Year 7 - 8

Year 7 & 8 – Off to a flying start!

It has been great to see our Year 7 & 8 students making a positive start to the year. We have welcomed a large number of new faces to Year 8 in 2019, as well as seeing our Year 7 cohort busy establishing their new routines at secondary college. Although this time is exciting and new, there may be a few “brave faces” that mask underlying feelings of still being unsure how it all works and getting books and materials organised in their lockers. Some useful tips for parents to open up a discussion with your child might be to ask:

• Have you got a copy of your timetable stuck on the inside of your locker door?
• Can I help you make a list of what you need to take to each class to put in your locker?
• Have you given Mr Jones a spare key for your lock on your locker?
• What are the names of new friends you’ve made in class?
• Write a list of positives and negatives of Year 7 so far and discuss the list.
• Do you know where Mr Jones’ and the Wellbeing Teams’ offices are located?
• Do you have all the correct uniform items? If not, please write a note so a pass may be issued?

We are determined and passionate about making your child’s transition to secondary school as enjoyable and smooth as possible. I invite all parents to make contact with me if there are any concerns you would like to raise concerning your child.

Randall Jones

Year 7 & 8 Year Level Leader

Year 7 Howman’s Gap Camp – March 20-22

The Year 7’s have the opportunity to participate in three-days of outdoor adventures and fun at the Howman’s Gap camp, coming up in Week 8 of this term. Please ensure your expression of interest forms have been returned with the deposit to the General Office. More information will follow shortly.

For some families, they may be eligible for the Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF). This provides a sum of money per year, per child that can be used to off-set expenses such as this camp. If you believe that you may be eligible, please contact the General Office to check your criteria and complete the relevant paperwork. More information about CSEF is located in this newsletter.

Year 7 Illuminate

Our Year 7 students have embraced our Illuminate Independent Reading Program beautifully and can be seen immersed in a book each morning. Students have visited the Fiction Reading Room to select a range of books which they feel will be of interest. They have then used the 'Five Finger Rule' to help identify if their current book is just right.

Teachers are now beginning to complete one-on-one conferences with each student in order to get to know them as readers and work on establishing personalised reading goals to help support individualised growth. 

All students completed their PAT Reading testing last week. This has provided the school and students with the benchmark data that will help us track their reading journey.

Year 7 Science

One of the most exciting aspects of commencing secondary schooling is entering the Science Labs and to begin conducting experiments.

Over the last two weeks, Year 7 students have been completing important Occupational Health and Safety education, culminating in the issuing of their Bunsen Burner licences. Students had to demonstrate a range of knowledge and skill of the safe operation of this vital piece of the scientist's equipment.