Head of Secondary School
Being grateful and thanking those who have supported us in 2021
Late last week I reminded Yr 7 to make sure they penned Christmas Cards to their teachers. Teachers don’t need presents but they do love a kind word and a heartfelt thank you. I have a couple of gorgeous cards on my desk already – and of course they are from my delightful Yr 7 English class. I am looking forward to spending time with them next Tuesday in our final lesson for the school year, as they are screening the films they have been making over the past few weeks of this term with Mr Parekh. There are many projects being finalised across the Secondary School in these final few days of term. This week’s On Country with Yr 9 students has also provided great fulfilment and an opportunity to learn from others. This morning’s session was particularly powerful for Yr 9 as they heard stories directly from Arnhem Land.
There is so much to be thankful for this year. It’s definitely been a strange year and one filled with an unexpected lockdown, but there has still been much joy, surprise and positivity. At the conclusion of today’s Secondary School Note Day section, we have included a Parent Holiday Guide and a Student Holiday Guide. These have been created by our counselling team and we hope you find them useful as you navigate the weeks of holiday ahead.
It’s been a real joy to get to know the Redlands community this year. I wish you all a very safe, healthy and happy holiday period.
Secondary School Students in the Cremorne Community
This week we have asked the Secondary School students to be mindful of their actions in the local community, specifically as they leave the campus at the end of the school day. We’d like our neighbours, our local shop owners, and members of the public to see the wonderful young people we spend time with each day. Unfortunately, we have had reports of some Redlands Secondary School students gathering in large groups, hanging out at the local shops (without wearing masks), littering, running around the McDonalds and 7-Eleven car park, and generally being disrespectful of others.
In the final few days of this term, we are supporting our students to be the best versions of themselves, both inside and outside of school. Students have been asked to avoid gathering in large groups, and to travel directly home, straight after school. This ensures their own safety in the local community and reflects a mindful and respectful attitude towards others. Unless attending an event or scheduled activity, parents should expect their child/ren home straight after school and encourage them to avoid the local Cremorne shops and areas. We still have one week of HSC examinations and we want to avoid our students mixing with others, so that we can conclude this year in a safe way, and by putting the community first.
A significant part of our COVID-19 Safe Plan has been cohorting – keeping cohorts separate. As well as a staggered school day, we have significantly limited mixing between the Senior and Junior Campus. Secondary School students, apart from organised and teacher-supervised Dance and Sport activities, are not to enter the Junior Campus, play on the oval or mingle with Junior or Prep students, who are not their siblings. If your child wishes to play after school, we’d appreciate you supporting them to do this in a park near to your home, and not on the Junior School campus. If your child wishes to gather with their friends after school, we’d appreciate you supporting them to do this at your home, rather than the carpark of McDonalds or Woolworths. We have a good reputation in the local community and we’d like to conclude the year positively and strongly. Apart from Thursday Sport afternoons, the students are all dismissed at 3.20pm. They should be home not long after. Thank you for working with us to keep everyone safe and to ensure our reputation in the community remains strong, as we conclude the 2021 school year.
Christmas part-time job?
Currently both Cremorne Woolworths and the McDonalds on Military Rd are hiring. Both businesses are looking for teenagers to work over the Christmas period. What a great way to make some pocket-money and give back to the community! Students aged 14 and over can apply by just walking in and saying ‘I am interested!’
Next Week
Monday is a typical school day for all students in the Secondary School.
Tuesday is our penultimate school day for the 2021 year and concludes with an Assembly, led by Yr 12, in Redlands Hall and streamed to Yr 7-10 in Tutor Groups. At the Assembly we will welcome Dr Ali Walker as our Guest Speaker. Dr Ali will conclude the Yr 10 Work and Wellbeing two-day session earlier in the day, and remain behind to join us for our final Assembly in 2021.
Wednesday is the Secondary School Speech Day. All students are expected to attend this celebratory school event from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Students receiving an award are to arrive at Dunnet Hall at 1.30pm (wearing full Summer Uniform with Blazer) and all other students are to arrive at the Senior Campus at 1.30pm (students on Senior Campus may wear their neat PE uniform).
Hampers for those in need
Have you donated yet? The Anglicare Christmas Toys ‘n’ Tucker drive has raised $4659 so far, but we still need your help! Service Captains, Charlie and Alex are hoping to raise $5000 by Speech Day on the 1st of December, and if every family in the Secondary School donated just $10, we’d be well over that goal! Please dig deep to share a little joy this Christmas! Since last week, approximately $3000 has been raised. Click here and donate! https://www.gofundme.com/f/redlands-toys-and-tucker
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. Currently we have students sitting IB examinations and from next Tuesday, the HSC examinations begin. 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