Year 7

This Week in Tutor

• Office 365 should now be on every student’s laptop. Students are meant to be using Word for documents instead of Pages and saving documents in the appropriate class folder on their desktop.  
• The Student Representative Council for Yr 7 was chosen today.  Several students prepared speeches, voted and one student per House was elected. Results will be shared during our Year Meeting tomorrow and sent to parents next week. Congratulations and thank you to all students who participated.    
• Students spent some time discussing and preparing for their first Mathematics Assessment on Monday and discussing the importance of International Women’s Day on Friday. 
• Thursday’s Year Meeting will focus on expectations and consequences, reasons for detentions, Learning Management Alerts and how to earn credit points.  
• ICT forms are still outstanding and vaccination cards are due this Friday 8 March. 

Study Tips For Students As We Approach Assessments

The start of a year is a good time to reassess the space where you work at home. It is best to work in whatever space has the least amount of distractions. Here are some points to consider:

1. Natural lighting is best, but if not possible then a good strong bulb in your room and a bright desk lamp is essential. What is the lighting like in your study area?
2. Fresh air and oxygen to the brain helps keep you mentally alert. What is the ventilation and air quality like in your study area?
3. Your work space sets the tone for the way you approach your study. Is your desk large enough? What is your working space or desk like?
4. The chair you use should be comfortable (but not so comfy you fall asleep) and adjustable to reduce strain on your neck and shoulders. What is your chair like?
5. When you are trying to memorise things, quiet is essential. No music (unless it is certain types of classical like Baroque). How effectively can you keep your room quiet?
6. Storage is essential to help you keep your notes organised and sorted. Shelves, a filing cabinet, drawers. What is the storage like in your room?
7. It is important to keep your study area uncluttered and organised. A large pin board for notices and a calendar are useful. How organised is your study area?
8. How many distractions do you have in your room? Computer, phone etc? It is always a good idea to switch off or remove distractions before you start work. If you have to use your laptop make a conscious effort to not use personal technology during times when you are doing schoolwork. How well do you cope with the distractions in your room?

To learn more about setting up an effective work area at home (including the effect the colour of your room has on your ability to study and how to set up your room ergonomically) visit the Home Study Environment unit of www.studyskillshandbook.com.au. Our school’s subscription details are – Username: Redlands  Password: 68results

Winter Sports

Students should have chosen their sports preference last week. This week, students will have an introduction to Winter Sport, including setting expectations of sport. Winter Sport begins Week 7.

Opportunities for Students

Lunch and Learn – free public speaking workshops in school: Masters Academy is running two free lunch time sessions on Public Speaking (with nibbles provided) for students in L.1.4 on Thursday 14 March. Anyone is welcome though classroom space is limited. Please ask your son or daughter to drop in.

Sibling and Cocurricular Photographs

Sibling photos will be held on the Senior Campus on 13 March 7.30 – 8.30am in Redlands Hall. Sibling photographs must be ordered online prior to the day of photography by visiting www.advancedlife.com.au and using the online order code: NWL 4NR ETY.

Cocurricular photos for Music, Dance, Drama and Theatre and Debating will be held on 13 and 20 March at the Top Garden. Please check with the Cocurricular Activity Coordinator for the photography schedule. Students are reminded school blazers are required for photos.

NSW School Vaccination Program

Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program.

In 2019 the following vaccines will be offered:

Parent Information Kits will be sent home in Week 5 and we ask that you read all the information provided, complete the consent form and return the completed consent form to your child’s Tutor in Week 6.  A Record of Vaccination card will be provided to each student vaccinated at each clinic. Parents and caregivers should ensure that this record is kept for future reference and should not assume that their child has been vaccinated if they do not receive this Record of Vaccination. 

Other Upcoming Photo and Vaccination Dates

Please note the following dates for Secondary School photo days and vaccinations. Schedules and details for these dates will be released leading up to the event. 

• 20 March – Cocurricular Photos Day 2
• 22 March – Yr 7 Vaccinations and catch up vaccinations for Yr 8 students needing to complete vaccinations started in 2018
• 1 April – Summer Sport Photos
• 6 June – Winter Sport Photos
• 12 June – Yr 10 Vaccinations, catch ups for Yr 7
• 12 Sept – Athletics and Waterpolo photos
• 12 Nov – Yr 7 Vaccinations

iLearn Yr 7 Pastoral Page

Students now have access to all of their iLearn courses, including the Yr 7 Pastoral Page. We will continue to populate this iLearn course with content around: study skills, digital citizenship and key information. Weekly announcements, key contacts and a copy of the Tutor Period schedule is linked for students as well.   

Student Acknowledgements

Please send through photos and/or announcements for any special commendations or achievements of your Yr 7 children. We’d love to spotlight your child during our weekly Year Meetings!

Student Absences

When absent, students are expected to check iLearn for any missed work and are encouraged to write their teachers an email asking for any further information to support their learning when they are absent for multiple days. 

Yr 7 Home Learning

Students are starting to get into the routine of checking their email and iLearn daily. Students should have approximately 20 minutes per class of Home Learning. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the teacher regarding Home Learning completion or make up. Further information is in the Student Planner for student’s reference.  

Ms Alissa Ynson
Yr 7 Advisor (Acting)
9968 9863
aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au