Head of Secondary School
Welcome back to Term 4
It has been a productive first week back to Term 4. Across the Secondary School, we have engaged in a range of events and activities designed to challenge and enable us to reflect.
Yr 11 Camp
Yr 11 have been enjoying their first outdoor camp since 2019, at our High Country Campus in Jindabyne. So far the weather has been beautiful, allowing for canoeing on Lake Jindabyne, cross country skiing, bushwalking, horse riding and mountain biking. In addition to their outdoor experiences each group is taking part in a leadership session. Led by the Year Advisors, this is to help prepare students for the coming twelve months and to recognise their role as student leaders when they return next week.
The camp culminates with a celebration dinner on Thursday evening – a fitting end to a wonderful experience. Thanks to all the staff in attendance, especially Year Advisors Nick Walker and Eleanor Martin, Head of Outdoor Education Eddy Atkins and Dean of Activities, Jon Gray.
Tuesday School Assembly
An assembly for Yr 7 to 10 was held in the gym on Tuesday to welcome students back to Term 4. We began with a prayer and then heard from Ms Jansons and Ms Rolon, who reinforced key messages for the students about the term and the role they would play this term, as Redlands students.
I spoke to the students about the importance of creating a positive learning environment on the Senior Campus and the following is an excerpt of my key messages to them:
“take responsibility for your words, your actions, how you come across to others, how they perceive you – what people hear you say- in the classroom, in the playground, travelling to and from external venues. Take responsibility for your possessions – your bags, your sport bags, your lunch boxes, your water bottles, your blazers – your learning artefacts.
You can also support the safety of our school by speaking up, stepping forward, demonstrating moral courage by articulating when something doesn’t feel right. Speak to your Tutor, your Year Advisor, a teacher, a coach or see Ms Jansons or me. Don’t ever accept ‘that’s the way things are..’ but instead challenge and question – we are all on a journey of continual improvement – we need to constantly get better and develop and grow and improve. Let’s not settle for adequate or ‘just enough’ but instead let’s expect the very best from each other and give the very best of ourselves to each other.
There are so many good things happening at Redlands and so many examples of students working hard to support each other and create safe spaces. Yr 11 students Maya and Josie have worked so hard to provide a safe space for girls in the bathrooms with complimentary sanitary products. Piper and Theo and then Jack and Sophia initiated a Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), which many students have welcomed and found beneficial. Yr 9 are actively engaged in a Service project, stepping out and giving back to the wider community. Yr 11 students are supporting Yr 7 students, and Yr 7 are getting ready to support the incoming Yr 6. I could go on… so much good and joy and generosity is occurring each and every day.
At Redlands, we champion diversity, inclusivity, individuality and independence – creating a safe space to allow for this takes work but sadly, we are seeing some people jeopardising this culture. This term, things need to improve. Please play your part, and treat our spaces with respect and responsibility, so that every place and every space in this school is safe and welcoming to all who choose to inhabit it.
The ball is in your court, and this is a call to action. Be your best.”
Goal Setting for Term 4
This morning all students in the Secondary School met with their Tutor in period 1 and 2 to set habit goals for Term 4. It was wonderful to roam around the Senior Campus and hear the conversations that were taking place. Below are a couple of photos to illustrate the power of reflective and purposeful academic conversations.
The HSC Examinations
The first English Examination commenced on Wednesday morning. There was a real buzz on Level 4 of the Learning Hub as HSC students converged together after weeks of study. They came into school ready (and many of them were early!) to do their best and demonstrate what they have learnt from their hard work and revision. It was wonderful to see so many students approaching the first exam with positivity and confidence. They know to expect a curly question or two. They know how to unpack a NESA thesis and to tackle questions with a ‘can-do’ attitude. Rather than be scared of a question ‘attack it with gusto’ was our message. This takes confidence – which the students demonstrated in their very interesting and often hilarious readiness techniques prior to entering the English exam at 9.45am. Below is a picture of them ‘psyching themselves up’ and below that a more relaxed image taken by Dean of HSC, Ms Benjamin, after the exam had finished.
UN Youth 2022 Voice NSW Competition – from the Public Speaking Club
This Wednesday after school, a group of students who are part of the cocurricular Public Speaking Club had the opportunity to participate in the UN Youth 2022 Voice NSW Competition. The national competition is focused on providing students with an opportunity to voice their opinions and pitch their solutions to the most pressing global issues, and develop invaluable skills of critical reasoning, ideation, and oral presentation.
Prepared speeches were based on developing a feasible and creative solution for a chosen global issue, ranging from renewable energy use, to an ageing population, to ways to model residential spaces. Students were required to provide a strong solution that convinced the panel of UN judges on its feasibility, creativity and benefits. Following that, students were given 2 minutes to prepare an impromptu response based on two questions regarding their topic of choice. This part was particularly challenging, and it was interesting to see what others came up with in this limited amount of preparation and presentation time.
Through the competition, we saw a plethora of beautifully articulated and imaginative proposals composed by students from both the junior and senior divisions—it was a fun and rewarding experience for all of us involved. In addition, other students are strongly encouraged to join the Public Speaking Club, to further develop skills of critical thinking, creativity, professionalism and poise.
– Krishna Gupta, Jemima Hugman, Hiro Phillips, Elenor Blankenstein, and Sophie Yu
Ms Kang leads the students in these endeavours. Ten Redland students competed in the preliminary round of the UN Voice, where over 200 students from New South Wales participated. They each presented unique and persuasive ideas to solve real and present issues that affect our community, our country and our world.
Two Year 7 Redlands students competed in the Junior Division and eight Year 9 Redlands students competed in the Senior Division, demonstrating their critical reasoning, problem solving and presentation skills.
Yr 7 Competitors
Maria Elena Hartleb
Shirya Tandon
Yr 9 Competitors
Elenor Blankenstein
Jesse Forrest
Lachlan Green
Krishna Gupta
Katherine Lam
Hiro Phillips
Lucile Thompson
Sophie Yu
Successful competitors from each division, after all the preliminary rounds have ended, will proceed to the State Semi-Final.
Since Term 3, Redlands students have had the opportunity to practise public speaking, which facilitated the development of their verbal and written confidence.
Transport for NSW School Travel Applications for 2023
Please see this communication from Transport for NSW regarding School Travel Applications for 2023.
Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811