Year 8

Reminders

• Yr 8 Parent Teacher Evening is on Wednesday 5 August. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet all of your child’s teachers and to hear how your child is going in each subject. 
• On Thursdays, our Sports staff will be supporting Yr 8 students in accessing the courts during lunch while following very strict COVID-19 regulations.  Students have been eager to move around and play some games during this extended lunchtime and we will be trialling an organised activity this week. Other Year Groups will have access at other times. 

Academic Support

Thank you for your support in helping our Yr 8 students take ownership of their learning by encouraging students to proactively message their teachers directly with specific subject questions. This is an essential skill for students to learn in order to avoid falling behind and to stay up-to-date with assignments. It is insightful and appreciated to read a well-written email to a teacher from a student with a request for help. As this may be out of student comfort zones, Tutors are able to help guide students in taking this step.

The Study Centre also reopened last week and many students are taking advantage of the New Learning Hub levels for academic support. Access to the Study Centre hours and subject information is linked in Key Information in the Yr 8 Pastoral Page for students on iLearn.

Getting Along

In Tutor, students are learning about 24 character strengths these last few weeks of Term 2 and identifying their own strengths as well as what they see in others.  As part of this discussion, students are being asked to consider how they treat others and what others do that impacts them, specifically including name calling. Unfortunately, name calling occurs online and throughout the school day among young people. Students were asked yesterday, what does it mean to be empathetic? One student replied, “To be able to stand in someone else’s shoes.”  Many times, name calling is a reaction prior to taking the time to stand in the shoes of the receiving person. Empathy is one of the 24 character strengths which help students learn how they are best able to get along with one another in such a diverse world. Especially with so many people around the world at this time impacted by COVID-19 and social injustice, it is essential for young people to develop empathy to strengthen their own social awareness in order to work with others every day in school and for the rest of their lives.         

The eSafety Commissioner has further information regarding name calling and bullying online found here.

Ms Alissa Ynson
Yr 8 Advisor
9968 9863
aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au