Year 11

Week 5 is Book Week! 

This week, the Redlands Library team is celebrating Australian School Library Day, a significant event across Australian schools. Conveniently, it is wedged within Book Week, which celebrates the love of reading. Therefore, the entire week has been all about promoting the incredible resources that school libraries like our offer, highlighting the importance of qualified library staff and the impact libraries have on the school community at large. All week, students have been taking part in the festivities and sharing in the joy of literature within Roseby Library, as well as some of their timetabled classes.

Year 11 Pockets and Colours for 2024

Year 11 Pockets and Colours for 2024 are currently being finalised, and there is the opportunity for students to request replacement authorisations for Pockets or Half Colours earned in 2023 or before.

This form needs to be filled out by students for each separate request.

Awards for 2024 will be finalised later this Term and do not need to be requested. Students will be able to have the replacement Awards, along with any 2024 Awards, and any Leadership Positions, embroidered on their blazer in the October holidays.

An email will be sent later this term confirming all the Awards able to be embroidered once requests have been checked and 2024 Awards finalised.

Year 11 into Year 12 Key Information – Information for HSC Students

Key points discussed by Ms Lucy Benjamin this week during Core:

Timeline

Weeks 7 and 8: Exam Block
Weeks 9 and 10:

  • Review feedback from your teachers carefully and use it to guide your Year 12 decisions.
  • In Week 9, Mr Barry will send out a subject selection survey – please complete it by Wednesday, 25 September (Week 10).
  • You need to indicate whether you’re exiting a subject or not making any changes.
  • Then, choose any new subject(s) you wish to pick up.
  • Remember, 11 units is often the optimal number.

Things to Consider

  • What subjects do you love and enjoy? You’re more likely to succeed in those.
  • What are your future plans? Consider the subjects you might need.
  • Which teachers do you need to consult? If you’re considering dropping a subject, speak with that teacher. For Extension subjects, have a chat with the relevant teacher.
  • A note on English Standard: Your English teacher will discuss with you if they feel Standard is the best option. If you think it’s right for you, raise it with your teacher or Mr Del Villar.
  • You cannot pick up a new 2-unit subject at this point in the HSC.
  • Extension subjects available include: English Extension 2, History Extension, Science Extension, Maths Extension 2 and Language Extension courses.

Important Reminder: You cannot pick up English or Maths Extension 2 without having studied Extension 1 in Year 11. Likewise, you cannot begin English or Maths Extension 1 in Year 12.

What’s Important?

  • You don’t have to drop any subjects – you can take all your current subjects into Year 12.
  • You need a minimum of 10 units for the ATAR and HSC.
  • While there isn’t a strict ‘magic number’ of units, having more units gives you more flexibility when choosing your best 8 units (your ATAR is calculated from 2 English units plus 8 others).
  • The choice is ultimately yours – avoid making decisions based on what your friends are doing.
  • If you’re feeling unsure or have questions, there are plenty of people you can talk to:
    • Mrs Benjamin
    • Ms Vale and Dr Regis
    • Your subject teachers
    • Careers Advisors
    • Your parents

Preliminary Exams – Why They Matter

  • They’re a practice run for the HSC.
  • They help you identify what works for you and what doesn’t – make changes for Year 12.
  • If a subject doesn’t go well, it doesn’t mean you have to drop it – you still have a year before the HSC, and much can change.
  • Early Entry offers use Year 11 results as a key indicator of your suitability for courses. The Preliminary Exams are your final assessment point and determine the grades sent to NESA.

Exam Procedures

  • Exams will be held on Level 4 of the Learning Hub.
  • Arrive 15 minutes before each exam’s start time.
  • You only need to be at school for your exams. Arrive just before and leave immediately after. If you have two exams in a day, you can study in the library between them.
  • Studying on Levels 2 or 3 of the Learning Hub is not allowed at any time – noise travels up and disrupts exams.
  • No phones or smartwatches are allowed in exam rooms.
  • Pencil cases and water bottles must be clear or they won’t be permitted.
  • No sport uniform.
  • Exams aren’t an excuse to skip other commitments like sport – these must continue as usual.
  • If you’re running late, the exam will start without you. If you know you’ll be late, email Mrs Benjamin, Ms Vale, and the absence email to inform the school.
  • If you’re unable to attend an exam (remember, NESA advises that the only valid reason is if it’s unsafe to take it), contact Mrs Benjamin, Ms Vale, and the absence email as early as possible. Follow the illness and misadventure procedure on the day of the affected exam and attach a medical certificate that specifically states why you couldn’t take the exam (generic statements like ‘unfit for school or study’ won’t be accepted). Without this, you’ll receive a 0 for any missed exam. This process is not optional.
  • Illness and misadventure applications must be made on the day of the missed exam, not after.
  • If you attempt an exam while unwell and believe your performance was affected, follow the same process: I&M form and medical certificate.
  • Any missed exams will be rescheduled within the exam block.

Box of Books

We are pleased to announce our continued engagement with Box of Books for the provision of digital and physical education resources for Year 12HSC Term 4. Our school booklists are now open for you to complete your order.

To ensure you receive your physical items in time for the start of term, please place your order by Friday, 6 September 2024. For orders placed after the due date, the availability of items for start of term delivery cannot be guaranteed.

Steps to order: 
1. Visit Box of Books Shop to log into your existing parent/guardian account or create a new account if it is your first purchase. 
2. Add each student, including school email if possible, and nominate school and year group 
3. Select the items you wish to purchase from the booklist shown 
4. Use the checkout to organise postage direct to your nominated address and complete payment

Some families may already own some of the required textbooks in print, either from older siblings who previously studied the subject or purchased separately outside of Box of Books. In such cases, if the “Digital on BoB” option is available on the booklist, you can choose to purchase and access only the digital version through Box of Books instead. It’s important to note that without the digital version from Box of Books, your child won’t have access to additional resources and enhancements provided by the teachers. The booklist specifies the necessary materials for each subject and their required format, so please read all notes carefully.

Digital texts that have been purchased can be accessed through the student’s Box of Books portal. We strongly recommend students sign in to Box of Books prior to the start of the year to ensure their textbooks and publisher interactives (e.g. online quizzes) are set up before classes commence.

Please click here for more information on accessing your digital resources

For further assistance, please see this short informative guide on How to Purchase Books or contact the Box of Books team through the in-app.

Ms Lisa Vale
Yr 11 Advisor
9968 9837
lvale@redlands.nsw.edu.au