Years 7 to 10

Year 8 Parent Night

VCE

Our Courses

In the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Years 7 to 10

The English Key Learning Area is at the forefront of the new challenges and changes in education.
With the implementation of VELS (Victorian Essential Learning Standards) into our curriculum the emphasis is now on deeper learning and encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills. The dimensions of reading, writing, speaking and listening, however, still continue to be the core components of our English courses.

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Year 8 Parent Night

To celebrate the learning and positive relationships of 8L in semester one, Miss Kenny and Miss Kane arranged a parent night on Wednesday August 1, 2007.

During the first half of the year, students had been studying a combined English and History course. In this course they completed a Vikings webquest, wrote and performed Medieval England plays, studied film and texts in English on topics they were learning in history, completed a research assignments and delivered creative presentations on Feudal Japan.

The students worked hard to prepare for the evening, practising their presentations before they got up and spoke in front of their parents. Everyone present at the night thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were very proud of the achievements of the students in 8L.

Congratulations to all concerned.

Miss Kenny and Miss Kane

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VCE

The following Units are available:

• English Units 1 - 4 (compulsory for all students, although Literature may be selected instead)
• Literature Units 1 - 4
• VCAL students all complete a Literacy component

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Our Courses

Students learn to appreciate, enjoy and use language. They develop a sense of its richness and its power to evoke feelings to form and convey ideas, to inform, to discuss, to persuade to entertain and to argue.

Students learn to control language by applying their understanding of grammar, accurate spelling and punctuation and by imitating good writers and speakers.

In their reading, students are involved in understanding, interpreting, reflecting on, and enjoying written and visual print and non-print texts. They read and view a wide range of texts and media including fiction and non-fiction works, newspapers and magazines, illustrations, posters and charts, film and television and texts associated with Information Communication Technology.

In their writing, students actively conceive, plan, compose, edit and write fiction and non-fiction texts. This involves using appropriate language for particular purposes or occasions. They reflect on ideas, issues, arguments, events, experience, character, emotion and information.

In their speaking and listening, students develop and demonstrate knowledge about the appropriate oral language for audiences and occasions. They develop accurate listening strategies through active listening to their teachers, peers or guest speakers. They participate in group discussions, formal presentations, debates and share viewpoints.

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In the Classroom

Our classrooms are undergoing enormous changes. Students are regularly timetabled into large Flexible Learning Spaces where they work with several teachers, and at times another class, on a variety of activities both individually and as part of a team. Computers and laptops are readily available for research and presentation. The use of Smartboards and multi media projectors is common practice.

A teacher librarian and teaching and learning coaches also assist in providing students with exciting, authentic and relevant activities. The library is a focal area for English classes. Junior students are actively involved in various projects such as Library Links, The Reading Game and Writing Moves.

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Outside the Classroom

Excursions to view live theatre performances, films, the Jewish Holocaust Museum and other relevant venues take place each year. Guest speakers are also invited to speak to students on a range of topics.

Students are encouraged to participate in Inter School Debating to learn invaluable skills and gain confidence in their ability to present arguments as a team on topical issues.

Students are also invited to participate in the University of NSW English Competition. There are Interform Spelling Competitions at both Year 7 and Year 8 with many students competing to gain the Champion Speller’s trophy. Excellence in the craft of writing is encouraged with the annual award of a Creative Writing Prize at Year 11.

Our aim in English is provide students with the skills, knowledge, personal qualities and tools to allow them to achieve success at school and beyond for an active, informed and fulfilling life in modern Australian society and the global community.