Year 8

This Week

It is Science Week! The National Science Week theme this year is Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our Oceans. 

Students in Yr 8 have already been testing the scientific methodology with the question ‘How many rubber bands does it take to implode a watermelon?’  This is a mass Science experiment where the data from 250 schools will be collected and analysed. Photos from this experiment were included in last week’s Note Day. 

Students in Yrs 7 and 8 are also watching the preview of the film Blue, with a class discussion followed by  designing a poster around issues relating to our oceans.

Term 3 Assessments

Currently, Yr 8 students are in the midst of a few assessments due between this week and next week. It is a timely reminder for students to revisit their time management skills. Dr Prue Salter has several resources on her Study Skills website to support students during this busy time. Please note that the updated Yr 8 Assessment Calendar is on Redlands Pulse for parents and in the Yr 8 Pastoral page under Key Information for students. Study Skills Handbook can be found here. Username: redlands; Password: 68results.

Yr 8 Pastoral Program

Following on from last term’s theme of Getting Along where students were introduced to their character strengths and noticing character strengths in others, Yr 8 has started Term 3 with the theme: Resilience, Wellbeing and Happiness. This term will include lessons on the following topics: Emotions and their Temperatures, The Key of Resilience, Catastrophising, Coping Skills, Rational Thinking, Mindfulness, Gratitude and Kindness. 

This week, students will focus on their Emotional Thermometer and they will revisit the Catastrophe scale. Yr 8 students first saw these two diagrams in Yr 7. Our Pastoral team keeps a copy of these dynamic posters in our office space as it is a fantastic reminder for all ages to stop and reflect on incidents that happen, how they make us feel, what we then think based on our feelings, how our body reacts and the consequences of those reactions.

These posters may support conversations at home regarding student incidents and reactions that arise throughout the year.   

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