Head of Secondary School
Welcome Back to Term 3
Welcome back to Term 3. I hope the mid-year break was refreshing for students and that they are rejuvenated for the second half of the year. On Monday we had an excellent teacher led conference to start the term for staff, where teachers from across both campuses shared their “Recipes for Success” from their classrooms. It was an invigorating and stimulating way to kick off Semester 2 as we, the teachers, got to be the students in each other’s classrooms. However, it was also wonderful to see and hear the actual students return to school on Tuesday, bringing their energy back to the Campus. Finally, I hope parents found my regular holiday letter from last Friday a useful summation and update of various school matters as we have another busy and exciting term ahead.
During our opening assembly I shared some of my reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo lunar landing and some messages to students for the term ahead. An excerpt of this address is below.
“Now, probably like many of you, over the past week I have been enthralled by stories and recollections of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo lunar landing when, on July 20 1969, humankind first set foot on the moon. Despite what the growing patch of grey in my beard might indicate, I was not around then, but over the years I have spoken to numerous friends and family members who were.
What strikes me most about their recollections of that lunar landing was the universal sense of awe and wonder, where people around the world held their collective breath, to witness this extraordinary achievement. As the American President Richard Nixon said to the astronauts at the time, “For one priceless moment, all the people of the world are truly one.”
A half-century later, I worry that we seem to have lost some of that sense of awe and wonder of the world and universe surrounding us. That we have become complacent with the vast amount of knowledge at our fingertips and that instead of our horizons extending thousands and millions of kilometres to the furthest reaches of outer space, our horizons often abruptly end at a screen a few inches from our face.
Albert Einstein once said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”
So, I encourage each of you over this coming term, to open your eyes to those things in life which cause you pause to wonder and to stand rapt in awe. Maybe it’s trying to comprehend the vastness of our universe. Maybe it’s being moved hearing a piece of music. Or maybe it’s pausing to see the beauty of a sunset.
By reminding ourselves in this way that there are things far bigger and far greater than us, then maybe we can feel some of that awe and wonder that millions and millions of people around the word collectively felt 50 years ago this week.”
Parent Presentation: Technology Addiction and Sleep
Wednesday 14 August
Good sleep is crucial to health and wellbeing. The use of digital devices, especially before bedtime, can have a major impact on sleep quality. Child psychiatrist Dr Philip Tam and sleep expert Lisa Maltman will discuss how to help your child create good sleep habits and avoid the pitfalls of too much technology. Dr Philip Tam is an award-winning child psychiatrist, researcher and pioneer in internet-related psychological disorders and video-game addictions. He will examine how to address these often-challenging problems in young people. Lisa Maltman is the founder of The Sleep Connection, established to meet the growing need to educate students, teachers and parents in schools on the importance of sleep health, and works closely with the Woolcock Medical Institute in Sydney, a body world-renowned in the area of sleep research. We are pleased to have Dr Philip Tam and Lisa Maltman present on these important topics on Wednesday 14 August from 6.00 pm – 7.30pm in Redlands Hall. All Secondary School parents are invited to attend. No RSVP is necessary.
Legacy Gift Fundraiser
On Tuesday a number of our Yr 12 boys returned to school with beards (or valiant attempts at beards) and some of our girls had crazy hair for the day. No, they were not breaking the School’s uniform rules, but instead were raising money for their Legacy Gift which is a contribution to the School’s means-tested Scholarship Fund, in honour of Dr Peter Lennox in his retirement. This will be one of a number of fundraisers by the Class of 2019 this term for their Legacy Gift and we thank the students who made donations on the day. Fortunately, all hair was back to normal and beards were shaved off by Wednesday (including yours truly).
Lost Property
Please note that the Secondary School Lost Property area has moved to the old Sports Office in the eastern end of Lang Gym. All lost property will be moved to this area daily and this space will be open every lunchtime for students to retrieve any of their lost property.
Staffing Updates
This term we welcome back Mr Christopher Allen and Ms Giulia Laurenzi from their respective long service leave and maternity leave as Co-Subject Coordinators of HSIE. We also welcome back Ms Lara Luitingh from her maternity leave. Ms Luitingh will return as a part time Counsellor to assist Ms Tanya Fullerton as part of our Counselling team.
Shakespeare Festival
While most students started their mid-year break on the first weekend of the holidays, a number of our Yr 11 IB Theatre students competed in the State Finals of the Shakespeare Competition at the Seymour Centre. I would like to congratulate Greta Feldmann, Aleisha Lawrence, Apsara Lindeman and Domenica Stuart who finished 3rd in this prestigious competition, which is an outstanding achievement.
Term 4 Departure Notice: Final Reminder
This is a final reminder that those families who are planning on leaving the School during or at the end of Term 4 are required to give notice to the Principal via an email to registrar@redlands.nsw.edu.au by this Saturday 27 July. As per our Conditions of Enrolment emailed to all families in December last year with the 2019 Schedule of Fees, there will be fees in lieu payable for any notices of departure received after this date.
Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870