Year 7

Yr 7: A Year of Firsts; A Year of Growth

As we come to the end of the school year, it is a fitting time to consider the transformation and growth we have seen from our Yr 7 students this year. The wide eyed, a little scared and a little confused young people who walked through the school gates in January are now far behind us. Yes, there have been some challenges along the way but with the support of their Tutors and school staff, the cohort has leant into those challenges, always with an eye towards learning how to be their best selves. There is still a lot of learning and opportunities for growth to go, but Yr 7 have officially made it through their first year in the Secondary School, and we are so proud of their achievements and the caring, compassionate and courageous people they are becoming. They had some wonderful moments this year where they were able to ‘let their light shine’. While there are far too many events to name, a few moments stand out as particularly memorable:

Yr 7 Camp – this a challenging time for many due to the physical demands of canoeing, mountain biking and hiking, all while navigating a new cohort and developing new friendships.
The Swimming and Athletics Carnivals – both of these events brought students together supporting each other in their House groups and challenged them individually to get involved physically by swimming a length of the pool, running a lap of the stadium or launching themselves over the sand in long jump.
NAPLAN – students were pushed to demonstrate their literacy and numeracy skills in their first formal examination setting in the Secondary School.
Cross Country Carnival – it was wet and cold, but everyone still got out there and ran the course with a smile (or grimace) on their face.
Peer Support Sessions – a wonderful way for our students to absorb invaluable advice and guidance from our Yr 11 mentors as the cohort were still learning the ropes of the Senior Campus.
Tutor Coaching Conversations – a space for students to reflect with their Tutor on their successes and shortfalls, developing goals for each term with the aim of building on their strengths and findings strategies to tackle their challenges.
Yearly Examinations – a condensed time of focus, study and effort, where students were tested on their knowledge and skills, and encouraged to build their examination technique for the future.
STEAM days – a wonderful couple of days of collaboration and initiative as students worked together to design ingenious ways to reduce waste.

Of course there were also Saturday Sport, Gala Arts, the Musical, Dance events…and the list goes on, beyond the scope of this Note Day entry.

Yr 7 can be commended on the way they have navigated the highs and lows, and everything in between, this year and I look forward to seeing the heights students will climb as they move into Year 8 in 2024.

And for a fun flashback, see below for an image of the cohort directly after Y7 camp in Term 1; my how they have grown!

Rocking in the Quad

Last week ended with some bouncy beats and terrific tunes as a range of Yr 7 musicians performed rock music in the Quad. It was wonderful to see Leo, Apollo, Andy, Eddie, Lucas, Otis and Harley busting out some rocking tunes, in spite of the rainy weather.

Vaccinations

Nobody likes needles and on Friday the majority of Yr 7 were once again faced with the tough knowledge that it was time to be vaccinated, and they would each need to endure the sharp prick of a needle in the arm. Our first round of vaccinations in Term 1 was a tricky affair, with many students being quite apprehensive about the process. This time around, though, it was smooth sailing for the cohort. Yes, there were still a couple of tears, but everyone rolled through the process smoothly, getting their dTpa shot and then going on with their day.

Holiday Ideas and Interesting Reading from The Redlands Irregular

This year, students have enjoyed the interactions and plethora of activities offered by the School’s various cocurricular clubs. One such club is the school’s online newspaper, The Irregular. As the year has come to a close, several students have written review articles on topics such as The Arts at Redlands and the impact of the Matilda’s World Cup campaign on women’s sport. The Irregular has also published some excellent ideas for activities that might bring joy over this upcoming holiday break. You can check out the articles on The Irregular page on Pulse.

Happy Holidays

Mrs Adam and I want to wish everyone all the best for a wonderful holiday break. I hope it offers some lovely time with family and friends, and a time to unwind, recharge and enjoy all the moments having some free time offers us.

We want to thank everyone who has helped Yr 7 find their way this year, particularly extending our gratitude to our Yr 7 Tutors who have worked tirelessly in support of the cohort. They have cared for each student as an individual, seeking to inspire, guide and encourage them towards being their best selves. We greatly appreciate their efforts, as I know the students do too.

I also want to wish our Assistant Year Advisor Mrs Adams all the best for a successful maternity leave. She has been a crucial figure of support to the cohort and we will miss her care, compassion and insight next year – but we look forward to welcoming her back for 2025!

Yr 8 is just around the corner, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2024, ready to tackle a new adventure.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful new year.

Term 4 Key Dates and Upcoming Events:

Final teaching day of term: Tuesday 5 December
End of Term and Speech Night at the Star: Wednesday 6 December

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