support your friends and team mates.

Several Redlands teams are still in the hunt to play Finals Basketball next week.

Please make sure we arrive 3 minutes before the game with the correct uniform

• Basketball Team Photos – Wednesday 28 February – Girls
• Basketball Team Photos – Friday 1 March – Boys

Absences

If students are unable to attend their schedule fixtures/training sessions they need to complete the Redlands Sport Absentee Form*, this can be found on either:

• Redlands Pulse (under quick links)
• Redlands App (under activities)

*We ask that these are completed no later than 11:00am on Fridays.
Students who are unable to make their scheduled Saturday fixture need to provide a medical certificate by the following Monday. 

Injured students are required to attend all training sessions and Saturday fixtures.

Football

News & Photos

FOOTBALL CIS CUP 

Our Girls and Boys represented Redlands at the CIS Cup Round 1 this week.

Last week marked Round 1 of the Girls Football CIS Cup with Redlands taking on Ravenswood at North Turramurra Oval. It was a tight affair early on with both teams getting used to the quick synthetic pitch. As the game progressed, Ravenswood found their feet and scored a couple of goals in the first half to settle the nerves. The Redlands girls, well lead by Hannah Garde, started to combine better in the second half and pressed Ravenswood further up the pitch forcing some defensive mistakes. Arkie Riches and Daisy Thomas created a couple of great opportunities. After some terrific attacking play and narrow misses, Ravenswood counter attacked effectively and scored a few late goals to seal the match 4-0. Despite the result against a strong Ravenswood side, the girls put in a great first outing and will keep pushing in the Plate competition. 

Wednesday 21 Feb – Redlands vs Emmanuel College – 5-1 with a very much improved second half. Jaiden Murphy scored for us; Ethan James was the Man of the Match. and great performance from our goal keeper, Anderson Boris! Emmanuel had a very strong team and it was a great way for us to get warmed up to a fantastic season ahead.

Upcoming Events

Football trials for Winter will start Week 7 on Tuesday 12 March 2024

Fitness Centre

Open gym is back for 2024. Monday-Friday 6:30-8:00 is open gym for students in Yr 7-12.

From Week 2 onwards all students will be provided with a program to follow during sessions.

If you do plan on attending, please note the start times;
Year 9-12 start at 6:30. – 6:45 Latest Arrival Time.

Year 7/8 Session arrival/start time is 7:15.

Students are to wear full Redlands Sports Uniform:

• School Sport Shorts
• Redlands Sports Polo or Redlands Sports Jersey
• Appropriate Footwear – Closed in shoes (No Crocs)
• Late arrival will result in students unable to participate.

Rowing

The weekend past saw the Rowing program attend the ACT Championships and ACT Head of the Lake regattas. This particular weekend is a highlight for our students, families and staff alike. Students get multiple races across both the Saturday and Sunday while our families provide great support from the bank while taking advantage of the social opportunities with their organised drinks and dinners on Saturday night.

On water, our students have returned with a plethora of medals across all year and age groups from both days.

ACT Championships

Gold

• WU15 2x: G. Grace, T.Stone
• MU15 2x: C. MacDonald, R.MacLochlainn

Silver

• WU15 1x: E. Foley
• MU17 1x: T.Hooper
• WU16 1x: I.Campbell
• MU17 4x+: T.Hooper, A.Kerr, C.Morrison, O.Pearce, Cox: H.Preece

Bronze

• MU16 2x: K. Newman, J.Natilli
• MU17 1x: A. McInnes
• MU17 4x+: K.Budden, M.Osborn, I.Campbell, A.Winder, Cox: L.Chung

ACT Head of the Lake

Gold

• SBYr10 4x+ A FINAL: T. Hooper, A.Kerr, C.Morrison, O.Pearce, Cox: H.Preece
• SBYr8 4x+ D FINAL: N. Jeston, M.Walker, K.Blankenstein, B.Potter, Cox: A.Guan

Silver

• SBYr8 4x+ A FINAL: F. Kerr, C.Feros, C.MacDonald, R.MacLochlainn, Cox: A.Basu
• SGYr9 4x+ A FINAL: A. Crennan, E.Simpson, L.Goodland, T.O’Flynn, Cox: T.Sloot
• SGYr9 4x+ C FINAL: D.Mennie, I.Solgaard, L.Soste, L.Forsyth, Cox: A.Franceschi
• SG4x+ Div.1: Polok, L.Wainberg, A.Hwang, M.Sanger Larsson, Cox: Z.Naismith
• SG4x+ Div.2: I.Crennan, F.Richardson, S.Thorp, J.Hugman, Cox: C.Pedro Inacio
• MU17 8+: J.Foley, K.Newman, J.Natilli, H.Dobson, A.Kerr, C.Morrison, T.Anderson, O.Pearce, Cox: H.Preece
• WU17 8+: K.Budden, A.Crennan, E.Simpson, L.Goodland, T.O’Flynn, M.Osborn, I.Campbell, A.Winder, Cox: L.Chung

Bronze

• SBYr8 1x: M. Coonan
• SGYr8 1x: A.Connell
• SGYr10 4x+ A FINAL: K.Budden, M.Osborn, I.Campbell, A.Winder, Cox: L.Chung
• SGYr9 1x: A. Keller
• SBYr8 4x+ C FINAL: A.Budden, Z.Purdy, J.Haggman, H.Giddings, Cox: L.Campbell
• SB 8+: N.Tebbutt, L.Collyer, E.Beggs, O.Cooke, T.Jackson, Z.Borness, A.McInnes, J.Meek, Cox: F.Logan
• SBYr9 4x+ B FINAL: S.Salz, L.Law, A.O’Sullivan, S.Turton, Cox: J.Feller
• SB 4x+ Div.1: T.Jackson, Z.Borness, J.Meek, A.McInnes, Cox: F.Logan

Lots of great shots available from:

Rowing ACT Facebook Page

Flickr

Rowing New Zealand Online Nutrition Session

Thursday 29 Feb (5:00 – 6:00pm Sydney Time)

Rowing New Zealand are holding an online Nutrition information session as hosted by their Head of Performance Nutrition – High-Performance Sport that is a free online presentation that will cover “What to eat and when to eat it”.

This is a free session by some of the world leading experts in nutrition and fuelling young athletes that is easily applicable to our students during as they look to fuel their bodies and brains around training and study.

Learn More

Upcoming Events

• Sunday 25 Feb – Boys Head of the River (SIRC, Penrith)
• Sunday 3 March – Girls Head of the River (SIRC, Penrith)

Sailing

Week 3 of Redlands Sailing brought an array of conditions for our sailors to manage, ranging from potential lightning, 30+ knot sea breezes, ‘glass outs’ and luckily a 10-15 knot sunny sail.

Our Pacer sailors have been busy this week preparing for their teams racing regatta in Canberra over the 24 -25 of February, with coach Julie.

On Tuesday the sailors were greeted with warnings of a lightning storm, which led to a detailed theory session on tactics and strategies specific to the scenarios they will encounter during their race in Canberra.

Thursday allowed for our sailors to put their theory knowledge into practice with a series of team races in the glamorous 10-15 knot seabreeze.

Due to the light breeze on Saturday, the Pacer sailors were able to practise their roll tacks and roll gybes, through a series of drills. This skill will be very important if they are racing in the light breeze in Canberra. While waiting for the small amount of breeze, the sailors practised their capsize skills.

Our Elliot sailors luckily missed the early week storms and sailed straight into the 12-15 knot sea breeze.

Through this session they worked through various boat handling drills including figure 8s and windward leeward courses. This skill work was then put into practice with some short course fleet races at the end of the session.

On Saturday, the Elliot sailors were able to practise using asymmetrical spinnakers due to the light breeze. Through this session they were able to practise new skills with a new sail around a windward leeward course.

On the weekend just gone, Ali B came first on-line honours and PHS – the race was the BPYC Don Della Coastal Race. Congratulations to Ali on this achievement.

Upcoming Events

• Saturday 24-25 Feb – ACT Team Racing Championships Sailing – YMCA Canberra Sailing Club
• Saturday 2 March – Pittwater Secondary Schools Teams Racing Regatta – Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club

Friendly Reminders

• All students to be in correct uniform in ALL sessions, can be Redlands PE uniform, appropriate black or navy blue sports shorts, wetsuit (any brand), white Redlands rashie, and hat.
• Students are to keep phones in their bags for the entire session. If found using their phone during the session will result in being confiscated.

Touch Football

The Boys bus to Chevalier had a lot to celebrate with a clean sweep of away games. The Junior B girls continue their hot streak with an undefeated season so far!

Coaches have nominated the following players for stand out efforts for Round 9.

Players of the week:

• Sarah Zeppel
• Kat Lam
• Scarlet Illic
• Lexi Rowe
• Inge Anderson
• Stella Aranchikov
• Ethan James
• James Forrest
• Gabriel Grindlay

Upcoming Events

Round 10 preview: Fixtures are live on Pulse & students personal calendar.

All girls teams are at home this weekend. Boys are on at Oakhill.

Good luck to all teams for their final round of games in the regular season.

Finals progressions: DATES TO NOTE.

• Monday 26 February – Teams will be notified next if they have progressed into finals.

Teams who have not progressed through will be contacted with their training schedule for the remaining weeks of Summer Sport.

• 2 March – Semi Finals
• 9 March – Grand Finals

Reminders

Students are highly encouraged to wear a school hat whilst playing. Students should be applying sunscreen before playing/ training, and must bring a water bottle. Students are also encouraged to wear their sports t-shirt for more sun protection.

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 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

• 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 2022-24 >> 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

HICES Tennis Trials

Congratulations to Michael Du and Anasuya Shastri who competed at the HICES selection trials last week. In very wet conditions they competed against the top ranked players from HICES schools all around NSW. They had some great matches against some tough competition with congratulations to Anasuya who came out ranked 1^st and now proceeds to CIS Tennis trials in the coming weeks. We wish her luck at these championships.

HICES Basketball Trials

Congratulations to Vincent Okhovat, Luke Spencer, Leo Stevens and Max Humphrey who trialled at the HICES selection trials last week that Redlands were fortunate to host. Over half a day they participated in skills and drills before moving to matches where they competed against basketballers from HICES schools all around NSW. Leo Stevens and Vincent Okhovat now progress through to CIS selection and we wish them the best of luck at this trial.

Swimming Carnival

In our final preparation for our upcoming Swimming Carnival please take time to review the Swimming Carnival package that has been shared with families previously. The Swimming page on Pulse is also a primary source  It covers all areas of the carnival for your child from drop off to what events are on offer to how they can be collected. The students have had their House meetings, war cries have been practised, leaders have had the opportunity to speak to their team, entrant numbers have been memorised. And finally, I will share with you the horror story I told at our recent school assembly. What makes it scary is that all of it is true… enjoy

Who likes scary stories ? Don’t fool yourselves because this is one that will stay with you for a long time

In the expansive grounds of Redlands, where the air is thick with the whispers of generations past, there lurks a darkness that few dare to confront. It is whispered among the students, passed down from one trembling soul to the next, a tale of terror that sends shivers down the spine of even the bravest among you.

It began innocently enough, amidst the innocent laughter of children learning to navigate the treacherous corridors and stairwells of Parkes building. But as the years went by, a sinister force began to assert its dominance over the once joyful atmosphere leading up to carnivals. The name Cowper echoed like a curse, it’s very mention striking fear into the hearts of those who dared to oppose it.

For six long years, Cowper House reigned supreme, its dominance over the Swimming Carnival unyielding and absolute. Year after year, its victory seemed assured, leaving the other Houses trembling in its wake. The mere sight of Cowper’s blue and gold colours became a symbol of dread, haunting the dreams of those who dared to oppose it, previous House captains would wake up screaming and refusing to use blue and gold pencils in art. Teachers who were assigned to House supervision at the carnival would scream from the stands, ‘when will it stop, make it end’.

But then, just as hope seemed lost, a new terror descended upon the world in the form of a global pandemic. The other houses thought that this new plague would put an end to Cowper’s reign of terror. Yet, even in the face of adversity, Cowper, fully vaccinated, continued to triumph, its victory seemingly unstoppable.

As the years stretched on, the horror of Cowper’s dominance only deepened, leaving the other houses in a state of perpetual dread. But then, like a beacon of hope in the darkness, Dumolo House emerged from the shadows, its resolve unbreakable.

With steely determination, Dumolo House dared to challenge the tyranny of Cowper, its defiance sparking a glimmer of hope in the hearts of the oppressed. And lo and behold, in a twist of fate that sent shockwaves through Redlands, Dumolo emerged victorious, shattering Cowper’s stranglehold on the Swimming Carnival after 16 long years.

But the story does not end there, my friends, for the fate of Redlands history books hangs in the balance once more. As the new term unfolds, there has been whispers of uncertainty fill the air, faces of worry and fear covered by the shadow of our new bucket hats. Will Dumolo House continue its triumphant streak, or will Cowper rise once more to reclaim its title of terror? Or will Roseby and McDouall put an end to this tale and rewrite the history books.

Only time will tell, as the chilling tale of who will win the Swimming Carnival unfolds once more.

Representative Sport Student Absence

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

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

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

Drama

Last Friday, the Year 12 HSC Drama and IB Theatre cohorts took an evening excursion to one of NESA’s On Stage performances. It was a damp and dark night, and yet the Seymour centre was filled with a bubbly crowd of teachers and students from a wide range of schools. Anyone present could attest that the magical energy of this showcase inspired all our Year 12 dramatic and theatrical cohort to produce final works even more fantastic than those from the performers who were in their very position just 12 months ago. The breadth of what was on display: set design, scriptwriting, costume design, show advertisement, lighting design, videography, acting, realism, physical theatre, hilarious comedies, thrilling fight choreography, mind-titillating postmodern theatrical collages and moderate use of expletive language opened the eyes of the students. Like 19^thcentury optometrists experimenting on the oculars of cadavers, many important discoveries were made. Post-performance conversational inter-minglings on philosophical and aesthetic questions about the nature of drama were almost as exciting as watching the excellent performances we saw on stage. I cannot wait to see what these brilliant minds come up with – hopefully you too, if you were unable to come and see the genius presented by 2023 graduates, will come and see some of what is being made this year by our Year 12s.

One student present at this fun excursion was disappointed that they weren’t doing such a fantastically exciting subject for their Year 12 year – that one being the writer of this little report – I, Sholto Mirrlees-Black. I come to you, readers of Note Day, to offer this report, to announce from an unbiased third party perspective, that you should be excited for all the wonderful things our 2024 dramatists are concocting for the near future. 

Sholto Mirrlees-Black, Arts Captain

Kathryn Smith
Acting Subject Coordinator of Drama and Theatre
ksmith@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Drama and Theatre Extra Subjects Program

Our extracurricular classes are well and truly underway. From Redlands House to the Preparatory School, Junior School and Secondary School, all campuses are a-buzz with our young Redlands performers busily expressing their creativity. From Musical Theatre to Acting, to Film Class, Production Club and even Animation – fun is certainly in the air.

Class Spotlight: Senior Film Class Wednesday 3:20pm – 5pm

Every Wednesday afternoon, our young filmmakers explore different aspects of film production: idea generation, scripting, storyboarding, cinematography, sound design, editing, and more. The course provides a fun space for creatives to develop their skills behind the camera and expand their understanding of spectacle, space and character. For the tech enthusiasts, the complexity of soundscapes and editing are a fantastic way to learn new skills. For the visual artists, camera work and cinematography open new ways of framing the world. For those who just love movies – here’s a group of people who’d love for you to join in the action!

Senior Film is open to all senior school students and runs Wednesdays 3.20-5pm in the W Block. We hope to see you there!

We also run Junior Film classes on a Monday and Tuesday afternoon on the Junior campus.

There is also, our wonderful new class Animation and Stop Motion on Tuesday afternoons on the Junior Campus for years 3-6.

If you would like to enrol, please email: drama@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Housekeeping

We kindly ask that all parents and guardians be on time to the extra subject pick up locations after the classes finish.  

You will find the various finishing times and locations for Junior School pick up on the Redlands Drama and Theatre Pulse page. If you are running late, your children will be taken to OOSH and you will be charged accordingly.   

If you have any questions, please email: 

Drama@redlands.nsw.edu.au OR avirtue@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Thank you for your ongoing support of our fantastic Extra Subjects program!

Amber Virtue 
Head of Extra Curricular Drama  
avirtue@redlands.nsw.edu.au 

Music

Friends of Music Meeting – Tonight! 

Our first Friends of Music meeting of the year is tonight! It’s a great opportunity to look at the year ahead. We invite anyone in our community to come join and be part of what we do. 

The night will include musical entertainment from some of our staff, light refreshments and, most importantly, the opportunity to hear about how you can make a difference as a Friend of Music. 

We look forward to seeing our community at 6pm in Edwards Auditorium tonight! 

Do the Little Things Right

This term, we have a Music Department goal to ‘do the little things right’. We know that when we lay the right foundations for our students, and hold them accountable with high expectations and support them to meet them, we can expect significant growth and success. 

As we are settling into our routines of ensemble attendance and private tuition practice, we encourage all students to focus on holistically focusing on making sure they’re making a big improvements in the small details. 

Some examples of ways you can encourage your child to be doing the little things right: 

• Being the first person there to help with set-up of an ensemble, and the last person to leave
• Having music, pencils and any other equipment prepared for every rehearsal
• Getting that routine of daily practice, no matter how small, embedded in what we do 
• Leaving rehearsal spaces better than we found them 
• Keeping devices away from rehearsal spaces 
• Focusing the whole way through rehearsal 

As we focus on this at school, we appreciate your support to help your child at home. Open conversations about consistent practice and preparation for both private lessons, ensembles and music classes is essential to helping your child succeed in music. 

JUNIOR CAMPUS

RedFactor

Do you have the Red Factor?! Our annual talent show is back for 2024 and we can’t wait to see a new year of exciting acts.
Please complete this Red Factor Audition Form if your child/ren are auditioning for Red Factor 2024. The audition forms are due no later than Friday 1 March by 5pm. 

The form must be completed by the parent/carer, not the student. All other terms and conditions are on the form linked below. 

Please note: students performing in a group need to complete one form each, not one form for the whole group. 

AUDITION DATES

Year 3: Friday 15th March – Week 7 Lunchtime

Year 4: Thursday 14th March – Week 7 Lunchtime

Year 5: Monday 11th March – Week 7 Lunchtime

Year 6: Tuesday 12th March – Week 7 Lunchtime 

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE RED FACTOR AUDITION FORM

SENIOR CAMPUS

Jazz in the Garden

We’re gearing up for Jazz in the Garden – just over one week away! What’s a better way to kick off the year with a launch-of-season musical event where you can lie back and enjoy some Jazz? That’s right, Jazz in the Garden is coming on 2 March – book now!  

After a season off due to the Spring Fair, Jazz in the Garden is back bigger and better than before. This year, we’re excited to be including many more ensembles, including from the Junior Campus! 

The Friends of Music are holding a sausage sizzle for the event, as well as a Yr 12 Bake Sale. When booking below, you can even pre-purchase your sausage sizzle for $3! It promises to be a wonderful afternoon of music and entertainment. 

Book your tickets below! 

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET TO JAZZ IN THE GARDEN

Battle of the Bands – Auditions Close Next Week

One of our most anticipated events, the ‘Battle of the Bands’, is at the end of this term on Monday 8 April! Auditions close next Friday for all bands and unplugged members of our community. 

We are also excited to have our guest adjudicator, Carlos C Major, star on 2014 and 2019 seasons of The Voice to join us for this year’s event. 

With a Classic Rock theme, we’re excited to see the performances on the night. 

Instrumental Competition

We are looking forward to the upcoming Instrumental Competition on 11 March. 

Thank you to all who auditioned. Results of auditions will be published through iLearn, with more specific details coming in the weeks to come. 

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)