Head of Secondary School

• Print

Community Gathering

This term has seen a consistent focus on gathering the Secondary School community. In all, we have held ten assemblies with individual cohorts and mixed year groups. In the past week, we have held a Yr 7-9 Assembly followed by a Yr 10-12 Assembly. Students have gathered informally in the gym on most of these occasions and been led by Yr 12 Student Leaders. Next week on the final day of Term 2, we will hold two formal end of term assemblies for junior and senior students, where a number of awards will be bestowed on students.

This week I gave thanks to the students for their strong desire to build connections and community. In each of the assemblies held this term, a range of students acting as speakers, performers, film-makers, comedians and even game-show hosts, have contributed to building community and supporting the students to re-engage with each other after the long pandemic period where traditional connections were not always possible.

Our Student Leader Team, ably led by Sophia Maxwell and Jack Murray, spent their time finding cheesy ways to make their fellow students laugh, revitalised the Redlands Rhino (now appearing at every event possible) and genuinely connect through persuasive calls to action. As adults we know that standing up in front of a large audience isn’t easy, but our Yr 12 leaders and prefects have demonstrated strong leadership in their pursuits this term. They have demonstrated courage and vulnerability. This week I remarked to Yr 10, 11 and 12 how impressive this was – at Redlands we don’t do things because they are easy. A characteristic I continue to observe and admire in Redlands students is their intention to keep challenging themselves, to keep taking risks and to keep putting themselves out there.

We know from the recent Swimming Carnival that the old adage ‘you get what you give’ continues to ring true. Those willing to give to their community receive something back from it – a sense of inclusion, belonging, or perhaps something more tangible. In the assembly this week, I thanked all of those students who not only attended the Swimming Carnival last Thursday, but did so in good spirit. Swimming Carnivals are not for elite swimmers – they are an opportunity to try something, to take a punt on yourself, to stretch yourself, to enter a competition, knowing (most of the time) that you are not the strongest person on the blocks and may even come last in the race. Although cliched, it’s not about winning or losing, but having a go, and this is a characteristic that goes to the core of being part of the Redlands community and to the core of being Australian. Some people think it is an outdated Australian characteristic. I don’t think so. I like to think we live in a society of people who strive, who take part, who get involved – not a society of cynics or disparagers – but a society who choose to be positive and hopeful. For me working in education means we actively work against cynicism, hopelessness, reductionism, in a society where far too often these sentiments and attitudes are accepted as the norm.

I also saw this commitment and pursuit of hope on Friday evening at the Senior Vocal competition which was another opportunity for Redlands students to have a go, sound their voice, face their fears and sing in front of a supportive and admiring audience. Yes, most of the audience were parents, but also friends, peers, teachers, the Principal and external musicians, who had come to judge the fine musical talent at Redlands. I was so impressed with the quality of the performances, and also with the confident and courageous attitude these students displayed in standing up and performing in a competitive environment. In admiration too, I observed a Yr 11 student, who was an audience member, sit in the front row, cheer on her friends, and almost leap out of her seat in excitement and pride for their talent and courage. She wasn’t performing herself, but she was there supporting and encouraging her friends and peers on a Friday night and it was really special to witness this shared enjoyment. She gave and she received. What she received was the joyful experience provided by an evening of musical talent, and I imagine deepened friendships, but also the subconscious reinforcement that having a go, taking a chance and being supportive is what makes a powerful community.

I asked Yr 10, 11 and 12 at the assembly this week if they were coming to the Senior Music Festival on Friday night. I challenged the students to share in the joy of this event with their peers. The same attitude applies to the Athletics Carnival, being held on Tuesday next week. Being a strong runner is not the point. It’s about having a go, spending time with friends in your House, and experiencing school beyond the classroom setting. I remain hopeful that in the final week of Term 2 our students will benefit from engaging and participating in the many opportunities on offer. 

Senior Music Festival

If you are interested in coming along tomorrow evening, to the 2022 Senior Music Festival at The Concourse, Chatswood, we have over 150 students performing an eclectic range of music on the theme Greatest of All Time. Experience Beethoven to Bohemian Rhapsody in what promises to be a wonderful showcase of our students’ talent and hard work, and a testament to the dedicated team of music tutors and teachers who support the co-curricular Music program. Tickets are still available via The Concourse Box Office or Ticketek.

Motivated by Waste

Last Friday a Waste Audit was held on the Senior Campus. The students involved were all very motivated and keen to complete the task as part of our mission to be more sustainable. Many were shocked at the amount of rubbish not put in the correct bins and the sheer volume of food waste. A brief outline of what was uncovered in the audit is below!

Senior Campus Waste Audit Results

EcoWalks Student Opportunity

The EcoWalks initiative aims to improve young people’s inquiry, knowledge and skills about First Nations people as well as the local bushland and bird life of Mosman. Redlands has been offered 6 free places for students across Yrs 7-10.

This program includes: 

• identification of native flora and fauna
• landscapes and landforms 
• traditional culture of the Gai-mariagal People
• creative art and bushcraft
• bushwalking and navigation skills 
• beach conservation and land regeneration activities

The program takes place each Saturday afternoon in Term 3, from 23 July for 10 weeks at Sirius Cove in Mosman. Students will need to be able to commit to the sessions.

If your child is interested, please contact Mr Gray (jgray@redlands.nsw.edu.au) before Monday 20 June.

IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Exhibition Virtual Tours

We’d love for you to have a look around our TOK Exhibitions, where students compiled the presentations, with help from Dr Regis, as part of their CAS programme engaging in creativity, learning new skills and collaboration.

Class 1  Yr 12 student Amelie Heard and teacher Mr Millham

Class 2  Yr 12 student Vincas Lapinskas and teacher Ms Harrisson

Class 3  Yr 12 student Sophie McMillan and teacher Mr Del Villar

Class 4  Yr 12 student Louise Colin/Edwina Magnus and teacher Dr Regis

Class 5  Yr 12 student Erik Scott and teacher Ms Beggs

Student and Community Spirit – Senior Athletics Carnival

This week our Heads of House and Student House Captains met with their Houses, ahead of next week’s Athletics Carnival. Lots of fun and spirit was generated and students were provided with key messages about next Tuesday, such as:

Dress – All students should dress in their House colours. At a minimum, students should wear an appropriate top in their House colour.

Attendance and Participation – students are expected to be participating in all the track and field events available to them, and when not competing, sitting with their House in the appropriate area and actively supporting the other students in their House.

The behaviour and conduct expected of students at school will be expected of students at SOPAC, including their travel to and from the carnival on school buses. In order to support students to demonstrate their best selves, the following boundaries will be in place on Tuesday:

• Students will not be permitted to sit looking at their phones or laptops – these will be confiscated after the first warning.
• Students are encouraged to bring their own food and drink and will only be able to purchase limited food from the canteen at SOPAC.
• Students will not be allowed to wander around SOPAC – they will be reminded only once to return to their House and support their House peers, before being issued with a Friday afternoon detention.
• Inappropriate, risky or persistent poor behaviour will not be tolerated. Students engaging in this kind of behaviour will be collected from SOPAC by their parents, following a phone call from the Year Advisor.

Tuesday 21 June – the finer details for parents

On Tuesday all students need to be at school by 7.00am so they can board buses on time from various designated points on the Senior and Junior Campuses. Buses will not wait for late students. The carnival runs until approximately 2.15pm and we aim to be back on the Senior Campus by 3.20pm. Typically, most students return to school on the bus at the end of the carnival. This is encouraged.

Students may return home with parents at the conclusion of the carnival but will not be permitted to leave before the carnival concludes. Parents wishing to collect their children from SOPAC, or return home with their children as they are spectators, must provide written permission to the Year Advisor by midday on Monday. As the day is about House Spirit and community, we do not anticipate requests to leave the carnival early as the students are expected to remain for the entire day to support their peers, as part of a contributing community.

Further information about the Athletics Carnival is contained in the letter published earlier this week. All students are expected to attend the Carnival, unless they are unwell. If unwell, parents should email ssabsence@redlands.nsw.edu.au on the day of the Carnival and supply a relevant medical certificate.

Term 3/4 Departure Notice

As we are approaching the mid-point of the year, this is a reminder that those families who are planning on leaving the School during or at the end of Terms 3 or 4 are required to give notice to the Principal via an email to registrar@redlands.nsw.edu.au by the following dates:

Term 3 Departure:  Friday 24 June 2022
Term 4 Departure:  Friday 22 July 2022

As per the 2022 Schedule of Fees emailed to all families in December last year, there will be fees in lieu payable for any notices of departure received after these dates.

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