Issue 8 Term 1: October

Term Times

Perth High School

English and Media Studies department Twitter: @EnglishPhs www.phsenglishdept.wordpress.com

Dates for the diary:

S2 02/10/19 Scots presentations for P7 and local

businesses

N5 28/10/19 Creative writing folio due

11/11/19 RUAE checkpoint

H 21/10/19, 4/11/19 RUAE checkpoint

25/11/19 Creative folio due

What’s going on in the

department?

Mon: Climate change (4.17)

Tues: Creative writing (4.5 after

school)

Wed: Creative writing (CW club)

(4.5) Poetry Society (4.4)

Thurs: Debate (4.17)

Fri: Mahjong (4.13)

See individual teachers for

supported study session times

FAO N5/Higher

‘Five a Day’ keeps the ‘D’ at bay

This daily reading homework for N5 and H pupils is

designed to boost your RUAE skills.

Remember that own words should be set out in bullet

points. The number of marks indicates how many bullet

points.

Analysis should follow the formula: “QUOTE”/ meaning of

quote/ why the writer used these specific words (impact)/

link back to question.

The most important thing is that you READ some quality

journalism every day. However, completing the questions

will push on your RUAE skills. There is no shortcut I’m

afraid. Aim to complete at least two sets of questions

every week but read all of the articles.

What have we been studying in the department?

Drama: ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Sailmaker’, ‘Men should weep’

Prose: ‘Animal Farm’, ‘Of Mice and Men’, ‘Boy’ ‘The Wave’

Short stories: Iain Critchon Smith, Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway,

Poetry: Jackie Kay, Carol Ann Duffy, Norman MacCaig

Media: ‘Matilda’

Issue 8 Term 1: October

S2 Scots language unit

Fit rare! This term oor S2 classes hiv been reading,

scrievin, harknin, an spiking in Scots. We finished oor

project designing oor ane Scots products, n makin oor

marketing campaign tae share wi oor class. The winners

fae each class competed fir a shotty in the final, wi oor

awfie special judges.

Here is one example from Cameron who sculpted models

out of clay for his Scots Product presentation. They were to

be sold in a mystery box. He plans to sell them at the

Christmas Fayre.

Oor P7 winners created Shortbread Ice Kream. The industry judges selected

Shortbread Ice Kream and Clyde the Coo for their products and pitches.

Issue 8 Term 1: October

A big well done to all the other groups for your interesting ideas: Scottish Tablet,

Minecraft skins, Alba snack box, King Bru, Iron Bru Tac Tics, Scottish Highland Coo

Comic

Issue 8 Term 1: October

S2 Spikin Scots

Oor S2 wir invited alang to the launch of a map of Scotland, in Scots, by The Scots

language centre. Oor S2 wir Scots ambassadors fir the day, spikin ‘n’ scrivein wi

P3/4 bairns fae RDM. They met wi education minister John Swinney, ‘n’ wir spikin

aboot fit wiv bin learning in school. We wis given a map fae the artist to keep in the

class, and got to ask Dr Michael Dempster questions aboot his wirk wi language.

Overall, we hid a rare morning, and even made it ontae the STV news.

Issue 8 Term 1: October

S1 Media project

Miss Cowan’s S1 class have been studying ‘Matilda’ as their media text this term. They then

were tasked with designing their own school. Here are a few examples, very impressive!

S2 authors

You might have seen Mr Caldwell’s class in the newspapers lately, for their book ‘Tales from

the fifth floor’. All royalties from the book will be donated to the WWF. Look out for

information about how much these published authors made. A massive well done!

Issue 8 Term 1: October

Advanced Higher visit from Alan Bissett

On Friday 6th September, The Advanced Higher English class had the pleasure of meeting

writer and playwright Alan Bissett. Most commonly known for his novel “Boyracers”, Bissett

spent the best part of 90 minutes explaining his ideas regarding creative writing, mixing in

his trademark humour with the students of the class.

By sheer coincidence, the class also had the pleasure of meeting the Deputy First Minister

John Swinney, of whom Bissett asked: “What is going on?” in reference to Brexit and the

current political climate. Swinney did his best to answer the question without giving too much

away before posing for a photo with the students and Bissett.

During Bissett’s time with the class, he discussed his interpretation of Ernest Hemingway’s

“Iceberg Theory” which he explained as working in the same way childhood teasing works,

hinting at a secret you want to know and hooking the reader in with the promise of revealing

the previously mentioned secrets. The idea of the shark from “Jaws” was also discussed

since in the film the true horror of the shark is hinted at throughout the film by its fin, until its

finally unleashed at the end. Reminds me of my classmates in all honesty.

At least the horror part.

Jack Bennett 6H4

Issue 8 Term 1: October

CW- Wednesday room 4.5

The Creative writing club or CW has been

meeting on a Wednesday lunchtime. We’ve

had some great acrostic poems, and stories

with strange objects. We’ve also had people

share work they have been completing at

home. If you enjoy any type of writing then

why not come along and join in.

Climate Change Club

Pupils at Perth High have been working hard over the past few months to try to

combat climate change. After successfully lobbying to have more water fountains

installed (thank you Mrs Pupillo) they have turned their sights to plastic packaging in

shops. It is great to see our young people take a lead in trying to make the planet.

better, starting with the school and local community. Here are some of the pupils on

the school strike in Perth.

Issue 8 Term 1: October

Greta’s speeches

Mrs Fraser found about this great initiative on Twitter, and nominated Perth High School to receive 10 copies of speeches by Greta Thunberg. We were lucky enough to be selected. This is some information about the project: “If you don’t know the whole story, Melissa Harrison (amazing author) and Simon Key (that’s me, I own a bookshop called the Big Green Bookshop), started this Crowdfunder, with the idea of trying to raise money to supply 100 schools with 10 copies each. As you’ll see, if you click on the link, things went a lot better than we expected! This meant that, through the generosity of all the people who donated and also the amazing publisher, Penguin, who agreed to match the number of copies we raised money to buy, we’ve been able to supply over 800 schools in the UK. That’s over 8,000 kids inspired by Greta’s words and deeds! Isn’t that great?”

Issue 8 Term 1: October

Revolution comes to Mrs Stewart’s classroom!

Brave and visionary comrades overthrow their tyrannical English teacher Mrs

Stewart this September. Votes were cast and leaders Colin the chicken, Windy the

pig and Carrie the horse took control. Newly branded “Chonk’s Farm” followed the

pattern of George Orwell’s fable as power, manipulation and intrigue became the

order of the day. Sneaky Colin the chicken was outed as a traitor and exiled allowing

noble Windy and Carrie to led the way to freedom, land and health.

Alas, it was soon discovered that the corrupting influence of power can be all

consuming and Windy quickly led his unsuspecting comrades into a Totalitarian

Regime!

Order has now been restored to the ranks and reflections took place through some

rather snazzy group presentations! Well done Mrs Stewart’s S3!

Issue 8 Term 1: October

Jackie Kay: revision presentations

Mrs Fraser’s N5 class have been completing

their Spoken Language unit for their N5

course. They have given presentations about

the Jackie Kay poetry they have been

learning about for the Scottish Text exam. It

has been a great revision tool with Kahoot

quizzes and posters being made to help the

class with their exam. Here are some

examples of what they have been doing.

Issue 8 Term 1: October

Growth mindset

This term we have been working on using Growth Mindset language with our S5

classes. Ms Milne has been completing research in this area, and kindly shared what

she had learned with the team.

All pupils have been given a learning journal to record what they have been learning

in the lesson, and mentoring programme has been set up for pupils with staff to help

them reach their goals.