English

Term 3 has once again brought the challenges of remote learning – and the English teachers and students have demonstrated resilience and creativity in adapting to these challenging circumstances. Teachers have been using new features and resources like breakout rooms on Teams, Microsoft Forms and Padlet to foster engagement and collaboration. 

Here is an example of a Year 12 English collaborative brainstorm on Padlet. 

The English teachers have all been impressed with how students have continued to work diligently, especially as the term progresses (and assessment tasks get closer). Year 12 students are working particularly hard as they complete their final SACs and prepare for the exams. An optional weekly timed writing session across all Year 12 English subjects has had regular and increasing attendees, which will stand students in good stead as they begin their final revision. 

Junior English students have continued to develop foundational writing skills throughout Term 3. Year 7 and 8 students have been developing creative responses to the novels The City of Ember and Freedom Swimmer respectively, while the Year 9s and Year 10s have been building their text response essay writing on Animal Farm and Jasper Jones.  

We’d like to thank parents for their support of remote learning, and we hope to be back in the classroom soon. I hope you enjoy watching/reading some work samples from our wonderful BHHS students. 

Year 12 Oral Presentations 

Students were required to adopt a persona to persuade a specific audience of their stance.  Take a look at some fantastic entries, via the links below:

Claudia Harvey, 12B 

Letitia Chin, 12X 

Year 7 Fairytale Radio Play 

Students were required to write and record a radio play that adapted a fairy tale to a modern setting. Submission link here: Milly Foley, Freya Lin, Gareema Rijhwani, Isabella Hale, Tanishi Sharma 7D, Deeksha Rijhwani 7J 

Year 12 Literature Creative Writing 

Students were required to emulate the style of Ceridwen Dovey and write a short story that would fit in her collection ‘Only the Animals’. Students had to select a human conflict, at least one author and an animal, to reflect Dovey’s style and environmental concerns. The story is told by the animal after their death. 

Grace Zhang, 12Z 

Year 7 Creative Writing (Excerpt) 

Students were required to write a creative response in the world of their novel of study, The City of Ember. 

Looking down upon the crowds I plaster on a smile, though I hold no care for these people. They go about their lives and I go about mine. If anyone knew of the carefree life of a mayor, then surely, they would think we should eradicate such a position. Ember thrives on the equal contributions of all citizens. How fortunate I am to be above such nonsense.  

‘Mayor Rosalin?’ asks the perky voice of my assistant, Willow. 

I tilt my head in acknowledgement and after flourishing a wave for the crowd, I turn to enter my office.  

“How would you like your tea today?” Willow inquires, in her endlessly optimistic way. Sometimes I wonder how I could ever dislike her. But alike my father and all mayors before him, I must know that the people of Ember are not worth my attention. However, my smile is not forced this time as I reply, asking for my usual. Willow skips out of my office, her auburn hair blazing behind her.  

Turning to face my untouched stack of paperwork, I sigh. Sign here tick there, and I’m done. But I struggle to focus on the simple task in front of me. My mind keeps straying, it keeps wondering. Why do mayors have to see themselves as better than their people? What has anyone done to put us on such different levels, just because I was born into a position? Of course, I tell myself each day that I am the mayor and no one is as powerful as me. That might be true, but power does not make me better than my citizens.  

Pulling me from my thoughts, Willow renters the room, this time holding a steaming cup. Her appearance never fails to lift my spirits. I am about to thank her but suddenly the lights flicker out. Rooted in place, my words are swallowed up by the darkness. It eats away at me slowly, as I wait helpless.  

In all my five years as mayor; in all my twenty two years of life, the darkness has never failed to scare me. Even here in my office, where I know all is well, I still fear the nothingness around me. I am the youngest mayor Ember has ever seen, but not because my father stepped down from his position early.  - Athira Menon, 7F