McKinnonNEWS

ENGLISH

WELL DONE TO OUR WONDERFUL WORDSMITHS!

There are many extension and enhancement opportunities provided throughout the year by the English faculty. 

 

Our own, monthly, literary competition, Writer of the Month (WOTM), is one example. This competition runs throughout terms 1, 2 and 3 and culminates in the announcement of our Writer of the Year prior to the Year 12s embarking on their end of year exams. Detailed entry requirements can be found on the WOTM Google site which all students have access to. 

CONGRATULATIONS to February’s Writer of the Month winners!

Well done to the many talented students who entered Writer of the Month in February. HUGE congratulations to our winners: Sophie Yu(Year 11),Shreya Panwar(Year 10),Isabel Halvorsen(Year 9),Jade Pang(Year 9),Tharunika Jagadeesh Prasad(Year 8),Lilly Lindsay(Year 7),Mitali Pardeshi(Year 7) and Zoe Tan(Year 7). 

Sophie
Shreya
Isabel
Jade
Tharunika
Lilly
Mitali
Zoe
Sophie
Shreya
Isabel
Jade
Tharunika
Lilly
Mitali
Zoe

These students have each won either a $50 (Senior) or a $30 (Junior) voucher from Benn’s Books and gained 50 points for their house. 

 

Their terrific pieces can be read on the WOTM Google site HERE (Note: parents can access the site via their child’s McKinnon account).

 

Entries for the March WOTM competition need to be shared with students’ English or Literature teacher no later than 3:30pm on Monday 24 March.

EXTERNAL LITERARY COMPETITIONS

In 2025, there will also be numerous opportunities for students to participate in a range of literary competitions on a state and national level.

The ‘What Matters?’ competition is one current example. It’s been fantastic to see so many students preparing their entries for ‘What Matters?’.

 

This is a great opportunity for students to write about a subject they are passionate about … and win $1500!  

  • Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose, up to 600 words.

  • Students can read more detailed entry requirements here: Competition Guidelines for What Matters? 

  • In addition to the $1500 prize, there are category prizes for years 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and the opportunity to be flown to Canberra to spend the day at Parliament House shadowing political speechwriters and journalists in the Press Gallery.

  • The full list of prizes can be viewed here PRIZES

  • Students can browse the website to find out more about the competition: What Matters?

  • Entries for ‘What Matters?’ are due by: Friday 16 May, 2025.

More extension opportunities will be made available on students’ news feeds throughout the year. I encourage all students to embrace these challenges, and to celebrate the successes of their fellow students.

 

Keep up the fantastic writing, McKinnon students!

 

Liz Pentland 

English Teacher

NAPLAN PREPARATION

Years 7 and 9 students have been busy preparing for the upcoming NAPLAN tests. The literacy-related tests are Writing, Reading and Conventions of Language. Students and families can learn more about the tests and complete practice tasks through the NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site. 

 

It is important that students feel confident and comfortable using the software for these tests. A reminder that students will need to bring charged Chromebooks and plugin headphones (not wireless).

 

Sam Florence

English Key Learning Area Manager