Head of Secondary School

Welcome Back to Term 3 

It was great to see the students return to school on Tuesday, refreshed after their mid-year break. As part of their fundraising efforts towards their Legacy Gift, Yr 12 representatives from each Tutor Group were permitted to either grow beards over the holidays or return with “big hair” for the first day back at school and receive donations for their efforts. Yr 12 Tutors, Mr Skinner and Mr Gray, as well as yours truly, joined them in hirsute solidarity for the day. Of course, all hair styles were back to normal and all faces clean shaven by Wednesday – including mine!

During the assembly, I spoke to the students about my personal reactions to the Thailand cave rescue over the holidays which I have shared below.

“Now, like many of you, over the first part of the holidays, I was following the FIFA World Cup (sorry once again to the England supporters). But during that time, I was even more enthralled by the story of another Football team: the Wild Boars Football team of 12 boys aged 11-16 and their 25 year old coach who were trapped deep underground in a flooded cave in Thailand for over two weeks. Miraculously, after nine days the team was found and a week later all 12 boys and their coach were pulled out of the cave alive after a daring and heroic rescue.

Since then, I have been trying to figure out why I, and so many others around the world, were so moved and captured by this story, and I have even felt guilty that my emotional energy was so tied up in the fate of these 12 boys and their coach, and not in the same way to the suffering of civilians in Syria, Afghanistan and Palestine during this same time.

Maybe it was the against all odds nature and the drama of the story as rescuers fought against some of the most challenging and harrowing conditions and the looming monsoon rains, the dangers illustrated by the tragic death of one of the Thai Navy seals who drowned during the rescue mission. 

Maybe it was the sheer power of the human spirit displayed by the 12 boys and their coach who were cut off from the world for nine days, starving on a muddy ledge in the dark depths of the cave, surviving on the water dripping off the limetone walls, their collective spirit and calming meditation led by their coach.

Maybe it was my attempts to empathise not only with the boys who were trapped in such a terrifying predicament, but also their coach, who was feeling responsible for allowing them to enter the cave in the first place and also the parents, imagining if it was my child trapped under the ground for two weeks, going through their full spectrum of emotions.

Or maybe it was the selfless heroism of the rescuers. 10,000 people from all around the world descended upon the area, including 2,000 soldiers, 200 divers and throngs of local Thai volunteers. When we are usually relentlessly confronted with narcissistic world leaders threatening increasing isolation and hostility, it was so heart-warming to see the world selflessly come together as one on a mission to save these 12 boys and their coach. 

Personally, I am not exactly sure what it was that captured me so much about this story. Maybe it was all of these aspects combined. But what I do know is that in a world that at times can seem bleak, this story gave me hope. Hope in the power of the human spirit. Hope in the goodness of others. Hope in the face of adversity. My wish for all of you is that over the next few weeks, months and even years, if things seem tough and bleak, that this story might provide some light in the darkness.

As Andy Dufresne, in one of my favourite movies, Shawshank Redemption, says, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.” 

Cyber Safety Presentation 

On Monday 30 July, cyber safety expert Brett Lee will be at Redlands to deliver presentations throughout the day to students in Yrs 7-10. There will also be a parent seminar in Redlands Hall from 6.00-7.30pm. During the parent seminar, Brett will discuss the topics of digital compliance and internet safety. Brett is an engaging speaker, providing information in a way that will bring to life possible online dangers, as well as the responsibilities, which are part of your child’s digital world. Strategies regarding protection and prevention will empower parents to help reduce online risks within the home with very simple adjustments. Areas that will be covered will include: social networking, the law online, identity protection and cyberbullying, as well as the key role parents play in keeping young people safe online. This parent seminar would be appropriate for all Secondary School parents and we strongly encourage you to attend.

Staffing Update

Unfortunately, Yr 8 Year Advisor and Latin teacher, Mr Chris Ransom, has resigned due to health reasons. We thank Mr Ransom for his contribution to Redlands as both a valued Latin teacher and Year Advisor, and wish him the best for the future. Mr Argyris Giantsis will continue in his role as Secondary School Latin teacher while Ms Vale and Ms Mountain will continue in their roles as Yr 8 Year Advisor and Assistant Year Advisor, respectively.

Term 4 Notice of Departure

Required by 5pm Friday 27 July

This is a final reminder that those families who are planning on leaving the School during or at the end of Term 4 are required to give notice to the Principal via an email to registrar@redlands.nsw.edu.au by 5pm tomorrow, Friday 27 July.

As per our Conditions of Enrolment emailed to all families in December last year with the 2018 Schedule of Fees, there will be two terms fees in lieu payable for any notices of departure received after tomorrow.

Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870