Head of Secondary School

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There’s a Great Energy on the Senior Campus….

The students’ first day back for 2023 was full of energy and enthusiasm. Hugs at the gate and stories of adventure and relaxation were shared between friends. New students were met by buddies and peer support leaders and Yr 7 proudly announced when they had found themselves lost – and reunited – again. This energy has continued into the first week and as a community, we are excited for Mr Corcoran’s Commissioning on the Fahl Garden tomorrow morning.

Spirit and Competition

Today, our students met in their Houses ahead of the Swimming Carnival next Tuesday. They played a series of quite competitive games to build community and practised their chants to build House Spirit. Cowper Yr 7 students enjoyed being the smallest and were able to successfully navigate limbo.

“To create a culture where students are safe, supported and challenged to achieve personal excellence.”

This week I shared this goal with the students in our Welcome Assemblies to commence Term 1. As a staff, we want the students to confidently know the people, places and processes which ensure their safety and provide support as well as really challenge them to be their best selves, in all spheres of life.

During our first assembly for the year, both Mr Corcoran and I asked the students to reflect on some possible challenges that might be posed to them, this term:

“We might challenge a goal you set for yourself, especially if it is underwhelming, or not really going to require you to stretch yourself.”

 “We might challenge the amount of effort or diligence you put into your school work, or home learning.”

 “We might challenge you if you do all ‘the work’ but sit quietly in class and never put your hand up or participate.”

 “We might challenge you about the way you are managing your relationships, or how you are talking to, or about, others.”

 “We might challenge your way of thinking or mindset.”

 “We might challenge you on the little things… because we know getting these right creates space for the big things.”

 “To not challenge you, to accept mediocre, is to diminish you. We challenge you because we want the best for you – and from you.

 And when we challenge you, it might not feel very comfortable. That’s okay – because the magic, the learning, the growth, the realisation – it happens outside the comfort zone.”

Stories of Personal Excellence

I also shared the stories of some of the students from 2022. In particular, I talked about Jessy and Jessica.

In 2022 Jessy Sun completed the HSC and achieved top bands in Geography, Visual Arts and Chinese in Context. She scored an ATAR of 95.7 and has received university offers from King’s College London, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Jessica (Jia) Wei completed the IB and achieved top grades in Chinese, Economics, Physics, Maths, Chemistry and an A in Extended Essay. She scored an ATAR of 99.80. Jessica intends to study Mathematics at university and has received numerous offers from the UK including Oxford.

There are many more stories from the Class of 2022. Since the results have been published, the staff at Redlands have been sharing with each other the stories of the Class of 2022, and quite proudly, articulating the uniqueness of each individual as well as their common success traits.

We learn so much from exploring a student’s iGrow data, and coupling this with what we know about each student’s background, individual journey and how they have been challenged along the way. The final year of Secondary School and the ‘big exams’ are never easy for any student. What the students have in common is how diligently they pushed themselves and overcame setbacks and failure – some of which were quite significant – as part of the learning experience.

Some students might look at these two girls, or hear about their experiences, and think ‘that’s not me’ . They might think ‘We have nothing in common’. And yet they do. Jessy and Jessica’s school was Redlands. They came on to the Senior Campus each and every day and inhabited the same learning spaces as our current students. They had the same teachers that the current students now have. Like our current students they had their good days, and their not-so-good. They were supported and challenged. All of the Secondary School students can benefit, learn and feel affirmed by the stories of Jessy and Jessica. And they can aim high, set ambitious goals and feel confident that they too can tell a story of personal excellence.

You are Invited!

Parents – you are invited! We strongly encourage you to attend the following SS Events….

The Basics

All secondary school students must adhere to the following uniform and presentation expectations at Redlands:

Uniform Guidelines

• Girls are to wear plain white ankle length socks, not low-cut or no-show socks.
• Hairstyles that obscure the face, fall down onto the face, or sit on the shoulders, need to be tied up or cut short. All forms of mullet hairstyles are not permitted. Students who do not comply with these expectations will be required to have a haircut.

Student Planners

All students will receive their Student Planner tomorrow. Yr 7 and 8 students are required to have their Planner signed weekly by their parents and Tutor. All students are encouraged to use their planner as an essential tool for self-regulation and organisation. The Student Planner has been updated and improved for 2023, and features the 2023 Student leaders’ motto ‘Fall Forward’ on the front cover.

Yr 12 Student Leadership Team happily exploring their new Planners which feature their self-designed ‘Fall Forward’ front cover.

Swimming Carnival Details

Students must be at the following locations by 7.00AM sharp on Tuesday morning.

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