ENGLISH

ENDING ONE YEAR AND STARTING ANOTHER

It feels surreal to be writing the final English newsletter submission for 2024. It’s truly been a fabulous year in English this year. We celebrated our first Book Week which was a joyous celebration of reading engagement. The English teachers explored new and exciting methods of teaching reading comprehension in the English classroom and saw some fascinating results with our students. We watched our students go from strength to strength harnessing their writing, speaking, reading and listening skills in the classroom. It’s been a heck of a year! 

Recently, our induction programs have taken place as students in Years 7-9 have been introduced to their new English courses for 2025. The behaviour and efforts of our English students at this late stage in the year has been very impressive. Each year in English brings about new opportunities to learn and improve and we are really excited to work with our new students next year. 

To our parents and students worried about missing the academic rigour of school over the holidays, why not consider getting involved in the Big Summer Read? The Big Summer Read is a program run in partnership with Public Libraries Victoria. The program is designed to keep children reading over the school break and arrest the ‘summer slide’ in literacy when children are not exposed to reading at school. 

Students just need to sign up and log a minimum of ten books over the summer period to go into the running for some amazing prizes. Very minimal information is asked to sign up. 

For more information and to access the registration link, please see Glen Eira Library’s website: https://library.gleneira.vic.gov.au/BSR.

Over the holidays I sincerely encourage all students, staff and the wider McKinnon community to engage in reading. Not only are there many cognitive benefits improving brain connectivity and increasing vocabulary and comprehension, but it’s such an enjoyable pastime. I wish for everyone to immerse themselves in a good book these holidays.

Finally, I am very pleased to say that Sam Florence will be returning to the English Learning Area Manager position in 2025. Sam, who has spent the year in Canada with family, will lead this English team with passion and grace and we are very excited for his return.

I wish our entire McKinnon community a safe and happy holiday period. We look forward to another wonderful year of English in 2025. Signing off for the final time this year. 

Charlotte Douglas

English KLA Manager