Head of Secondary School

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Yr 12 Back Together Again

The entire community has kept Yr 12 in their thoughts and prayers over recent months, and this week we were delighted to have both cohorts of students on campus at the same time to sit IB and HSC examinations. On Tuesday morning the IB Maths students, who were leaving after completing their early examination, waved hello to the HSC students arriving for their first English paper. There was such a positive energy among both groups. Obviously the IB students were relieved their Maths examination was over, and for some this was their final exam! Our HSC students were eager to get into the exam room and tackle their first paper. They’ve certainly waited a long time to be able to do this! Pleasingly, the first English paper was a gift, and the HSC cohort are now confidently surging ahead with the remainder of their exams. We wish them well and look forward to December, when all of our Yr 12 final examinations conclude, and our Class of 2021 can dive into their Summer.

I’d like to take this opportunity to celebrate the dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly throughout this period in support of the IB and HSC examinations. There is a small army of people working behind the scenes, invigilating the exams and supporting the students to ensure that Yr 12 can confidently and calmly demonstrate their knowledge and skills at the conclusion of their schooling.

Yr 12 (2021) Valedictory is taking place on 1 February at The Big Top, Luna Park

We are so excited to be able to reconnect with our Yr 12 cohort and their parents early next year to celebrate their many achievements. Please purchase your tickets this week through TryBooking.

Student Leaders Launch

Our new Yr 12 Student Leadership team have already made such positive contributions to the Secondary School community. This week they met in their leadership meeting to explore a range of events to conclude the year. From next week they will be holding a series of Town Halls, designed to capture student voice around wellbeing and a positive start to 2022. We look forward to supporting them to meet the needs of the students they serve.

Our Service Captains, Alex Gibbs and Charlotte Harman, are launching an Anglicare Fundraiser, whereby money raised is used to purchase Christmas Hampers for those who need them. I encourage all parents to support your children to raise money for this wonderful and much needed charity. They have an ambitious goal of raising $10,000 and we’d very much like them to exceed this goal. Further information can be found here.

Full STEAM Ahead

The Yr 7 STEAM program commenced today. The focus of the two days explores the question: How can we create cities and communities that are eco-friendly? Next week, Yr 8 engage in a similar STEAM program where they will be exploring what can we do to save our coral reefs?

Remembrance Day

Today we paused at 11.00am to mark Remembrance Day. Our School Captains rang the Bell in Liggins Quad to mark the start and end of one minute’s silence. By pausing our activity and observing one minute’s silence, we pay tribute to those who have served and are still serving in our defence forces and remember those who have died or suffered in conflicts, wars and peacekeeping operations. 

BYOD Parent Purchasing Portal

Redlands has negotiated a special education deal for parents purchasing their child’s new digital device, through one of its partners, JB Hi-Fi. Parents have the option to purchase from any retailer of their choice however we have selected JB HiFi as they provide sound warranty and servicing options. The JB Hi-Fi Parent Purchasing Portal and further information can be accessed here.

Wet Weather

Clear wet weather arrangements are in place for students, encompassing the staggered timetable and the restricted areas where the HSC Examinations are taking place. Students are asked to be mindful of each other and congregate in the dedicated spaces made available to them. All spaces are well ventilated and enable them to eat and drink, and spend time with their friends in a supervised environment. 

Communicating your child’s absence with the Secondary School Office

Please be specific if your child is unwell. When emailing to inform us of a student absence, please clearly outline your child’s symptoms. If you tell us that your child is ‘unwell’, with no explanation of symptoms, we will assume a COVID-19 test is required. Additionally, we kindly ask that you are vigilant about sharing the negative COVID-19 test with ssabsence@redlands.nsw.edu.au before your child is returned to school. Unfortunately, if this does not happen, parents will be contacted and asked to collect their child from school. Our priority is our community’s safety and our capacity to enable our Yr 12 students to sit their examinations. We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of parents in following safe practices as we move through this next stage of the pandemic.

Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811