Class

Tales from the English Room 

With Mrs Packham and Her Amazing Students!

It’s been an enjoyable and busy term so far in the English room! The students have been diving into all sorts of interesting texts, getting stuck into discussions, and showing off their creative and analytical skills.

Our Year 11s kicked things off with their submissions for Heywire—a fantastic initiative by ABC Radio and ABC Rural that gives young people from regional, rural and remote areas a chance to share their stories on a national stage. It’s all about giving a voice to those who are often unheard and helping students drive projects that support their peers, schools, communities and themselves. The students have been listening to a range of winning stories from past years and have created posters all about their own personalities and traits. They’re now working on writing their personal autobiographies. Some very interesting and entertaining pieces of work are in the making!

At the same time, our Year 12s have been working through a unit called Once Upon a Time - reading a range of fictional extracts and looking closely at how authors use language to shape meaning and influence the reader. They have focused on how writers build characters, create tension, and guide the audience’s response through their word choices.  The students then put their learning into action by writing their own short story with a strong focus on characterisation. It has been fantastic to see their creativity shine as they have developed believable characters through dialogue, actions and descriptive detail to capture their reader’s interest. 

Both groups have shown a strong commitment to their learning this term, with every student working to the best of their abilities. It has been wonderful to see their confidence continue to grow as they challenge themselves and take pride in their progress.