Week 5 Term 1 - English Department: Junior English Program 2026 (February 23 - February 27)

The Junior English Program for 2026 is centered on developing student identity and agency through literacy, literature and language. By structuring our curriculum around the core ideas of Who Am I and I see myself in texts, the program creates a vital space for students to explore their personal narratives, cultural backgrounds, and connections to the world, ensuring that literature serves as both a mirror and a window. Furthermore, the emphasis on We are storytellers and Using my voice empowers students to move beyond the text to active creation, both written and spoken skills which are necessary to articulate their unique perspectives, and confidently navigate their voice when writing. These themes are essential because they make learning relevant, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence that is crucial for student engagement and academic success.

The core focus for each component of the Junior English Program—the extended text, short text, oral text, and visual text studies—is the provision of a rich and varied literary experience. By engaging with this diverse range of texts, the program aims to achieve two critical goals: first, to expose students to "rich texts" that act as meaningful mirrors, allowing them to see themselves and their experiences authentically reflected in literature; and second, to provide the necessary foundation for students to explore language and literary concepts in comprehensive depth. This systematic approach ensures that students not only encounter high-quality texts that resonate with their identities but also develop the sophisticated analytical skills required to become insightful, lifelong readers and communicators.

Kura Toa - Tim Tipene

The Wave - Morton Rhue

The plan for Term 1 of our Junior English Program will focus intensively on Extended Text Study, providing students with an opportunity to engage deeply with complex narratives and literary themes. The texts selected to be covered across the Year 9 and Year 10 curriculum include Kura Toa by Tim Tipene and The Wave by Morton Rhue, where we are exploring key concepts of identity and social justice. The common assessment task for this term will be the Formal Writing, which will challenge students to articulate their critical understanding of the texts with precision and structure. We are eagerly looking forward to launching this rich and engaging program with all of our Year 9 and Year 10 students.