Year 7

Energy, Examinations and End of Year – Welcome to Term 4

Welcome back to another term, and one which will no doubt be a busy one for our Year 7 students as they face their first ever Yearly Examinations in the Secondary School and seek to learn from these in preparation for engaging wholeheartedly in their future Year 8 subjects.

Students returned to school with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and this was no more evident than in 7G PE, which I was fortunate enough to be placed on to cover on Monday. Engaging in a range of team-based games, the students interacted with determination, passion and respect. It was valuable for me to see firsthand the lessons being gained about each individual’s personal capacity but, perhaps more importantly, how success comes from great teamwork – a very useful lesson for all of Year 7 to take as they move through the rest of this year. The importance of listening to instructions and communicating effectively were also great take-aways from the class.

The term also began with a joint welcome assembly for Yrs 7 and 8. Students were spoken to by the Head of Secondary School, Ms Van de Peer; Dean of Studies (7-10), Ms Rolon; and Dean of Students, Ms Jansons. Students were warmly welcomed back to this important term and some key messages were conveyed:

  • Now is the time to be working diligently for your examinations, aiming to complete some study every night and on the weekend.
  • Other people matter – we need to be considerate and respectful in our interactions with all the people we interact with in our daily lives.
  • Reminder that phones must stay locked in lockers throughout the duration of the school day.

Next Monday, we will be having another round of Growth Conversations in our Tutor groups. Students will be encouraged to set clear goals based around how to achieve their best in their upcoming examinations and also how best to embody the value that ‘other people matter.’

I look forward to seeing Yr 7 embrace their challenges and opportunities this term as they continue to build on their personal growth whilst also supporting others in their cohort and the Redlands community.

Academic Care – Examinations and Study Timetables

This week, during our academic care time in Tutor sessions, students have been diligently crafting study planners as they set sail on their journey to prepare for their Yearly Examinations, which begin in Week 3. The Examination timetable can be found on the Yr 7 Pulse page.

It is crucial for students to personalise their study planners to their unique needs, ensuring that they allocate their time equitably among their various subjects, while also accommodating other commitments such as sports training and co-curricular activities. The aim of these Yearly Examinations for students in Years 7-10 is not just about performance, but also about cultivating effective study habits and routines that will serve them well as they progress towards their Senior Studies. We warmly encourage parents to engage with their children, asking them to share their study planners and engage in meaningful discussions about their study strategies.

If you are interested I have recently come across a good article from The Conversation that provides insight into the importance of understanding how our memory works and its link to effective study. Please see this link for further reading.

Science ICAS

Recently, several of our Year 7 students had great success in the 2023 International Competition and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) in Science. ICAS is undertaken by over 400,000 students across Australia and the region and is a rigorous test of scientific thinking. Participation in the competition provides our students with excellent examination practice and an opportunity to see how they fare in competition with students of their own age from across the country. Scientific skills such as experimentation, empirical observation, logical reasoning, scientific analysis and critical thinking not only help students do well in STEM subjects – they are critical components of humankind’s most successful system for pursuing knowledge: the scientific method. A High Distinction in this competition represents the top 1% of the participants while a Distinction is the next top 10%.

Congratulations to the following students for their wonderful achievements in this competition.

  • Lachlan Carter – High Distinction
  • Fergus Kerr – Distinction
  • Charlie Lee – Distinction
  • Anay Mishra Mall – Distinction
  • Liam Randall – Distinction

Term 4 Key Dates and Upcoming Events

  • Week 3: Yr 7 Examination block begins.

 

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