ENGLISH

The English Department has had a productive and busy first

semester both inside and outside the work day. The PLCs (grade-level teams) meet regularly to continue our excellent work on making each grade-level course a similar experience for students.

The English Department continues to offer new and exciting

courses and provide increased choice for students. This year, we have an elective that is co-taught: Comedy Lit in Performance (co-taught by Lucy Filppu and Theatre teacher Kathleen Woods), with classes held in the gorgeous new Performing Arts Center. We're

also running our first blended class—World Lit blended (currently taught by Kindel Launer). Next year we’ll add American Lit blended for juniors.

This year, our freshman program, TEAM, has doubled in size,

going from three to six sections. Alanna Williamson has joined Karin Kolb on the TEAM team. TEAM spent last week in Yosemite, where it was warm and beautiful.

The Social Justice Pathway is in its successful third year,

with David Cohen joining the Pathway this year as the sophomore teacher. Marc Tolentino currently teaches the SJ juniors, and Erin Angell teaches the seniors in their third year of the Pathway.

We're thrilled to welcome three new teachers to the English

Department this year: Rod Satterthwaite (teaching 10th and journalism), Josh Hinrichs (teaching 9th and 10th) and Hunter Reardon (teaching 9th and 11th). Hunter has already jumped in to volunteer as part of the committee that will create an MLA guide to be

used at the high schools and middle schools.

In other English news:

The 9th grade team lead, Craig Bark, led the yearly seminar

on a Saturday, October 15th in the Media Arts Center, with over sixty parents attending—in the rain— to learn about the ninth grade writing program.

Richard Rodriguez and Melissa Laptalo are in a Master’s program

in English at San Jose State

Kindel Launer has just earned her Master of Education.

David Cohen has written a book!

Capturing the Spark: Inspired Teaching, Thriving Schools