History/Languages

The start of 2026 has been productive and engaging, with students settling confidently into their studies. Classrooms have been filled with thoughtful discussion, curiosity, and a strong commitment to academic excellence. 

Welcome to New Staff

A warm welcome to Mr Rob Lockett, who is teaching Stage 6 Ancient History and Stage 5 History, and Mr Jordan Kuzmanovski, who is teaching Stage 6 Modern History and Stage 5 History in 2026. We are fortunate to have their passion for teaching and history within our faculty. 

This year also marks an exciting development, with Stage 6 Studies of Religion I and Stage 5 Psychology and Philosophy joining the History faculty. We look forward to the enriching interdisciplinary connections this will bring. 

2025 HSC Successes 

Congratulations to the 2025 HSC cohort on their outstanding achievements. 

History Extension:

•  All students achieved a Band 5 or Band 6. 

• Special congratulations to Nathan O and Abdullah B, who both received an exceptional mark of 47/50.

   

Modern History:

• 12 Band 6 results (26% of the cohort) 
• 40% of students achieved a Band 5 

Society and Culture:

• 62% of students acheived a Band 5 or Band 6
• Special congratulations to Christopher K for achieveing a Band 6 in his Personal Interest Project (PIP) 

These results reflect the dedication of our students and the commitment of our teaching staff. 

2026 Topics of Study 

Year 9 and 10 students begin the year exploring the Industrial Revolution — a key turning point in the creation of the modern world. 

Students are investigating: 

• Revolutionary inventions such as the steam engine and spinning machinery 
• Changes to the economy and social structure 
• The rapid growth of cities 

• Working conditions in early factories 

   

If you have the opportunity, ask your son about the inventions that transformed industry and how life changed for workers during this period. 

Year 9 Elective History- Ancient Rome 

Year 9 Elective History students have begun their exploration of Ancient Rome. The boys are particularly enjoying the mythology surrounding the founding of Rome, including the legend of Romulus and Remus, and learning about the key Roman gods and goddesses. 

Students will soon investigate a particular deity in depth — a wonderful conversation starter at home! 

Year 10 Elective History- Tutankhamun's Tomb

Year 10 Elective History students are studying the discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb and examining the life and death of the young pharaoh. 

This fascinating unit focuses on: 

• The 1922 discovery by Howard Carter 
• Archaeological methods 

• How artefacts help historians reconstruct the past 

   

Students are developing important historical skills by analysing evidence and learning how archaeologists interpret material remains. 

We look forward to an exciting and enriching year ahead in History and Languages, and we thank families for their continued support of our students’ academic journeys. 

Languages Faculty News- Japanese 

Congratulations to all students who sat the HSC for Japanese last year. We are incredibly proud of the dedication, perseverance and passion they demonstrated throughout their study of the language. In particular, congratulations to Hugh Nakamura on his outstanding achievement of 2nd place in the state for Japanese Extension. Achieving a state rank is an exceptional accomplishment and reflects Hugh’s sustained effort and commitment to excellence.  

This term, we are delighted to welcome our Volunteer Assistant Language Teacher, Satomi Funayama, to the Languages Faculty. Satomi-sensei has been working closely with our senior classes, providing invaluable support with HSC speaking preparation and helping students refine their conversational fluency and pronunciation.  

We are also excited to welcome our new Year 8 cohort as they begin their journey in learning Japanese. Commencing a new language is both a challenge and an adventure, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and curiosity in the classroom. From mastering Hiragana to exploring aspects of Japanese culture, they have embraced the experience with positivity and energy.  

We welcome back our Year 9 and Year 10 Elective Japanese students and commend them on their continued commitment to language learning. It has been wonderful to see them return with enthusiasm and a willingness to further develop their linguistic skills and cultural understanding. We look forward to seeing their confidence and proficiency continue to grow throughout the year.  

A reminder to our senior students that HSC Writing Workshops with Ms Tran and Ms Nagata are held every Tuesday at lunchtime. These sessions provide targeted feedback and valuable guidance for students preparing for HSC assessments and examinations. 

Elective students seeking additional support are also encouraged to attend Homework Club, where Mr Sano, Ms Tran and a range of excellent student mentors are available to provide support with their Japanese learning.  

We look forward to another exciting and successful year in Japanese!

 

 

Alyce Peruzzi 

Head Teacher History and Languages