Engaging in English

Haven’t you heard?! Reading In Bed Is Terrific!

Mrs. Grujevski’s students in Year 7 and 8 have been developing their love for reading through the RIBIT program, which rewards students for each book they read and review.

We will keep you updated with their tallies and favourite reads in the next Bay Bulletin

As a part of their Close Study of Drama unit this term, Year 8 English students have been given a taste of Drama and performance through their usual English lessons.

This term, classes have been exploring literature and storytelling through Drama-based activities, making lessons more interactive, dynamic, and memorable. One of the highlights has been our tableau exercises, where students work in groups to create still images representing key moments from a novel or play. This has encouraged them to think critically about symbolism, body language, and how emotions are conveyed beyond words.

Additionally, reader’s theatre and monologue performances have provided a fantastic platform for students to refine their expression and interpret literary works with greater depth.

Year 11 English Extension 1 students were treated to a comprehensive research information session during Week 6, run by our fabulous school librarian Sandra Cotton.

Students developed their understanding of the research tools available to them in order to access academic material through sources such as the NSW State Library, JSTOR and Google Scholar.

These research skills and resources are essential for the success of their Independent Research Projects later in the year, as well as having practical applications for Year 12 and beyond.

This bulletin’s recommendation comes from Mrs. Grujevski.

Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens, 2018

According to David Foster Wallace, “good fiction’s job is to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” Whether you are comforted or disturbed as a reader is entirely dependent upon what you bring to Delia Owens’ first fictional novel, ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’. Zoologist, Conservationist and author of multiple non-fictional works in her field as a wildlife expert, Owens’ poetic prose is a love letter to the natural world that also carries a genuine testament to the strength of the human spirit. Owens reminds us to pay attention to the natural wonders we too often take for granted or dismiss as ordinary. At the same time, equal part Murder Mystery and Romance, her gripping fictional plot will keep you guessing until the very end when she reveals hidden truths and satisfying answers to all your questions. As an additional bonus, her beautifully rendered heroine will evoke your sympathy while stunning you with her brilliance, reminding us of our humanity and our relationship with nature. A thoroughly enjoyable read, a page turner and a satisfying film to watch as a footnote. Highly recommended.