This term in English we have been investigating and developing our writing techniques by reading and deconstructing the novel, Wonder by R.J.Palacio. We examined the similarities and differences of a literary memoir, an autobiography and a biography. We identified and analysed the authors use of structure, narrative ‘points of view’, character development, language features and figurative devices to construct a novel through the collection of a variety of ‘literary memoirs’.

We created visual representations of our learning with tasks such as ‘texta talk’ – a silent discussion, character sociograms – showing the connection between the protagonist (August Pullman), primary and secondary characters. We also used character development visuals to show how August and his sister Violet, developed throughout the novel.

We then choose a significant event from our own life and wrote a literary memoir of about our own event.

Year 8 English

As our year comes to a close, it has been good to reflect on some of the highlights of not only starting the new school year, but paving the way for classes to come. All of the students in Year 8 have really set the tone for their learning journey in English at Ripley Valley State Secondary College by always trying their best, reflecting on their efforts and always looking at how they can improve their work to demonstrate to others what it means to persevere and strive for success.

Thanks to the teachers for their inspiration and dedication in creating and engaging students to ensure they always had fun and interesting lessons to make sure they produced their very best efforts.

The students began the year analysing the best parts of living in Ipswich. As COVID took control of term 2, the students discovered the ancient civilisation of Egypt from the comfort of their own homes and explored what we can still learn from the past. Term 3 set the creative juices running as ideas were thrown around and the future RVSSC Café was given a name, logo and fully derived business plan. Finally, we finished the year with a civics unit based around Mrs Easdale’s favourite topic, the Australian constitution and how the government comes to decisions.

Year 8 Humanities

Raids, gore, blood, looting and funny helmets were all a part of the Vikings History unit that began the year. Term 2 saw the students build-up knowledge of the Australia consumer laws through online learning before creating their own consumer affairs segment. The green screen made its debut at the college as students found images and video to help explain the differences between marketing to boys and girls or how to identify a scam. Minecraft was the tool for term 3 as students created landforms and landscapes. The young Geographers explored how landforms influence both the physical world and the interactions that people have with their surrounding environment. The year finished off with a dissection of how the government make laws and the importance of acknowledging the hardships of our first peoples in the years since European settlement.

Overall, Humanities has launched with a bang at RVSSC and we look forward to rolling out more real-world units across year 9 in 2021.