Year 8

Yr 8 End of Year Key Information

Students will start receiving their Yearly Examination notifications before term break. The Yr 8 exam block is Term 4 Week 4. Currently, the Yr 8 Camp is scheduled for Term 4 Week 5. More information regarding camp will be coming out soon. 

This Week

Last Thursday, our incredible Yr 12 leaders and two amazing counsellors, Tanya Fullerton and Lara Luitingh, put together a video that shed light on the importance of asking a friend “R U OK?” and the follow on to that conversation to properly take care of yourself as a concerned friend and to support your friend who might be in need of professional help. Lara and Tanya focused on acknowledging the care and concern students have for one another, the importance of involving a trusted adult and the need to keep yourself healthy and strong while also showing compassion and support for your friend in need. The full length interview with our School Counsellors will soon be linked in the iLearn Secondary School Counselling page for students and parents to access. 

In Yr 8, we continue this week exploring the various aspects of wellbeing, resilience and happiness. In these last few weeks of Term 3 and beginning of Term 4, we will delve into Rational Thinking, Mindfulness and Gratitude.   

Inappropriate Content Online – A message from Brett Lee, co-founder of InternetSafeEducation.com

It is a timely reminder that inappropriate content can reach young people through many different platforms. We need to remain active and vigilant in monitoring what young people are exposed to in their online world, which is very much their real world. 

Inappropriate content can reach students on any platform, including but not limited to websites, social media sites or video content sharing sites.  Common sites used by children include: Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, Youtube and Youtube for Kids. 

What to do now and in the future as a preventative measure

Parents and carers now need to be especially vigilant.

We recommend never leaving young children alone with a device. If you do allow them to enjoy some online content, please watch with them. There is no way of knowing what algorithms platforms will serve up – it’s up to you to moderate.

Secondly, if you do come across any inappropriate content, report and flag immediately.

Advice is to report to the platform (eg TikToc) and to the eSafety Commission.

Thirdly, consider using monitoring software to manage time online, apps being accessed and to also filter inappropriate websites.

Finally – and most importantly – make sure to talk to the children in your care about the things they are doing online. Communication is by far the best defence against these modern trends of inappropriate content sharing. Create an environment of openness about technology and discuss it regularly.

Remember

  • Don’t panic
  • Report to social media platform
  • Report to eSafety
  • Talk to your child
  • You have a right to manage technology which includes temporarily removing access

Study Tips from Dr Prue Salter

www.studyskillshandbook.com.au, Username: redlands, password: 68results

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