Faculty News
LAF
Our senior students in Year 11 and 12 have enjoyed returning to their work experience programs once a week. We are lucky enough to have the support of the local community in providing real life experiences for our students prior to leaving school. We currently have students working at Woolworths, Budget Petrol Mechanic's workshop, and Disability Services Australia (DSA). As a result of this program, we have a number of students who are fully independent in using public transport and getting themselves to and from their workplace. We look forward to continuing to forge positive relationships with key personnel and agencies to expand our work experience program so that we can offer a diverse range of opportunities to suit the needs of our individual students.
It was with much pride and happiness that we saw four of our students graduate and participate in the Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony and Formal. Congratulations to Kurt, Georgio, Nicholas and Christopher. We are so proud of your achievements and we already miss the positive influence you had on your peers. Good luck in all your future endeavors!
English
Year 7
Year 7 have recently finished writing their own TED talks on the theme of failure and why it is important. They have investigated some famous people, the failures they experienced in their early life and the lessons they learned from those failures. Students were encouraged to reflect on their own experiences of failure and what they have learnt from them. Through a Growth Mindset perspective, students have learnt to understand the importance and significance of learning to persevere and learn new skills through making mistakes and learning from those mistakes.
Year 8
Year 8 have just completed a unit on Prejudice, Discrimination and Injustice through a close study of either Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah, Hana’s Suitcase by Karen Levine or Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin. Students analysed how prejudice, discrimination and injustice were represented in their class text, learning to identify how are ideas are represented through plot, characterisation and language techniques. They have spent the last week presenting their speeches to their class.
Year 9
Year 9 have just completed a close study of the novel A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. In this novel, students learn to identify the symbolic portrayal of the feelings that can result through grief and loss or other difficult circumstances in life. In their assessment task, they composed their own imaginative text and reflection statement explaining how they used language techniques to represent their own ideas. Year 9 are now working on a short persuasive writing unit in preparation for their upcoming NAPLAN tests early next term.
Year 10
In English, Year 10 are currently studying visual literacy, learning about how a range of visual techniques, such as colour symbolism, body language and vectors, can be used to convey complex ideas, messages, and social commentary. Students are using their knowledge of visual techniques discussed in class to evaluate and criticise advertisements.
Year 11
The Year 11 Standard and Advanced English classes are finalising their study of their common module: Reading to Write. In this module, students examine several short imaginative, discursive and persuasive texts, learning to identify the elements of writing in each text that work together to create meaning and effect. This includes the use of a wide variety of language techniques, sentence structures, higher-order vocabulary and the ways in which these are used to create a sense of distinctive voice for each composer. Their assessment task required students to compose their own imaginative text and reflection statement in response to a given stimulus around the concept of human identity.
Year 12
In English Standard, Year 12 have begun their studies of Module A: Language, Identity and Culture. Students have been investigating the influences of cultural backgrounds on the formation of identity. They are currently analysing a collection of poetry by Asian-Australian poets, such as Maureen Ten's Translucent Jade.
In English Advanced, Year 12 have begun their studies of Module A: Textual Conversations. In this module, students are concurrently studying Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Margaret Atwood’s reimagining of The Tempest in her novel Hag-seed. Students are learning to identify and engage with the complexity of the textual ‘conversations’ that emerge from the interplay of texts with each other.