NSW Health is waiting for the outcome of a review by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination schedule. International evidence indicates that one dose of HPV vaccine provides equivalent protection to two-dose. If a one dose-schedule is endorsed, NSW Health will contact all parents of students who have been consented for two doses of the vaccine and also parents of students who have received one dose of HPV vaccine (to advise that they are up to date and do not require any further doses).

I am pleased to report that the year has started well, and it is rewarding to see the boys arriving at school with large smiles. The teachers have been happy with the way the boys have quickly settled in and are actively engaging in meaningful work. During the first couple of weeks, the teachers have been focusing on getting to know their students and easing them back into the routines of school life.

The teachers are looking forward to meeting you at the upcoming KPF on Monday, 13 February. You already should have received information in relation to this event and it will be wonderful to have it on site. This is a great opportunity for you to meet your son's teachers and hear about what they will be learning this year. We believe that a strong partnership between the school and home is vital for the success of your son and we look forward to working with you.

As you are aware, the Primary Swimming Carnival is coming up on Wednesday, 15 February, and, hopefully, you have already given permission for your son to attend. Unfortunately, last year's swimming carnival was cancelled, so we are very much looking forward to it this year. Mr Roberts has been working hard to make it a great event where everyone will have fun. You are welcome to come and cheer on your son and his House.

I have noticed in the playground that a number of children are not wearing their hats. We have a "no-hat-no-play" policy ,and those boys who are not wearing a hat are seated under cover. Please ensure that your son has a Redfield hat and that it is clearly labelled with his name. We encourage the boys to take responsibility for their belongings but, unfortunately, things still have a tendency to go missing. If they are clearly labelled, it is easier to return them to the owner.

It is going to be an exciting year, and I am confident that, with your support and our commitment to excellence, your sons will have a successful and fulfilling year.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Darren Corke, Head of Primary

On the community/social front, I want to spotlight the small group of Primary students who took part in the Kicking Goals for Sick Kids on Friday, 27 January in the holidays. Well done to the boys who proudly represented Redfield to raise funds for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation. Huge thanks also go to the parents and families for all their efforts with coordinating the event.

Once more, I would like to give a huge shout-out to the three young Redfield students – Noah Kim (Year 9), Anthony Kim (Year 6) and Ben Gutierrez (Year 9) who helped two of our new Year 2 boys travel safely home on Friday afternoon after the two boys had missed their bus. After realising that the Year 2 boys were lost, these gentlemen caught the metro and delivered the boys to their final destination. Thank you, Noah, Anthony and Ben!

Amin Abboud, College Captain

In particular, our first ever Non-ATAR Pathway students have begun their studies. At Redfield, we recognise that excellence takes many forms and that not all interests and careers are catered for by a traditional HSC/ATAR pathway. As a result, we have implemented an alternative pathway with a greater vocational focus which some students are currently enjoying.

Lastly, Years 11 and 12 students will soon be attending Culture of Excellence Interviews. Run by senior members of staff, these interviews provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their previous efforts and achievement, while setting goals and implementing specific changes to grow and develop in their academic outcomes. Information from these meetings will be sent to parents and mentors at the conclusion of each interview.

Monday Afternoon Study Club (Years 10 to 12)

This year, we are welcoming Year 10 to the Monday Afternoon Study Club, held from 3:00pm to 5:30pm in the College Library.

These sessions provide workshops targeted at HSC skills and content, run by teachers or recent high-achieving graduates. Subject-specific workshops will mostly be for Year 12 students. Years 10 and 11 students will have the opportunity for silent or small-group study, with general study skills, English and Maths workshops offered.

A program will be distributed at the end of Week 3 listing the workshops on offer in Term 1. The first study afternoon is Monday, 13 February (Week 3).

Cost: $10 per afternoon, invoiced to parents

Careers Advisor - Mr Magann

Senior School students are encouraged to speak with Mr Magann if they have questions about opportunities or pathways after school. He is a wealth of information, particularly for Year 12 students interested in the courses or scholarships available to them at university.

Further careers-related information will be distributed to students via the Senior Studies Canvas course that all Year 10, 11 and 12 students are enrolled in.

Public Speaking Workshop

As a final reminder, students in Years 10 to 12 (2023) are invited to participate in a Public Speaking program starting in Week 4.

Run by award-winning speaker and trainer Dale Rees-Bevan, the six-week program will take place on Tuesday afternoons from 3:15pm to 4:45pm, starting on Tuesday, 21 February.

Through introducing speakers, giving speeches, providing feedback and presenting impromptu talks, students will learn specific techniques to command an audience’s attention, address groups with confidence and present themselves as leaders in an appropriate manner.

The program costs $99, and there is a limit of 20 participants. Currently there are only THREE places remaining. Priority will be given to Senior School students.

Please complete the expression of interest via the link below.

Public Speaking Program - Expressions of Interest Form

Mark Anderson, Head of Senior School

• Music tuition will occur during school terms only. Lesson times commence from 8:30am for Secondary students (8:00am in some instances for Senior School students) and 10:30am for Primary students. The last lesson of the day concludes at 3:00pm.
• End times can be subject to change in consultation with the Music Tuition Coordinator.
• Lessons run for 30 minutes. However, Senior School students are able to request longer lessons if desired.
• Lessons work on a rotational system, meaning that lesson times change from week to week so that students do not have a music lesson at the same time in consecutive weeks.
• Given that lessons have a duration of 30 minutes, students will not miss an entire period of curricular classes.
• Preliminary and HSC students have priority when specific lesson times have been requested.
• No Secondary lessons will take place during exam weeks.

Practice and Equipment

It is expected that students involved in the program:

• complete regular practice at home as directed by their music tutor.
• bring all equipment, including instruments, music and music diaries to all lessons. If a student does not bring his instrument, a replacement will be used when possible. This will be noted by the tutor and the Music Tuition Coordinator will be informed. If this becomes a regular occurrence, parents will be notified. If you require instrument hire, the Music Department can offer you a range of instruments for a termly fee.
• use the practice diary provided by their music tutor. This diary will provide a medium for communication between the music tutor, the student and his parents. The diary will be used by the tutor to include details of weekly homework and the next scheduled lesson time, and it is expected that the student’s daily practice will be recorded and verified by a parent’s signature.

Absence

As a courtesy, please inform your son’s music tutor if there are any issues regarding lesson attendance:

• If your son is absent on the day of a lesson, the tutor is to be notified by 8:00am. In this case, the lesson will either be rescheduled or credited to the next term’s invoice, subject to the tutor’s availability.
• If your son is absent on the day of a lesson and the tutor has not been notified by the aforementioned time, full lesson fees will apply with no rescheduling or credit of the lesson.

Payment

• Music tuition lessons are charged at the rate of $43.00 per half hour.
• Invoices are created based on one full term of lessons.
• All invoices will be distributed by the music tutor at the conclusion of the previous term, with payment expected by Week 2 of that term (or Week 4 in the case of Term 1).
• Please be aware that the choice of your son to commence or continue music tuition is an annual commitment. Each music tutor allocates time to Redfield College according to the number of students he or she teaches and therefore relies on maintaining those students as a fundamental part of their employment and income.
• Should the situation arise where a student seeks to discontinue enrolment in the Music Tuition Program during a school term, the student must complete the remainder of the current term as a minimum. If this is not possible, the student must complete 4 weeks of lessons upon notification of ceasing involvement in the program.

Performance Opportunities

• Throughout the year, there are several opportunities for students to perform at various school events. Attendance and performance at these events are an integral part of the Music Tuition Program.
• AMEB examinations may be offered to students based upon experience, progress and standard of performance. Please feel free to contact your son’s tutor if you have any questions about this process.

We look forward to witnessing your son’s musical journey.

Click on this linkto view the profile on each of the music tutors.

Lachlan McDonald, Music Tuition Coordinator

There are no fees associated with involvement in the Concert Band.

Program includes:

• Weekly ensemble rehearsals.
• Sheet music.
• Instrument servicing for instruments hired from the school.

Rehearsals will commence in Week 3.

*Please note that enrolment in the Concert Band is restricted to students in Years 6 to 8 only.

*Students in Years 7 and 8 wishing to audition for the Wind Symphony must continue to be a member of the Concert Band.

*Instrumental hire is available at a cost of $80 per term.

Wind Symphony - Mondays, 3:15pm-4:15pm

There are no fees associated with involvement in the Wind Symphony.

Program includes:

• Weekly ensemble rehearsals.
• Sheet music.
• Instrument servicing for instruments hired from the school.

Rehearsals will commence in Week 3.

*Please note that enrolment in the Wind Symphony is largely restricted to Secondary students; however, on occasions, Primary students may be invited to audition.

*Students in Years 7 and 8 wishing to audition for the Wind Symphony must continue to be a member of the Concert Band.

*Instrumental hire is available at a cost of $80 per term.

Redfield College Choral Program

Junior Voices - Fridays, 1:00pm-1:25pm

There are no fees associated with involvement in the Junior Voices.

Program includes:

• Weekly ensemble rehearsals.
• Sheet music when required.

Rehearsals will commence in Week 3.

*Please note that enrolment in the Junior Voices is restricted to students in Years 2, 3 and 4 only.

Primary Choir - Wednesdays, 1:00pm-1:25pm

There are no fees associated with involvement in the Primary Choir.

Program includes:

• Weekly ensemble rehearsals.
• Sheet music when required.

Rehearsals will commence in Week 3.

*Please note that enrolment in the Primary Choir is restricted to students in Years 5 and 6 only.

*Students in the Primary Choir wishing to audition for the Vocal Ensemble must continue to be a member of the Primary Choir.

Vocal Ensemble - Thursdays, 1:00pm-1:25pm

There are no fees associated with involvement in the Vocal Ensemble.

Program includes:

• Weekly ensemble rehearsals.
• Sheet music when required.

Rehearsals will commence in Week 3.

*Please note that enrolment in the Vocal Ensemble is largely restricted to Secondary students; however, students involved in the Primary Choir may also audition.

*Students in the Primary Choir wishing to audition for the Vocal Ensemble must continue to be a member of the Primary Choir.

*Students in the Vocal Ensemble wishing to audition for the Schola must continue to be a member of the Vocal Ensemble.

Schola - Thursdays, 3:20pm-4:30pm

There are no fees associated with involvement in the Schola.

Program includes:

• Weekly ensemble rehearsals.
• Daily singing at Mass.
• Sheet music when required.

Rehearsals will commence in Week 3.

*Please note that enrolment in the Schola is restricted to Secondary students who are also part of the Vocal Ensemble.

*Students in the Vocal Ensemble wishing to audition for the Schola must continue to be a member of the Vocal Ensemble.

Students and parents should be aware that enrolment in any ensemble is for the full year. This is to ensure that students are given the best possible opportunity to learn new skills and to develop as a team.

To ensure that your child is placed in an ensemble of your choosing, we ask that parents complete their selection via Activities on Engage by Friday, 10 February, 2023. Information on how to complete the form via Engage is available here.

Frank Romeo, Head of Music

Sho has a very short window to complete his project, but he has worked with solid dedication and skill, and is now on track to have the skateboard lacquered, wrapped with griptape and drilled in time for his return to Japan.

It is a delight to share our learning space and Year 10 project with Sho.

Leo Carol, Head of D&T