English Faculty
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It’s been a term of novel studies for all students in Year 7 to 10 and one full of curiosity, investigation and creativity. As our topics conclude, students are to be congratulated on their engagement in class throughout the past ten weeks.
On Friday 9 June 2023, a number of students competed in the Henry Kendall High School Junior Public Speaking Competition. Each student presented a five-minute prepared speech and they all spoke eloquently, covering a range of topics, from diversity to the gender pay gap. They were then tasked with completing a two-minute impromptu speech with only five minutes of preparation time. The adjudicators had an extremely difficult job in choosing who to select to represent the school at the Central Coast final next term, such was the quality of all the speeches. Congratulations to Pavani Pathak and Henry McGavin who will now move on to the next stage of the competition.
On Monday 8 May, two Year 10 students competed in the Central Coast final of the Plain English Speaking Competition - a state-wide public speaking competition for students aged 15 and over. The students presented an 8-minute prepared speech, and a 3-minute impromptu speech where the topic was given minutes before they were to present it. Lily Arendse spoke articulately about the importance of ANZAC Day in her prepared speech and Ethan Hull spoke passionately about respect and First Nations culture. The impromptu speech topic was 'Making a Choice'. Despite both speaking eloquently and receiving positive feedback from the adjudicator, neither student was selected to move on to the next round. Being the youngest competitors in the final means that they have a couple more years to refine their oratory skills. Well done, Lily and Ethan!
Congratulations to our Stage 5 debating ‘A’ Team who defeated Lisarow High School in the first round of the Premier's Debating Challenge today. The topic was 'that we should install CCTV surveillance in all classrooms.' The team argued the negative case passionately with lots of detail and many thoughtful examples. Well done Lily Arendse, Lily Els, Sydney Andrews and Madeleine Parker.
Miss Melissa Jackson has been working with an inspired group of budding journalists as part of the Bellbird Literary Magazine initiative. The team are currently putting together the first issue, which will feature a range of work from students across the school. Thank you to Miss Jackson in creating and supporting this opportunity for our students.
These upcoming winter holidays are an important time for Year 12 students to revise previous texts and topics in preparation for their upcoming Trial HSC Exams. Year 12 students are encouraged to access past HSC questions and seek feedback from their English teachers in this critical time period.
This is also an important time for our Year 10 students who are currently deciding on their Stage 6 Subject pattern for their HSC. It was great to see so many parents and caregivers at the Subject Selection Evenings these past few weeks and I encourage students to seek out their current English teacher for advice, should they still be unsure as to which strand of English to choose for 2024.
Blake Wawrzyk
Head Teacher English
Courage to Care
During Week 9, Year 8 attended a presentation from Courage to Care to complement the study of their English novel, Hana’s Suitcase. During the presentation, they were privileged enough to listen to Judy, a Holocaust survivor who shared her moving story of survival. Students were able to ask her questions and gain an understanding of how she maintained a sense of hope through her ordeal. After this presentation students then worked in small groups with a volunteer from B’nai B’rith to learn how becoming an upstander can change their lives in positive ways. They were given the tools to stand up and support victims of bullying, discrimination, and racism in their own lives.
Special thanks to the volunteers from B’nai B’rith in Kensington, who conducted this presentation without cost to the school.
Mel Bailey
English Teacher