Year 11

Swimming Carnival

Our annual Secondary School Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 20 February at Sydney Olympic Park Swimming Pool, Homebush. Please access Redlands Pulse to grant online permission for your child if you have not already done so, for this compulsory school event. Your timely attention to this task is appreciated. The program can be found on Redlands Pulse.

School Photographs

Sibling photographs will be taken by Advanced Life on Wednesday 11 March in Redlands Hall from 7.15am. Any Junior School siblings are welcome to have their photo taken on 11 March if they are unable to attend the Junior Campus Sibling Photo day on 21 February. Students are required to wear blazers.

Order envelopes are available from the Secondary School Office and orders for photography packages can also be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our School Order Code: NWL 4NR ETY. Portrait and group package orders are due by photography day. Should you have any queries concerning school photographs or online ordering, please direct them to enquiries@advancedlife.com.au.

Dr Prue Salter – Study Skills

As part of our Pastoral Program, we were fortunate to welcome Dr Salter back to Redlands last Monday. Her talk was designed especially for our Yr 11 cohort in preparation for their next two years of senior study. Tutors were also present to hear Dr Salter speak so that they can further build upon techniques discussed in Tutor Groups. Dr Salter spoke with our students and parents when students were in Yr 7 and it was wonderful to have her return to help students build on their skills and knowledge as Yr 11 students. Dr Salter will return again next year prior to the HSC and IB examinations to assist students with their preparation for their final school examinations.

Academic Achievement Celebration Assembly

On Monday, Yrs 11 and 12 students attended the Academic Achievement Celebration Assembly, as we welcomed back our high achievers from 2019. Our Yr 11 students benefited greatly from listening to the reflections of the 2019 high achievers, gaining insight into the secrets, tips and tricks that had contributed to individual success. Alex Kim performed the musical item, Hungarian Rhapsody for Cello and Piano, playing the cello and he was accompanied by Mr Zi-Hao Li. Alex’s performance was polished, breath-taking and highly commended.

Students Achievements

Harrison Winton undertook a week of valuable work experience at Collins Aerospace Australia during the holiday break. The major task that was set for Harrison was to review “build” instructions for a new radio rack system that had been designed and developed for an international customer. He was given the opportunity to deliver a presentation to the Managing Director to highlight his findings. In addition, Harrison applied for the Young Guides Program at the Museum of Contemporary Art and was successful. The process for this opportunity was rigorous as Harrison submitted an essay, interviewed and then presented an analysis of an artwork. We warmly congratulate Harrison on these significant achievements.

During the holiday break, Ross Psaroulis competed at the Dancelife Unite Nationals. Ross achieved first place in the Teen Tap Solo section and was the Overall Tap Genre winner. Ross is to be commended for his commitment to Tap and this significant achievement.

Sebastian Dobson attended the ISA Boys Open Tennis trials at Barker College on Tuesday. He was successful in making the ISA Boys team and will represent ISA at the NSWCIS trials next week.

Sofia Stuckmann has been selected for the NSW Junior Beach Volleyball 2020 squad.  She will be competing in the Australian Junior Beach Volleyball Championship in Coolangatta, Queensland in March and other competitions throughout Australia in the coming months. This is wonderful news and we are proud of her Volleyball achievements.

Science Club

Science Club encompasses a number of the already existing activities offered by the Science faculty, such as Engineering Club and Titration Club, and expands to take in more opportunities with possibilities including Sleek Geek and the Young Scientist Competitions, as well as being a way of disseminating information about external Science based events for interested students. Science Club meets on Tuesday lunchtimes in R2.1.

Some students have already signed up for the Engineering or Titration Club and this is part of the Science Club. The Science Club will focus on particular events at different times. All students are welcome and we would like to hear their ideas of what interests them.

Rex Markman’s Reflection 

Spending five months as an Exchange Student in rural Spain, I gained a huge appreciation for the opportunities and life that many of us enjoy in Sydney. Arriving in Sevilla and meeting my new Spanish family was like landing on Mars – the Andalusian accent is difficult to understand. Still, I was surprised at what I could communicate using body language and a few key words during this first period of ‘voiceless-ness.’ I spent a lot of my spare time in the beginning studying Spanish. In Spain I missed my family but now that I have returned, I miss my crazy, expressive Spanish friends, the simplicity of life in a small village of 5000 people, my 6 year old Spanish brother and the independence of travelling to San Sebastien for a week. While it is natural to want to make comparisons between the two countries, I guess the real lesson for me is that a comparison is pointless. Spanish rural life and Sydney student life are just so different. Many of my Spanish classmates dream of one day taking over their small family farm, and after experiencing village life for five months, I now see that the sense of community and kindness they share is the key to being happy and therefore successful, no matter how small or big your career dream. Rex Markman

Ms Sarah Matthews
Yr 11 Advisor
smatthews@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6494