Head of Secondary School
Welcome Back
It has been wonderful to hear and feel the buzz of students returning to the campus over the past few days, giving life to the School. Last week I sent home a Welcome Letter for 2020 to all Secondary School families with lots of information relevant to the commencement of the year. This letter has been published on Redlands Pulse if you missed it last week.
Our opening assembly set a great tone for the year ahead, with valuable messages from our new Principal, Mr Webber and student leaders. I thought I would share some of my opening speech for you where I reflected on the impact of the bushfires on our community.
“Now usually at the first assembly of the year, I share with you, the student body, focus areas, aims and messages for the year ahead. Last year, I focused on the importance of trust, and in the coming weeks, I would like to speak to you further about the 2020 focus areas of reflection and feedback. But I am not going to elaborate on these today.
At the outset of my speech I said that I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable break. And I really hope that this was the case for you. However, this year when people have asked me, “Did you have a good break?” I haven’t been able to give a truly heartfelt, “Yes”.
Sure, the Baltimore Ravens loss in the NFL playoffs hurt, and, like many other basketball fans, I have been hit hard by the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash two days ago.
But the real reason this summer has felt different to any other one since I have lived in Australia, has been the terrible bushfires which have destroyed lives, devastated communities and choked our state and much of our nation.
For the past three months all of us have been affected by the bushfires in one way or another, and I know some of you and your families have been directly impacted. You may have experienced a range of emotions such as confusion and sadness; anxiety and anger; guilt and grief.
These emotions are all normal and it is important for you to acknowledge your feelings and talk to people close to you about them – whether it be your family, friends or our School’s Support Staff. As an article in the Sydney Morning Herald reminded us, “It’s OK to not feel OK.”
Personally, the South Coast of New South Wales has been a regular holiday retreat for me since I moved to Australia almost 20 years ago and communities and people dear to me are struggling. I was down there over the holidays and saw the beaches covered with soot and ash, smelt the acrid smoke and felt people’s exhaustion, fear and anxiety. Like many of you, it has been difficult for me to witness the destruction of pristine forests and wildlife, cherished businesses and homes and, most tragically, lives.
Unfortunately, it seems like it has taken a disaster of this magnitude for our nation and the wider world to recognise the devastating effects of climate change and, maybe, inspire us to take real action.
But amidst the charred ruins have also been inspiring stories of heroism, compassion and the strength of the human spirit which, in some small way, have helped to bring comfort and hope to many. The literal and metaphorical green shoots of life are beginning to sprout again.
As a School, we will liaise with staff and students in the coming days to ensure we are doing our part to best assist communities and individuals in need.
So, to those of you who have been directly impacted by the bushfires or are just not “feeling OK”, I empathise with you and offer our Pastoral support services of our Chaplain, teachers, Tutors, Year Advisors and Counsellors who you can turn to for support.
To those of you worried or unsettled by recent events, I hope you can find comfort in the many stories of selflessness, kindness and resilience.
And to those of you angry or upset by the bushfires, I hope you are spurred into action to literally make this world a better place in the years to come.”
Tutor Meetings
On Tuesday we held our start of the year Tutor meetings for returning students. We hope this initiative further strengthened the strong partnership between students, parents and teachers in the education of the boys and girls in the Secondary School. If you have any feedback on this day, please email Susan Jones in the Secondary School Office (sjones@redlands.nsw.edu.au) as we hope to continue to strengthen this program in future years.
Yr 11 and 12 HSC and IB Information Evenings
Next week we will be offering HSC and IB Information Evenings for students in Yrs 11 and 12. These evenings are valuable sessions for both students and parents to learn more about their individual academic programs for the year ahead. These evenings will commence at 6.00pm in Redlands Hall on the following days:
Monday 3 February: Yr 11 IB Information Evening
Tuesday 4 February: Yr 12 IB Information Evening
Wednesday 5 February: Yr 11 HSC Information Evening
Thursday 6 February: Yr 12 HSC Information Evening
Uniform
Could I ask parents to assist in ensuring students’ dress and appearance (hair and uniform, for example) meet our standards as they return to School this week. Please refer to the Student Planner if you are uncertain of our expectations. Please note that while blazers are optional for students in Terms 1 and 4, students are still not permitted to wear fleeces or hoodies to and from school. If, on cooler days (hard to believe with the current weather), students want to wear an outer garment, they are required to wear their blazers both to and from school.
Please note we are trialling shorts for boys as part of the summer uniform. Unfortunately, the shipment has been delayed but should be arriving in the coming days. We will communicate further information once it arrives. If boys still have shorts that fit from their time in the Junior School, they may wear these until the new shorts arrive.
School Photos
School photographs will be taken on Monday 3 February (Yrs 8-12) and Wednesday 11 March (Yr 7). Yrs 8 -12 Portrait photographs are scheduled to be taken by Advanced Life on Monday 3 February. Secondary School sibling photographs and Yr 7 Portrait photographs will be taken by Advanced Life on Wednesday 11 March. It is important that students are in proper school uniform on these days. Please note blazers are mandatory for students in photos on these days.
An envelope and flyer will be distributed in Week 1 and orders for photography packages can also be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our School Order Code: NWL 4NR ETY. Portrait and group package orders are due by photography day. Should you have any queries concerning school photographs or online ordering, please direct them to enquiries@advancedlife.com.au.
Message from School Nurse
Attention: Parents of students with Medical Action Plans for potential life threatening conditions:
In order to help us to assist you in the management of your child’s health for the academic year, it is imperative that you ensure that your child provides the Health Centre Nurse with the pertinent valid emergency injector/medication (Insulin, EpiPen, Cortisone etc) and an updated Action Plan in a clearly labelled (preferably clear plastic) container by the end of Week 1.
Attention: Parents of students with non-life threatening conditions who require prescription medications to be stored at school
At the discretion of the School Nurse, assistance will be given in the administration of prescribed medication when requested in writing by parents /guardians and accompanied by the relevant medical documentation. Prescribed medication to be retained in the Health Centre must be provided in the original container, with a label clearly displaying the student’s name and the doctor’s dispensing instructions.
New School Information System
Thank you to all parents for your support during the settling in period of the upgrade to our School Information System (SIS) from Edumate to Engage. The new SIS system has a clearer more friendly interface for students and parents and is more compatible with mobile phone web browsers. Our ICT Support team is on hand to address any queries you may have. Please contact pulse@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
2021 Scholarships – closing 10 February
Applications for Academic and Merit Scholarships for Yr 11 2021 and Academic, Merit, Music and Ballet Scholarships for Yr 7 2021 are closing on 10 February.
Please note that a current Redlands students can only apply for a Yr 11 scholarship on a demonstrated “needs” basis, which will involve means testing. The Yr 7 scholarships are open to all current and external Yr 6 students.
To apply, please go to: https://www.redlands.nsw.edu.au/enrolments/scholarships-2/
Term 1 Departure Notice
This is a reminder to those families who are planning on leaving the School at the end of Term 1: If you have not already given notice to the Principal via an email to registrar@redlands.nsw.edu.au, could you please do so by next Monday 3 February, as fees in lieu will be payable for any notices of departure received after this date.
Twilight in the Piazza
Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870