Head of Secondary School
Parent Webinar
It was wonderful to connect with many of you in our Parent Webinar on Tuesday evening. We realise that while Redlands students and staff are back to pretty “normal” schooling, our parent community in many ways still feels disconnected from school this year as we are still unable to have parents on campus and in person for many events. Our strength is our community so we know this inability to be present in person is a loss for many parents. We hope that events like this parent webinar help to continue to keep this relationship strong (even if remotely) and allow for continued open communication between school and home. If you were unable to attend the parent webinar, you can access the recording here.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Secondary School Parent Contact Group for their continued efforts in support of the School. I have appreciated being able to have open communication with them throughout this year and over the past four years so that I can hear questions and concerns from the parent community while sharing important information from the School, as well.
Sports Update
While we know there are still restrictions for parents and staff to attend some sporting events, I was pleased to be able to watch many of our Boys Basketball teams play against St Andrew’s at Sydney University last Saturday. I was impressed by the overall attitude, effort and quality of play across the teams and age groups and it was certainly the highest standard of Basketball I have seen across the boys’ program in my four years in the Secondary School. The 1sts Boys Basketball team played well against a competitive St Andrew’s team, running out 79-67 winners in an entertaining game.
Canteen Update
As you have been made aware, we have commenced online ordering in the Secondary School Canteen this year and we are strongly encouraging students to use this system for purchasing food in the Canteen for the remainder of this term. There is a much more extensive menu through the online ordering system and by using online ordering, students will ensure that their order is waiting for them at the beginning of Recess or Lunch and will not have to worry about availability of food items once they arrive to the Canteen.
From the beginning of Term 1 2021, we will be moving to a more complete pre-order system in the Secondary School. This will mean that if students want to purchase a hot or pre-prepared meal for Recess or Lunch, they will have to use the online purchasing system, Flexischools. While there will still be some snacks available for students to purchase in person at Recess and Lunch, the majority of meals will only be available for students to pre-order via Flexischools. This arrangement will allow for a more extensive menu for students to choose from; certainty for students that meals will be available for them to pick up in the Canteen; and less wastage of food in the Canteen. Many parents would be currently using this arrangement in the Junior School which has had positive feedback. Students can pre-order items from the Canteen through Flexischools using the app or website and parents and carers can create a Flexischools account for their family and link a credit card and student number to the account. Students can submit orders up until 8.30am to ensure they are available for them to pick up at Recess or Lunch. We would encourage all students and parents to create an account and start using Flexischools this term to ensure they are fully prepared for this change next year. More details regarding online Canteen ordering are available on Redlands Pulse.
Drop Off and Pick Up
We appreciate the challenges of parking, as well as the drop off and pick up of students, around the Senior Campus, and thank the majority of parents who follow proper guidelines. However, we have had recent reports of some unsafe practices during drop off and pick up of students around the Campus before or after school. Once again, we ask parents to use the designated drop off and pick up zones on Waters Road and Winnie Street and not to double park in local streets, pull into the bus parking lot in front of the Adams Centre or do three point turns on Hampden Avenue. The safety of our students, members of our community and members of the wider community is paramount.
And lastly, please may I remind you to be respectful and considerate of our neighbours. It is not acceptable to block or even park in someone’s driveway. Please also be mindful of noise on local streets, especially during early morning drop offs for before school activities or evening pick ups. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation and support.
Music Soirees
Over the past few weeks Music Soirees have taken place for our elective Music students in Yrs 8-10. As many of you are well aware, Music has been one of our cocurricular areas most affected and disrupted by the COVID-19 restrictions we have had to follow as a school this year. That is why it was wonderful to see and hear our Music Department “pivot” (yes, an overused word this year) and alter the arrangements for these Music Soirees so that students were still able to perform live in the Edwards Auditorium while parents, staff and other students could view these performances remotely. It was great to be able to “drop in” online and hear and see some of our elective Music students perform. I would like to extend a huge thank you to the many people who made these Music Soirees possible: Mr Kuilenberg and the Music teachers; our Music tutors and their exceptional accompaniments; the production, IT and AV staff for all of their set up; and of course our Music students for their flexibility throughout this year and for still sharing their joy of music-making with us.
Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870