Reddam House Sydney

Last week we were fortunate to have our incoming principal Mr Simon Lees join us for a few days. For those of you who missed our welcoming event, we thought we'd ask him a few questions, so you could get to know him better.

1. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as a Principal?
Being able to listen, connect, and show genuine concern for the well-being of the whole community. It’s essential to recognise that each person has unique challenges and strengths, and by fostering a supportive environment, the entire school community thrives. Additionally, maintaining a strong presence throughout the school helps in nurturing a positive and productive atmosphere.

2. If you could bring any historical figure to speak to your students, who would it be and why?
I would love to bring Rosa Parks to speak to the students. Rosa Parks is a symbol of courage and quiet strength. Her refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, demonstrating the power of individual action in the fight against injustice. Her story would inspire students to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity, and to understand the importance of equality and respect for all. Her life exemplifies the impact of standing up for one’s beliefs and making a difference.

3. What’s one thing you wish parents knew about your role as a principal?
I believe most parents acknowledge just how multifaceted the role of a Principal is. Beyond managing the academic side, we are deeply involved in the social and emotional development of students, ensuring the well-being of the entire school community. It’s a role that requires balancing administrative duties, being an educational leader, and often a mentor, all while striving to create a nurturing and safe environment for every student. The role also involves making fair and tough decisions that impact the whole school, always with the student's best interests in mind.

4. How do you celebrate successes, both big and small, within the school?
Celebrating successes is crucial for building morale and reinforcing positive behaviours. We celebrate through school assemblies, where we acknowledge individual and group achievements, whether academic, athletic, or community-related. We also highlight accomplishments in newsletters and social media to share the joy with the broader community. Additionally, we give more personal recognition, such as sending home positive notes or having one-on-one conversations to encourage students and staff. Creating a culture of celebration helps to motivate and inspire everyone in the school community.

5. If you could take your students on a tour anywhere in the world, where would you go?
If I could take the Reddam House students on a tour anywhere in the world, I would choose a hike on the coastal paths in Cornwall, UK. We would camp along the way, enjoying the challenges and the stunning beauty of the area. The tour would give the students an insight into my background, allowing them to see firsthand the places that have shaped my experiences and values. It would be an opportunity to connect with nature, build resilience, and soak in the rich history of the region. We would also indulge in Cornish pasties, cream teas, and Cornish ice cream!

Over an exhilarating weekend, Reddam's young netball stars gloriously clinched the U12 Div 4 and 13s Div 4 crowns at the Randwick Netball Association championships.

Congratulations girls, we are so proud of you!

TedX Youth is around the corner, keep an eye on their page for ticket sales.

Wonderful news to end term 3. Sophia Glasson has been awarded The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Tier 3 Scholarship for 2025. Only 16 elite athletes across all sports nationwide received this honour.

The Scholarship and Mentoring Program is a unique and powerful program giving our young emerging champions the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have direct access to Australia’s sporting greats. Susie O’Neill, Patrick Rafter, Jana Pittman, Kurt Fearnley, Steve Bradbury, and Cheryl Salisbury will guide the exceptional group of emerging athletes accepted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s 2025 Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

Congratulations to Sophia!
Visit the https://sahof.org.au/ to learn more about the programme.

Tomorrow night we look forward to welcoming Mr Simon Lees. Thank you to all the parents who have RSVP'd, doors open at 6 pm for a 6:30 pm start.

See you there!

Congratulations to the Reddam Junior Girls 4 X 100 Relay Team. The 'dream team' finished 3rd at the CIS Athletics Championships, qualifying for the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships which will be held in October.

It was a tight finish, with the girls missing out on the gold by .46 of a second!

Good luck at the next level of competition!

The Year 7 class had a delicious lesson to learn about the phases of the moon 🌖Turns out the moon is made from Oreos and not cheese!

Bravo to our HSC Dance students. Callback is a showcase of exemplary HSC Dance Works, selected from the best of the best from schools across all of NSW. To receive a nomination for this prestigious event is an honour to be truly proud of. We are so proud of our wonderful dancers, who collectively received 13 out of a possible 15 nominations for Callback!

Nominations include:

Storm Hasemer
Core Performance, Core Composition, Major Study Performance

Sassy Stephens
Core Performance, Core Composition, Major Study Performance

Giulia Goldman
Core Performance, Core Composition, Major Study Performance

Tulli Atherton
Core Performance and Major Study Performance

Kiani Braund
Core Performance and Major Study Performance

More Moana Magic! 🐚

Photo credit: Tyler Greunpeter

🌴 "There’s more beyond the reef." More Moana Magic!

To order your photos, visit our Linktr.ee account in our bio.



🌊✨

Our spectacular primary school production of Moana Jnr debuted last night, to a full house! We hope you’ve bought your tickets for tonight’s performance.

Hugo Sofair experienced a truly magnificent weekend at the State Juniors in Tamworth.
He triumphantly secured a Bronze in the Time Trial, a splendid Silver in the Road Race, and an impressive 4th in the Criterium.

We are so proud of you, Hugo!

🎶 Exciting news! 🎶 All eight Reddam House choirs are coming together for an incredible new event: the Reddam House Choral Festival!

Join us at Westfield, Bondi Junction on Level 6 near Max Brenner for a week-long residency from the 16th to the 19th of September. Our talented students will showcase their exceptional vocal ensemble work.

Join us as we celebrate the rich diversity and high-quality music that defines Reddam House Sydney.

Don't miss this special celebration of choral excellence! Link in our bio.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Simon Lees as the Executive Principal of Reddam House Sydney. Simon is currently the Head of Toowoomba Anglican School (TAS), where he has successfully led the strategic transformation of the school from a Preparatory-only institution into a leading K-12 day and boarding school. Educated in the UK, Simon has held leadership positions across several countries.

Before joining TAS, Simon served as Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School in Victoria, and as Head of Secondary School at Georgiana Molloy Anglican School in Western Australia. He also held the role of Director of Activities at Guildford Grammar School. Simon has extensive experience working in international schools, having worked as Head of Department at Garden International School in Thailand and The Alice Smith School in Malaysia. He began his career teaching Geography and Physical Education in the UK, and his family home is in Cornwall. Simon teaches Geography when possible and was named a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (UK) in 2019.

Simon wrote: "I am honoured to have been appointed as the Executive Principal of Reddam House Sydney, and look forward to becoming a member of the school community soon. With its rich heritage and commitment to excellence, Reddam House exemplifies outstanding education and character development. The school's vision and values deeply resonate with me and in particularly the holistic approach to education. The school excels not only in academics but also in the arts, sports, service, and cultural endeavours".

Mark your calendars as Simon Lees will join us on the 19th of September for an evening with the parents. He will also be attending all the school assemblies on Friday the 20th to meet the students. We will be sending out detailed information closer to the time.

"What can I say except you're welcome?" — Maui

Moana rehearsals are well underway! Don't miss our spectacular Moana Production:
7 pm on the 4th and 5th September 2024
NIDA Parade Theatre

Photo Credit: Tyler Gruenpeter

🌟 Big Congratulations to Freya Mackay! 🌟

Over the weekend, Freya traveled to Melbourne for the Australian National Championship, organized by the Australian Federation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (AFBJJ). This is the premier event on the 2024 Australian Jiu Jitsu calendar, held at the iconic Melbourne Sports Centre in Albert Park.

Freya absolutely crushed it, winning the Girls 9-years division in her weight category and earning the title of National Champion! 🏆 This incredible achievement comes just after her win at the AFBJJ NSW State Championship in June.

Way to go, Freya! Your dedication and hard work are truly inspiring. 👏🥋

Our HSC Dance Showcase was an evening of captivating choreography, where our talented dancers displayed their creativity, dedication, and passion on stage. Each piece told a unique story, reflecting the incredible skills and hard work our students have put into their HSC journey.

Wishing all our HSC students' good luck for the next few months, let your light shine!

Tonight in Adelaide Hall - See you there!

✨ Our HSC students are getting creative with Blockitecture! 🏙️

From designing innovative buildings to crafting entire cities, they’re putting their architectural skills to the test!

🎶 Celebrating Musical Excellence at Our High School! 🎶

This Monday evening, we hosted the Finals of our Instrumental Competition—a spectacular showcase of the immense talent within our school's music program! 🎻🎹

Finalists from Years 7-9 and Years 10-12, who impressed us during the first round, competed for the top honours:

🏅 Years 7-9 Winners:

Gold: Zoen Song
Silver: Sophia Yu
Bronze: Janie Kogan
🏅 Years 10-12 Winners:

Gold: Felix Coster
Silver: Jacob Mueller
Bronze: Sam Daniels
We had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Bernadette Harvey, a renowned pianist from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, as our adjudicator. She praised our students' stage presence and musicality and commended the fantastic work being done by our music department. 🎼

A special shoutout to our hosts, Sylvie Pasvolsky (Year 9) and Alex Marucci (Year 12), as well as the talented Year 9 Creative Portfolio students for their incredible backstage and technical support. 🎭

And a heartfelt thank you to our String Orchestra for their beautiful performances during the adjudication. 🎶

We are so proud of everyone involved in making this event a success! 🌟

🎶 Celebrating Young Talent at Our Instrumental Competition Finals! 🎶

On Monday evening, our school came alive with the sounds of our talented young musicians as we hosted the Finals of our Instrumental Competition! 🎻🎹

Finalists from our first round, representing Years K-2 and Years 3-6, showcased their incredible skills. Here are the winners:

Years K-2:
🥉 Bronze: Finlay Coombes
🥈 Silver: Mario Zou
🥇 Gold: Joy Ozorio

Years 3-6:
🥉 Bronze: Lawrence Chan
🥈 Silver: Ryan Lee
🥇 Gold: Timothy Wang

We were honoured to have Dr. Bernadette Harvey, a renowned pianist and educator from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, as our adjudicator. She praised the stage presence and musicality of our students and commended the outstanding work of our music department. 🎵

Special thanks to Year 6 Senator Ines Buck for hosting the event and the Year 6 Music Portfolio students for their front-of-house assistance. A round of applause as well to our String Orchestra for their beautiful performance during the adjudication. 👏