Curriculum & Pedagogy

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What's been happening in English?

We’ve had an exciting start to Term 3 in English. The Year 7s have begun book clubs and are learning how to engage in meaningful conversations about characters. 

 

The Library has just received shipment of brand new copies of ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ to help our Year 8's extend their conversation and analytical skills. The Year 9s are enjoying their film study unit, and have been overheard discussing the film in the yard at lunchtime. The Year 10s have been learning about the art of persuasion, while also conferencing with their teachers about which English option to choose for VCE. Speaking of VCE, our Year 11s have begun comparing texts, and lastly our Year 12s have been preparing for their Oral Presentations.  

 

Students from Years 7-10 are also continuing to write regularly in their writer’s notebooks, with several teachers collecting more books for those who have filled all 148 pages. Such passion for writing has prompted the introduction of a writing club, which has a growing membership, similar to our reading club. 

 

I encourage parents and guardians to ask their teens, ‘What did you write about today in English’  English teachers are a pretty excitable bunch and nothing gives us greater joy than reading these interesting snippets of writing from our students, and hearing how they have developed their ideas. We hope you find the same enjoyment from these conversations as much as we do.

 

Caitey Wilton

English Learning Area Leader

 

eSmart Update

At the end of last term, our Year 7 classes began learning about the eSmart initiative. As mentioned in a previous newsletter, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s eSmart initiative provides resources and support to schools to help them educate students about being positive digital citizens, discussing topics like cyberbullying, digital wellbeing and interacting positively in online environments.

 

In class, the Year 7’s discussed working definitions for cyberbullying and digital wellbeing, investigating different scenarios and how they might support themselves or their friends if they are ever effected by these issues. They used these ideas to create posters about these topics, providing tips and strategies that can support people through these issues, such as not having their phone with them in bed to make sure they have a good nights sleep, or who they can talk to at school if they, or a friend, are being cyberbullied. 

 

Attached are some examples from 7D. These posters will be put up around the school in the coming days. This term, the Year 7s will continue to learn about being safe online, while Year 8 and 9 will also begin their discussions on prevention of cyberbullying.

 

Many of the discussions in Year 7 revolved around the effects of gaming on their mood and sleep patterns. They talked about how games can be fun for a while, but some get frustrated with them easier than others, or they find themselves having negative interactions with other people through their games. 

 

eSmart conveniently recently posted an article called A Gamers Guide (esmart.org.au) (click the link to read it) which helps parents and kids understand the positives of playing games, as well as how to reduce the negative impacts that can occur.

Zuhair Murad & Dion Sauiluma
Zuhair Murad & Dion Sauiluma
Ruth Pacquing Bridget Cooper Banin Juma
Ruth Pacquing Bridget Cooper Banin Juma

 

William Lees

Director of eLearning & Resource Centres

 

 

 

 

Stacie Lundberg

Curriculum & Pedagogy