Reddam House High School Newsletter Vol 23 Issue 1

IN

Reddam House High School Newsletter Volume 23 Issue 01

• HSC results

• Inspired opportunities

• Year 9 Camp

• Music News

• Footloose rehearsal

• Sport, Careers & more

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 1 of 2023 following what I hope has been a relaxing, rejuvenating summer holiday.

I am still very much in celebration mode following the HSC results of the Year 12 Class of 2022. Coming 5th in the State and being the 1st ranked Independent School in NSW was really a fantastic way to end the year. Our English Department was ranked 1st in the State for Advanced and Extension 1 & 2 and the Maths Department was ranked 4th for Advanced, Extension 1 and Extension 2. Standard Maths once again placed 1st in the State with English Standard and EAL/D 2nd. The teachers of Primary, Middle, and High Schools celebrated these results at a combined luncheon at our Staff Development Day last Friday. While the teachers of Year 12 did the heavy lifting in preparing the students for their Final Exam-

inations and we owe a debt of gratitude to them, it was fitting to recognise the efforts of all their teachers throughout their schooling and to celebrate this cohort's success together as a team. Congratulations and well done to all involved in this cohort’s success.

I will be expanding further on these results at our Year Group Information and Parent Cocktail Evenings coming up in the next few weeks.

Year 10 & Year 11 at the Bondi Campus on 8th Feb at 7:00 pm

Year 8 at Woollahra on 16th Feb at 7:00 pm

Year 7 at Woollahra on 21st Feb at 7:00 pm

Year 9 at Woollahra on 23rd Feb at 7:00 pm

Finally, after 3 years of these functions being on hold, we are able to get together in order for parents to meet each other and the group of teachers who are responsible for their children. Our teachers and I are looking forward to these opportunities to connect with the parent body once more.

Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9 students have been away on Camp since Wednesday and I can’t wait to hear all the

The Dux Assembly for the HSC Class of 2022 was held on Friday where the 29 NSW Top All Rounders, 9 NSW Top Achievers, and the Dux scholars of this cohort were honoured. Their results were shared with the current Year 10, Year 11, and Year 12 students at an assembly at Woollahra. This event has always served the dual purpose of congratulating the outgoing Year 12s as well as motivating their successors. It was fantastic to see them back at school and to witness their pride in the cohort’s achievements.

Carlos Sanson (Class of 2016) was the Master of Ceremonies and Guest speaker at the 2023 HSC Showcase Season Launch. In his speech to the Artexpress, Callback, OnStage, and Encore recipients, he paid tribute to the pivotal time that he spent at Reddam and recalled his preparation for his monologue fondly. He was inspired by the support and acknowledgment of his peers and the process gave him the confidence to pursue acting as his chosen profession. He graduated from Screenwise and began his rise to fame. He is most well known as Santi in the Australian television series ‘Bump’. The 5 Reddam students in attendance got a real thrill out of having one of their own speak so fondly of his time at their school.

Student activities during the holidays included:

Daphne Gotsis and four of her friends expressed an interest in work experience as scientists at St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research in Darlinghurst from 28 Nov to 2 Dec.

They had a fun and interesting time delving into Clinical trial Gene Therapy, diabetic mouse models, pharmacology at the hospital, and the value of dried blood spots in sampling for HIV and Hepatitis. Hopefully, this year's work experience can go ahead for the Year 10 cohort but I have been very impressed with the number of students who initiated their own opportunities.

The Bondi Campus had a huge shock this week when the air-con was disconnected as part of the building works for the Bondi Learning Centre, an event which we had not anticipated. The hasty organisation of portable units has returned classrooms to temperatures that allow for excellence in terms of both the students and the teachers’ ability to concentrate and function optimally. The entire project is set to be completed by the start of Term 2 and that handover is eagerly awaited. I thank students for their understanding and continued efforts despite the extreme conditions during the first part of the week.

31 Year 10 students attended the BJE 5-week residential trip to Israel. I have heard glowing reports about the trip from the students who attended and equally fantastic reviews of the students: their leadership, camaraderie, and positive contributions in making the trip such a success, from the organizers.

Congratulations to our very own piano & composition tutor, Dan Biederman, for winning the Song of the Year at this year's Golden Guitar awards - a man of many, many talents. You can watch the announcement through the image link.

We had our first Bondi Singers rehearsal this week and what a turnout. With those I know were absent, I think

Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead, Dave

ALUMNI NEWS

Mia Maccormick (Class of 2021)

Following a year at UNSW, Mia is now starting a design degree at NIDA (costumes/set, etc.) Entry into this degree is very competitive as only 8 students are selected.

Mia was involved in many of the Reddam productions since Primary School, the most notable being Tarzan, in which she headed the Wardrobe Team - creating thousands of fabric strips, and sewing even more on, to create the "fur" on our gorillas. Congratulations Mia.

Pitcairn

Music Announcements

Welcome back to all our music students, and we hope you are ready for an exciting year ahead.

Ensembles

Please register your interest at the following link for our voluntary ensembles, and teachers will be in touch soon about start-up for the year:

Music News

Sydney Conservatorium of Music: Opera Lab and Music Theatre Lab

Congratulations to Natasha Green and Paloma Nicholas for being involved in the Opera and Musical Theatre Lab at the Conservatorium of Music in the holidays. 27 students from around the country learned 35 ensembles. In 7 days, they learned the music, learned the choreography, had acting and dance classes, had to sing in other languages and participate in masterclasses with visiting guests Dr Anke Ryan and Peter Cousins. Both singers received great feedback about their excellent musical preparation and lovely tone. One of the teachers of this course was Reddam voice teacher Ms Tanith Bryce.

Our choirs started up this week, with a wonderful turnout for Woollahra Singers on Tuesday and Bondi Singers on Wednesday. New students are always welcome to join our ensembles.

Performance Opportunities

Welcome Recital & Assemblies - Please submit your videos via the following link to be considered for performances at our Welcome Recital or weekly assemblies:

Reddam House Senior school is gearing up for a fantastic 2023 show; Footloose. Footloose is the story of Ren McCormack, a teenage boy from Chicago. He and his mother move to the small town of Bomont after his father abandons them. Upon arriving, Ren finds himself at odds with most of the town, including the Reverend Bomont. The Reverend has convinced the town to outlaw dancing, which Ren finds unbelievable. With the help of the Ariel (the Reverend’s daughter) and Willard (a country hick who becomes his best friend), Ren convinces the Reverend to let the teenagers dance, and in the process helps the town to heal from a tragedy that affected them all.

Auditions have been booked, and we are very excited to see the wealth of talent our school has to offer! The student Band, Wardrobe Team and Backstage Crew will meet with the rest of the cast at our first rehearsal on Wednesday next week, where the lead cast will eagerly be announced. Everyone is welcome to join the ensemble at this first rehearsal, all they need to do is show up to Adelaide Hall after school! Everybody cut loose! FOOTLOOSE!

Thursday 09/02

3.45 –4.45pm 3.45 – 6pm

Friday 10/02 3 – 6pm

Saturday 11/02

10 – 11.30am

Sunday 12/02

For info. please contact Ms Emily Knight Leads Featured Ensemble

NB: Anyone & Everyone is welcome to join us at this rehearsal!

Dance Ensemble Auditions

Script Read through

Music & Script Read through Adelaide Hall

Dance Ensemble

Ren McCormack, Chuck Cranston & Ariel Moore

Featured Ensemble

(Bomont Folk) & Leads

SPORTING FIXTURES - 4 FEBRUARY 2023

Basketball

Girls

U16 Reddam Sparks vs Inner City Falcons - 5.15pm

U16 Reddam Mystics vs Newtown Storm - 4.30pm

U18 Reddam Suns vs SGHS Beef Pide - 4.30pm

U12

Netball

Tennis

Touch Football

Year 12- Please make an appointment with Ms Jones for any careers advice

Year 12 – ANU is coming to talk to those interested at lunchtime on Monday 20th February in C2. This will cover, early entry, Tuckwell Scholarship and other ANU insights.

Attention Year 11 and Year 12 - The University of Sydney is running a series of webinars that may have useful information for you. If interested visit HERE

OPPORTUNITY—ART