Year 9

Step Beyond Awards

At our Stage 5 Assembly this week we had two Year 9 students receive Step Beyond awards as nominated by their peers and staff at the school. 

Congratulations to Katie Jennings who was nominated as ‘a Year 9 student who embodies kindness, positivity, and perseverance. And, to Amelie Swann who was nominated for her tireless enthusiasm and support of her teammates at the School Sport Australia Championships last week. 

Jeans for Genes Day

Last Friday our tutor group (9MB) was fortunate enough to participate in holding the Senior School Bake Sale to raise funds for Jeans for Genes Day. We found it a great opportunity to be involved within the Redlands community and engage with other year groups. We were thrilled that we could change the lives of young people living with genetic conditions. The school community raised $9,240, with this money the organisation ‘Jeans for Genes’ will be able to use it to help find a cure for genetic disorders or use it for equipment to make young children of Australia’s lives better. We are so proud and grateful to have had this opportunity.  

Samantha Beck and Alice Haggman (Yr 9 MB) 

Commerce ‘Intrapreneurship Program

Our Year 9 Commerce ‘Intrapreneurship Program’ started in earnest this term, the focus of which is organisations with impact. We have engaged six partner organisations, and our students are working in small teams to ameliorate a real-world challenge provided by the partner organisation. The cohort enjoyed a guest lecture of the ‘triple bottom line’ led by Sangeeta Leach, current parent and Board member for the Wayside Chapel. Sangeeta walked us through organisational structures that facilitate the triple bottom line– unpacking the difference between everything from charities to BCorps, to social enterprises. She also shared how letting your light shine for others can be a defining feature of your professional life. They also heard from Joe Kwon, founder and CEO of ConFit Pathways who shared his incredible journey of turning around his life, from incarceration to running a successful social enterprise.  

ConFit was born out of the desire to create opportunities for himself and others– those who had experienced incarceration. His drive led to the Westpac 100 Social Change Fellowship and finally to ConFit Pathways, another arm of his non-profit that employs former adult inmates to mentor and run fitness programs for young people inside youth justice centres. Fitness is the language that allows him to connect  with young people, once that connection is there they explore issues like self-worth, gratitude and the value of education as a pathway out of the criminal justice system. 
 
Next Tuesday, 13th August, Year 9 will visit their partner organisation to learn more about its mission, impact, identified areas for growth and organisational structure. To prepare, they are engaging in structured research and drafting interview questions. We are looking forward to welcoming the partner organisation to Redlands in late September when our Year 9 teams will pitch their innovative ideas back to the organisations. 

SEED Program

A group of Year 9 students were also fortunate to take part in the SEED program. The program is a collaboration between Loreto Kiribilli, Taronga Zoo and Future Anything. They spend the day at the zoo where they were able to access experts, engage with wildlife and activate their prior knowledge of environmental issues that require our urgent attention. Students have the option of collaborating across schools throughout the 30 hour course to work online and face-to-face in teams. They’ll think like entrepreneurs and try to ameliorate their chosen issue before regrouping at Taronga to present their findings. We look forward to supporting these students as they work though the program. 

Big Science Competition

The Big Science Competition is a 50-minute online competition testing scientific knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Run by Australian Science Innovations (ASI), the same organisation that runs the Junior Science Olympiads, the Big Science Competition is distinguished by challenging questions that set scientific principles in real-life contemporary contexts which require students to demonstrate understanding of how theory applies in authentic, real-world situations. Due to the complex nature of the questions, the students invited to participate had to demonstrate prior high achievement in Science and/or receive a teacher nomination. 

\Congratulations to the following Year 9s who achieved such great results. A special shout-out to James Forrest and Alex Heller, who gained the highest score in the school – 90%.  

Week 4 is Science Week!

Next week, the school will be transformed into a Science laboratory with a range of fun activities for students to engage in to develop their scientific knowledge and skills, as part of Science Week. Students will have the opportunity to have breakfast with a scientist, partake in astronomy evenings, learn more about forensic science and show off their aeronautical skills in a paper aeroplane competition! For anyone with a budding science interest or those who already consider themselves to be established scientists – and everyone in between – I encourage you to check out the various events on offer and to get involved.

School Climate Survey

Starting from Week 4, students will be invited to complete a School Climate Survey. The survey is anonymous and aims to gather data from the student body regarding the climate at Redlands. It provides an opportunity for students to give feedback on the school environment, acknowledge peers who contribute positively or voice any concerns. Once the data is collected, it will be provided to the Year Advisors, Head of Secondary School, Counsellors and the Dean of Students. This information will help inform effective interventions and support our inclusive community.

Tickets Are Selling For Away!

Away by Michael Gow, will be performed by Redlands students and is set in 1960s Australia, following three families on holiday, each grappling with personal issues. Away transcends class distinctions and xenophobia, demonstrating how understanding and empathy can bring us together. 

• When: Thursday 8 August 2024 – Saturday 10 August 2024
• Where: Zenith Theatre in Chatswood (corner Mcintosh St and Railway St)

Buy Your Tickets

Giving Day – Wednesday 21 August

On Wednesday 21 August we are excited to launch our major philanthropic campaign, Giving Day. Our Giving Day campaign supports the High Country Campus expansion and establishes another important means-tested scholarship in honour of Redlander Coralie Amos OAM.  

Giving Day promises to be a fantastic day of celebration that will have a transformational impact for our students. I look forward to connecting with members of our community on the day where we have 24 hours to reach our giving target of $400,000. Thanks to the incredible support of our matching gift donors, every donation on this day will be tripled, increasing the impact of everyone’s contributions significantly.

For more information about our Giving Day and how you can get involved, please visit the Foundation section.

Mr Tobias Horan
Yr 9 Advisor
9968 9872
thoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au