English News
Beginning Of Term 2:
English Department
The English department has been working steadily with all year levels, covering key curriculum content while setting clear learning goals for students. Across classes, students have been building their skills and understanding through a range of assessment tasks that allow them to apply new knowledge in meaningful ways.
In Year 7, students have been reading and discussing the novel Coraline. Through learning how to annotate a text and identify key elements such as plot, themes, symbols and character development, students are strengthening their understanding of the story. This work also supports them in recognising the author’s purpose and the choices made to shape meaning.
In Year 8, students have been reading and unpacking the class text Holes by Louis Sachar. They have been exploring the key ideas and messages within the novel, with a strong focus on thinking more deeply about how these ideas connect to the real world. Themes such as fairness, chance, luck and racism have sparked thoughtful discussion, helping students broaden their perspectives and reflect on the world around them.
In Year 9, students have been studying Runner by Robert Newton, an Australian realistic fiction novel set in the slums of Richmond after World War I. Students have enjoyed making connections between real historical settings and the fictional narrative. The novel explores themes of family, hope, determination and the desire to succeed, and students have been linking these ideas to real-life situations and personal experiences.
In Year 10, students have been reading the Australian novel Catching Teller Crow. This powerful text follows a father grieving the loss of his daughter, while still being able to communicate with her spirit. The novel explores complex themes including racism, storytelling, truth, and the consequences of power and its misuse. Students are encouraged to engage in close reading, and revisiting the text is highly beneficial as they prepare for upcoming learning tasks and assessment pieces.
Adam Myors
Head of English