Head of Secondary School

The rain has held off this week and students and staff have been able to take advantage of playing and sharing in outdoor spaces. Whilst it has certainly been very chilly, the students have thrived in the sun and appreciated the opportunity to stretch their legs (and lose their handballs). Today Yr 11 attended a Careers Expo with their Year Advisor, Assistant Year Advisor, Academic Deans and the Redlands University and Careers Advisers. From all reports they were exceptional at this event and spent their trip back on the bus eagerly discussing future career plans. This afternoon we anticipate training going ahead, and are keeping fingers and toes crossed that all teams can compete this weekend.

Year 10 HSC/IB Senior Studies Pathway Information Forum and Subject Walk’n’Talk

This event was held last night and along with the Deans of HSC and IB, Mr Bentley, Head of Teaching and Learning spoke to Year 10 and their parents. Mr Bentley’s messages were well received and a brief snapshot is provided here:

“At Redlands we are fortunate to be able to offer our students two well-established and internationally recognised programs for their final two years of study – the NSW HSC and the IB Diploma Programme. Both programs are rigorous and designed to provide each of our students with rich opportunities to meet their individual needs and interests so that they can be confident, creative and critical thinkers. To pursue academic excellence and have a growth mindset. To problem-solve, collaborate and communicate and use their knowledge and abilities for the good of others.

Of course, these are not just skills or competencies that are developed at Redlands in the final two years of study but form part of our broader educational philosophy towards learning which is articulated in the Redlands Learning Platform which is designed to enhance learning four all of our students from Preschool to Year 12. At the heart of what we do is a strong commitment to inspire our students to achieve-life readiness and to let their light shine.”

Mr Bentley provided his top 10 Tips for students making the selection process.

Choose what you are interested in and good at.
Learn about what the HSC and IB programs offer – both are challenging and will stretch you.
Know that we offer a wide range of subjects in each course – 38 in the HSC and 26 in the IB.
Make an informed choice – talk to key people including our Academic Deans, Subject Coordinators, Year Advisor, Careers Advisors, Head of Secondary School or me.
Don’t get caught up in picking a subject or a program because of what you might have heard about scaling. This is not usually a recipe for success! There are lots of myths and untruths about scaling. You can learn the facts by coming along to the Sydney Uni UAC information night on Monday 6 June 5.30pm.
For the IB programme, there has been some media coverage about changes to ATAR conversion table. Know that these changes will have very little or negligible difference for our students.
Don’t choose a course or program just because your friends are doing it.
Set clear goals, visualise a successful image of yourself as a learner and maintain effective work habits.
Do make the most of your final two years and be actively involved in a range of school activities on offer at Redlands.
Have a sense of humour!

Today the Senior Pathway Selection Conversations between Year 10 students and key staff commenced. The Deans, YA and AYA, Head of Teaching and Learning, Head of Learning Analytics and Mr Allen, Head of History, representing the Subject Coordinators, will spend some valuable time with individual Year 10 students, hearing about their interests, passions and plans for the future. Thinking and assumptions will be challenged and supported, so that all students move through the discernment process to reach a decision with which they are confident. Mr Gray, Dean of Activities, and Mr Castelli, Head of Learning Analytics, can be seen below meeting with Isaac Brooks and Henry Charles, respectively.

Sydney University and UAC Subject Selection Information Evening

This event will be held on Monday 6 June from 6.00pm in Dunnet Hall. Light refreshment swill be served from 5.30pm and students will receive their UAC books on this evening. We encourage Year 10 students and parents to attend this event as part of the senior pathway discernment process. Parents can register their attendance here.

Student and Community Spirit – Swimming Carnival

This week our Heads of House and Student House Captains met with their Houses, ahead of next week’s Swimming Carnival. Lots of fun and spirit was generated and students were provided with key messages about next Thursday, such as:

Swimmers – Appropriate swimwear is to be worn in the pool. Goggles and swim caps are to be worn for races.

Dress – All students should dress in their House colours. At a minimum, students should wear an appropriate top in their House colour.

At the Swimming Carnival students are expected to be wearing the appropriate clothing, sitting with their House in the appropriate area and actively supporting the other students in their House. The behaviour and conduct expected of students at school will be expected of students at SOPAC, including their travel to and from the carnival on school buses. In order to support students to demonstrate their best selves, the following boundaries will be in place on Thursday:

Students will not be permitted to sit looking at their phones or laptops – these will be confiscated after the first warning.
Students are encouraged to bring their own food and drink and will only be able to purchase limited food from the canteen at SOPAC.
Students will not be allowed to wander around SOPAC – they will be reminded only once to return to their House and support their House peers, before being issued with a Friday afternoon detention.
Inappropriate, risky or persistent poor behaviour will not be tolerated. Students engaging in this kind of behaviour will be collected from SOPAC by their parents, following a phone call from the Year Advisor.

Thursday 9 June – the finer details for parents

On Thursday all students need to be at school by 7.00am so they can board buses on time from various designated points on the Senior and Junior campuses. The carnival runs until approximately 2.15pm and we aim to be back on the Senior Campus by 3.20pm. Buses will not wait for late students.

Typically, most students return to school on the bus at the end of the carnival. This is encouraged.

Students may return home with parents at the conclusion of the carnival but will not be permitted to leave before the carnival concludes. Parents wishing to collect their children from SOPAC, or return home with their children as they are spectators, must provide written permission to the Year Advisor by midday on Thursday. As they day is about House Spirit and community, we do not anticipate requests to leave the carnival early as the students are expected to remain for the entire day to support their peers.

Further information about the Swimming Carnival is contained in the letter published last week, requesting parental permission. (on Pulse) All students are expected to attend the Swimming Carnival, unless they are unwell. If unwell, parents should email ssabsence@redlands.nsw.edu.au on the day of the Carnival and supply a relevant medical certificate.

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