As the calendar year comes to an end, the Grade 10-12 English classes have completed a variety of challenging academic and life lessons.

The Grade 10 students have just completed their first novel study, “The Lord of the Flies.” They started with a social experiment of becoming stranded on a deserted island (the track) with no rules. It did not take long for the class to erupt into chaos and disorder. During their reading, the students started to critically think about the essential questions posed: “What does it mean to be civilized, and what is necessary to uphold a civilization?” Ultimately, the students discerned the need for laws, collaboration, empathy, and faith to maintain a peaceful society.

The semester 1 Grade 11 students have completed the classic Fitzgerald novel “The Great Gatsby” and Shakespeare’s Macbeth, ultimately answering the questions “ What is the Canadian Dream and does it still exist?” and “Can we achieve our ambitions without stripping our morality?” looking through the tragic heroes Macbeth and Jay Gatsby and their choices. The students were able to interview family members who were able to reflect on their journeys immigrating to Canada and develop the outlook that materialism and power do not necessarily equate to happiness or success but rather working hard and remaining true to one’s virtues.

The Semester 1 Grade 12 students have completed their final English course in their HNMCS career! Their overall theme was delving into the concepts of knowledge and individuality vs. Ignorance and Conformity. The students looked at various characters like Hamlet and Ray Bradbury’s Guy Montag and how they handled society’s expectations, censorship, and challenged their own biases. In preparation for University to become judicious thinkers, the students also structured individual arguments as to “What makes good literature?” after creating their own literary criticism lens on how to interpret fiction, analyze the logical fallacies in nonfiction, and assign meaning.

- Ms. Lydia Minkarious, Faculty