English is Lit: Life | Literature | Learning

The English Department is delighted to welcome all members of the Hills Grammar community to the new school year. We aim to bring you up to date with the latest in English, including information regarding student learning and progress.

As lifelong learners, we are passionate and committed to incorporating our love for literature into our daily lives. We consider literature as a way to connect to others’ ideas and experiences, and we hope to inspire creativity in our students so that they too can see how language is in fact a part of life, as well as a way to express new ideas and develop new connections and relationships.

Each member of the English faculty has produced a professional goal, which is in line with the Hills Grammar School’s commitment to teacher Professional Development. We are perpetually working to improve our practice, and therefore our individual learning goals range from our commitment to post-graduate study to extensive research into effective learning environments. Further, we aim to sustain our commitment to improving literacy across the school.

In 2018, the English department is pleased to offer students the opportunity to attend weekly drop-in sessions. The student-centred ‘drop-ins’ will take place on Thursdays at lunch time and after school from 3:30-4pm. In these lessons, each student will be given the opportunity to ask for help, which may be related to NAPLAN, assessments or Homework. We welcome all students from 7-9 to attend these sessions. Please see the attached schedule for more information.

As we move into the new year, Team English wishes to extend a warm welcome to our newest member: Ms Shannon Robertson (pictured), who comes to us with a wealth of knowledge. Ms Robertson completed a Masters in English Education at New York University and is excited join us as a Hills original in 2018.

We encourage you to and hope that you look out for our weekly ‘English is Lit’ articles each fortnight, as we enjoy writing and sharing the extraordinary experiences that are occurring in Senior English.

Mitchell Clendinning | Head of English

Justine Zarebski | Assistant Head of English