Head of Secondary School
Remembrance Day
This past Sunday, many members of our Redlands community joined thousands of other Australians to pause and commemorate the service of men and women in the armed forces on the centenary of the Armistice. Our musicians provided beautiful instrumental and choral pieces to assist the Remembrance Day Service at St Peter’s Anglican Church and our Prefects laid wreaths of remembrance at the St Peter’s and North Sydney services, respectively.
This past Tuesday, we held our own Remembrance Day Assembly. It was a moving assembly with more beautiful music from our musicians as well as poignant reflections by staff and students. I thought I would share an excerpt from the reflection I shared with our students, which is below.
“On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 100 years ago, the guns fell silent after over four years of bloody conflict in World War 1. It was called the War to End All Wars, and at its conclusion, beleaguered nations around the world thought they would share in a lasting peace. But sadly, two decades later, an even greater, more destructive conflict ensued as World War II once again left countries in tatters and families in mourning.
Since then the cycle of war has continued to spin out of control with continuing conflicts leaving millions and millions dead.
Today, we, the Redlands community, pause to remember.
We remember those who did not come home and made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.
We remember those who were left behind to mourn their lost loved ones.
We remember those who fought bravely and returned from war to fight even tougher battles, on the home front.
But we also pause to acknowledge. To acknowledge the many men and women who currently serve in the armed forces and continue to espouse the values of duty and honour and selflessness.
And finally, we continue to long for peace. A peace that has eluded us for the past century, despite the celebrations at the armistice 100 years ago. A peace that, like Gatsby’s green light might seem forever out of reach, but is worth continuing to strive for.
So, in memory of the Centenary of the Armistice, I would like read Debbie Hollick’s brief poem, “In Gratitude of Silence”.
Silent now the soldiers sleep, their tales long laid to rest.
I knew them not yet still I weep and place a poppy o’er my breast.
They were husbands, brothers, fathers, sons; so valiantly they fought.
On shores stained red, on hands and knees; it was our freedom that they sought.
Courageously they stood their ground but freedom carries a cost.
Thousands of men were wounded and countless lives were lost.
So in gratitude of silence and all those who have served,
sleep now, you have earned it. Your peace is well deserved.
Cocurricular Values
Last Saturday I spent Saturday morning with our rowers at the boatshed and out on the water of Middle Harbour. I believe Rowing is a wonderful example of the holistic education and strong values which sports and our many and varied cocurricular programs can provide our students. Some of the values that I saw on display from our rowers that morning included hard work, teamwork, enjoyment, resilience, respect and responsibility. I encourage students to continue to develop these, and other, important values in their cocurricular involvement over the remainder of the year.
Yr 8 STEAM Project
On Tuesday, the classrooms and corridors of the John Roberts Centre were abuzz with Yr 8 students defining, designing, discovering and dreaming questions and solutions as part of our STEAM project. The focus for this year is “What Lies Beneath” and students are exploring issues affecting the Great Barrier Reef and coming up with possible solutions. The day started with all of Yr 7 and Yr 8 in Redlands Hall to hear a keynote address from Alexia Giannesini, a student Ambassador for the Australian Youth Coalition Climate. Students also heard from our current Environment Captains, Alice McDonald and Benjamin Piro, who also performed a song especially written for the day. I look forward to seeing and hearing the Yr 8 students’ final designs tomorrow during their STEAM Expo.
Lost Property
As we come to the end of the year, the Lost Property pile is building up. We would ask students to please go through the Lost Property (located outside of the Medical Centre) in the next two weeks. On Friday 30 November, the RPFA will go through the pile and take any good quality, unnamed items to the Second Hand Uniform Sale on Sunday 2 December. All items not collected and not used in the Second Hand Uniform Sale will be discarded.
End of Year Events
Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870