Year 9

End of Term

I want to congratulate and thank Yr 9 for a wonderful term. I have been impressed with their efforts across several different dimensions of school life this term. As I believe Note Day each week highlights, the sheer breadth of cocurricular activities Year 9 take part in, with many also having additional musical, dance or sporting commitments externally is quite something to behold. Adding the increasing academic demands of Stage 5, and building the skills to navigate and manage greater workload, it’s no wonder that many students look like they need a break to rest and recharge their batteries. 

I wish you all a safe and restful two weeks.  

Reminder’s About the Start of Term 2

Students are reminded that full winter uniform is required, especially as we have an ANZAC Day service first day back. 

Battle of the Bands

On Monday evening, several of our talented Year 9 musicians competed in the annual Battle of the Bands in the Music Hub. The theme this year was Classic Rock. 

Well done to: 

  • The Unnamed – Harrison Cairns, Maddie Dunnet, Melissa Franco and Zoe Potter 
  • Send it – Fred Hart, James Morris, Sahara Nicholas and Loukas Veryinis 
  • The Pentagons – Alice Thorne, Zachary Griffin, Will Raymond and Max Taylor 
  • Blend – Lucas Law, Bowen Shiao, Derek Hu, Alex Fenton, Alessandro Scali and Chloe Scamps 
  • Isabella Solgaard who performed Yellow by Coldplay, in the unplugged category

Subject Focus – English

This week in the English classroom, Year 9 moved onto a new unit on Sonnets after wrapping up their study of the indigenous dystopian novel, Interrogation of Ashala Wolf. The sonnets unit is designed as a prelude to looking at Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in Term 2.   

9O moved out to the Fahl Garden to prepare a dramatic reading of Petrarch’s Sonnet CIV, exploring the shift in tone between the octet and the sestet. Half the class were assigned the octet, whilst the other half were assigned the sestet and students found a new-found appreciation for Petrarch’s sonnet form as they battled it out poetry slam style in the Fahl. 

Meanwhile, 9Y explored the enduring value of the sonnet form by finding modern-day songs about the universal theme of the pain of love. Results saw Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars being dubbed modern-day versions of Francesco Petrarch, with a surprising number of similarities between the artists’ compositions. 

It was fantastic to see the students engaging with literature in dynamic and creative ways and the English Department looks forward to diving into Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with similar enthusiasm next term! 

Year 9 Learning

This week the Dean of Studies (7-10), Anna Rolon, joined 9R in several of their core classes. It was wonderful to see such a dynamic and diverse range of learning happening. Much fun was had with fractured sonnets in Ms Peschardt’s English class, students participated in informative and mature discussions around consent in Ms Berkeley’s PDHPE class and learnt many interesting facts and applied critical thinking skills around Communist China in Mr Skinner’s History class. Whilst the learning and the range of activities were interesting and varied, the real highlight were the brilliant students of 9R! Their enthusiasm, maturity, and eagerness to dive into learning was on full display!  Students who stood out received Recognition of Growth RADS for their efforts. As we move into another rich term of learning after the holidays, Ms Rolon looks forward to shadowing more Stage 4 and 5 classes in the weeks to come.

Mr Tobias Horan
Yr 9 Advisor
9968 9872
thoran@redlands.nsw.edu.au