Head of Secondary School
Student Achievement
We know that students who are fully engaged – in their academic study, sporting pursuits, and a range of cocurricular activities – go on to achieve highly in the HSC and IB. The research shows that students engaged in up to four cocurricular activities learn more effectively and are more developed in their social and emotional capacity. This week we feature a range of students who are excelling at their job – the job of being a student!
Yr 11 student Jasmine Black is an incredible football player. When she entered Secondary School, she was a Yr 7 goal keeper, playing alongside Yr 12 students. She works hard for the sport she loves and in recent years she has been driving hours each week to join Sydney FC training and games across Sydney. Jasmine trains with the team as a “train on” for every training session and she gets contracted to play games throughout the season. At the start of May, Sydney FC won the Liberty A League Grand Final in front of a record crowd of 9,500 people. Jasmine’s skills as goal keeper have taken her through to this level and this is a huge moment of celebration and reflection for her. Congratulations Jasmine!
Yr 11 student Nathan Barrie joined Redlands this year and he is also an incredible football player. Nathan has been travelling long hours each week to join the Under 18s Western Sydney Wanderers practices and games. Recently, Nathan has been selected in the Australian U17s Subway Joeys Squad to train and compete in the upcoming Asian Cup in Thailand. Joey’s Head Coach, Brad Maloney, has named the extended 28 players for the squad to participate in a training camp in Bangkok, Thailand, which will then be reduced to 23 players ahead of the tournament. This tournament is meant to showcase the country’s “brightest young talent” against the “finest [players] in Asia.” The goal is to at least make it to the semi-finals to secure qualifications to this year’s FIFA Under 17s World Cup in November. This is an incredible achievement for Nathan and he is wished all the best in this upcoming tournament. Congratulations Nathan!
Yr 11 student Daisy Thomas travelled to Europe at the end of Term 1 to compete in a number of free ski competitions. Daisy has competed internationally throughout her skiing career and her recent was to stand on the podium for a Europa Cup and she achieved this goal, placing 3rd in the Big Air Competition in Corvatsch, Switzerland! She also placed 4th in the Slopestyle Competition. However, her highlight throughout this experience was winning the World Rookie Tour in Italy which gained her an invitation to The Nines, where some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the world spend a week skiing in an eye-popping terrain park. For Daisy, there was nothing better than being able to spend time skiing with and getting to know some of her heroes. She managed to be the first Australian female to land a new trick there, the Double Cork 1080, which she was then nominated for Junior Athlete of the Year at Snow Australia! Congratulations to Daisy for her incredible accomplishments in skiing and we wish her the best as she prepares for the Junior World Championships in New Zealand in August.
Another Yr 11 student, Alissandra Braden, has just finished competing at the Sailing State Championships in Queensland. While Alissandra has had several opportunities at a high level of competition, including a World Competition in Portugal last year, she continues to improve her results and to push herself in competition, even beating her own coach at States! Alissandra was up against 47 people who competed on the same racecourse at the same time. Her fleet even included members from Australian Sailing Futures. Alissandra earned 2nd Female Overall, 1st in Under 17 Female, 2nd in Under 17 Overall and 7th Overall! Congratulations to Alissandra for this outstanding achievement!
Falling Forward
This week our School Captains Josie Simpson and Daniel Close bestowed two Fall Forward Awards to Yr 7 students.
Laura Huang competed at the National Championships of Synchronised Swimming in Perth. Her team did amazingly well and ended up coming third. We are so proud of this student and her amazing efforts – she is a well-deserved recipient of the Fall Forward Award.
Jason Gong travelled all the way to the United States to compete in an international robotics competition. He did so well, placing 25th overall and we are so so proud of his efforts. He is also well deserving of the Fall Forward Award.
Dramatic Success
Our Yr 11 and 12 Theatresports team competed at the Regional Competition this week for the Theatresports Australia Improvisation, All Schools Challenge, and placed Second overall, progressing to the Semi Finals. The students in the team are: Phoebe Barnett (Yr 12), Hallie Hunt (Yr 11), Sholto Mirrlees-Black (Yr 11). A hearty thank you to the Theatresports teachers, Sarah Sparke and Amber Virtue, for training our students for this event.
Our Yr 10 Drama Curriculum students represented Redlands at the Shakespeare Carnival Regional Competition this week. Both groups performed brilliantly with great conviction. Special mention must go to our Group Ensemble scene that placed Runners Up/Highly Commended! The Shakespeare Group Ensemble Performance was made up of the following students: Megan Kirkpatrick, Serafina Scotting, Remie Gibbs (Yr 10) and supported by Drama Teacher, Ms Samantha Novis. The Shakespeare Duologue was made up of the following students: Krishna Gupta and Grace Dawson-Damer (Yr 10) and supported by Drama Teacher, Ms Stacey Whitmore.
High Expectations for Behaviour and Adherence to Redlands Values
Inspiring young people to achieve life readiness and let their light shine requires a complex and multifaceted approach to supporting and challenging the young people in our care. As an educational institution we use all opportunities for didactic reflection, be they in the classroom setting, on the bus to Sport training or standing in line at the canteen. Whilst it can be challenging for a young person to receive feedback on their attitude or effort, this is how they improve and grow into the best versions of themselves. When students forget or disregard what is expected of them, in terms of living the Redlands values, they will be reminded of our expectations – and this may take a variety of forms: a conversation, a detention, a meeting with a Year Advisor and parents/carers, a behaviour support plan, a check-in with a school counsellor. Depending on the context and the student’s needs, they are afforded the opportunity to consider their choices and identify the support they need in order to ‘let their light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds…’.
We Value Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Fairness, Moral Courage
Bullying (of any sort), vaping (which is illegal for people under the age of 18) and behaviour which risks the safety of self or others, is not tolerated at Redlands. Behaviours, dissonant to our School values, will be challenged and students will be held accountable.
As parents and carers, we strongly encourage you to read through the School Rules, which are located on page 10 of the Student Planner, adjacent to the General Health and Safety Guidelines, the Anti-Bullying Guidelines, the ICT Responsible User Guidelines and the Secondary School Student Behaviour Management Process. Please regularly review your teenager’s use of the Student Planner and familiarise yourself with the various processes we use to support appropriate and positive student behaviour. We appreciate the support of parents and carers in this respect and the understanding that Redlands staff are professionals and experts in the holistic education of young people.
Redlands Gala Ball – Early Bird Tickets Available Now
A Message from the School Chaplains
Ms Gemma Van de Peer
Head of Secondary School
gvandepeer@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9811