Year 9

Key Dates

Swimming Carnival – Tuesday 16 February
School Photos – Friday 5 March

Student Leadership Experience

Yr 9 students have been encouraged to log their interest in gaining experience with various leadership opportunities across the Year Group, ie. presenting at year meetings, organising Service opportunities and contributing to our Yr 9 Pastoral program. This opportunity is open to all students across the Year Group. Students may join and leave these meetings throughout the year if their schedule or interests change. We meet during Tutor Time to reduce any additional workload for students. There is no formal commitment necessary. Any and all students wanting to be a part of guiding change and having their voices heard are welcome. 

Thank you in advance for encouraging your child to participate and engage in this opportunity if this is of interest to them.   

Winter School Information Evening

Wednesday 17 February, 6.00pm via Zoom

We will be holding the Winter School Information Evening next Wednesday via Zoom. Applications will open thereafter.

The School has been planning within the current guidelines to be able to run a safe and successful program. Therefore please note that due to COVID restrictions, places this year will be strictly limited, and priority will be given to those who were accepted for 2020 and wish to attend, beginning with older students.

Further information, including the Zoom link on the day, can be found here. 

Yr 9 Service Initiative with Salvation Army Clothing Collection

Yr 9 students are running a clothing collection for the Salvation Army. They have challenged the rest of the school to collect four bins full of clothing in Weeks 3 and 4, and then students will be rewarded with a mufti-day in Week 5! Please send clothing items of all sizes for collection with your students and encourage them to donate themselves. Items can be dropped into the big blue collection bins at the front and back entrances in the morning or throughout the day at the entrance to the SSO. Please donate any gently worn items except stockings and underwear. Thank you in advance for your help and support.

Safer Internet Week

This week, students voted on the two topics they found were most important to explore in Yr 9: the gaming culture and gaming addiction as well as finding reliable sources and being able to identify fake news. Mrs Wendy Duckworth, Curriculum Support and eLearning Specialist and MB Tutor, presented to the Year Group with a brief overview of the importance of being safe online while students spent time discussing and exploring the gaming culture in Tutor classes.

Brett Lee presented a Cyber-Safety Webinar last year for parents. He shared further information for parents through his website. He offers courses for parents specifically outlining online concerns for students aged 15-19.   

eSafety Commissioner’s Targeted Advice for Parents of Teenagers 13-17

Teenagers can spend a lot of time online — instant messaging, sharing photos and videos, playing online games and using online chat and voice chat through social media services can be a big part of their social identity. 

It can be a great experience but there are risks. You can help equip them with the skills to manage these risks and deal with negative situations.

For teenagers, it is important to:

  • Keep things open. Have an ‘open door’ policy when devices are used in bedrooms, and check in with them regularly to see what they are viewing.
  • Stay engaged. Ask about their online experiences, who they are talking to online and whether they are having any issues.
  • Reinforce the importance of protecting their personal information and privacy. Remind them to create screen names or IDs that do not indicate gender, age, name or location and are not sexually suggestive. 
  • Equip them to use social media responsibly. Terms of use for each service cover the rules for using the site, the type of content that can be posted and any age requirements. Go through these with your child to make sure they understand what is expected of them.
  • Explain that linking social media accounts can make it easier for strangers to learn about them, so it is best to keep accounts separate. 
  • Encourage them to think before they post. They should ask questions like: Who might see this? Could it be misread by others? Am I creating the right image for myself socially and for school and work opportunities?
  • Remind them that they could expose themselves to risk by sharing sexually suggestive or intimate images of themselves or others. Check out the advice on sending nudes and sexting.
  • Keep building self-respect, empathy and resilience. In particular, be aware of the impact of social media on self-esteem. See good habits start young.
  • Help them understand online risks and what to do about them by exploring the young people section of this site.

Continue to review your rules as your child grows older

  • Be clear about where and when devices can be used — not at mealtimes, for example, or not until after chores or homework are done. 
  • Agree on a plan that fits into family routines — perhaps more screen time on the weekend when they have less schoolwork.
  • Refer to our advice about time online and online gaming if these are of concern.

Technology tips for parents of teenagers

  • Use parental controls appropriately for the age and experience of your child — see taming the technology. 
  • As they grow more independent and resilient, good open communication becomes more important than blocking or filtering content — realistically your teenager will become increasingly adept at getting around such parental controls anyway.
  • Check out Raising Children Network’s Healthy screen time and quality media choices: teenagers.

Ms Alissa Ynson
Yr 9 Advisor
9968 9863
aynson@redlands.nsw.edu.au