Year 7

Week 5 – Assessments to the Left of us, Assessments to the Right

It has been a busy few weeks for Yr 7. PDHPE and VA assessments were due in Week 4 and this week Mathematics and HSIE tasks were completed. Students have been working hard to stay on top of home learning and assessment work, and they are really starting to recognise the importance of planning ahead to be best prepared for their academic commitments.

Yr 7O know their Art

Last Friday, I visited core class 7O as they completed their Art assignments. It was fantastic to see the focus and diligence of students as they finalised this task in preparation for submission. And there were some wonderful pieces on display.

Preparing for Heritage Week:

On Friday, we also had a keen group of students preparing for presentations to the cohort for Heritage Week in Week 7. Several of our students, Liv, Aaron, Lachlan, Olivia, Mack, Kate and Eddie volunteered to be involved in recounting to the cohort the history of the school and how it has developed over the past century. Our resident archivist, Ms Gillezeau, has provided students with a wealth of primary material to help students develop their presentations. This is all in the lead-up to Friday’s Foundation Day, where the School’s history will be further celebrated. I am really looking forward to what students are able to present.

Year Assembly

On Monday we held a Year Assembly where Sarah shared stories of her recent efforts competing in a Byron Bay Triathlon, where she came fifth overall, but was the top junior female contender. It was great to hear of her resilience in pushing through a tough race and we congratulate her on her efforts.

Given our focus this term on respectful relationships, we also finished our assembly with some prompting questions designed to get students connecting with others they might not always talk to. From sharing their thoughts on ‘given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?’ all the way to ‘if you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?’, students shared their thoughts with peers and each learned a bit more about the other.

Growth Conversations

In Tutor this week and last, students have been engaging in valuable ‘growth conversations’. These one-to-one chats are designed to prompt students towards reflecting on their past school efforts, challenges and successes, with a view towards achieving continued positive development as they move through the year. Students have found these conversations to be a great source of guidance and advice, and our Tutors have offered excellent support to students in this space.

Student Planners

Students are becoming significantly better at using their student planners to plan for assessments and home learning, and to set themselves goals for the weeks and terms ahead. A quick reminder that tomorrow is our Week A Peer Support Day, and this means that student planners will be checked for parent / carer signatures. Please make sure student planners have been signed at home!

Festival in the Fahl

A wonderful initiative, the ‘Festival in the Fahl’ will be held tomorrow (26/5), raising money for breast cancer research.

There will be a sausage sizzle, bake sale, games and music on the Fahl Garden at lunchtime, so Yr 7 are encouraged to bring some money (gold coins and cash preferred) to participate. Yr 7 are able to wear a small splash of pink with their regular uniform tomorrow in support of the event.

Student Congratulations

To many of our Yr 7 Dancers who had some great achievements last weekend. At the IRBD Dance Competition last Saturday, Ada Grossman, Adabelle Lee, Zoe Murdoch, Emma Foley, Astrid Vincent, Ariella Wold, Phoebe Sun, Freya Carroll and Anabelle Kendrigan performed in the Senior Jazz Performance Group. They did very well with the routine and made the academy very proud.

On Sunday, Adabelle Lee and Juliet Cooke competed at Space Dance Eisteddfod, where they received 1st place for their ballet group. They have been working really hard with this routine, so it was a really incredible achievement for them.

On Tuesday, Aaron Oh competed at the Rostrum Voice of Youth competition. He delivered a compelling prepared six minute speech on ‘A Change Worth Making’, and later followed this with an impromptu three minute speech on peer pressure. While he did not win the competition, Aaron was the youngest amongst the finalists and he performed extremely well, and learned a great deal from the experience. I am sure Aaron has a strong public speaking future ahead of him.

Balmoral Burn – Humpty Dumpty Fundraiser

The Humpty Dumpty Balmoral Burn is an annual community fun run held on the last weekend of May. Every year, participants ‘take to the Burn’ to conquer Awaba Street’s 420-metre incline – one of the steepest streets in Sydney. Event creator, Phil Kearns AM, came up with the idea of running up Awaba Street as a thank you to the Royal North Shore Hospital after his son Finn received emergency care for suspected meningococcal. Now in its 21st year, the Balmoral Burn provides an ongoing opportunity for Humpty supporters to empower hospitals and health services Australia-wide. Every dollar raised has a positive impact on the work Humpty is doing to help sick kids in hospitals.

This year, Redlands has three teams participating in Balmoral Burn to raise funds for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. The goal is for each team to raise at least $250.00 with a goal of $1500.00 total for the fundraiser.

Our very own Yr 7 student, Natalie Bain, will now be participating in this year’s Balmoral Burn (after an unfortunate injury for Liv Law). To support Natalie, donations, can be made via the following fundraising page.

Your support for Natalie, in her efforts to conquer Awaba St, and raise funds for the Humpty Dumpty foundation is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming Assessments

• HSIE – Week 5 (26/5)
• Technology – Week 7 (9/6)

For full details, see the ‘assessments’ tab on the Year 7 Core Page on iLearn.

Key Dates and Upcoming Events

• Week 7: Secondary School Photo Day (Wednesday 7/6)

See further details below.

• Week 7: School Athletics Carnival (Thursday 8/6)

A fun day where students will connect in House groups and compete in a variety of track and field events.

Secondary School Photo Day– Save the Date!

Year Group photos will be held for all Secondary School students on Wednesday 7 June. Students will need to bring their student ID card to the photo.

Students are required to wear their full school uniform, including blazers, and adhere to the school’s regulations for school uniform. Please refer to the School Uniform regulations located on each Year Group page in Pulse.

If your child is unable to attend school or has an appointment scheduled during the day, please inform the Year Advisor.

Mr Jimmy Tod-Hill
Year 7 Advisor
jtodhill@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462