Learning and Teaching 

2024 Academic Extension Program- Humanities 

The Academic Extension Program is a special initiative offered to students in Years 8-9 whose results indicate that they are consistently achieving strong academic results in particular subjects and are ready to be challenged further. This is a new initiative the college has begun which started in the first week of Term 2. Beginning in term 2 allowed for the collection and analysis of student data to help inform students who would be invited to participate. The data used included: School subject assignments, PAT Reading Tests, PAT Maths Tests, Maths Pathways and NAPLAN Data. 

The purpose of the program is to acknowledge consistently high-achieving students and to encourage like-minded students to engage in the opportunity to deepen their skills, knowledge, and critical and creative thinking. 

The Program will see students participate in a double-period session within the school day in Terms 2, 3, and 4. The subjects facilitating the program are: English, Maths, Science and Humanities. 

Week 1 of Term 2 saw the Humanities session run with the Learning Leader of Humanities, Mr. McCarthy. Students were challenged to think about how a historical source could be used to predict when and where it was from. They were also asked to write either a journal entry, conversation, or letter home from the perspective of a World War One soldier, nurse, parent or relative communicating their feelings, thoughts, knowledge, and overall experience of war. Students needed to focus on the accurate use of chronology, use of historical sources as evidence, and the overall historical significance of the war. They all did so well! Below is a piece written by year 9 students Tara Van Den Heuvel and Abigail Van Rossen. 

21st August, 1915

Dear Mummy, Daddy, Sandy and Mildred,

I am well. I got some delicious, condensed milk today. It was made by the lovely chefs. I met a lovely lady today, her name was Cherise. She hand made my beautiful biscuits; they were even designed on. Sandy, do tell me; how is my beautiful Mildred doing? I hope she has said a few more words recently, as she is developing quite slowly. She is four years old, and shall be starting school next year, am I correct? Mummy, how is Grandpapa, I hope I can see him before his health deteriorates. Are his ulcers any better? I heard there is an outbreak of influenza in Brisbane. I hope all is well. As for me, the war is very very rampant, the weather is unpredictable, and the rain is filling up all the trenches. My roommates stink up the bedroom with the filth from their shoes. Our janitor has been diagnosed with typhus so the rooms have been collecting quite a bit of muck recently. My best mate, Bobby has been stuck in the trenches shooting off the enemy for the past 3 days. I feel for him massively, as he has not had a single break since he started. Poor Bobby. Please send your prayers. Apparently, there are plans to send all the rotational soldiers home for a break. I hope that happens as I am fifth on the rotational list, I would love to see my Mildred. I must be going, I have to go release Bobby from duties, I will send another letter soon my dearest family. 

Lots of love and kisses, 

Eggie (Edgar Doyle)