Year 10

We have arrived at the last Note Day of 2020 and what a year it has been! Yr 10 students have faced many ups and downs this year but have remained strong and are all maturing into amazing young adults. It has been a privilege to spend time getting to know them further this year, and I look forward to catching up with them all at the start of Yr 11. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and hope that you get to spend some quality and relaxing time with your families.

Dodgeball Competition

This week Yr 10 students Sophia Maxwell, Jack Murray and Dasha Sychova organised a dodgeball event across all Year Groups, with representative teams also from various teaching departments. The participation fee of $5 per player has raised money for the organisation Headspace, which aims to help thousands of young people with mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support. Research shows that more than 75% of mental health issues develop before a person turns 25. Headspace focuses on early intervention, to help young people get back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future.

Jack, Sophia and Dasha have a passion for raising awareness of the mental wellbeing of young people and they have done an incredible job organising and running the dodgeball competition this week, closely supported by their friends and peers in Yr 10.

Camp Report by Charlotte Harman

Yr 10 camp this year took place in the beautiful Myall Lakes, where groups rode, walked and canoed from campsite to campsite. Camp is a unique experience because it’s the only context in which many of us would go camping and spend a week with people who may not be our closest friends. The camp groups were mainly organised by Tutor Groups, and I found some of the greatest memories I have from camp were from getting to know more about people who I’ve sat in a classroom for 30 minutes every day for four years now. Attending the Tutor “Emmy Awards” and standing around the wok trying to swallow down the rest of the food to reduce our rubbish were just some of the random experiences we all shared, which would never have happened had we just stayed in Sydney.

Camp was also a great way to reset after the stress of yearlies and to disconnect with technology. Nearly everyone in my group said they’d like to go on their phone less when we got back home, and even though I’m not sure everyone carried through with it, it served as a reminder for how many other things we can do without technology. Walking through the bush and sleeping in lake-side campsites was beautiful. In particular, the afternoons which spilled into dusk, swimming in the lake and sitting on sleeping mats by the water just watching the tranquillity around us. It was incredible to see so many different wildlife, such as the black swans, an eagle while canoeing and a lone dingo on the walking track.

The biggest challenges of camp were being pushed out of our comfort zones, hiking up to 20 kilometres a day with our packs, sleeping in tents and living without the comforts of home we take for granted. However, everyone managed to overcome the blisters and lack of sleep to finish the week, and the elation was palpable as we finally got on the bus back to school on Friday morning.

My advice to the younger years going into camp next year is to embrace the experience. Although it may be hard in the moment, the memories and bonds that form with others are so worth it. Also remember to bring blister band-aids and thick socks!

Ms Rebecca Mountain
Yr 10 Advisor
rmountain@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462