Week 6 Term 1 - English Department: Senior English Program 2026 (March 02 - March 06)

The English Department is super excited to share the awesome themes for our Senior English Program this year! We've made sure they're all about getting our senior students engaged and challenged. For NCEA Level 1, we're focusing on 'Our Voices, Our Stories and Our Histories.' This theme is all about using literature to explore who you are and where you come from. The NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 programs dive into the theme of 'Overcoming Challenges.' The students will read texts that look at facing tough times, which will help them think critically. We love that Level 2 and 3 are connected, giving the students a deep look at this important idea throughout their senior years.

NCEA Level 1 English Term 1 Program: Active authors of their own narrative

The NCEA Level 1 English program for Term 1 is centered on building strong writing skills through an exploration of various styles and genres. The main focus is on three key areas: Personal Account Writing, Narrative Writing, and Opinion Writing. During the first part of the term, students will learn the specific features and techniques of each genre, then move on to crafting their own original texts in all three styles. This foundational learning will lead directly to the final assessment for the term, which is the externally assessed standard 91926, where students will be evaluated on their ability to write effectively for different purposes.

NCEA Level 2 English Term 1 Program: Looking at 'Overcoming Challenges' through film

For NCEA Level 2 English this Term 1, we're diving into the really important theme of 'Overcoming Challenges.' We'll be doing an in-depth film study of the movie Gran Torino, directed by Clint Eastwood. Get ready to watch, analyze, and discuss the film as we look closely at how the characters face and overcome adversity. The great thing is, all this awesome learning will lead into their final assessment for the term: 91106 (Personal Responses), where they'll get to write their own personal response to the film. It's a great chance to share their own insights and ideas.

NCEA Level 3 English Term 1 Program: Looking at 'Overcoming Challenges' through film

For NCEA Level 3 English in Term 1, we’re going to continue with our senior theme of 'Overcoming Challenges.' We’ll be doing a really deep dive into the awesome film A Beautiful Mind, directed by Ron Howard. This is a full-on film study where we'll be analyzing the story, characters, and filmmaking techniques to see how the theme of overcoming challenges is explored. The student's learning will lead up to the final assessment for the term, which is the standard 91480. It’s a great way to start their Level 3 English studies and get their critical thinking firing.