Year 7

A Busy Term Means there is a lot to Juggle

With increased home learning and assessment commitments, continuing sport and cocurricular pursuits, and a range of other activities and events at Redlands, Yr 7 continue to learn the importance juggling their commitments and finding balance in their school experience.

And what better activity to bring this into clarity than actually learning how to juggle?!

So, on Friday of last week, I visited Dumolo Blue to teach them how to juggle. As you can imagine, it was quite a chaotic affair, with tennis balls flying every which way across the room. Hand coordination, balance and a fast eye are all essential for juggling, and, while not everyone managed to find complete success in the short 20-minutes we had developing the skill, it was pleasing to see everyone giving it a ‘red hot crack’ and having a laugh about it too!

A few students did begin to find their flow and pick up the skill by the end, showing that persistence and effort can pay off!

Final Yr 12 Buddies Visit to Roseby

Last Friday also marked our final guidance session with our Yr 12 buddies, this time with Roseby receiving their support. Across this term, a collection of Yr 12 students have offered valuable advice to our Yr 7 students, sharing their knowledge and experience, and modelling many of the service values we cherish at Redlands. It has been a positive experience and hopefully one which will inspire Yr 7 to support others in younger years in the future.

A Visit from the Police Liaison Officer

On Tuesday, Yr 7 were visited by the school’s Police Liaison Officer, Lynda Hart, to discuss with the cohort their responsibilities under the law. A range of useful, age-appropriate information was communicated to the group around what constitutes illegal behaviour, and how they can ensure they do not get involved in or harmed by any illegal behaviour.

Officer Hart explored a variety of topics with Yr 7, to develop their understanding of inappropriate and illegal behaviour, including vandalism and graffiti; harassment and bullying (including cyber bullying); sharing images and videos online; and shoplifting. She had some very important advice to pass onto Yr 7 and I took note of a few key words of wisdom from her presentation:

  • “If you see something that you think is wrong, step up and tell a trusted adult. Be an upstander not a bystander. Being a ‘snitch’ is not a bad thing.”
  • “Harassment and bullying are never right. There is no excuse to make people feel bad; call that behaviour out.”
  • “The moment you do anything online, the moment you type something or post it, you cannot control where it goes. Nothing ever goes away.”
  • “If you’re cranky or upset, don’t go near your device; you might send something you regret.”
  • “If you are being bullied online, stand up and speak out; screen shot anything and then report, report, report; tell a trusted adult straight away.”
  • “If someone asks for something from you online and you don’t want to give it, you are in the power position. Don’t give it. Talk to a trusted adult.”

She also suggested that students have an ‘open door’ policy at home with parents / carers, meaning that they are open to their parents / carers coming into their room and asking to see what is on their phone. She emphasised the importance of children talking to parents / carers about what they are seeing online, so they can be kept safe.

It was a valuable session, which hopefully offered some important reminders and new pieces of advice for Yr 7 in how to navigate their increasingly complicated world safely.

Hey, I just met you and this is crazy, but here’s my class, creating music, maybe…

In my weekly wandering of the halls of Redlands, I stumbled across Yr 7P getting right into their Wednesday afternoon Music lesson, making music videos for their recently created EDM tracks. Students were having fun collaborating on dance moves, developing choices in cinematography and seeking to make some final tweaks and refinements to their musical scores. It certainly looked like an engaging activity and one which gives them an insight into the decisions and refinements essential for many contemporary musicians.

I was pleased (and extremely surprised!) to hear that one group’s primary backing track is Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2012 classic, Call me Maybe. I wonder if you can guess which group from the photos below…?

 

Next Week – House Spirit Fair!

Next week, the House Captains and Yr 12 leaders have organised some wonderful events for the House Spirit Fair! The Fair will occur on Thursday 14 September at lunch time. We encourage Yr 7 students to come to the Fahl Garden to listen to some music, buy a sausage sizzle sandwich and get involved in a range of fun games. All money raised will go towards the Yr 12 Legacy Gift.

Term 3 Key Dates and Upcoming Events

  • Week 9: ISA Athletics Carnival

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