Year 9

Key Dates

Swimming Carnival

The Secondary School Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 20 February at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. This is a compulsory school event that contributes to House and school spirit. As this event is held off-site, it is a requirement that all parents and carers login to Engage and grant online permission. Please keep your eyes open for online permissions. If you are having difficulty accessing Engage, please email iSupport. When information is shared via the Sports Department, please carefully familiarise yourself with this information, particularly regarding correct attire and traveling to/from the venue. The program can be found on Redlands Pulse.

School Photographs

Sibling photographs will be taken by Advanced Life on Wednesday 11 March in Redlands Hall from 7.15am. Any Junior School siblings are welcome to have their photo taken on 11 March if they are unable to attend the Junior Campus Sibling Photo day on 21 February. Students are required to wear blazers.

Order envelopes are available from the Secondary School Office and orders for photography packages can also be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our School Order Code: NWL 4NR ETY. Portrait and group package orders are due by photography day. Should you have any queries concerning school photographs or online ordering, please direct them to enquiries@advancedlife.com.au.

Safer Internet Day At Home

This year, Safer Internet Day was celebrated on Tuesday. The theme this week is Together for a better internet and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is encouraging parents to mark the day by starting family conversations about online safety. You can download our Safer Internet Day resources at Safer Internet Day and use them to start the chat about online safety with your family. 

Yr 9 Parent Events

Thank you to our Yr 9 Parent Reps (Erin, Tiff, Melinda and Suzie) for coordinating the organisation of a number of upcoming parent events for Yr 9 families. Events include coffee mornings and family picnics. Please see their email from Redlands class of 2023 (sent Monday 10 February) for dates, locations and times. 

Twilight In the Piazza

The Redlands Parents and Friends Association warmly welcomes all parents across all areas of the school to Twilight in the Piazza on Friday 21 February. This is a wonderful opportunity for new and existing families to make connections with our wider community. Bookings can be made here.

Mobile Phone Usage

Students have been reminded of our Technology and Mobile Phone Policy (Student Planner, p.27). Yr 9 students are aware that if they are using their mobile phone without permission it will be removed and stored in the Secondary School Office for the day, available for collection at 3.20pm. Should a student’s phone be confiscated for a second time, the student will need to hand this into the Secondary School Office each morning for five days. The phone will be stored securely and can be collected each afternoon.

Positive Parenting Tips for Healthy Child Development (Teenagers 15-17 years of age)

Our teenagers are hitting the height of adolescence, either turning 14 or 15 this year. This is a time of changes for how teenagers think, feel and interact with others, and how their bodies grow. By the end of this stage, most girls will be physically mature and most will have completed puberty. Boys might still be maturing physically during this time. Your teen might have concerns about her body size, shape or weight. Eating disorders also can be common, especially among girls. During this time, your teen is developing their unique personality and opinions. Relationships with friends are still important, yet your teen will have other interests as they develop a more clear sense of who they are. This is also an important time to prepare for more responsibility; many teenagers start working. SchoolsTV offers a simple fact sheet on what to expect in the year/s ahead.

Reminder! Fiji Service Learning Opportunity

This year in the October school holidays, students from Yr 9 will have the opportunity to travel to Fiji and immerse themselves in Fijian life. This is the fourth year that Redlands has partnered with Rustic Pathways to provide this opportunity for Yr 9 students. The trip is split into two sections. The first is spent in a highlands village, where students are accommodated via a homestay program and engage in a range of cultural immersion and service activities. Following this, students return to the coast at Rustic Pathways Momi Bay Base. During this time, students work with a Marine Biologist to assist and learn about environmental management of the surrounding reef and coastal area. This program gives students a wide range of experiences, whilst developing their understanding of the Fijian culture. It is designed to both educate and challenge students, helping them to embrace the concept of being a global citizen. Sign up needs to be completed shortly. Any questions should be quickly directed to Mr Gray (Dean of Activities). 

Ms Marita Jansons 
Yr 9 Advisor
mjansons@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9819