Introduction

A warm welcome to all for a brand-new year!

I hope you all had a restful and productive break. My name is Mr Upsall and I'm thrilled to be joining the English Department as the new Head of English and I'm very much looking forward to working with such a passionate and dedicated team. I've already been impressed by the collaborative spirit and the wonderful teaching and learning taking place.

I welcome the following staff new to our English faculty in 2025:

• Mr Hooper
• Mr Livingstone
• Mr Magri
• Mrs Jesse

What we are looking at this term

• Year 8: The Warrior Within: Students will explore the concept of the warrior through the lens of Wylah the Warrior, a captivating First Nations text. They'll analyse Wylah's journey, examining themes of courage, resilience, and connection to culture.
• Year 9: Dark Pages and Haunted Tales: Prepare for chills and thrills! Students will delve into the world of gothic literature, exploring a variety of short stories and poems. They'll analyse the elements of gothic writing and craft their own short story featuring these spooky elements.
• Year 10: The Language of Adverts: Students will become media analysts, dissecting the language and techniques used in advertisements. They'll investigate how ads position audiences and explore the representations of people, places, events, and concepts within these persuasive texts.
• Senior students: Students are commencing their first units in the senior courses for the 2025 calendar year. Our senior students are working hard in classes to prepare for upcoming assessments. It is important that students are planning their time to include homework and revision and check in with their teacher regularly for feedback.

Did You Know?

By encouraging your child to read 20 minutes daily at home, you help them to build fluency, enhance vocabulary, and foster a deeper understanding of language.

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We look forward to a fantastic term of learning and discovery! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns.

Warm Regards,

Steven Upsall

HOD English