English
Speculative Fiction - Year 8
Our Year 8 students have recently begun an engaging unit on Speculative Fiction, and it has been wonderful to see their creativity and critical thinking in action.
Speculative Fiction is an umbrella term for stories that imagine worlds different from our own. This includes genres such as Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Dystopian fiction. These texts focus on a specific aspect of our current society (such as: our dependence on technology or equality) and then change it in a different context. What if we all lived in a world where everyone was forced to be equal? The stories then speculate, explore and interrogate how humanity would behave in these conditions.
Studying Speculative Fiction is highly valuable for students. It encourages them to think imaginatively while also analysing real-world issues from new perspectives. Through these texts, students explore themes such as ethics, power and human responsibility. Importantly, the unit strengthens key English skills including comprehension, inference, vocabulary development, and writing. It also supports the development of creativity, problem-solving, and empathy — all essential capabilities for 21st-century learners.
As part of the unit, students have been carefully planning their own Speculative Fiction narratives. They have been developing original concepts by brainstorming “what if” scenarios, designing unique settings, and creating believable characters with clear motivations. Students have used planning tools such as storyboards, plot diagrams, and world-building templates to structure their ideas.
The benefits for participating students have been significant. They are demonstrating increased confidence in their writing, greater willingness to take creative risks, and improved ability to structure extended narratives. It has been particularly pleasing to see students collaborating, sharing ideas, and thinking a little more deeply about their world and how they interact with it.
Debating 2026
Our students are about to begin preparing to represent Applecross SHS school in the upcoming Western Australian Debating League. Participation in debating provides a powerful platform for students to extend their learning well beyond the classroom.
Through the debating process, students develop essential communication skills. They learn how to structure persuasive arguments, speak confidently in front of an audience, and respond thoughtfully under pressure. These skills are highly transferable and support success across all subject areas, particularly in English.
Debating also strengthens critical thinking. Students must analyse complex topics, evaluate evidence, and consider multiple perspectives before forming their arguments. This encourages deeper intellectual engagement and helps students become more discerning consumers of information—an increasingly important skill in today’s media-rich world.
Equally important are the personal growth opportunities. Students build resilience as they learn to think on their feet and handle challenging questions. They also develop teamwork skills by collaborating closely with their debate partners to plan and refine their cases.
Participation in the Western Australian Debating League also fosters a strong sense of school pride and community connection. Students have the opportunity to meet like-minded peers from other schools, experience healthy competition, and represent our school with integrity and mutual respect.
We look forward to supporting our debaters throughout the season and thank families for their ongoing encouragement. Debating is a demanding but deeply rewarding experience, and we are excited to see our students rise to the challenge.
Macbeth Play
“Something wicked this way comes...” – Macbeth
Students studying Literature and in Year 10 English Extension will be provided with the opportunity to attend the Grad’s Theatre Company’s version of Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s most gripping and enduring tales, later this month.
In this new production, held at UWA’s New Fortune Theatre, the question of fate versus free will takes centre stage. From the moment the witches deliver their prophecies, students will be drawn into the unnerving tension. Macbeth raises questions such as: was Macbeth an honourable man who tragically succumbed to temptation? Or was he a cruel figure repressing his true nature and waiting only for the right excuse to act? Or was he a man who recognised the darkness inside him and loathed it... until a chorus of voices emboldened him to unleash it?
It's a question that feels all too modern. Macbeth’s journey shows us how easy it is to be swept up by radicalisation – how validating it feels when others echo what we feel entitled to, how quickly accountability is stripped away, and how devastating the consequences can be. His downfall is a stark reminder of the need to interrogate our own beliefs and of our power to consciously choose the kind of person we want to be.
The New Fortune Theatre is the only permanent replica of an Elizabethan theatre in the southern hemisphere. It offers audiences the unique chance to experience Shakespeare in a setting that evokes the atmosphere of its original performances while the actors inject the text with a fresh interpretation and contemporary energy.
Book Club
We are excited to be bringing book club back for its third year in 2026. Our first meeting will be on Thursday, 19th March, 3:00 pm in the Library, and will finish at 3:45. This term, we will be reading 'The Martian' by Andy Weir and revisiting a popular book club text, 'Scar Town' by Tristan Banks, for newcomers.
Students love the book club and have been super keen to get going again this year. It is a great way for students to engage with reading in an informal and relaxed setting.
We will be meeting Thursday afternoon, week 2 and week 7 for the rest of the year. All students are welcome, as long as they have let their parents know where they will be ahead of time!
Greg Shenker, English Teacher