Head of Secondary School
Academic Achievement Assembly
On Monday we held our Academic Achievers Celebration Assembly where we recognised the top HSC and IB students from the Class of 2019 with parents, staff, guests and the current Yr 11 and 12 students in attendance. Our Principal, Mr Webber, debunked the myth that success is determined by ability and instead stressed the importance of effort and teamwork. Siddhant Saha and Lindsay McNeil from last year’s graduating class also both spoke at the assembly. Sid spoke of the challenges of arriving in Australia in the middle of Yr 10 and starting new at Redlands. He reflected on all of the opportunities afforded to him at Redlands and the support he received from teachers along the way. Lindsay finished her speech directing a message to the Yr 11 and 12 students, stating that, “hard-work is always worth it. You are more academically capable than you ever believe and the satisfaction you will reap from prioritising your studies, in an environment like Redlands that is so supportive and encourages you to be an holistic all-rounder, will leave you without regrets. Achieving in an academic sense may seem, in the end, entirely quantifiable. But if you can find inspiration in your learning, if you can appreciate and reward your teachers through your engagement and incorporate consistent study into your all-rounded life, then you have already achieved.”
I reminded the academic high achievers that while we celebrated their excellent results from last year, they should not let a number define who they are. “Your numbers might be the headline, but they do not give the full picture of your time at school. They do not reveal your effort, your grit, determination and resilience. They do not show your failures, the tough times you faced and the challenges you overcame. They do not illustrate your occasional feelings of worry, uncertainty and disappointment. They do not sum up your passions and interests outside of the classroom; or when you were a good friend to a classmate; or the values, lessons and learnings you will take from your years at Redlands that will best prepare you for the future. So, although your numbers have opened up many different doors and exciting opportunities for you in the future, I hope they only comprise one small part of your holistic education here at Redlands. Today, while we acknowledge you for these results, we also celebrate you for all of the other parts of your educational journey that your numbers don’t reveal.”
Yr 7 Camp
Last week our Yr 7 students had their first camp experience in the Secondary School. Unfortunately, the bushfires around the Canberra region impacted the roads to Jindabyne so they were unable to spend the week at our beautiful High Country Campus. However, fortunately our camp provider, Outdoor Education Group, was able to secure an alternative location at Glenworth Valley in the Central Coast region. In a quick straw poll of my Yr 7 English class on Tuesday, they reported back to me that the highlights of camp were the mountain biking, the hike, the team building activities and the food, while the biggest challenges they faced were the hike and the weather.
Cyber Safety
This Tuesday was our first Prefect Assembly of the year and as it coincided with Safer Internet Day on 11 February, the Prefects wanted to focus the Assembly around our safe, responsible and productive use of technology. Our student leaders highlighted how easy it is for young people to spend too much time online and also the importance of responsible online behaviour in light of the many dangers that exist online. Students and parents are encouraged to go to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner website for further information and resources on responsible internet usage.
Swimming Carnival
We are looking forward to the Secondary School Swimming Carnival which will be held next Thursday 20 February at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. This is a great day which contributes to House and school spirit and we look forward to seeing students compete and cheer on the day. More specific information about the Carnival, including links to permissions, can be found on Redlands Pulse.
Study Centre
After positive feedback from the last few years, we are continuing our before and after school Study Centre for students. The Study Centre will take place Monday from 7.30-8.15am and 4.30-6.00pm and Tuesday and Wednesday from 7.30-8.15am and 3.30-6.00pm. The aim of the Study Centre is to provide students from Yrs 7-12 with the opportunity to receive shoulder-to-shoulder support or assistance in specific disciplines from Secondary School teachers. These sessions are not to be seen as formalised one-on-one tutoring sessions but instead should be seen as opportunities for students to get assistance or feedback on specific areas of learning. While the Study Centre will take place in the Library for most subjects, some more practical subjects will hold these in specialised spaces. The Study Centre will commence in Week 3 and a schedule of offerings can be found on Redlands Pulse.
Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870