English News

On behalf of the English faculty, I’d like to thank our students for such an engaged and productive start to the year.  Across each year group, students have been refining their critical thinking and creativity skills in response to a range of texts and topics. 

Year 7

Year 7 have started their English journey in a positive way. Classes have worked through a study of the novel, ‘Hatchet’ and have analysed the coming of age themes that the main character has experienced. Recently, students completed their own coming of age narratives for their assessment task. 

Year 8

Our poetic Year 8 students are wrapping up an exploration of empowering poetry. The classes have analysed and annotated a range of inspiring poems that offer a variety of unique ways to look at the world. We have been impressed by their understanding and application of poetic techniques. 

Year 9

Year 9 students have been applying a range of successful writing strategies in their creative and persuasive pieces. The faculty has been blown away by the persuasive arguments formed and the imagery created across the year group. 

Year 10 – Miss Jackson

Year 10 English students have been busy studying protest poetry this term. On International Women’s Day (8 March), students listened to a slam poem titled ‘Choose to Challenge’ by poet Anisa Nandaula. This explored the gendered treatment and stereotypes still faced by women in 2021 through the metaphor that “gender is a pre-written book”. Students were prompted by Nandaula “to add your own chapter” to this “pre-written book” and embrace the International Women’s Day theme to #choosetochallenge gender discrimination in society.  Many students chose to represent this theme by drawing plans for a mural to promote this important message.   Well done Year 10.

Years 11 &  12

Our senior students have returned with vigour, deeply engaging with their texts. Year 11 students are focusing on their own writing in the ‘Reading to Write’ unit, where they have been analysing a range of texts. Our Year 12 students have just finished their study of ‘Good Night and Good Luck’ (Advanced English) and ‘The Truman Show’ (Standard English) and are to be commended on their committed approach to the multimodal assessment task. 

I’d like to take this opportunity on welcoming Miss Melissa Jackson and Mr Jackson Parkes to the faculty, who have both been placed at Henry Kendall High School permanently. 

Enjoy your Easter break.

Blake Wawrzyk

Head Teacher 

English