English Faculty

The first term of English in 2025 has been filled with exciting learning experiences and enriching opportunities for our students. As the term progressed, students settled into their new English classrooms and actively engaged in a range of stimulating activities designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and confident communication.

Debating Team 

This term, Ms. Love has assembled two dedicated teams to represent our school in the Premier Debating Challenge. These students have been working hard to develop their skills in argumentation, critical thinking, and teamwork.

The Stage 6 team has the opportunity to participate in their first debate in Week 9 against Condell Park High School, where they can put their persuasive skills to the test. 

The Stage 4 team has also been busy honing their persuasive techniques through practice sessions. They have been exploring a range of topics, improving their ability to think on their feet and express their ideas clearly.

We wish both teams the best of luck in their future debates!

Stage 6 Team

Janae Thompson, Lochlan Chapman, Daniel Omand, Kade Godfrey, Sarah Polson.

Stage 4 Team 

Amy Crocker, Mackenzie Taylor, Sarah Graham, Arlia Kinloch, Chloe Velich. 

Book Club + The Premier’s Reading Challenge 

Every Tuesday at lunchtime, students are invited to step away from the hustle and bustle of the playground and enjoy half an hour of peaceful reading. Held in A9 during second break, Book Club offers a quiet space, a great selection of books, and, of course, snacks!

Students are also encouraged to participate in this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge, which challenges Years 7–10 students to read 20 books before August 22. There’s still time to join—so get reading!

The Tempest - Hagseed Symposium 

This term, Year 12 Advanced English students have the exciting opportunity to attend The Tempest - Hagseed Symposium at the Seymour Centre in Sydney. This is to support their study of HSC Module A: Textual Conversations in which they compare and contrast Shakespeare’s play The Tempest with Margaret Atwood’s novel Hagseed. 

Students have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the relationship between the texts through live performance and analysis as well as expert discussion.

HPGE Opportunity- Sydney Jewish Museum Excursion 

As part of FGHS’s commitment to supporting high-potential and gifted students, Year 8 HPG (High Potential and Gifted) students attended an enriching excursion to the Sydney Jewish Museum. This experience was designed to enhance their understanding of historical contexts relevant to their class novels.

• 8A and 8R are studying Once by Morris Gleitzman.

• 8P is studying The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse.

Both novels explore themes related to the Holocaust, and this excursion provided students with invaluable historical insights to deepen their engagement with these texts.

Student Composition 

Please enjoy a poem written by Year 10 student, Lucy Belcher about navigating discovery in high school. 

5 out of 7 days 

6 out of 24 hours 

13 years out of a lifetime, 

13 years full of new experiences, new friendships 

And heartbreaks 

Although we seem to hate school 

We wouldn't be us without it. 

The broken promises 

The trust that may get broken and the lies that get shared around 

The downside of school 

That seem so bad, but then you think 

If you didn’t experience the bad 

You wouldn’t experience the good 

The laughs till you cry, the milestones you reach, 

The bonds you build. 

Maybe, just maybe, school isn’t that bad. 

Upcoming Assessment Tasks

A reminder to all students that assessment tasks for Term 1 are approaching in all Years from 7 -12. Students must ensure they are attending all English lessons when possible and are actively participating in the learning in the classrooms. 

Students must ensure they are bringing all equipment to lessons to ensure they are able to best prepare for their upcoming assessments. This includes a fully charged laptop as well as their English book. Students should seek advice from their English teacher if they require any support in the lead up to their assessment task due dates.

Eliza Pigott

English Teacher