Year 8

A Normal School Week

This week was a relatively quiet one for the term. However, we might call it the ‘calm before the storm’ as next week, students will face their first assessment tasks for the year, in Mathematics and Technology. It has been good to see students knuckling down in lesson time to complete their work diligently, making sure they are building their capacity to achieve their best in those assessment components.

In our Year Assembly on Monday, we acknowledged students in the cohort who attended the UNSW Gifted Program during the recent holiday break. Dr Poon, the school’s High Potential Learning Coordinator attended our assembly to award certificates to the students. The cohort recognised the intellectual efforts of Lachlan Carter, Lucas Gai, Thys Hulsbosch, Aimee Kang, Olivia Law, Aaron Oh and Gabrielle Thomas.

We also reiterated some key reminders of behaviour and habit expectations for students, ones which we see as crucial for having a successful term and for continuing to build our positive and supportive community at Redlands. We have been discussing these in Tutor time and I encourage parents / carers to affirm these expectations with students too.

Be punctual to school and lessons
Keep using your manners – ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’, ‘sorry’
Be polite and patient in canteen queues
Take care that the language you use is respectful and uplifting (no ‘put downs’)
Keep locks on your lockers for security
Keep the Undercroft and locker area clean and tidy
Keep using your planner to stay organised
Remember to get your student planner signed each fortnight

Today in Tutor, we began a new focus for our Social and Emotional Learning program this term, exploring risk taking with students. Now that students have moved through their first year in the Secondary School, we want to challenge them to make the most of the opportunities available to them and to push themselves towards further growth moments. Such challenges involve an element of risk. Students might fail. They might be disappointed. They might not fully achieve their goals. However, without taking such risks they will not grow and they will not develop to achieve their full potential.

This concept of taking risks or stepping outside of their comfort zone, responsibly, is particularly important, given the Yr 8 Camp we are about to head out on in Week 6 (see below for more information). Students were receptive to this concept and engaged well in exploring a variety of scenarios created around the concept of risk taking. A favourite scenario was about heading out with a friend to see Taylor Swift in concert!

Today, we also received a wonderful surprise with our enthusiastic and supportive former Yr 7 Tutor, Mrs Rothwell, visiting McDouall Blue to introduce them to her wonderful new baby girl. Ms Rothwell is currently on maternity leave to look after her new child. The Tutor group were wowed by her baby’s cuteness and very excited to reconnect with their former Tutor.

Yr 8 Camp in Week 6 – Key Details

Yr 8 Camp is just around the corner and we are looking forward to a wonderful week away!

Please check the information below for key reminders and reach out to me (Yr 8 Year Advisor) if you have any questions.

Outcomes: A focus on the natural landscape. We explore the beautiful rainforests and the coastal sand dunes, rock pools and mangroves of the Mid-North Coast.
Dates: Monday 4 March – Friday 8 March
Location: Stuarts Point, Mid-North Coast.
Meeting Time: 6.30am, Monday 4 March
Meeting Point: Gerard St Gate (the Undercroft) – Departing from Redlands Lane, Senior Campus
Returning at: Approximately 2-2.30pm, Friday 8 March
Activities: Bushwalking, Camping, Camp Cooking, Canoeing, Hiking, Initiatives, MTB and Surfing.
Food for Day 1: Please pack snacks and lunch for Day 1 (No nut products or lollies).

Packing List and Camp Information:

Camp details can be found here

Login – Redlands
Password – Shine

Medication on Camp:

All student medication must be accompanied with a Redlands Medical Authority Form. MAFs are located on the Outdoor Education Camps section on Pulse. Please note the following:

Prescription Medication MUST be placed into a Webster-Pak from a pharmacy. Medical Authority Form attached.
Non-prescription medication (Zyrtec etc.) MUST be left in the original box with a Medical Authority Form completed and placed into a clear Zip-lock bag.
Students should not be carrying Panadol or Nurofen.
Completed Medical Authority Forms must be emailed to Mr Atkins (eatkins@redlands.nsw.edu.au) by Wednesday 28 February.

Additional Information:

If your child/ren has any cold and/or flu symptoms on departure day, they should not be attending camp.

Secondary School Individual Portraits and Sibling Photos Catch -up Opportunity – Friday 1 March

A catch-up date for missed Yr 7-12 Portrait photos and sibling photos will be offered on Friday 1 March at 10.10-11.05am in the Learning Hub Level 2 Atrium.

All students are required to be wearing their full school uniform, including blazers for all and ties for boys. Boys must be clean shaven with hair that has been cut so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Boys and girls with a hair length touching the collar is to be styled and tied-up neatly so that it is away from eyes, ears and collar. Hair is to be tied back with navy and hair coloured accessories. No hair dye, mullet style haircuts, make-up or nail polish is permitted. No jewellery is to be worn other than one pair of plain gold or silver studs in ear lobes.

If you have any questions, alterations or additional orders, please contact Melba Studios directly on (02) 9438 4566 or email sales@melbastudios.com.au

Term 1 Key Dates and Upcoming Events:

SS Sport Photos: Wednesday 28 February + Friday 1 March
Year 8 Camp (Yarriabini National Park): Monday 4 March to Friday 8 March

Mr Jimmy Tod-Hill
Year 8 Advisor
jtodhill@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9908 6462