Head of Secondary School
Week 2 Happenings
This week’s student-led assembly was held with Yr 10 to 12 in the Lang Gym. Our Yr 12 student leaders entertained their peers via a fun quiz to develop an awareness of study skills and managing anxiety and stress during assessment periods. Yr 12 offered amusing pictures of themselves in different states of stress in order to humorously support Yr 10 and 11 to better understand how to manage themselves during peak periods of study and assessment. The quiz was fun but I suspect it was more of a self-awareness exercise for Yr 12 stress management! As they approach their Trial Examinations in Week 4, Yr 12 are hyper aware of their current study habits – what’s working and what’s not. We’ve seen an elevated maturity in their amusing self-assessment of their approach to study at this time. At the assembly, Mr Taylor and Ms Benjamin congratulated our senior students on their proactive and mature approach, reassuring and praising them with some key messages: ‘you never really feel prepared for the Trials – do what you can do, test yourself, and know that you are enough’. Experienced educators know that the lightbulb moments happen, for most students, after the Trial Examinations and that the period between the Trials and the Final Examinations is usually a time of great learning and consolidation. Typically, students’ confidence increases and they exhibit greater agency over their study habits, which culminates in successful final examination experiences.
Despite a fraction of rain this week, sunny weather has meant the students in the Secondary School have been able to get out and about, run around and enjoy the various outdoor spaces on the Senior Campus. There’s been a slight uptick in Covid-19 cases across the State but we’ve seen only a few extra cases in the Secondary School this week. Students have been demonstrating responsibility by wearing their masks and being generally respectful of the health of others. Students who are currently at home with Covid-19 should focus on getting better and being well, before they engage in any school learning activities on iLearn – we want them to return to school healthy and able to focus and understand that allowing them the time to recover and recuperate is an important part of the healing process.
Gala Arts Success
Last Friday’s Gala Arts was a fabulous success. Mr Bentley, our Head of Teaching and Learning, offered the following observation: ‘Last Friday evening I was privileged to attend the Gala Arts festival at The Concourse, Chatswood. The evening showcased a rich and diverse range of outstanding performances and artworks from our students in creative and performing arts. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together, connect and celebrate being part of the Redlands community. The event reminded me of how important the cocurricular programs that we offer at Redlands are in supporting the holistic development of our students. Huge congratulations to our Director, Ms Alyssha Clarke and to everyone involved.’
Cross Country Success
Finn Gurney competed in the 12 years boys at the NSW All Schools XC Championships last Friday. He finished in the Top 30 which was a fantastic result considering he has never before raced at State level. He was also the third CIS Athlete across the line which was six places better than in the CIS Championships. Congratulations Finn!
Winter School
The 61 Yr 10 Winter School students have settled in well at High Country Campus. They arrived in good spirits on Tuesday afternoon and promptly began inhabiting their dorms, unpacking their gear and listening to key messages from Mr Atkins and the Winter School teachers. On Tuesday, the students got their first taste of the snow as they took their skiing and snowboarding equipment up to Thredbo and got their lift passes. After returning to HCC, they participated in their first lessons of English and Maths, and after dinner and some down time, they settled into a quiet study period before ‘lights out’ was called. This afternoon, the students officially started their skiing and boarding programs on the slopes after spending the morning in scheduled lessons. It has been an exciting start to the Winter School Program and we look forward to hearing more from our Winter School Students as the term progresses.
Term 4 Departure Notice
The final date for giving notice of depature during or at the end of Term 4 was last Friday 22 July. Families who are planning on leaving the School during or at the end of Term 4 and haven’t yet given notice should email registrar@redlands.nsw.edu.au by 4pm tomorrow, Friday 29 July, to avoid fees in lieu.
Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811