Head of Secondary School
Week 1
Thank you to parents and carers who joined us this week for our Webinars. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to address you in this format and to be able to provide the necessary details for Remote Learning this week. I would also like to take this opportunity to formally welcome our new students and their families to Redlands – it’s certainly an invigorating way to begin your journey at a new school! We are confident you will feel part of the Redlands community very quickly and look forward to getting to know you.
Remote Learning Update
We learned this week that our current lockdown will be extended for two more weeks.
We will continue Remote Learning into Week 2 and 3 and remain hopeful that we will back on campus shortly.
Week 2 will follow the same structure as Week 1, with students attending Zoom lessons and accessing their learning using iLearn. They will attend 6 lessons per school day, as well as their Tutor time, which occurs each day at 10.30am.
Next week, students will be given two specific Zoom-Free Times, with which they can engage in ‘own time learning’. This Zoom-Free Time should enable students to engage in learning at their own pace, and could be screen-free. The learning focus and accompanying activities will continue to be accessed via iLearn, but students will not need to log in to the scheduled Zoom lesson. Instead they should engage with the learning activity independently, work at their own pace, and flex their muscles in the self-management space. We understand that some students will relish this opportunity more than others, but believe that some time away from Zoom, is necessary.
Two-Zoom Free Times in Week 2
Monday Period 5 & 6
Thursday Period 1 & 2
We anticipate providing students with a longer period of Zoom-Free Time in Week 3, and will provide more details next week. In the Parent Webinar on Monday evening, I mentioned the process of ‘feedback and adjustment’. Based on feedback received this week from students, parents and staff, and given the extension of Remote Learning for another two weeks, we believe that building in space for students to work at their own pace is crucial to maintaining mental wellbeing during this time.
Zoom Protocols
We have been very impressed with our students’ capacity to follow the Zoom protocols, which are designed for their safety. Students are required to wear their Sport Uniform (not a hoodie), enter the Zoom lesson with their video turned on and their sound muted. Students are also required to use their full name in order to identify themselves and not a nickname or emoji. We take our students’ security and safety very seriously and require these protocols be met in each and every Zoom lesson – if there is an issue, the class teacher will make contact, and we deeply appreciate those parents who have worked with us this week to support their child to comply with these protocols.
Year 12
Our Year 12 cohort have resiliently managed their week of learning remotely. Their Trial Examinations have been postponed by one week and they have maturely responded to some necessary shifts and modifications to their academic program. Further updates for Year 12 parents and students will be made available tomorrow and next week.
Registration Link for children of essential workers in the Secondary School
If you are an essential worker and need to send your child/ren to school next week, please register using the above link. Students are being supervised in the library by our librarians. Students wear a mask and sit in a socially distanced manner whilst engaging in Remote Learning.
Wellbeing
This week, we started Remote Learning with a focus on maintaining wellbeing and connection whilst in lockdown. Tuesday morning saw students reconnecting and preparing for the week ahead. Pastoral Care for the rest of the week has been dedicated to establishing a sound foundation for Remote Learning and reconnecting with peers. Whilst our Pastoral programs will continue to engage with formal synchronous sessions aimed at developing social and emotional capabilities, informal opportunities for social connection and positive relationships will be prioritised.
Tutors and Year Advisors are closely monitoring student wellbeing and regularly communicating with classroom teachers. Next week we will begin Zooming students individually to hold wellbeing check-in conversations with them. In these personal wellbeing check-ins and in larger group settings such as Year Assemblies, our shared message to students continues to be:
- The importance of maintaining a varied and healthy routine – exercise, diet, social connection, school, down time, regular sleep, etc.
- The benefit of focusing on things we enjoy and value, in order to remain motivated and ensure a sense of belonging
- The need to focus on what we can control rather than what we can’t; and, consider healthy strategies to managing responses to what is beyond our control.
As adults, we play a key role in taking the lead by being proactive in creating a scenario where our young people can manage anxieties and thrive during this time. This is a great opportunity for us to work together to teach our young people the skills required to manage uncertainty in order to become more resilient. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg (Child and Adolescent Psychologist) via SchoolsTV ‘Special Reports’ offers some considered advice on how best to support your children at home as we continue to, as he describes, ‘ride the Corona coaster’. ReachOut also offers advice on how you can assist your teen with sticking to a routine during COVID-19. The Redlands Counselling Space also houses a wealth of useful resources.
Should you at any point feel concerned about your child’s engagement with, or response to, Remote Learning, do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s School pastoral support team.
Cocurricular
We are delighted that many of our cocurricular activities in Sport and the Arts are back up and running online.
Sport have a range of fitness sessions and challenges for students (and parents!) to take part in, all accessible via the Secondary Sport iLearn page or Redlands Pulse. From Week 3, students in Representative Sports will be expected to participate in sport-specific training sessions.
Many regular activities and classes in Music, Drama and Dance will move online at the normal times – students can access the session and resources via iLearn pages. For more information refer to the relevant sections in Note Day.
Extra subject classes in the Visual Arts will begin in Week 3.
Welcoming New Staff
I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to some new staff members, many of whom have meet their new students and colleagues for the first time this week across Zoom.
Kathy Reid is Subject Coordinator of Innovative Design. Kathy has a Masters in Education and over 20 years experience working in TAS, most recently the Assistant Head of TAS for St Andrews Cathedral School.
Rosanna Peterson has joined us as a HSIE Teacher. She completed her Masters of Teaching in 2018 and has been working at Richard Johnson Anglican School for the last 3 years. Rosanna has a strong passion for History and is particularly keen on bringing Australian History to life in the classroom.
Nathan Lange is joining Redlands for Term 3 & 4 as a Science Teacher. Nathan holds a Bachelor of Advanced Science with a Double Major in Chemistry, Geology and Geophysics from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Secondary Education from Macquarie University. Most recently, Nathan has been teaching at Northern Beaches Secondary College.
I am also happy to announce that we have successfully recruited our new University and Careers Advisor/s who begin at Redlands in Week 5: Clare Hurst and Justine Fowler. Clare and Justine join the Secondary School as Careers and University Advisors in a job share capacity. They will each work 3 days per week: Clare (Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays) and Justine (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). Clare will commence on 9 August and Justine will commence on 10 August.
Justine has postgraduate qualifications in Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Career Education and Development. With over 12 years experience in careers advising at both school and university level and a strong interest in employability in the workplace and student career exploration, we are excited to have her join the team.
Clare has over 10 years experience in careers advising. Prior to that she gained useful knowledge and experience in the corporate world, which has been beneficial in her ability to connect with and provide advice to students on their career journey. She has a Bachelor of Commerce, a Diploma of Financial Services and a Graduate Certificate in Career Education and Development.
Most recently, Clare and Justine have been working together as Career Advisors at Queenwood School for Girls. I know you will join with me in welcoming them to Redlands in Week 5 of this term.
And farewelling…
Ms Simone Bryant concludes her time at Redlands tomorrow, as she has accepted a promotional role as Head of Science at Loreto Normanhurst. In her 15 years with the School, Simone has had multiple roles including Year Advisor, Year Coordinator, Debating Coordinator and most recently Assistant Subject Coordinator for Science along with her key role as Science Teacher. Her dedication and passion for teaching is evident through her various achievements. She will be missed by her colleagues, students and Tutor Group.
Student Reflections
Below are a couple of beautiful haikus written by Year 9 English students – these may lift your spirits. Mr Emma Rothwell, says this is one of the perks of being an English teacher in a pandemic!
Now always inside.
Keeping my own company.
Contained extrovert.
by Miles Eden
I grasp my memories
of friends, laughter, the outside.
My illusive past.
by Charli Waterland
Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811