Head of Secondary School
Technology in the Secondary School
In the Secondary School, we are proud of our rich blended learning environment where technology is utilised as one of a number of important learning tools for students. Walking around the campus during any given period, one would see some classes extensively using technology to enhance the learning and other classes not using it at all. At Redlands our use and integration of contemporary technologies allow students greater opportunities to connect, personalise, create and organise their learning in rich and varied ways. This utilisation of technology not only enhances their learning opportunities while attending Redlands, but also helps to best prepare them for the world when they leave school where the need for the responsible and innovative use of technology is increasingly paramount. In surveys conducted earlier this year, our Yr 12 students have been overwhelmingly positive about the benefits of utilising technology with over 50% completely agreeing (giving a 10/10) in response to the statement, “Technology and the use of laptops have been beneficial to my learning”.
However, we are also cognisant that there are many challenges that technology can pose for students, in particular with the use and ownership of smart phones. Amongst other things, technology can lead to distractions for students and their learning both at home and at school, and we want to work in partnership with students and families to ensure we minimise the negative impacts of technology on students while enhancing its positive impacts for their learning. Accordingly, we have had been recently reviewing our responsible use of technology expectations with Year Advisors and Subject Coordinators and will be further reiterating these expectations and how they will be monitored both in and out of the classroom with all teachers and students in the coming weeks. We are also looking to have more parent forums later this year to focus on strategies to support families with the responsible use of technology at home. If you or your child has any concerns about the appropriate and responsible use of technology in or out of the classroom, please follow up with your relevant Tutor or Year Advisor.
Sports Update
The summer sports season is quickly coming to a close with many teams and crews competing in either finals series or final regattas. Last weekend the ISA Semi Finals for Girls Touch Football and Girls and Boys Basketball were held at Penrith. In Basketball, 13 of our teams have progressed through to the Finals this Saturday, including our Girls 1st V, Intermediate A and Junior A teams, and our Boys 1st V, 17A, 15A and 13A teams. We wish every one of our Basketball teams competing in the finals all the best this weekend and hope to have strong student support out at Penrith for our many teams throughout the day.
Many of our Girls Touch Football teams competed in their Semi Finals and Finals on the weekend against some strong competition. Congratulations to our Junior C team for winning their Semi Final against St Andrew’s before going down in the final against St Spyridon. While our GirlG 1st VI Touch Football team lost in the Semi Final against a very talented Barker team, they exemplified many of the values we hope to see in Redlands Sports in their match. On the pitch, they showed tremendous sportsmanship, effort and teamwork and had the Barker team on the back foot for long stretches of the first half. At the end of the game, their camaraderie shone through with lots of hugs, a few tears and many smiles as the Yr 12 players realised they had played their last match of Touch Football for the School. It has been wonderful to see Girls Touch Football grow over recent years and the departing Yr 12 players should be proud of not only their efforts on the field over the weekend, but also in their leadership in helping the sport to grow over the past few years.
Premiere’s Reading Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge opened Monday 2 March for teachers, students and parents and concludes Friday 28 August. The PRC was instigated to encourage wide reading in schools. The student website is a place where students can record their reading, browse the booklists to earmark further reading and explore information about authors. For continuing students, the username and password remains the same. For new students each Library will apply for usernames and passwords and these will be disseminated in due course. Students who have completed the PRC at their previous school need to carefully link their new account in the opening questionnaire so that their previous reading counts towards future certificates. It is very special to receive Gold and Platinum Awards which are handed out by the Principal.
The Roseby Library is happy to support those students who wish to continue this challenge. We have a dedicated spinner for new PRC titles. For those students who have previously completed the PRC in the Arnold Library, the same username and password applies. New Secondary students please apply at the Roseby Library counter for a username and password.
Mr Sean Corcoran
Head of Secondary School
scorcoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9870