What a wonderful winter show we had to wrap up the end of Term 1, 2024! I was so very impressed with the performance put on by the 7/8/9 class; it was their original idea and they all made the gag gifts from ‘Temu’! This last week of school was a lot work; writing some ‘The Night Before Christmas’ inspired poems, finishing our math units and taking the end of term math assessment, a written assessment on the Age of Exploration, a science unit tests on waves, and skit rehearsal! Well done everyone! Get plenty of rest, enjoy time with … Mrs. Leah – Term 1, Week 16
We’re in the home stretch of Term 1—just one more week until our well-deserved winter break! Even with the holiday excitement in the air, we’ve stayed as active and engaged as ever. English:This week, our young readers wrapped up their novels and dove into some thoughtful reflection and creativity. Each student crafted a book review, summarizing the plot, highlighting their favorite scenes and characters, and sharing whether they’d recommend the story to others. The reviews showcased not only their understanding of the novels but also their personal connections to the stories. To add a splash of creativity, students illustrated their … Mrs. Leah Term 1 – Week 15
Oop, sorry all, my post got saved as a draft on Friday! The class is nearing the conclusion of The Ruby in the Smoke. I’ve been impressed with the students’ consistent effort and initiative in reading the chapters and completing the related questions and activities. Their collaboration and thoughtful engagement with the material have been commendable. Next week, students will complete an in-class book report to demonstrate their understanding of the novel. This assignment will allow them to analyze key themes, characters, and events while practicing their critical thinking and writing skills. I look forward to seeing their insights as … Mrs. Leah – Week 14, Term 1
This week, we had an amazing field trip to Hero Sports Park, and what an adventure it was. The photos truly speak for themselves! It was a fantastic opportunity for students to bond, get active, and create lasting memories outside the classroom. In English our reading groups are thriving! Students are making fantastic progress as they work through their assigned chapters, collaboratively answering comprehension questions and summarizing key details. To deepen their engagement, they’ve been participating in creative activities like writing advice letters from a character’s point of view or crafting interview questions for a fun game of Hot Seat. It’s wonderful to see everyone so … Mrs. Leah – Week 13, Term 1
Reminder:Next Tuesday is our class trip! Please make sure to submit your payment to the office by Monday to secure your spot. It’s going to be a fun and and we don’t want anyone to miss out! Here’s a look at the exciting learning adventures we embarked on this week: English:Year 7 and 8 students have started their reading journey with Ruby in the Smoke, while the Year 9 students are diving into Splendors and Glooms. In small assigned groups, they are reading, discussing, and answering comprehension questions to deepen their understanding. They’re also completing fun, creative activities based on … Mrs. Leah – Week 12, Term 1
Firstly, please click this link to sign up for the class field trip MONDAY NOVEMBER 18th. Students must have permission to go and submit 13,000 won to the office BEFORE the trip date. Please see the link for more details. This week students jumped back into action after a nice week off. In English we will do a novel study for the rest of the term. Years 7 and 8 will read Philip Pullman’s Ruby in the Smoke, and Year 9 will read Laura Amy Schiltz’ Splendors and Glooms. As both are mystery novels set in Victorian England, this week … Mrs. Leah – Week 11, Term 1
This week we wrapped up our Discovery unit! In English, we explored Walter de la Mare’s The Listeners, with students creating imaginative backstories to unravel the mystery of the poem’s eerie events. We also discussed Emily Brontë and her renowned novel, Wuthering Heights. After reading an excerpt from Chapter One, we examined how Brontë builds fear and intensity, and broke down the epic tale of vengeance that drives the plot. On Friday, students had the chance to share a bit about the authors they’ve been researching for their six-week homework project. Hats off to those who came well-prepared, showing strong … Mrs. Leah Week 10, Term 1
We made it through a full week! No red days in sight… Next week is also exciting as we have the PTA Halloween Part on Friday afternoon as well a mask competition. All students were given a blank paper plate with a strap; it’s up to students to let their creativity shine! Please bring them back by next Friday. In English we spent some time with Percy Shelley’s Ozymandias poem. Students annotated the poem, identified it’s parts, identified words denoting the contrast of power and weakness, and discussed the themes and messages. Then, they made poster with their interpretation of … Mrs. Leah Week 9, Term 1
This week we kept busy; In English we looked at the definition of satire and and how humor can convey strong opinions and perspectives of people and events. Students looked up satirical news sites and apps online and discussed how the truth is revealed in the absurd. We watched a series of satirical commercials and then storyboarded own own advertisements incorporating satirical elements; everyone was really engaged and showed some creative work in that activity! Finally, we read two extracts from Johnathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and compared the absurd events to what was happening in Swift’s time and how he … Mrs. Leah Week 8, Term 1
A weird week as week had Tuesday and Thursday off, but productive nontheless! In English we looked at extracts from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. We discussed the context of the era, emerging science, and the connection of the story to the Prometheus myth. Students created their own monsters with the parts of various people and justified why they would choose those parts. They wrote a short paragraph on the events and reactions of bringing their own monsters to life. Then, they reviewed some vocabulary and looked at how the author created the mood and atmosphere in the original text. Finally, they … Mrs. Leah Term 1, Week 7
