From the Principal
I know that we have all been watching the COVID-19 situation in NSW closely and at Redlands, the CIMT have continued to monitor the latest advice from NSW Health and maintain strong communication links with AISNSW and other leading Independent schools.
Given the current landscape, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Secondary School Athletics Carnival, which was to be held this Friday. The Secondary School Leadership Team had carefully planned all logistics, with reduced numbers and clear COVID-19 protocols and we have been conscious of how much the students were looking forward to this event. However, given the recent clusters of cases that have developed and reviews of protocols taking place, we felt we needed to make the decision to plan an alternative date.
Some sporting fixtures have also been cancelled against schools in regional areas or in cases where fixtures would have been played at venues very closely located to recent outbreaks. The ISA and IPSHA, Secondary and Junior School Sporting associations are currently reviewing the remaining winter school fixtures.
Please continue to provide feedback or any questions through to feedback@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
Whilst we are navigating this most challenging period together, it is important that we also look ahead to our School’s future. The Executive Team and Board have commenced a strategic planning review process this year and as part of the process, we want to capture the views of all the stakeholders who comprise our school community. All parents and carers, Year 7-12 students, staff, Directors, Members of SCECGS Redlands Limited and alumni will be sent a short survey next week, to enable feedback to be captured on Redlands’ past, present and future performance, and plans. The information gathered from the survey will be most valuable in assisting us to develop our future plans and I strongly encourage you to take the time to complete it, and in advance, I thank you for your support. This strategic planning process will run until the end of the year and in due course, I look forward to sharing the plans for our future together.
I have been most impressed by the way our Year 12 students have approached the trial HSC and IB examinations over the last two weeks. It has been good to have these onsite in the New Learning Hub and to note how the students have been supporting each other and accessing their teachers’ assistance during this period. They will no doubt enjoy a well-deserved weekend away from the books and we look forward to them returning to classes next week and their remaining time on campus this term. The Secondary School Leadership Team continue to explore creative ways that we can celebrate their final school days with them later this term.
Finally, we were delighted to hear news of Sonia Kalcina, HSC Dux, Environmental Prefect and Captain of Tennis (Class of 2015), who has just graduated from Oxford University with a Masters in Mathematics, 1st Class Honours. Sonia is now working as a business analyst in London. Congratulations Sonia!
Mr Stephen Webber
Photo caption: Determination, pride, laughs, competition and most of all, fun, were had at the Redlands House Sports Day, ably assisted by their Year 6 buddies.