Head of Secondary School

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Assessment is Learning

Over the past week, I have noticed a large number of students, from all Year Groups, accessing support in the Study Centre. It is Assessment season. Meeting on Level 2 of the Redlands Learning Hub with my fellow English colleagues, students have been working on English assessments and, from the floors above, I can hear students studying Mathematics and HSIE subjects. It’s a hub of energy, thought and feedback. Some students work on their own, others in groups, and teachers are dotted around, guiding and encouraging. It’s a really lovely space to escape to at the end of a busy day.

This week after school I met with a number of students from my Yr 8 class who are composing practice paragraphs for an essay they are scheduled to write under timed conditions on Monday next week. Mostly, they are finessing their complex sentences so they can offer an analysis of the text, in a clear and cohesive manner. For Yr 8, this is pretty hard stuff. Seamlessly incorporating evidence from the text in the form of a quote, and then connecting this to the ‘big ideas’ of the text is no easy feat, but we learn as we go, and at times, the going is tough.

A realisation that many of the students have had in recent days is just how long it takes to prepare to write an essay, especially if you want to do it well. They look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them they need to practice under timed conditions at home on Saturday to see how it feels – and to test whether they can actually write their planned argument within the time limit. They continue to think I’m crazy when I tell them they should be ‘ready to roll’ three days before the scheduled assessment task, so they can take time to reflect, digest and practice. Of course, this requires organisation and self-management, which is something they are still learning. And this is what I am reiterating in class, sometimes more than the perspectives offered in the text – how you prepare for an assessment; the steps you take, the tips and tricks you learn along the way, the insights you gain about yourself – these are the real learnings. Monday’s Yr 8 English assessment is going to test a whole lot more than just their knowledge of a text. Assessments are often a struggle for students (and sometimes for teachers) but they are a great way to learn the skills of learning. I am looking forward to sitting back in class on Monday and watching my Yr 8s write furiously. They’ve come a long way this term and regardless of how well they respond to the essay question on the day, they’ve all grown. They’ve all learned.

Harmony, Not Bullying and Violence

Harmony Week celebrates the cohesive and inclusive nature of our diverse nation. Next week, our Student Leaders will host a series of activities to promote Harmony Week at Redlands, where diversity and inclusion are valued highly and demonstrated proudly. Tomorrow, Friday 19 March is National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This is an important day in our national calendar and this year we are being encouraged to ‘Take Action Together’. Redlands will be supporting this day by reiterating important messages for our students such as our bullying prevention measures, the need to challenge bullying behaviour and providing support for students who have experienced bullying. A focus on positive relationships and valuing each other’s differences and qualities, will be led by Yr 12 Prefects in Tutor Time next week.

Yr 7 Meet and Greet

Next Monday afternoon, we look forward to welcoming our Yr 7 Parents to the Fahl Garden for our annual Yr 7 Meet and Greet Evening. Yr 7 have made a significant impact on the School this term and are nicely settled into the Redlands way of life. Next Monday night they stay at home, and the teachers enjoy the opportunity to meet with their parents and discuss all things Yr 7 – learning, friendships, opportunities and insights. We are looking forward to sharing stories of the classroom, the playground, camp, sports, clubs and more.

Invitation

Uniform Shop

A reminder that students will be required to wear full winter uniform from the beginning of Term 2. Parents are now welcome to visit the Uniform Shop to purchase winter items or place an online order through Flexischools.

The Uniform Shop will be open on the following days during the holiday break: Wednesday 7 April, Thursday 15 April, Friday 16 April and Monday 19 April from 8.00am-4.00pm. Appointments can be made by clicking here.

For a Good Cause

Redlands will be participating in the Balmoral Swim for Cancer Schools Relay Challenge taking place on Sunday 21 March at Balmoral Beach. The Schools Relay Challenge is a community-based initiative where schools help raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Institute, increase awareness of this important cause and importantly have fun participating in an open water swim relay. Please click here if you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause.

Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870