Year 8

Waste Not (Want Not)

Last week, the Yr 8 cohort journeyed across Sydney to learn about the circular economy and the creative methods organisations are employing to reduce our environmental footprint in the disposal of waste.

Students visited Textiles Recyclers Australia to learn about how old Redlands uniforms are recycled; an aquaponics restaurant called Field and Fin to sample tasty food created through a more environmentally friendly method of growing; Upcycled Glassware to discover innovative ways to recycle glass materials by turning them into beautiful art installations; and Kimbriki, the waste disposal space north of us in Terry Hills. It was a deeply educative experience for all.

I was fortunate enough to accompany the group who ventured to Kimbriki where we learnt about the challenges of managing landfill, the difficulty of waste disposal, given the huge amount of waste produced every day, and were informed about the important processes involved in recycling plastic, metals and even concrete materials. The scale of Kimbriki is mind-boggling and gave students a confronting vision of the damaging impact we can have on our environment if we are not more careful and creative in how we go about disposing of our waste.

Drama ‘& Juliet’

Yesterday, Yr 8 Drama students were also given a great treat in being taken to visit a matinee session of the exciting new musical  & Juliet – a coming-of-age jukebox musical featuring the songs of Swedish pop songwriter Max Martin, currently playing at the Lyric Theatre. Students enjoyed the fast paced show, flashy sets and catchy tunes in this creative reimagining of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Step Beyond and the Yr 8 Pastoral Care Committee

On Tuesday, our student leaders acknowledged Aimee Kang’s recent efforts in supporting our cohort by presenting her with a Step Beyond award. Aimee has been part of a small committee of student advisors who have been helping to make our Pastoral Care program more relevant to student experience by offering their thoughts on what would most benefit students in their Tutor lessons. Aimee recently helped to construct some engaging resources to encourage students to consider what their personal brand entails and how they can reflect that in their interactions with others.

Our Assistant Year Advisor, Ms Wang, is now looking for more students to volunteer to be part of our Pastoral Care Program Committee for Term 3. By joining this committee, students will have the chance to represent their peers and actively contribute to our pastoral program, particularly in our weekly social and emotional learning sessions. Students will be able to propose new ideas, evaluate activities and provide valuable feedback. If you are interested, please email Ms Wang (vwang@redlands.nsw.edu.au) this week, with a short paragraph explaining why you would like to join the committee and what you hope to contribute.

Co-Curricular Spotlight – eSports

As we near the end of Term 2, it is a good time to consider if there are more places where students might find joy and build their friendship connections at Redlands. The school has an amazing collection of co-curricular clubs on offer – the details of which can all be found through Pulse.

One such club is the eSports club where, with the assistance of IT staff, students are provided with a safe, welcoming and structured environment to participate in competitive computer game play, supported by important promotion of concepts such as digital wellbeing, inclusion and critical thinking. eSports is a great way for students to develop social skills and form new friendships. While gaming can often be seen as a solitary activity, eSports requires players to work together as a team. This can lead to the development of strong bonds between players, as well as the formation of new friendships.

Athletics Carnival – Tuesday 25 June 

This coming Tuesday is the Secondary School Athletics carnival at Sydney Olympic Park! It is sure to be a great day of epic races, cheering and fun. House spirit is central to the day, so get out there into as many events as you can to boost your House and be ready to cheer on your friends.

A few reminders for the day are noted below, so everyone can have an excellent day.

  • Arrival is at 7am at relevant House locations.
  • Dress is PE clothing with a touch of your House colour.
  • Bring food, water, energy and a positive attitude.

Moonbah Program Updates

Further information has recently been published about the Moonbah program for 2025, including a form allowing families to nominate which term they would like their child/ren to attend. Please visit Pulse to discover more.

Term 2 Key Dates and Upcoming Events

  • SS Athletics Carnival – Week 9: Tuesday 25 June
  • Police Liaison Officer task (cyber safety and social media) – Week 9: Thursday 27 June
  • End of Term 2 – Week 9: Friday 28 June

 

Mr Jimmy Tod-Hill
Year 8 Advisor
jtodhill@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462