Writer's Toolbox
Bootcamp
On the 5th and 6th of June, our passionate English teachers, Ambre Paolacci and Angelique Breakspear, travelled to Brisbane to attend the highly engaging Writer’s Toolbox Bootcamp — a professional development event designed to deepen expertise in one of the most effective writing programs currently transforming classrooms across Australia.
Our school has been proudly using Writer’s Toolbox since 2024, and it’s rapidly becoming embedded in everyday practice across year levels and subjects. This evidence-based platform is designed to change the way students learn to write, offering step-by-step instruction, instant feedback, and a suite of tools to help students write with greater clarity, creativity, and confidence. Whether they’re crafting a story, a persuasive argument, or a report, students are supported to write with purpose and polish.
During the two-day bootcamp, Ambre and Angelique connected with educators from across Queensland to explore innovative ways to integrate Writer’s Toolbox more seamlessly across the curriculum. From breaking down sentence structures to building sophisticated paragraphs and using the platform to support assessment, the sessions were filled with practical strategies and inspiring ideas.
One of the trip highlights was meeting Dr Ian Hunter, the charismatic creator of Writer’s Toolbox, whose teaching videos are well-loved by our younger students. (Yes, he’s something of a celebrity in our classrooms!) The team even scored a photo with him, much to the envy of their students.
Ambre and Angelique are excited to share what they’ve learned with staff in Term 3 as we continue working towards our goal: helping all students become stronger, more expressive writers who can confidently put their ideas into words.
Mrs Ambre Paolacci | Acting Middle Leader English