The History Investigators!

In Humanities lessons Year 7 learners have been exploring the issue of national identity. This week we have been investigating the ANZAC Legend. During WW1 a legend was created about Australian and New Zealand soldiers during the Battle of Gallipoli. Y7 learners have been investigating the impact of this legend on the development of Australian identity. They watched interviews of WW1 veterans to understand the nature of the conflict and the impact it had on the men who served. Learners also used copies of original enlistment papers, medical reports, army records and letters from soldier’s families to solve the mystery of a missing Australian soldier. Finally, they analysed a range of propaganda posters produced during the war to consider how they were used to promote a sense of national pride in Australia. Learners engaged in the different historical interpretations of the myth of Gallipoli and concluded that even if the stories were exaggerated the ANZAC legend remains important to Australia’s and New Zealand’s identity to this day.

Watching emotional interviews with WW1 veterans

Using primary evidence, such as letters and enlistment papers, to solve the mystery of what happened to a missing soldier

Making use of our whiteboard walls to analyse propaganda posters

Y12 English Literature

Y8 Poetry Slam!

Last week Year 8 were set to work with a real life poet, the outcome being a 'Poetry Slam'. The learners were really disappointed that this event had to be cancelled as they had worked so hard. Their work will not be in vain.

Please enjoy these pictures and two videos from the rehearsals:

Learning in Y11&12 Business

Careers and University Notices

Excitement, enthusiasm and motivation has been palpable in each of the Year 12 Careers and University sessions so far this year. Over the past couple of weeks, learners have spent their PSHE time with Ms Aine exploring a range of topics that will help them as they set out on their journeys towards life after Nexus. Each session takes a different focus and so far we have explored topics such as goal-setting, self-reflection and how to write stand-out college application essays. In the coming weeks, the sessions will focus on the application processes pertaining to destinations all over the world such as the United States, UK, Canada, Japan, Singapore and Europe, to name but a few.

To help with independent university research, all learners are now fully registered on the university research platform, Cialfo, where they can access a range of resources including online testing such as ‘Do What You Are’; ‘Learning Styles’; and ‘Multiple Intelligences’. Writing reflections based on the results of these tests should help learners narrow their focus and select pathways that are most suited to their interests and abilities. This platform will also be used as an application platform by the learners applying to universities in the US. If parents would like to learn more about this platform, this short video is worth checking out.

A group of Nexus staff have offered to provide coaching sessions with some of the Year 12 learners who are interested in developing reflective thinking and independent decision-making skills. These sessions aim to lessen the likelihood of learners making wrong choices and helps to create a positive atmosphere in our community based on communication, trust and genuine care. So far, most learners have reached out to their coaches and started the process with dedication and an open-mind. It is worth noting that coaching is not counselling or consulting but rather a means of questioning that allows learners an opportunity to reflect and make good decisions based on their own thoughts and feelings. All Year 12 learners will be allocated one-to-one time with Ms Aine during Term 4 to discuss their college and university options.

Meanwhile, the Year 13s are finalising the last of their university applications now for Autumn 2020. Our Friday morning sessions have continued this term and we have been focusing on learning about how to accept college placements as well as preparation for upcoming interviews. We have also continued our practice of goal setting to help manage time and alleviate stress. Learners who are applying to Southern Hemisphere universities or enlisting to National Service have been meeting with Ms Aine for one-to-one meetings to discuss their individualised plans and options.

Congratulations to Tina Jiang on being selected for a place at the Carnegie Mellon Summer School to study Computational Biology. This programme provides extensive training in both cutting-edge laboratory experiments to generate biological data and the computational analysis of the data that these experiments generate. Further congratulations are also in order for another one of our Year 12 learners who has been offered a place on the John Locke Institute Summer Programme in Normandie, France. The programme is taught predominantly by Oxford professors, with the course curriculum focusing on subjects such as history, economics, politics, philosophy and psychology.

Good luck to both learners!

Aine Gibbons, University Guidance Counsellor