Year 8

Week 5 – Thinking about our Future: Career Clusters Challenge Day

Last Friday, the entire cohort took part in a new initiative – the Future Think: Career Clusters Challenge Day. They dove into hands-on, real-word scenario activities that explored their strengths through six Career Clusters: Makers, Linkers, Guardians, Informers, Coordinators and Innovators.

Students began by taking an online quiz to discover their cluster strengths (parents / carers interested in exploring their own Career Cluster strengths can take the quiz here: Career Clusters Quiz), then teamed up in their clusters to tackle authentic challenges, guided by industry experts:

The day included collaborative challenges that encouraged students to use their strengths in creative ways. By focusing on skills rather than specific jobs, we are helping our students build confidence and adaptability for any career path they choose.

Thank you to the incredible Careers team, Justine Fowler and Clare Hurst, as well our Innovation and Entrepreneurial Learning Strategist, Liz Green. I would also like to thank the passionate Redlands educators who led the rooms and activities, including Kathy Reid, Lauren Costello, Wendy Duckworth, Meagan Barr, Phoebe Poon, Kirsten Phillips, Vicky Argyrakis, Bevan De Vries and Vanessa Wang.

Listening in Chapel

On Monday, our School Chaplain, Ms Phillips, encouraged our cohort to reflect on the value of listening. As she explained to the group, we each have two ears but only one mouth and this should be a reminder to us of the importance of listening to others to value what they have to say and also listening to ourselves, to ensure we are taking care of our own wellbeing. Year 8 were challenged to engage in a minute of silent listening in the Chapel as a way of fostering this important skill.

eSports and the Fuse Cup

On Tuesday, six Yr 7 and six Yr 8 students from the eSports club represented Redlands at the FUSE Cup at Monte Sant Angelo. Out of 43 Competitors, we had nine students place in top 16, four students in top eight and two students in the final (of four). Sam Parsons in Yr 7 came 3rd and Henry Richardson in Yr 8 came 4th.

The day was a lot of fun for the students as they not only competed responsibly in competitive computer games but they also gained important knowledge on how to exercise and stretch and take breaks effectively and they learned how much money the gaming industry make and how they make it.

Well done to all the Yr 8 students who represented Redlands: Henry Campbell, Joshua Freer, Lucas Keall, Zac McHattan, Henry Richardson and Charlie Tilden. Thank you also to the wonderful eSports staff who accompanied the students.

Giving Day

Thank you to our Redlands community for coming together on Wednesday and donating in support of our inaugural Giving Day. I also want to applaud those students who volunteered their time to help support the successful operation of this day, in particular our Yr 8 SRC members Lily Musgrave-Kresa, Charlie Lee, Jack Reid and Kate Rintoul, who helped to boost the Giving Day proceeds by selling donuts during lunchtime.

The Irregular Club

The Irregular club is the school newspaper club and, newsflash, they are happy to report that they are becoming a bit more regular in the news they produce – because the news never sleeps! The team are now releasing bi-monthly summaries of key events that are happening around the school, including some fun facts and focuses on feature pieces. Make sure you check out the July / August edition of The Regular  HERE. A big shout out to Yr 8 students Liv Law, Natalie Bain and Aimee Kang who have been spearheading this project. 

 Term 3 Key Dates and Upcoming Events

  • Yr 8 Geography Excursion – Week 6: Friday 30 August
  • Wear it Purple Day – Week 6: Friday 30 August
  • R U OK? Day – Week 8: Thursday 12 September
  • 2025 Student Leaders Announcement – Week 8: Friday 13 September
  • End of Term 3 – Week 10: Thursday 26 September

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