Head of Secondary School
Happy Holidays
As this is the last Note Day of the year, I would just like to express my gratitude and appreciation to you, the parent community, for all of your efforts and support this year. There have been many successes and challenges over the past 12 months, and through it all the partnership between school and home continues to grow stronger as we remain committed to best nurturing the young people under our care. I wish departing families all the best on the next stage of their schooling journeys and look forward to welcoming new families to Redlands next year. I also look forward to seeing you at our Speech Night on Wednesday 5 December (further details below) and wish you a safe, relaxing, joyous and family-filled holiday season.
Australian Business Week
It has been wonderful to see our Yr 10 students engaged in their Australian Business Week activities this week. Students have been working in groups developing their projects and proposals for presentations tomorrow, and during this time they have been mentored by our parent volunteers. Parents and speakers have also presented to students over the course of the week to further develop their knowledge and skills. We have been so fortunate to have this expertise, support and guidance for our students and truly appreciate the efforts of our parent mentors. I would like to also extend a special thank you to Mr Warrell and other members of the HSIE Department for providing this excellent learning opportunity for our students.
When opening Australian Business Week to the students, teachers and parent mentors on Monday, I noted how this type of learning experience is another fitting example of how we are developing a culture of thinking here at Redlands and how student learning is not just about preparing students for the short term but about helping them become “life-ready”. I mentioned how the business, industry and tertiary education sectors often talk about how we need to develop those “21st Century” dispositions and skills in students such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, collaboration, innovation, communication and agility, to name a few. I am proud to say that I have seen all of these attributes being developed in our Yr 10 students this week and look forward to seeing their final presentations tomorrow.
Speech Night 2018
Wednesday 5 December is a pupil free day at the Secondary School; however, Speech Night is compulsory for all students in Yrs 7-11 that evening. All students are to arrive to the Big Top at Luna Park by 5.15pm. Further details of specific student arrival times for rehearsals will be sent separately. I look forward to seeing you there.
Tutor Meetings 2019
After positive feedback from the Tutor meetings we instituted to commence this year, we will be having these meetings again in 2019. Please note that the first day of school for returning students is Tuesday 29 January and all students are expected to come to school to have a meeting with their Tutor on that day. We would like parents to attend this meeting, as well, so that they can collaboratively reflect on the previous year, as well as develop goals and strategies for the year ahead. (However, if parents are unable to attend this meeting because of other commitments, we would still like the students to attend these meetings on their own.) These Tutor meetings are the only requirement for students on this day and students can return home at the conclusion of this meeting. More information about these Tutor meetings and sign up information for the day will be sent home in the next week.
2019 Schedule Change
In 2019 there will be a change to the weekly schedule in the Secondary School. Thursdays will have a similar schedule to the other days of the week up until the end of Period 5. This change will result in the addition of a Tutor period on Thursdays from 10.30-11.05am and a regular 40 minute lunch period for students. Period 5 will finish at 2.25pm to allow students to travel to their Thursday Sports training. This change will allow for more Pastoral time for students during the week where we can focus on further developing our Wellbeing program and provide greater support for our students.
Blazers
The Uniform Shop will be open on Thursday 6 December 2018 from 9.00am to 3.00pm to take blazers for embroidery for Pockets and Half Colours. Please ensure that all pockets are emptied, all badges removed and clearly labelled with student name. All blazers dropped in will require the relevant certificate of the award. Students will require blazers for Speech Night on Wednesday 5 December 2018. Blazers can be collected from the Uniform Shop from Monday, 23 January 2019.
Attention Parents of Students at Risk of Anaphylaxis
Redlands is committed to supporting our students at risk of anaphylaxis. Our ability to do so, however, requires all respective parents to ensure that Redlands is provided with the necessary and specific information required for carrying out your child’s individual emergency procedures in the event of an occurrence. This information is specified in each student’s Individual Action Plan.
On Tuesday 4 December, Secondary School students at risk of anaphylaxis will have their individual kits returned to them for the upcoming summer holiday period. In order to help us to assist you in the management of your child’s health for the academic year 2019, we ask that you ensure that your child returns their kit to the Health Centre Nurse, in a clearly labelled container, with a valid EpiPen, current Anaphylaxis Action Plan and any other required medication, on the first day of Term 1, 2019.
Staffing Updates
There are a few Secondary School teachers who will be leaving us at the end of this year as they complete leave positions or retire and we will farewell them at our end of term assemblies and/or Prize Giving Ceremony.
As previously mentioned in Note Day, we would like to acknowledge and wish a warm farewell to Dean of Administration, Mrs Wendy Hollings, and Maths teacher, Mrs Barbara Potter, on their respective retirements after many years of service both here at Redlands, and elsewhere.
In addition, we would like to thank the following teachers who will be leaving us at the end of year for their efforts as leave replacement teachers: Ms Lorna Woolley (Science), Ms Alyssha Clark (Drama), Ms Mai Takamura (Japanese) and Dr Astrid Seele (Latin).
Furthermore, after 13 years of juggling the responsibilities of Dance Subject Coordinator and leading the Redlands Ballet and Dance Academy, Mrs Karen Martin will be stepping down from her role as Subject Coordinator of Dance in the Secondary School at the end of 2018. However, she will be continuing in her employment at Redlands moving forward as Head of the Ballet Dance and Academy, leading the Academy and the associated Extra Curricular, Cocurricular and Extra Subject Dance programs at Redlands.
Accordingly, Ms Katharine Boase will be stepping into the role as Secondary School Subject Coordinator of Dance from the beginning of next year, in addition to her Assistant Year Advisor role with Yr 7.
Also, with Wendy Hollings’ retirement at the end of this year, Mr Ben Castelli will move into the role of Acting Dean of Academic Administration in 2019. Accordingly, we are pleased to announce that Ms Alissa Ynson will be the Acting Yr 7 Year Advisor for 2019. Ms Ynson has had Pastoral leadership roles at previous schools and has been a valued Tutor in our Pastoral Care system, just finishing 2018 as a Yr 7 Tutor.
With Ms Abigail Walker commencing her maternity leave early next year, Mr Michael Warrell will be acting Yr 8 Year Advisor in 2019. Furthermore, with Ms Lisa Vale taking a year’s leave in 2019, Ms Rebecca Mountain will move into the role as Yr 9 Year Advisor and Mr Tony Dong will move into the role as Yr 9 Acting Year Advisor. And finally, with Ms Emma Bergin stepping down as Year Advisor next year, Mr Eddy Atkins will move into the role as Yr 11 Year Advisor and Ms Rachel Wilson will move into the role as Yr 11 Assistant Year Advisor.
I would like to once again acknowledge the efforts of our amazing teaching and support staff in the Secondary School and give special thanks to all departing staff members for their many contributions to Redlands.
End of Year Events
Please click here for the Speech Day (Junior School) and Speech Night (Secondary School) student schedule for Wednesday 5 December.
Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870