Year 7
Welcome to 2023 in the Redlands Secondary School!
It has been an exciting, busy and energetic week for Yr 7 as they entered the Redlands Secondary School and began to find their space in the school. Monday and Tuesday were ‘Transition Days’, offering students a chance to connect in their Tutor Groups and Core Class groups as they successfully engaged in key orientation sessions designed to help them integrate smoothly into the Redlands Community.
On Monday Yr 7 were supported by the Yr 11 Peer Support leaders and their Tutors, and partook in ‘ice-breaker’ games, school scavenger hunts, an ICT induction, and sessions on how to stay organised in school and how to make friends. On Tuesday, Yr 7 joined with the Redlands community on the first official day of school, finishing their transition sessions in their Core Classes. They explored the new expectations Senior School will place on them, discussed how to overcome challenges and establish support networks, and reflected on what they had learned over the past two days.
By Wednesday, the cohort was ready to tackle a ‘real’ school day and students were excited finally to engage in their subject lessons. It will be an action-packed few weeks and term ahead for Yr 7, and we wish them all the best as they embrace all that Redlands has to offer.
The theme for Yr 7 this year is Empower and so teachers and Tutors are all seeking to help students build their confidence and expertise to take control of their new journey at Redlands to become their best selves.
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
Friday 3/2 – Principal’s Commissioning Ceremony
This will be a gathering of our school community and formal recognition and celebration of our new Principal, Mr Sean Corcoran. Students will be seated outside in the Fahl Garden for an hour in the morning sun, so it is recommended that students apply suncream prior to school, wear a hat and bring a water bottle to the event.
Tuesday 7/2 – Secondary School Swimming Carnival
This is a fun event, fostering House spirit amongst students. Attendance is compulsory and students are all encouraged to engage in at least one race. Students need to arrive at school by 7:15am.
Friday 10/2 – Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos, and Yr 7 and 8 Movie Night
See below for further details on both events.
Monday 13/2 – Goal Setting Conversations
Students will engage in important one-to-one conversations with their Tutors, establishing ‘empowering’ goals for their year at Redlands.
Thursday 16/2 – ySafe online safety seminar
During Period 3, students will be spoken to about appropriate online behaviour and security, and how to keep themselves safe on the internet.
Monday 20/2 – Friday 24/2 – Yr 7 School Camp
All Yr 7 students will journey to the High Country Campus for a fantastic week of camping, including activities such as hiking up to Mount Kosciusko, mountain bike riding, raft building and more.
School Camp Medical Forms
Please ensure that you have completed the Operoo profile for your child/ren. If you haven’t received an email, please visit Operoo.com to sign up and create a medical profile for your child/ren.
If you need any support with the medical form process you can contact medicals@oeg.edu.au and/or Mr Atkins eatkins@redlands.nsw.edu.au
If you child/ren require medications on camp, you will need to complete and return to Mr Atkins a Medical Authority Form located on Pulse HERE. This form will need to be completed prior to departure.
Please contact Mr Atkins for any other questions about camp.
Debating Team and Public Speaking Trials – Friday 3 February and Monday 6 February
Debating develops students’ confidence, respect for others and sense of timing and structure, as well as their ability to present a persuasive argument and their knowledge of current affairs topics. Redlands aims to foster an inclusive culture in our Debating program that supports all students to develop their skills in debating.
Public Speaking is an extra-curricular activity that is available to Senior School students in Years 7-12. There are many benefits of public speaking, which translate into many aspects of a student’s personal and academic life. The ability to communicate confidently and articulately with an audience is a valuable skill that will serve you well for your whole life, no matter what career path you take.
Debating Trials for new students from Years 7-12 are after school on Friday 3 February, in Level 2 of the Redlands Learning Hub, from 3:30pm-5:30pm. Full details can be found through Pulse or for any further questions regarding this event, please contact the Debating Coordinator, Mrs Beggs: rbeggs@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Public Speaking Trials for students interested in participating in external competitions in Years 7-12 are after school on Monday 6 February, in Level 2 of the Redlands Learning Hub, from 4:00pm-5:00pm. Regular coaching sessions start in Week 3 on Monday afternoons from 4:00-5:00pm and all students are welcome! Full details can be found through Pulse or for any further questions regarding this event, please contact the Public Speaking Coordinator, Mrs Kang: vkang@redlands.nsw.edu.au
Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos – Friday 10 February
Secondary School Sibling Photos will take place on 10 February from 7.15 – 8.20am in Redlands Hall. To order Sibling Photos, please click here, enter the password ‘ALLISTER’ and select Siblings Order Form before 8 February. Parents/Carers who have children at both the Junior and Senior Campus and may attend the sibling photo and should accompany their Junior Campus children to school afterwards.
On 10 February Yr 7 to 12 students will present to the Redlands Hall in classes to have their portrait photo taken between 8.20am – 12.55pm. If your child is unable to have their portrait taken, or if they have an external appointment scheduled during the school day please inform the Year Advisor.
A catch-up date for missed sibling photos and portraits will be offered on 3 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2, or by appointment with Melba Studios, located in Artarmon.
All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories. No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.
Our Standard Portrait and Year Group Package will be automatically billed to your school account and posted directly to your primary contact address following the Year Group photos taken on 7 June. If you do not wish to receive a standard package, please click here to opt out before 10 February.
The Standard Package will cost $40 and consist of:
Year Group Photograph 20 x 30cm
Portrait packages containing 7 portraits:
1 – 15 x 20cm
2 – 10 x 15cm
1 – 10 x 7cm
1 – 7.5 x 5cm
2 – 5 x 3.5cm
Online access to a high-resolution digital portrait download
If you have any questions, alterations or additional orders, please contact Melba Studios directly on (02) 9438 4566 or email sales@melbastudios.com.au.
Yr 7 & Yr 8 Movie Night: a Message from Yr 11 Service Students – 10 February
We are organising a Movie Night as a fundraiser on Friday 10 February from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. All proceeds will go to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The WWF strives to conserve nature through protecting our valuable environment and aims to reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.
The movie that will be shown is Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. It is classified PG. The ticket price is $5 and Yr 11 students will be selling tickets at lunchtimes throughout next week (Week 2) by cash and EFTPOS. Additionally, there will be snacks and drinks available for purchase in the afternoon prior to the movie starting.
If your child stays to watch the movie, please ensure they are able to return home via public transport or get picked up at 5:30pm as the campus will be closed at that time. We would love for your child to attend what will be an exciting and enjoyable evening for them while contributing to an excellent cause. For any further questions regarding this event, please contact the Yr 11 Advisor, Ms Ynson, aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au.
Thank you very much,
Yr 11 Service Team
Mr Jimmy Tod-Hill
Year 7 Advisor
jtodhill@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462