Head of Secondary School

Students and staff have exhibited great joy and elation being back together again this week, marking the start of a new term, and a new academic year. Personally, I have enjoyed conversations with students and staff which have typically been about where we travelled, or didn’t, during the holidays and how COVID has, or hasn’t, affected our families. Shared experiences always bind us and it seems this year, we have more than ever, to share, and with which to form close connections.

We gathered for our first Zoom Assembly early on Monday morning as there was much to convey about how we will safely navigate these first few weeks of term. I am always thankful to lead such a positive-minded community – one where people step in for each other, look out for the other, and value compassion and respect. Indeed, my key message to students and staff at the commencement of this year was again about Redlands values and how they can guide us during periods of uncertainty and challenge.

Once more, I also took advantage of the opportunity to remind students of our High Expectations, High Support mantra, which covers all aspects of schooling at Redlands. Despite the dynamic start, it is going to be a great year. As a staff, we are confident the students will do amazing things. They will successfully navigate challenges, with our support. I reminded them to utilise the people/adults in their life whose job it is to support and stretch them and concluded by assuring them that in 2022, we’re not going to ask them to do anything they can’t do, but also affirmed for them that they are capable of more than they think, and that our role as educators is to help them exceed expectations.

I encourage you to read the following information about our COVID-Safe Start Procedures. I also want to personally thank you for your adherence to our processes. Your responsiveness is significant and appreciated. We value the strong partnership with you, especially during this dynamic time.

Reporting Absence

If your child is going to be absent from school, please email ssabsence@redlands.nsw.edu.au or the Redland App as soon as possible on the day of their absence and provide details to support us to correctly record their absence. This absence may be due to a pre-scheduled appointment, or due to non-COVID related illness.

Reporting Absence due to COVID-19 Positive RAT/PCR or Household Contact Status

If your child/ren cannot attend school because they, or a Household Contact, have tested positive to a RAT/PCR test, we require specific information from you. Can I strongly encourage you to please support the Secondary School Office Team by reporting your child/ren’s COVID-related absence via this LINK, which takes you to a Googleform, allowing you to provide essential information such as:

The date a positive RAT was recorded
The date the student was last on campus
Sibling status across the School
Other information which enables us to support your family

If you do use ssabsence@redlands.nsw.edu.au or the Redlands App to report a COVID-Positive or Household Contact status, we will ask you to provide further details, by clicking on the LINK to provide this additional information. Thank you for your understanding and support as we currently require an additional level of detail from you to support our processes and sustain the wellbeing and safety of our community.

Siblings and Household Contacts

Please note that if a sibling or any member of your Household (known as a Household Contact) tests positive to a RAT/PCR, then all other siblings must also remain at home and self-isolate for 7 days from the date the positive test was recorded.

Anomalies and Exceptions

If a child or children in the family have already had COVID, isolated for 7 days, and are no longer exhibiting symptoms, they can return to school.
If a child or children in the family have already had COVID, isolated for 7 days, and are no longer exhibiting symptoms, they should not do another RAT test for 28 days from the final day of isolation. These children do not need to complete a RAT on Monday and Wednesday before school for 28 days after their final day of isolation/no symptoms.

Requiring Further Guidance about COVID-19 Regulations?

Please reach out to us via phone – we are happy to answer any questions you have and provide guidance. You can contact us on 9908 6407.

Welcome to New Students and Staff

It was great to see smiling faces of new students this week and hear their stories of their first few days at Redlands. Friendships are being formed, relationships with teachers developed and slowly they are defining their way around the campus.

I have also had the pleasure of hearing from some of our new staff members, who have been incredibly busy this week, familiarising themselves with new programs but more importantly forging relationships with students.

‘I have really appreciated how welcoming the entire community is; I’ve had such positive interactions with students, staff and parents and in some ways, I don’t even feel new anymore!’ Lucy Benjamin, Dean of HSC

‘It has been so lovely meeting all the Redlands students this week, they have been inquisitive in lessons and friendly outside the classroom. Although I have hit the ground running, I have felt very welcomed into the Redlands community, supported by the leadership and all staff.’ Susan Tymoszuk, Subject Coordinator Christian Studies

‘I am really loving the community I have already found at Redlands. The English staffroom is full of bright and bubbly personalities, and much kindness and generosity. The students have immediately welcomed me, making me feel a part of the school, and I am inspired by their respectful and caring demeanours. (Shout-out to Yr 11 Roseby White!) But geez, life has also been very busy!!’ Jimmy Tod-Hill Assistant Subject Coordinator English

We have some new Deans in leadership roles in the Secondary School

Ms Anna Marie Rolon is our Dean of Studies (7-10) and responsible for the Teaching and Learning in Stages 4 and 5. You will know Anna Marie as our former English Subject Coordinator and Redlands parent. If you have any questions or feedback, Anna Marie would love to hear from you. She has stepped energetically into her new role and already created some exciting student learning resources and updated student learning processes. In the coming days, she looks forward to publishing a new iLearn Course called Connected Learning, which will provide dedicated support to students who are learning from home due to a COVID-19 positive RAT/PCR or Household Contact status. You can reach Anna Marie at arolon@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Ms Lucy Benjamin is our Dean of HSC and responsible for the teaching and learning in Yr 11 and 12 HSC courses. Lucy is the former Head of English at Queenwood and has strong experience in leading and teaching both HSC and IB Programs. Lucy has commenced her journey at Redlands with enthusiasm and is already making strong connections with students, staff and parents. She looks forward to supporting our HSC students in an individualised way, harnessing their strengths and interests, so they can achieve success and leverage the interconnected aspects of their HSC programs of study. Lucy is already scheduling meetings with students and parents, so please reach out to her if you have any HSC questions. You can reach Lucy at lbenjamin@redlands.nsw.edu.au

Mr Bruce Barry is our Dean of Academic Administration and responsible for the timetable, external testing, staff leave/absence and the School calendar. Bruce is an experienced timetabler, honing his timetabling expertise at Northholm Grammar and The Kings School, in recent years. It has been a hectic start for Bruce, as it is for all timetablers, at this point in the school year, when students are reconsidering their choices and making changes to their program of study. Bruce will work closely with the Dean of Studies, Dean of HSC and Dean of IB, Mr Darren Taylor, to bring flexible and efficient systems and processes to the Secondary School. Bruce teaches Computer Science and has been warmly welcomed by the Innovative Design Faculty.

Ms Alyssha Clarke is the Acting Subject Coordinator Drama and Theatre role for 2022 and Dr Meta Regis joins the Yr 7 pastoral team as the Assistant Year Advisor, working alongside Ms Sarah Matthews.

We are currently recruiting for a few roles in the Secondary School. Whilst this is not ideal at the start of a new year, it is a reality, and one made more complex by the COVID-19 situation at present. Thankfully, we have an exceptional pool of casual teachers who have stepped into some of these roles while we move through the recruitment process. On Monday in the Assembly I thanked students for their understanding and patience and underlined for students the importance of respect and communication as we anticipate increased teacher absence at this time. Engaging regularly with iLearn in order to locate learning objectives and resources will be necessary.

Information Evenings

Please join us for the following Information and Engagement Evenings, which will be held via Zoom. Please join us with your child/ren and log any questions that surface in the Q&A.

Year 7: Monday 7 February from 6pm (Webinar)

On Monday 7 February from 6pm we will be holding a webinar which will provide important information for parents and carers in supporting their children as they commence the secondary school journey. The link is provided in this edition of NoteDay and a digital flyer will be sent out tomorrow to all Yr 7 families which will also include a link to the webinar. Some useful and frequent questions that new families have will be covered in the webinar including:

How much home-learning should my child be doing?
How will my child be assessed?
What happens if my child can’t complete an assessment?

We will also take parents on a tour of the Yr 7 Core Page which will be an integral part of every Yr 7 student’s academic journey this year. Please join us for this important event!

Year 12: Wednesday 16th February at 5.30pm to 6.30pm (Webinar)

Key communication about curriculum and assessment, the year ahead and optimising success in their final year of senior study will be explored at this Webinar. We strongly encourage all Yr 12 students and parents to attend.

Year 11: Wednesday 2nd March 5.30pm to 6.30pm (Webinar)

Key communication about the Yr 11 HSC and IB courses, the year ahead, and information about being prepared for curriculum and assessments will be presented at this Webinar. We strongly encourage all Yr 11 students and parents to attend.

Year 7

The transition from primary school to secondary school is a significant time of change. To support a successful transition, Redlands hosted a 2-day transition program addressing the worries and challenges of Yr 7, and helping students to respond positively to the challenges they may face. Considering the holistic needs of the student, the program provided opportunities to develop the basic skills of Secondary School. Activities and lessons assisted students to develop social and emotional skills that will enhance their resilience and levels of engagement, and ensure a smooth transition into secondary school. Students have been navigating their change with calmness, and enjoying the opportunity to meet new students and teachers, thereby expanding their connections.

Year 8

I have the pleasure of addressing Yr 8 this week. As well as catching up on their holidays and plans for 2022, I will be reiterating the Redlands values and how Yr 8 can actively live and promote these as a year group. Specifically, we will explore the ingredients for a Strong Start to Yr 8, and specifically:

Our conduct inside and outside school, and at Sport
How to be kind, compassionate and respectful humans
Demonstrating moral courage – what this looks and feels like
Who to approach for additional support and guidance when the going gets tough

Year 9

This term Yr 9 students have been offered the opportunity to engage in an array of leadership opportunities. With a highly busy term ahead, and a strong focus on goal setting, the possibility of engaging in activities which can further develop and demonstrate leadership, communication skills, teamwork and responsibility, continues to be encouraged. Ms Vale was heartened by the number of students who signed up for the different opportunities, including, Clean Up Australia Day (Week 5), International Women’s Day (Week 6), Harmony Day (Week 8), National Day Against Bullying & Violence (Week 8), International Day (Week 10), Bougainvillea – ongoing service throughout the year, and lastly, ‘Healthy Wednesdays’. Leadership will continue to be a key focus or Yr 9, and all students will be encouraged to engage in at least one opportunity on offer.

Year 10

Yr 10 has an extremely exciting year ahead of them as they divide their academic time between core subjects and their electives. Students have chosen four electives to study this year which will provide them with an excellent opportunity to experience learning in areas where they have registered passion and interest. These selections will be instrumental in guiding their subject selections for Years 11 and 12. In Term 2, students will engage in open-dialogues and one-to-one conversations with key pastoral care and academic leaders around subject choices ahead of making their selections. We look forward to guiding and supporting Yr 10 as they commence this process tomorrow with a careers profiling session during Periods 1-4.

Year 11

I have been really impressed with how Yr 11 have commenced their Stage 6 studies. On Tuesday afternoons, many of the HSC students have time to remain at school and engage independently in their learning and revision. We will be providing them with dedicated supervision and support to keep them focused and motivated at these times. We are also encouraging Yr 11 to use any Study Periods or additional time in school to schedule and meet with our Redlands Careers Advisors Ms Clare Hurst and Ms Justine Fowler. Our iGrow data clearly shows that students who perform well in the HSC and IB programs are those who engage actively with Careers throughout their Stage 6 journey.

Our Yr 11 gents have also demonstrated some exceptionally courteous behaviour and conduct on the basketball courts at recess and lunch this week, and I want to commend them on their mature and respectful start to the year. The younger students regularly observe them; their interactions with each other and their supervising teachers, and this positive modelling underscores an authentic alignment with our Redlands values.

Year 12

On Wednesday, Yr 12 engaged in an experiential workshops hosted by Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman. Aimed at redefining stereotypes and more positive versions of masculinity and womanhood, the workshop created a safe space for our young adults to talk with gravity and emotional intensity. Students left the room with strengthened resilience, self-confidence and connectedness to their peer group.

We are actively working to secure new dates for Yr 12 Camp and are mindful of assessment pressures and other commitments as we do this. We will notify Yr 12 students and parents once a new Camp experience is confirmed.

SRC

Next Friday, 11 February, students elected to the SRC will meet for the first time in 2022. Students will discuss leadership responsibilities and help to develop their vision for Redlands, and the role of student voice in Redlands. Students will then be tasked with returning to their respective houses and consulting with them on their needs and wants. The feedback from these consultations will then form the agenda and discussions at the subsequent meeting.

Sport

We are so excited to get Sport up and running and our Sport Team, ably led by Ms Alison Cox, has been working closely with her team to ready Term 1 Sport. Sadly, the weather appears to be working against us as rain is predicted for the next 8 days. Ms Cox and the Sport Team are doing all they can to facilitate Sport where possible, and I know their efforts are gratefully received by all.

In the event that training is cancelled due to wet weather, a notification will be posted on the Redlands Sport Twitter page (@RedlandsSport). In addition, an email will be sent to both students and parents. This will provide information regarding morning and afternoon training along with weekend fixtures.

Thursday Afternoon Sport – Wet Weather Arrangements for Year 7

In the event that Yr 7 sport is cancelled on Thursday afternoon, they will remain at school until 3.10pm and participate in cohort based activities.

Thursday Afternoon Sport – Wet Weather Arrangements for Year 8-12

In order to limit mixing indoors, students in Yr 8-12 who are dismissed at the end of Period 5, because they are not able to attend training, are required to go directly home. Sport coaches and Redlands staff will supervise their COVID-safe departure.

If you have any further questions regarding Sport this term, please contact the sports department sports@redlands.nsw.edu.au .

Respect and Responsibility at Sport

In Monday’s Assembly I spoke with students about respect and responsibility at Sport. Travelling on the bus, via public transport or walking to venues requires respect for each other, Redlands staff and members of the public. Competing in games requires the same level of respect and extends to the competition. Foul language, sexist or offensive gendered language will not be tolerated. At a diverse coeducational school, we have a privileged opportunity and responsibility to set a leading example to others. The Redlands staff are confident our students will uphold their values and make us proud.

Swimming Carnival

This exciting event in the School Calendar has been moved to Tuesday 14 June and will be held at SOPAC.

Student Super Stars

We had some amazing results at the NSW All Schools which occurred from 9–12 December at SOPAC.

Isaac Brooks (Yr 10)
4^th in the 15 years 800m final: 2:04 (PB) – Qualifications for the Australian Junior Athletics Championships 5^th in the 15 years 1500m final 4:18 (PB) (2s outside national qualifications.)

Elizabeth Whelan (Yr 8)
3^rd in the 12 years Hammer Throw – Qualifications to the Australian Junior Athletics Championships (19.04m) (PB)
14^th place 12 years girls shotput 6.21m (PB)
14^th place 12 years Discus throw (10.89m) (PB)
17^th place 12 years Javelin (10.49) (PB)

Charles Hargrave (Yr 9)
34th place 13 years 200m (PB – 28.43)
44^th place 13 years 100m (14.33)

Jaiden Confessore (Yr 10)
36^th place 15 years 200m (25.89)
46^th place 100m (12.82)

Sebastien Griffith (Yr 11)
8th place 16 years Long Jump (5.95m)
27th place 200m (24.45)

Lachlan Binnekamp (Yr 11)
12^th place 16 years Long Jump (5.30m)
33rd place 16 years 200m (25.07)

Winter School

Next week we will announce the details for Winter School 2022. To begin with, we will have an Information Session for interested students and families, on Tuesday 22 February via Zoom at 6.00pm. Check next week’s Note Day for updated program and application information.

Learning Plus

Our Learning Plus Team, led by Ms Lisa Ole, is in the process of updating all the Learning Support Profiles of students, and have this week been focused on updating the profiles of students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This week our teachers were able to engage with some global strategies to support students with ADHD, before embarking on identifying the personal strategies which work best for individual students in their classes.

There are 3 types of ADHD

ADHD Hyperactive Type
ADHD Inattentive Type
ADHD Combination Type

Interesting Insights

Not all students with ADHD will present the same way in each subject.
Some students will be better in some classroom environments and not in others.
Some students may attend better in the morning rather than the afternoon.

Top 10 Adjustments for Students with ADHD

Preferential Seating: Always have a seating plan – place the student closer to you. Where exactly will depend on your classroom.
Visual scaffolds: Prompts on the board, key vocabulary – helps if working memory is impacted.
Movement breaks: A couple of minutes in the middle is a great strategy. The students don’t have to leave the room for a movement break.
Externalise time: When students working quietly have a timer – this works best when it is visible on the wall and lets them know how much time is left and makes a noise. Pointing at the clock isn’t effective.
Break down longer tasks and assignments and frequently check on progress.
Watch the ADHD Inattentive Type – ensure that you have their attention when explaining things. Pause videos, ask questions make comments.
Explicitly prompt students to begin tasks.
Explicitly prompt students to resume tasks.
Allocate students to groups for collaborative tasks: Students with ADHD often have complex relationships with their peers and will work really well with some and not others.
Extra resources: ADHD students often forget things – Disorganisation is part of the disorder, it is not laziness or thoughtlessness.

Parents – Got Time for a Podcast?

Interested in anxiety? ADHD? This podcast, Owning It The Anxiety Podcast, is really useful and the episode Your Anxiety perfectly explained by a neuroscientist is exceptional. It is technical but completely accessible to adults (and contains adult language). If you have an hour for yourself, I recommend a listen. There are some excellent recommendations for supporting young people with anxiety and ADHD.

Students Require a Lock for their Locker

Does your child/ren have a lock for their School Locker? Students have until the end of Week 2 to obtain a lock and then will be required to use it to safely secure their personal possessions. We appreciate your support, as we encourage them to store their mobile phones at recess and lunch and engage in conversation and socialisation, minus technology.

School Diary

All students received their 2022 School Diary on Monday. If you have an opportunity, we encourage you to look through it with your child/ren. It provides a great deal of information and should be a supportive resource. A significant focus over the coming weeks will be to support students to use their diary effectively, to organise themselves and their learning. Students should be taking their diary to every lesson and home with them of an evening.

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