Head of Secondary School

Secondary School Update

As you would have been made aware today through previous communications, yesterday we received the very sad news about the sudden death of our Year 12 student, Jodie Ah Chong. 

As Dr Lennox says in his article this week, this tragedy has had a profound impact upon our School community – but even more profoundly on those who were close to her, or who are themselves experiencing mental health struggles. We have provided pastoral support throughout the day today from our Redlands pastoral support team, and also from additional outside counsellors, for those students who have been distressed or greatly affected by this news.

Tomorrow we will continue to provide this support for our students and they have been informed in Year Group meetings earlier today that they can speak to various members of our pastoral support team if they wish to in Redlands Hall throughout the day. We are also appreciative of the external support and guidance we have received from Headspace today and over the coming days.

Today and over the coming weeks, if you are concerned about your son’s or daughter’s reaction or expression of feelings about this news, we encourage you to speak to them and to listen to their concerns at any time they wish to share them. Advice and tips for parents when speaking to children about a death such as this can be found here. If you have any other concerns about your child’s mental health or well-being, we encourage you to speak to members of our pastoral support team at school. If at home this evening or over the weekend, this news is distressing for yourself or your children, please call kidshelpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

We are also aware that this weekend the second season of 13 Reasons Why will be commencing on Netflix. This show deals with the aftermath of a suicide and we realise that this content might be distressing for some of our students. Headspace have developed resources for students and parents who view the show which can be found here.

While we know this news will impact many members of our school community, we are returning the School to usual routines as soon as possible, recognising that students can be affected by such an event for weeks and months to come.

I have said repeatedly over my time at Redlands that I have been struck by the strength of the Redlands community. We are so fortunate to have such a strong community in a time of need such as this and I know we will all pull together through this difficult time.

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