Head of Secondary School

• Print

Community Connection is so important to us all at Redlands. We’re privileged to belong to a large diverse school with many opportunities. Our students, big and small, value any opportunity to gather and socialise with each other and over the past week, the Secondary School has initiated Connection Experiences with our Year 6 students, ahead of them joining us in 2025. The Assistant Dean of Students, Ms Sarah Matthews, has led this initiative, well supported by the Junior School staff, who are all keen to ensure a smooth transition from Junior to Secondary School. 

After gathering feedback from families and students, we developed a series of initiatives to help Year 6 students connect with current Secondary students, familiarise themselves with the Senior Campus, and build confidence in navigating their new environment. First off, a series of Connection Sessions took place in the Arnold Library on the Junior Campus, as part of a broader effort to ensure a smooth and confident Secondary School transition for our younger students. The Connection Experiences are a key part of this initiative, offering a “soft start” for the Year 6 students. Year 6 students were grouped with Year 10 mentors in small, relaxed settings. The activities included fun connection games designed to help the younger students begin building relationships with their older peers. 

Our Year 10 students were thrilled to take on this leadership role as peer mentors, and their enthusiasm was evident as they guided and supported the Year 6 students. This initiative not only benefits the Year 6 students but also provides our Year 10s with a valuable opportunity to develop leadership skills and contribute positively to our school community.

Then this week, Year 6 students visited the Senior Campus to have lunch with their Year 10 mentors on the Fahl Garden. Students learned how to use the canteen, where the bathrooms are located, how the secondary students utilise the various play areas and where they can play handball.  Year 6 experienced the campus in a quieter moment during Period 4 and then also got to see how it felt when the older students were released for lunchtime. As well as chatting with students and finding out about their experience of Year 6, hear stories about their family and friends, the most joyful moment was watching older siblings from the Secondary School come and find their younger brother or sister on the Fahl Garden. There were lots of smiles. Connection success!

This Week and Next…

It was a fantastic opening night to the Visual Art Showcase last evening in Redlands Hall. Art works from Year 3 to Year 12 (HSC) were exhibited and visited by a large number of visitors. A huge congratulations to all students whose work was exhibited and in particular to our fabulous HSC students who can breathe a sigh of relief that one significant part of their HSC experience is successfully now behind them. It was a joy to move around the artistic space, be wowed with talent and beauty and hear from Year 12 students about their inspirations and the process of meaning making. A sincere thank you to our Visual Arts Department for their care and guidance of students and for a fabulous exhibition. Over the coming weeks there are more events taking place that feature the skills and talents of our students, and in particular  our departing Year 12 students. If you can find the time to come along and celebrate with these students, they’d appreciate it. Details can be found on Pulse.

Basic Expectations for All Secondary Students

As we move through the final weeks of Term 3 and navigate the various learning activities and events taking place, it is important to get the little things right and always hold ourselves to the highest expectations. In the past week we have had to talk to students of all ages in the Secondary School about getting the little things right – their uniform, the respect of the collective spaces in our school and their mobile phones. I have noted a few basic expectations below and we appreciate your support as we move through our student management processes and hold students to account, in line with our School values of responsibility and respect.

• Students need to wear their uniform to and from school, except on Thursdays
• One small earring in each lower lobe is permitted only
• Shirts need to be tucked in if wearing long trousers
• Students are required to pick up their rubbish at recess and lunch and dispose of it in a bin
• Mobile phones are to be safely stored in lockers for all students from Year 7 to 10 – parents are requested to please refrain from texting and calling their child during the school day. If there is an emergency or a message that needs passing on, then please contact the Secondary School office on 02 9908 6407   

If students breach these basic expectations, they will receive a uniform demerit which may result in a detention. Jewellery and phones will be confiscated. Repeated breaches will lead to escalated consequences. We are a highly reputable independent school and as such we expect our students to attend school every day, be punctual to school and class and to always present themselves in a respectful manner – in behaviour and appearance.

The Warm Days…

As the days grow warmer and given that not all students are currently wearing the new uniform, which affords greater flexibility, students wearing the old uniform may choose to wear their summer uniform to school on very hot days. Before allowing your child to wear this please ask them to try it on to ensure:

• The uniform still fits and does not need to be taken down – dresses and pants
• The uniform is clean and ironed – especially the girls’ seersucker dress

Students with short pants and short dresses will be asked to adjust them via a formal communication home to the parents.

For the final Year 12 Formal Farewell Assembly held on the final Wednesday of term, all students in the Secondary School will be required to wear blazers.

Legacy Gift

This year, the graduating class of 2024 has decided to leave our legacy by raising money for the means-tested Redlands Scholarship Fund. The scholarship provides an opportunity for a Redlands education to a student who may otherwise be unable to attend the School. We want to share the support, encouragement and opportunities that Redlands has provided us.

If you haven’t yet supported by purchasing one of these legacy gift packs, please do. This is their final week and they are looking to sell as many gift packs as possible to raise funds for the Scholarship Fund. You can purchase the gift packs by visiting here. Products are delivered to your child’s class/tutor or by post.

Shine Dress Day Friday 30 August

A reminder too for the Secondary School that this Friday 30 August students may wear either their school uniform or a representation of where they shine at Redlands. Year 12 are asking students to wear something that represents where they shine at Redlands (or their House Colours). If students wish to engage in this event, they are to make a gold coin donation towards the Legacy Fund. Donations will be collected at the gates in the morning. Drink bottles, key rings and icy poles will be sold at lunchtime.

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