In 2024, Merici College had the theme of Spes, which is Latin for ‘hope’. As English teachers we believe that the study of literature plays an important role in our students finding and articulating their hopes. We believe that literature can serve as windows of possibility for our students, offering them the chance to examine a wide range of human experience and understand the potential for human progress.
Our students embraced the notion of hope through both their independent reading and their class work this year. In Year 8, our English students saw hope in the manner in which characters can change and better themselves and their communities through coming-of-age narratives. In Year 9, English students examined contemporary issues and investigated the ways they could improve society, arguing for a better, more hopeful world. In Year 10, students explored documentary films of social commentary that endeavoured to leave a positive mark on others, offering a hope for a better future. In Years 11 and 12, students continued to explore a variety of challenging texts that saw protagonists overcoming their challenges due, in part, to the persistence of hope.
When thinking about the notion of hope in literature, I am reminded of a poem from Emily Dickinson, titled “Hope is a thing with feathers”.
In Dickinson’s poem, hope is a metaphorical bird, or “thing with feathers”, that sings ceaselessly, even through life’s challenges, such as when one finds themselves “in the Gale”. We believe that our students’ sense of hope will likewise persist with them through their lives, even in the most difficult times. Furthermore, the poem notes the power of hope to help others, given it’s potential to keep “so many warm”. We believe that our students’ sense of hope will make them empathetic people who endeavour to make their communities a better place.
While highlights are often subjective, these are the moments that most stand out in 2024:
- The manner in which Year 8 supported each other as they explored Shakespearean plays for the first time in an English classroom.
- The passion that Year 9 students showed in arguing for a better world in their persuasive oral presentations.
- The diligence Year 10 students showed in their focus on essay writing skills and oral presentation skills.
- The camaraderie of IBDP students as they worked together towards common goals.
- The passion of BSSS students as they investigated topics and texts of their choice.
Mr. Luke Nott
English Coordinator
