Year 7

A job well done to our incredibly talented Yr 7 students who worked endless hours and shared their many abilities in the musical production of Strictly Ballroom. Congratulations on an incredible run of three solid shows and a standing ovation each night! We had 17 Yr 7 students involved in the musical, including: Daniel Casimaty, Marcus Cooper-Hor, Matilda Crewes, Olivia Everingham, Tara Gold, Lauren Hill,  Hallie Hunt, Scarlett Ilic, Hannah Jones-Way, Sarah McLaren, Sholto-Mirrlees-Black, Zara Naismith, Emma Noes, Mikaela Sanger Larsson, Ashley Stapleton, Anneka Steele and James Stuart. 

The showcase of talent continued on Tuesday throughout our International Day as all Yr 7 students enthusiastically drummed along with the Japanese Taiko drumming group TaikOz. All students rotated through an incredible set of drumming beats experiencing the drums themselves and participating in the audience with vocals and hand movements. Later in the day, students continued to learn and share their talents with cooking French, Japanese and Chinese inspired cuisine, creating crafts from various countries and even learning how to Salsa partner dance. 

We were delighted to welcome Dr Prue Salter to Redlands this past Tuesday evening to share her Yr 7 Study Skills Presentation. We had a strong turnout from Yr 7 students and parents and we appreciate your time and attention in supporting your children in developing these study skills early on to best prepare them for success this year and throughout Secondary School. We will continue to spotlight various tips from Prue throughout this year during Tutor class. 

A message from Prue –

This week Dr Prue Salter from Enhanced Learning Educational Services (www.enhanced-learning.net) ran a study skills evening with Yr 7 parents and students. The evening helped families assess what changes could be made to help students work towards achieving their personal best in an efficient and effective way. Students examined their home study environment, the way they organise and manage their resources, how to work effectively at home and deal with distractions, how to manage the workload in high school, and the steps to studying in high school: making study notes, learning the notes by testing yourself and doing as much practise as possible. Parents are encouraged to review the handout from the session with students and discuss the main areas identified where changes need to be made.  Parents can also find extra study skills tips on the following website: http://studyskillstoptipsparents.com/. All secondary students at our school also have access to a great study skills website to help students develop their skills. Go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and enter the username: redlands and the password: 68results and start improving your results today!

The following is extracted from Regulation of Motivation: Evaluating an Underemphasized Aspect of Self-Regulated Learning by C. Wolters. (Educational Psychologist, 2003, 38(4), pp.189-205).

  1. Rewards: Many students set rewards for themselves “I’ll read this section then I can eat this sandwich”. Some students use the opposite, punishments; they create consequences for themselves where they will deprive themselves if they do not do the work.
  2. Self-Praise: Some students find that recognising their progress to themselves and praising themselves for their efforts creates a more positive mental environment and encourages them to keep going. Comments such as “Well done, you’ve solved yet another problem” can help create mental stamina.
  3. Goal-Oriented Self-Talk: Students who think about why they are studying or what possible future outcomes could be from putting in effort can also strengthen the effect of these thoughts by making sub-vocal statements while they are engaged in an academic activity. When faced with an urge to stop working they may focus on the thought of getting better marks, or getting into a particular course at uni or even the satisfaction of learning a new skill or developing self-discipline.
  4. Interest Enhancement: This involves looking for ways to make the task to be completed more interesting or enjoyable. Even making slight modifications to make something less boring or repetitive. One student found that by writing notes in a different style it made the activity more inspiring.
This Week in Tutor
  • Peer Support visited our Tutor groups last Friday for a discussion around planning, being responsible and preparing for assessments.
  • Students revisited the organisation skills shared by Prue Salter starting with a focus on the Student Planner. 
  • Students participated in an International Flag Quiz in preparation for International Day and the winners were Ben Barwise, Krishan Price, Christo Shacklock and Jack Stevens.
  • The Credit Point Challenge continues this week and winners will be announced in Week 11.
Announcements and Upcoming Events
  • In preparation for English Term 2, students should read David Almond’s novel, Skellig, during the upcoming holidays so they can benefit from re-reading sections of it in class when teachers begin the formal close study of it next term.
  • To help reduce the weight of backpacks, students are encouraged to go to their lockers after Period 2, 4 and 6. They are encouraged to determine what needs to go home at those times to avoid the mad rush at the end of the day and then resort to taking more items than necessary home with them. Students will most likely be using the electronic version of textbooks at home and keeping their hard copy at school to use in classes. 
  • Yr 7 will be participating in a Burn Bright Incursion: Recipe for Success on Monday 8 April 2019.  This will be an all- day event with activities and discussions around motivation, friendships and more. Burn Bright is an amazing program and we are very fortunate they will be working with our students this term. 
  • Learning Management Alerts on Fridays. These emails are sent to parents and students to identify any outstanding work that may be completed over the weekend to help students stay on top of their learning. These alerts are issued after a discussion and reminder from the classroom teacher has already been attempted. These are initiated by the classroom teachers yet sent through the Year Advisor. Please contact the issuing teacher for any subjects specific clarification. 
  • This term, we are pleased to announce that the Stanton Library’s Nan Manefield Young Writer’s Award is accepting poetry or short story submissions from entrants aged 11-18 years. Prizes total over $2000 and all placed entrants receive an invitation to a writing masterclass; submissions close 5pm Friday 12 April. Also, the Mosman Youth Awards in Literature are accepting short story and poetry submissions from Yrs K-12, with cash prizes totalling more than $2000 to be won; entries close Friday 31 May. These are fantastic opportunities for our students to be recognised and celebrated for their creative writing. For any questions about how to enter, please contact the English Department.
  • Yr 7 Parent Drinks: Book here.
  • Other upcoming Vaccinations and Photo Dates
    • 6 June – Winter Sport Photos
    • 12 June – Yr 10 Vaccinations, catch ups for Yr 7
    • 12 Sept – Athletics and Water polo photos
    • 12 Nov – Yr 7 Vaccinations

Ms Alissa Ynson
Yr 7 Advisor (Acting)
9968 9863
aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au