Head of Junior School

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What a wonderful Book Week we have enjoyed across the Junior School this week. With this year’s theme, Symphony of Stories, our celebrations have been a wonderful reminder of the joy, imagination and connection that books bring to our lives.

Tuesday morning’s Book Week Parade was, as it is every year, a highlight of the week. Gathering the entire Junior School together on the oval, from our Redlands House Juniors through to Year 6, was a wonderful celebration of our shared love of literature. It was lovely to see so many students and teachers embrace the opportunity to dress up as their favourite book characters, with the oval transformed into a colourful cast of much-loved literary figures.

The parade was followed by our Reading Hour, when staff from across the school visited classrooms to read, share and talk about some of their favourite picture books. It was a lovely opportunity for students to hear stories read by familiar faces from across our community and to discover new books and authors. 3 Blue and 3 Yellow then delighted us with a wonderful Book Week-themed assembly item, adding their own creative contribution to our celebrations.

Throughout the week, students have also enjoyed a range of special activities, including author visits, mystery readers, door displays and a very special Peter and the Wolf concert for students from Preschool to Year 6. Each event has provided another opportunity for students to experience the power of stories and celebrate reading in different ways.

A special congratulations goes to our Year 6 students who took part in Write a Book in a Day, working collaboratively to create their own books while raising funds for The Kids’ Cancer Project. Their efforts have raised an incredible $13,000+, which will be donated to this important cause. We are incredibly proud of the creativity, commitment and generosity they demonstrated.

A huge thank you must also go to our wonderful staff for helping to bring Book Week alive for our students. From dressing up and reading stories to creating classroom displays and supporting the many activities throughout the week, their enthusiasm has helped make the celebrations so special. A particular thank you goes to our Library team for their tremendous hard work, creativity and organisation in bringing the week together. Their passion for books and reading was evident throughout the celebrations.

We also congratulate all of our students who participated in the IPSHA Athletics Carnival yesterday. Our students represented Redlands with enthusiasm, determination and excellent sportsmanship, achieving many strong individual and team results. We are particularly pleased to see a number of students progress through to CIS competition. Thank you to all of our students and staff who contributed to such a successful day.

Our Junior School Snowsports athletes have also enjoyed outstanding success at the NSW State Interschools Snowsports Championships. Redlands students achieved some excellent team and individual results across Alpine, Ski Cross, Snowboard and Cross Country events, with a number of our students qualifying for the 2026 National Interschools Snowsports Championships. This is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful reflection of the strength and development of our Junior School Snowsports program. We wish every success to the students who have progressed to Nationals next week as they represent Redlands at Perisher.

Finally, a reminder that next week we will host our Secondary School: The Inside Story presentation. This session will provide families with an opportunity to hear more about the transition to secondary school and gain insights into what lies ahead for our students. We warmly invite all families to attend and encourage you to make the most of this opportunity to learn more about the next stage of your child’s Redlands journey.

Join Us for Voice Notes: Hope in Hard Times | 2 September

Join us for an inspiring conversation exploring hope, resilience and how we can make a positive difference in challenging times. Hear from our exceptional panel: award-winning environmentalist, presenter and author Natalie Kyriacou OAM; James Spenceley, North Sydney Councillor, humanitarian and founder of Aus Ukraine Aid; and Suzie Barnett, purpose-driven leader at Two Good Co.

Come ready to listen, be inspired and leave a little lighter than you arrived.

Book your tickets today

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

Science Week: A Week of Wonder, Investigation and Discovery

Science Week began with the questions that spark every great scientific discovery. Across the Junior School, students embraced their natural curiosity, wondering, investigating and searching for answers through a week filled with exciting opportunities to think like scientists.

Throughout the week, students enjoyed external science shows, visitor laboratories, demonstrations and the opportunity to learn from parents and members of our wider community.

A particular highlight was the impressive Year 4 Science Projects. Our Year 2s visited the expo and engaged with all the experiments with enthusiasm and plenty of curious questions. With no two projects the same, each one reflected the unique curiosity, creativity and scientific thinking of its creator.

On Friday, the school was alive with the sound of wonder as students in every classroom explored questions they had been wondering about and conducted their own scientific experiments. From helicopters flying and boats being tested to egg drops, parachutes, bridge building and soundscapes, there were countless ways for students to explore scientific thinking through questioning, predicting, testing, observing and drawing conclusions.

A huge thank you to Mr Birbeck and Mrs Duckworth for an excellent week of science, and to all of our teachers, parents and visitors who helped make the week such a memorable celebration of curiosity and discovery.

View Science Week Highlights Video

Book Week: Celebrating a Symphony of Stories

We are currently enjoying another exciting week at Redlands as we celebrate Book Week. The Junior School has come alive with stories, creativity and a wonderful celebration of books and reading.

There has already been plenty happening, including creative classroom door decorations, story reading, author visits and our much-loved Book Week Parade.

We were delighted to welcome a special visit from Zoë Bennett, a Sydney-based children’s illustrator, immersing themselves in stories, imagination and the joy of books.

And there is still more to come! We are looking forward to Peter and the Wolf: A Story and Symphony as we continue to celebrate the power of stories to inspire imagination, curiosity and a lifelong love of reading. A big thank you to Mrs Wiebe, Mrs Roberts, and Ms Beaumont-Jones for coordinating all the amazing Book Week activities.

Martina Petersen
Deputy Head of Junior School: Learning and Teaching
mpetersen@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Jump Rope for Heart Update!

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who has been participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term – a fantastic physical activity program and fundraiser by the Heart Foundation. Over the last few weeks, the students have learned new skills, increased their physical activity, and learned about heart health. Students have loved having the ropes available to practice their skipping and boost their skills.

There are still a few weeks left to get involved with the skipping and you can partake in the optional fundraising component if you wish. Your efforts will go towards lifesaving heart research and support programs. When you register your child online, you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help give your child a great reason to get away from the screens and get outdoors.

Register at jumprope.org.au/parents

Congratulations to the following students who have made a significant contribution to the Heart Foundation:

• Year 2: Charlotte, Lara, Alyssa
• Year 1: Hunter, Margot
• Kindy: Henry, Rupert, Rayas, Felix 

Kindergarten Storybook Project

We are a group of Year 11 students and as part of completing our IB CAS project, we have spent this term creating a special storybook for the Kindergarten students.

We wanted the book to be something that the Kindys would genuinely enjoy, so before creating the story, we spent time talking with them and asking about the characters, adventures, and ideas they would like to see in a book. We used their suggestions to help shape our story and make it something created with the Kindergarten community, rather than simply for them.

We wrote the story ourselves and have designed and illustrated the book with our Kindergarten audience in mind. The story follows four Australian animal friends as they experience an exciting day at Kindergarten, learning about friendship, teamwork, courage and looking out for one another along the way.

We are now making copies of the finished book available for families to purchase. The proceeds will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, an organisation that works with remote Indigenous communities to provide culturally relevant books and literacy resources, and to support reading and storytelling in Indigenous languages.

Each book is $10, and we encourage families to get involved and purchase one as a keepsake of your child’s time in Kindy, as well as supporting a worthwhile cause. Through this project, we hope to bring our school community together around something our Kindy’s can enjoy while also using the project to support literacy beyond our own school.

Here is the link

Thank you for your support,

Chloe, Saskia and Tara in Year 11

Jam on Toast!

Last Friday, the students in Kindy and Year 1, were treated to a musical morning led by the fantastic and much-loved musician, Jamie Madsen. Our students (and teaching staff!) sang and danced their way through many of their favourite songs. Jamie commented on the fantastic behaviour of the students at Redlands and how they always participate to the fullest extent. Thank you to the Music team for organising this exciting incursion for the Kindy and Year 1s!

Parent Topic Talk – Strengthening Positive Online Behaviour

Please join the Junior School Counsellors, Silvia & Jemimah, for an interactive presentation on how to support your child develop positive online behaviour, including internet safety skills and age-appropriate limits on screen time. This presentation shall look at the most recent research regarding the impact of screen time on our young people, as well as practical strategies parents can utilise to facilitate a healthy relationship with technology. Taking place in the Arnold Library on Wednesday 9 September at 8.20am.

Please sign up using the link below:

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

Science Week: A Week of Wonder, Investigation and Discovery

Science Week began with the questions that spark every great scientific discovery. Across the Junior School, students embraced their natural curiosity, wondering, investigating and searching for answers through a week filled with exciting opportunities to think like scientists.

Throughout the week, students enjoyed external science shows, visitor laboratories, demonstrations and the opportunity to learn from parents and members of our wider community.

A particular highlight was the impressive Year 4 Science Projects. Guided by their own questions, students designed investigations, followed scientific methods, gathered evidence and drew conclusions from their findings. With no two projects the same, each one reflected the unique curiosity, creativity and scientific thinking of its creator. Well done, Year 4!

On Friday, the school was alive with the sound of wonder as students in every classroom explored questions they had been wondering about and conducted their own scientific experiments. From helicopters flying and boats being tested to egg drops, parachutes, bridge building and soundscapes, there were countless ways for students to explore scientific thinking through questioning, predicting, testing, observing and drawing conclusions.

A huge thank you to Mr Birbeck and Mrs Duckworth for an excellent week of science, and to all of our teachers, parents and visitors who helped make the week such a memorable celebration of curiosity and discovery.

View Science Week Highlights Video

Book Week: Celebrating a Symphony of Stories

We are currently enjoying another exciting week at Redlands as we celebrate Book Week. The Junior School has come alive with stories, creativity and a wonderful celebration of books and reading.

There has already been plenty happening, including creative classroom door decorations, story reading, author visits and our much-loved Book Week Parade. Our Year 4 and 5 students have also been putting their literary knowledge to the test in the Kids’ Lit Quiz.

We were delighted to welcome author Ra Spratt, who had students laughing aloud with her entertaining characterisation and lively storytelling. Her engaging presentations brought her stories to life and inspired students to see just how much fun reading can be. Our K–2 learners also enjoyed special visits from Zoë Bennett, a Sydney-based children’s illustrator, immersing themselves in stories, imagination and the joy of books.

And there is still more to come! We are looking forward to Peter and the Wolf: A Story and Symphony as we continue to celebrate the power of stories to inspire imagination, curiosity and a lifelong love of reading. A big thank you to Mrs Wiebe, Mrs Roberts, and Ms Beaumont-Jones for coordinating all the amazing Book Week activities.

Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee

Earlier this term, students across Yrs 3 to 6 in the Junior School took part in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee Challenge, putting their spelling knowledge, vocabulary and word skills to the test.

We have recently received the exciting news that several of our Year 4 and Year 6 students have progressed through to the next round.

Congratulations to the following students:

This is a wonderful achievement, and we wish our students every success in the next round!

Martina Petersen
Deputy Head of Junior School: Learning and Teaching
mpetersen@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Parent Topic Talk – Strengthening Positive Online Behaviour

Please join the Junior School Counsellors, Silvia & Jemimah, for an interactive presentation on how to support your child develop positive online behaviour, including internet safety skills and age-appropriate limits on screen time. This presentation shall look at the most recent research regarding the impact of screen time on our young people, as well as practical strategies parents can utilise to facilitate a healthy relationship with technology. Taking place in the Arnold Library on Wednesday 9 September at 8.20am.

Please sign up using the link below:

Assemblies

We warmly welcome parents to join us at our fortnightly assemblies.

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

Junior School Father’s Day Celebration

Our Junior School Father’s Day celebration will take place on Monday 7 September from 8am–9.30am.

We have a wonderful morning planned, with treats for fathers to enjoy and lots of fun activities for dads and their children to participate in together. Activities will include making ties, creating BBQ spice mixes, designing superhero masks, building challenges, dad jokes and much more!

We can’t wait to celebrate this special morning with all our Junior School families and look forward to welcoming you for a fun-filled Father’s Day celebration.

Allister Street Traffic and Parking Reminder

We understand there can be some frustration for families with traffic and parking before and after school, particularly on Allister Street. We would like to remind families of the following arrangements to help keep traffic flowing and ensure the safety of all students and families.

Morning Drop-Off

• Students can be dropped off on Allister Street between 8.00am and 8.20am, or families can use the underground car park.
• If dropping off on Allister Street, parents and carers must remain within 3 metres of their vehicle.

Afternoon Collection

• The Year 1–2 car line does not commence until 3.05pm. We ask families not to stop or queue on Allister Street before 3pm.
• Please do not line up for Year 3-6 car line before 3.15pm. Car line for Year 3-6 will start at 3.20pm promptly.
• Cars arriving too early can cause significant congestion down Allister Street and around the intersection with Rangers Road.

We thank all families for your support and understanding. By following these arrangements, we can help ensure that everyone can drop off and collect their children safely and efficiently.

Year 3-6 Clubs Tuesday Afternoon Collection

Years 3–6 Clubs on Tuesday afternoons finish at 4.30pm.

All students can be collected from the Allister Street gates, located where the former Years 3–6 Reception was. Parents and carers are asked to wait outside the gates, and club teachers will bring students out to be collected.

We understand that traffic delays and unforeseen circumstances can sometimes result in parents arriving later than expected. To ensure students are supervised safely if you are delayed, we strongly encourage families to pre-register for OSH, so your child can be taken to OSH if required.

We appreciate your understanding and support in ensuring students are collected as close to 4.30pm as possible.

Amber Wilson
Deputy Head of Junior School: Operations (P-6)
awilson@redlands.nsw.edu.au

A Special Musical Moment for Kathy Piao

Congratulations to Kathy Piao (Yr 3), who was invited to perform at the 10th QVB Classical Concert last weekend. As the youngest invited performer, Kathy delighted the audience with her performance of Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu. The concert was attended by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who warmly acknowledged Kathy’s performance afterwards. It was a wonderful achievement and a memorable experience for Kathy. We are delighted to celebrate this special moment with her and her family.