From the Principal

From the Principal

This year’s musical production, Strictly Ballroom – The Musical, saw a stellar performance from our 120 Secondary School students both on stage and behind the scenes at The Concourse, Chatswood at the end of last week. I attended the final performance on Saturday night and very much enjoyed the magnificent music, exuberant dancing and the fine acting which was both dramatic and comedic. I sincerely congratulate all students involved in the production for giving it their very best, both at the performances and in the many rehearsals during this term. Thank you to Producer and co-Director Joy Daley, our Coordinator of Drama and Theatre, to co-Director Alyssha Clarke, one of our Drama teachers, to the many other Theatre and Music teachers and tutors involved in the production including Katharine Boase, Jon Grey, Marita Jansons, Andy Kent, Esther Lamb, Lauren O’Neill, Kristen Privett, Sarah Sparke, and to Friends of Drama for their exceptional efforts with the costuming.

This week saw International Day celebrated on the Senior Campus. Year 7-10 students participated in a variety of internationally themed activities to celebrate our diverse international community, including Chinese painting and kite design, Japanese cooking and fan design, French craft and cooking, Spanish salsa dancing and a cultural activity from Ancient Rome. I thank our Languages Department for planning and organising these special activities for Years 7-10.

Our guest speaker at our Secondary School International Day Assembly was Redlander Maartje Drok, a member of the Class of 2008. Maartje came with her parents to Sydney, where she completed her final year of schooling at Redlands. She then returned to the Netherlands to study International Communications and Media. During that course she did an exchange year in Istanbul University. An internship at RaboDirect in its Sydney office gave her a chance to return to Sydney and work in Digital Marketing. After further travels and work overseas, she has returned to Sydney where she now works as a Salesforce Consultant for AFDigital. She is a truly international young woman.

We look forward to celebrating International Day on the Junior Campus next Wednesday.

Dr Peter Lennox

From the Deputy Principal

Student Safety

We were reminded this week of the importance of safe behaviours, following a couple of reported separate incidents where students in Sydney were approached by a stranger, causing the student to fear for their safety.

It is a timely reminder for families to regularly discuss appropriate, protective behaviours with your child/ren – and what actions they can take to keep themselves safe (in an age-appropriate way).

A good approach is Yell – Run – Tell:

Yell: Make a big noise, to alert anyone around that this is a situation that doesn’t feel safe

Run: Immediately do whatever can be done to extract yourself from that unsafe situation

Tell: As soon as you can, tell a responsible trusted adult what has happened

Teaching protective behaviours or ‘Stranger Danger’ is a delicate balance of raising awareness without causing unnecessary alarm. Of course, while children should be told that the majority of adults are caring, loving and responsible, ‘Stranger Danger’ is an important and small part of teaching them protective behaviours: to be safe, to be aware of predatory strangers, and to be self-protective. They should also adopt the same principles in an online environment.

What to tell your child about a stranger:

  • Tell your child not to listen to or be near a stranger – rather to move away or back inside.
  • Tell your child to never ever go with a stranger – no matter what the stranger says.
  • Tell your child that strangers may make up sad stories, like looking for a lost pet, needing help with a sick child, or needing directions – but you still should not go with them.
  • Tell your child that a stranger should never be believed, no matter what they say. 
  • Tell your child that strangers may offer treats, gifts or lollies for ‘helping’ – but you should never take them.
  • Tell your child that you will never send a stranger to collect them. Make a list of the only known people, you would send to pick them up. 
  • Tell your child to go immediately back inside and ask someone they know if unsure.

Ms Sarah McGarry

Photo caption: A magical performance of Strictly Ballroom – The Musical saw wonderful acting, magnificent music and exuberant dancing from 60 students on stage, supported by another 60 behind the scenes.