Head of Secondary School

Remote Learning Continues

The Premier’s announcement of another four weeks of lockdown means our Remote Learning program at Redlands continues. Staying motivated at this time can be a challenge. Our counsellor Mr Alessandro Digiacomo has created this helpful Staying Motivated film. I encourage you to watch this with your child/ren. It’s brief, pacey and supportive. Our Yr 12 leaders have also been reaching out to the student community with Messages of Motivation. At this time, affirmation is so important. I love how our Yr 12 students are so affirming of each other and the Secondary School students they lead so graciously and maturely. I hope these messages of motivation support you and your family to explore this complex issue and openly share strategies which bring you success.

Feedback and Adjustment

An important part of my role is in seeking, listening and acting on feedback. Thank you to the parents who have been providing constructive and respectful feedback via feedback@redlands.nsw.edu.au. I also receive feedback from parents via Year Advisors who nurture strong relationships with parents and carers. This week the overwhelming message from students and parents is the preference to have more regular opportunities for independent learning time. Trialling a full day yesterday for Yr 7-12 meant students could practise their self-management skills. Independent learning time allows students to work at their own pace, take advantage of some screen-free time, and flexibly engage with learning activities according to their needs and interests. We know that some students thrive given this opportunity whilst others are more challenged in the self-management space – finding that spark in each individual student is crucial to sustaining motivation and building autonomy. Personal empowerment develops with practice and persistence.

Next week we look forward to meeting with a group of students from across the School to hear about their experiences of Remote Learning. We will share these experiences with our staff and you, as parents and carers, as part of our ongoing feedback process at this time.

We’re also interested in hearing your voice. A parents and carers survey will be making its way to you tomorrow, and we appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback so that we can continue to make adjustments to the Remote Learning program in the best interests of our students, in the coming weeks.

The Week 4 Timetable can be found here.

Yr 12 Students have once more demonstrated their resilience this week, focusing on the short term and responding with grace and maturity to the dynamic nature of their days. The NSW Premier’s announcement yesterday that Yr 12 could return to school from the 16 August was welcomed and provided some much needed certainty.

Yr 12 will gather as a cohort on Friday morning to discuss plans for the Trial Examinations and the remainder of Term 3. Obviously, we are always at the mercy of the virus, but we are working closely with NSW Health and the Association of Independent Schools, to enable the Yr 12 cohort to sit their Trial examinations on campus. We are grateful they are such a level headed and reflective group of individuals because they will have to adhere to strict guidelines designed to ensure the safety of all at this time.

If you are a parent of a Yr 12 student, you may The Lighthouse’s (Macquarie University) Stress-busting tips for HSC students facing lockdown learning useful. The advice within is applicable to students of all ages:

Keep in touch with friends
Balance study and life
Keep to a routine
Prepare yourself (and your brain) for learning
There’s no such thing as multi-tasking – so switch off the music
Exercise your stress cortisol away
Find the positives
Take a tip from Grandma
Ask for help
Remember the situation will pass

How are you getting to Tokyo?

The Redlands Sports Department continues its “How will you get to Tokyo?” Olympic Games Challenge this week. The goal is to travel to the Olympic Games in your house group. Sydney to Tokyo is 7,824km and the aim is to make it all the way to Tokyo in two weeks. We strongly encourage you and your family to continue to record your exercise this week and log your activity here. Need further inspiration? Watch the promotional video: Redlands Olympic Games Challenge – How will you get to Tokyo?

Week 4 Announcements and Events

If you are sending your child to school next week, then please complete the Week 4 Registration to Attend School (essential worker) Survey.

Next week we have scheduled two Zoom-Free Sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. Students will be able to learn at their own pace, following their lessons on iLearn. How best to manage these sessions will be reinforced next week.

Cyber Safety Parent Webinar

Thank you to those parents who attended our Cyber Safety Parent Webinar on Monday evening. A recording of the webinar can be viewed here.

Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811