Head of Secondary School

Academic Achievement Assembly

On Monday we held our Academic Achievers Assembly where we recognised the top 20 HSC and top 20 IB students from the Class of 2018 with parents, staff, guests and the current Yr 11 and 12 students in attendance. It is important to note that we are proud of all of our graduates from last year’s class: the countless personal bests; the many individual stories of overcoming challenges to earn success; and the remarkable achievement of 56% of the class earning an ATAR over 90. However, in my speech on the day I wanted to make mention of one special quality that I saw in last year’s class on which I elaborate in this extract below.

“Now, I know many of you are aware that businesses, institutions and organisations worldwide are increasingly becoming interested in analysing data – and schools are no different. There are many exciting possibilities that data analysis opens up to schools; however, data cannot measure everything and sometimes, focusing solely on numbers can cause organisations to lose sight of either the big picture or the individual.

Many schools use data to attempt to predict what the final HSC or IB marks will be for a graduating class of students. They might look at external tests such as Allwell, NAPLAN scores, or internal assessments and marks. However, in my 20 plus years in education, I have observed another quality which can’t be measured by data analysis that is to me as strong an indicator as any that a Year Group will achieve their own “personal bests”.

It is the sense of collegiality, positive peer pressure and support that is evident within that group of students. Last week, I told our current Yr 11 and Yr 12 students in their respective information evenings that this quality was an important collective strategy for their success in their last year or two of schooling.

Class of 2018 students, I remember chatting to your Year Advisor, Mr Castelli, when you were in the middle of Yr 11 and he told me you were a “special Year Group” because you had this spirit of camaraderie and cohesion. And while it helped you through the tough times, it also shone through on so many other occasions. I remember seeing it in the shared joy of your whole Year Group dancing together from the moment you entered the ballroom of your formal, or in the collaboration you exhibited in painting your Yr 12 mural outside of the Canteen or in your show of solidarity wearing pink and running, walking or skipping through the Blackmores 10km Running Festival.

So, to the Yr 11 and Yr 12 students seated in here today, I hope you can learn from the Class of 2018 and not limit yourselves with measurements such as data and numbers and instead see that by working with one another and supporting each other throughout your final years of schooling, you too can achieve your “personal bests” to open up amazing opportunities for yourselves after school.”

Cyber Safety

This Tuesday was our first Prefect assembly of the year and with Safer Internet Day on 5 February, the Prefects wanted to focus the assembly around our safe, responsible and productive use of technology. The Prefects picked up on Dr Lennox’s message from his opening assembly speech of “Looking Up” and encouraged students to both physically and metaphorically “Look Up”. One on hand, they asked students to look up from phones and devices more in their lives and take the time to interact with people and extend a warm, personal greeting when they meet others. They encouraged students to start trying to do this at the front and back gates when they enter or leave school, and already we are seeing a positive impact. However, they also stressed the metaphorical importance of looking up, of exhibiting an optimistic, positive and joyful outlook on life instead of being mired in cynicism or judgement.

Ms Shaw also spoke to the students about the importance of cyber safety and shared with them some information from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. Specifically, she shared the “four Rs” to assist them with their online, as well as offline, behaviour:

Use Reasoning to question what is real and what is not both online and off
Treat yourself and others with Respect both online and off
Develop Resilience to get back up from tough times both online and off
Illustrate Responsibility and be there for others to support the online and off

Students and parents are encouraged to go to the Office of the eSafety Commissioner website for further information and resources.

Swimming Carnival

We are looking forward to the Secondary School Swimming Carnival which will be held next Tuesday 19 February at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. This is a great day which contributes to House and School spirit and we look forward to seeing students compete and cheer on the day. More specific information about the Carnival, including links to permissions, can be found on the respective Year Group pages.

Judith Locke Presentation

In an ever-changing world, parents are constantly wondering how they can best support their child. As part of our on-going efforts to support parents and provide them with useful information and recent research on ‘best practice’, we are excited to announce that clinical psychologist and author, Dr Judith Locke, will be coming to Redlands to present two workshops for parents around how you can support your child to become more confident and capable. These workshops are designed to provide specific strategies to assist the young people we care for to achieve their personal bests, both within the classrooms as well as in other areas of life. Judith will provide advice as to how to support your child in a friendly and relatable way as well as providing specific strategies around how to help your child become more independent and make the most of their opportunities whilst at school.

Dr Judith Locke is a registered clinical psychologist, and former teacher and workplace trainer. She is now director of the training company, Confident and Capable, which delivers psychological solutions for parents, students and organisations. Judith works with families and individuals in her private practice in Toowong, Qld. She also undertakes research at QUT, investigating modern parenting, student and parent wellbeing, and their interaction with the academic environment. Judith is a member of The Australian Psychological Society (APS) and a Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists. She is also the author of the popular parenting book, The Bonsai Child: Why modern parenting limits children’s potential and practical strategies to turn it around.

The Secondary School session will be held on Monday 25 February from 6.00pm in Redlands Hall. Please note these sessions are for parents only and you should not bring your children.

Study Centre

After positive feedback from our initial offerings last year, we are further expanding our before and after school Study Centre for students. The Study Centre will take place Monday from 7.30 – 8.15am and 4.30 – 6.00pm and Tuesday and Wednesday from 7.30 – 8.15am and 3.30 – 6.00pm. The aim of the Study Centre is to provide students from Yrs 7-12 with the opportunity to receive shoulder-to-shoulder support or assistance in specific disciplines from Secondary School teachers. These sessions are not to be seen as formalised one-on-one tutoring sessions but instead should be seen as opportunities for students to get assistance or feedback on specific areas of learning. While the Study Centre will take place in the Library for most subjects, some more practical subjects will hold these in specialised spaces. The Study Centre commenced in Week 3 and a schedule of offerings can be found on the Secondary School page of Redlands Pulse.

From the Deputy Principal, Ms Sarah McGarry

Connectedness, a sense of belonging to a community, results from more than putting on a uniform or cheering a School sport team – but the proud respectful wearing of a uniform, that visible connection to others in the School, does make a difference. The way in which our School uniform is worn speaks to School pride and spirit, self-respect and respect for the School. As we approach the end of Week 3 of term, all students are asked to consider the School values of Respect and Responsibility when it comes to their personal presentation whilst in any form of Redlands uniform.

The School’s expectations around presentation and uniform are clearly outlined in the Student Planner and on Redlands Pulse and it would be very much appreciated if parents and students could revisit these and attend to aspects of the uniform which are currently not worn correctly.

Our staff would rather interact positively with a student over their interests, learning progress and participation than have to focus on correcting students for unsatisfactory uniform or presentation.

In particular:

Boys’ socks should be grey, not black, patterned or coloured
Girls’ socks should be short, not ‘invisible’ sports style
Girls’ dress length should be on the knee
Navy ribbons or scrunchies should be in girls’ hair (not other colours)
Makeup and jewellery are not acceptable whilst students are in uniform

Following last year’s parent Uniform Survey, further consultation with students will occur this term, with feedback expected to be shared with the community early Term 2.

Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870