English Department News

COMPOSITION POLICY

In order to emphasize the importance that we place on writing at South High, the English Department has formulated a new policy regarding writing. Beginning this school year, all students at South High will be required to write a minimum of three formal compositions per semester. Failure to do so will result in loss of credit for that course.
The nature of those compositions will be determined by the teacher and will include PLUS assessment essays.

As English teachers, we will work hard to ensure that students have the opportunity and assistance needed to complete those compositions

CURRICULUM TOOLBOX

Dr. Mellanee Kvasnicka and Mr. Gary Anderson serve as Curriculum Toolbox committee members from South High. The Toolbox Committee is working to organize 7-12 English curriculum into an effective scope and sequence. The Toolbox Committee meets several times each semester with representatives from middle schools and Papillion La Vista High School.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ENGLISH CLASSROOMS

Dr. Kvasnicka’s Women’s Literature class is working on a project based on Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring. After having chosen a visual work of art with women as subject, students will write creative pieces about the origin of the work as seen from the perspective of the artist or the model for the visual work of art.

Ms. Thornton’s Advanced Placement Language and Composition students are writing autobiographies.

Creative writing classes are at work on the literary magazine. Between the Lines is a collaborative project of the creative writing and art classes. Mr. Grell and Ms. Cronn are co-sponsors. This year’s magazine will be available for sale in the spring.

Several students in Advanced Placement English courses are taking advantage of Wesleyan University’s dual enrollment program that allows students in AP classes to earn college credit while in high school. Counselor Renee Mead is the contact person for specific questions regarding the program.

Mrs. Feldhausen’s English classes ended a unit in mythology by creating collages with modern day allusions to myths. Areas included were movies, television shows, songs, business logos, products, science and technology, novels, poems, art and sculpture.