Each student studies two electives each semester:
Some electives run for a full year
Some electives can be repeated
Some electives have year level restrictions
Students choose eight subjects four preferred and four reserves. Reserves will be used in case of line clashes or where electives do not run.
Where classes are oversubscribed the following priority order will be used:
To give yourself the best chance of getting your top-choice elective, submit your form before the deadline and rank it first.
Students who have not studied the subject before
Year 10
Random assignment
Students may submit the form more than once. The most recent submission will be used to allocate classes.
Students will deepen their knowledge and understanding of the elements of drama and theatrical performance. The course will focus on the different aspects of acting and directing skills, working with scenarios, including Commedia dell’Arte masks, script interpretation, characterisation, movement, and reflective journal work. The course will also look at various genres and contexts of theatre.
More information: Drama: From Page to Stage
Students will work with real-life concepts of establishing a production company from concept proposals to theatre spaces and selection of production pieces. They will explore different jobs associated with theatre and production, which may include lighting and sound technicians; stage management, set, costume and makeup design and application; and marketing and front of house. They will consider different target audiences which may include their peers, the broader school community, including families, young people, older people or other mixed, broad audiences. Depending on timing, work in this course may coincide with the school production which will then become part of the course work.
More information: Drama: Working in Theatre
Students will work with contemporary dance styles to expand their knowledge and understanding of the elements of dance and safe dance practices. They will focus on choreographic techniques, creative dance performance, and dance appreciation. Students are expected to experiment with ideas and improvisation in a range of genres and styles, while developing skills in dance practice, control, accuracy, strength, balance, alignment, flexibility, endurance, coordination and articulation.
More information: Dance: Dance in Society
Students will explore dance within popular culture, deepening their knowledge and understanding of the historical, social and cultural contexts of different uses of dance in our society, from music videos and marketing to the general use of dance for entertainment in popular culture. Within this context, there is a focus on identification and application of the elements of dance and specific dance techniques and styles, dance performance, choreography and dance appreciation. Students will evaluate their own work and the work of others to develop their understanding of dance as entertainment and promotion.
More information: Dance: Working in Dance
Beyond the Notes develops students’ understanding of how music expresses ideas across time and culture. Students explore how the elements of music are used to create meaning, how styles have evolved, and how traditions influence mainstream music. They apply their knowledge through research, performance, composition, and listening tasks, building skills on piano, guitar/ukulele, percussion, and voice.
In Baroque to Rock (Semester 1), students investigate the development of Western music from the Baroque period through to rock, examining how styles evolved and shaped each other over time
More information: Beyond the Notes - Baroque to Rock
Beyond the Notes develops students’ understanding of how music expresses ideas across time and culture. Students explore how the elements of music are used to create meaning, how styles have evolved, and how traditions influence mainstream music. They apply their knowledge through research, performance, composition, and listening tasks, building skills on piano, guitar/ukulele, percussion, and voice.
In Around the World (Semester 2), students explore music from diverse cultures, both traditional and popular, and analyse how global influences have contributed to mainstream Western music.
More information: 9/10 Music: Beyond the Notes - Around the World
This course provides the opportunity to learn basic photography skills using digital SLR cameras and editing software like Photoshop. Students will produce their own images, experiment with depth of field, shutter speed, composition, camera angles to capture interesting and creative artistic photographs.
More information: Photography
Students develop skills in front of and behind the camera, learning the processes involved in writing, producing, filming and editing mixed media. Creating short films, trailers, screencasts and more, students will learn to collaborate effectively and enjoy popcorn at the screenings! Learn skills to enhance your own social media presence, direct your own feature film or tell any story you want to!
More information: Media: Script to Screen
Sculpture introduces students to a range of three-dimensional art materials, both traditional and contemporary, to create their own artwork. With references to some of the world's most recognised sculptures, statues and monuments, from realism to pure abstraction; students experience working through various multi-stage processes in developing their art. Modelling, chiseling, carving and casting are the featured practical skills students will develop in this course along with an aptitude for pushing the boundaries of a given material and problem-solving through various design stages.
More information: Sculpture
Students explore a range of techniques within the art medium of Drawing alongside developing full bodies of work. Students focus on developing their drawing skills through a variety of drawing mediums - graphite, charcoal and soft and oil pastel alongside a broad range of subject matter. Focus will be placed on introducing students to exploring drawing as an expressive art medium, looking at everything from quick, gestural sketches to hyperrealism. Alternative surfaces to paper will also be explored. Art appreciation and analysis are integral components to the students artmaking practice, with students being exposed to both historical and contemporary works.
More information: Drawing
Students explore a range of techniques within the art mediums of Painting including watercolour, ink, and acrylic. Students will learn colour theory and colour-mixing alongside exploring various painting techniques and styles. Students will practice independent art-making while creating both minor and major works. Art appreciation and analysis are integral components to the students artmaking practice, with students being exposed to both historical and contemporary works, including First Nations artists.
More information: Painting
Students explore a range of techniques within Printmaking, including printing in relief (lino printing), intaglio (drypoint etching) and serigraphy (screenprinting) to create personalised print editions of their work. Art appreciation and analysis are integral components to the students' artmaking practice, with students being exposed to both historical and contemporary prints including Rembrandt, Hokusai and Banksy.
More information: Printmaking
students explore the design and creation of wearable and decorative objects through the art of jewellery making. They will be introduced to a variety of traditional and contemporary techniques for working with different materials, including metal, wire, beads, resin, and felt. Throughout the unit, students will develop their design skills by being exposed to cultural and historical jewellery traditions, analysing contemporary small-object artists, and generating their own design concepts through modelling, and prototyping. They will learn to work safely and effectively with a variety of materials, applying problem-solving skills to refine functional and aesthetic qualities in their creations. Jewellery and small objects emphasises creativity, craftsmanship, and personal expression. Final projects may include rings, pendants, earrings, brooches, wearable art pieces, or sculptural miniatures.
More information: Jewellery and Small Objects
Anything is possible in our imaginations. Through the mode of role-playing games, students will create and document their own fantasy worlds and characters. These will be used by the students in both oral and written storytelling activities, as we work to produce our own written and illustrated works of fiction.
More information: Role Playing Games
This unit will give students an introduction to philosophy. Students will begin to master the art of logical argument, learning how to think critically and defend their claims with confidence. The course will delve into the world of ethics by comparing utilitarianism, the idea that we should maximise happiness for the greatest number, with duty-based ethics, where following moral principles is key. We'll also challenge student assumptions through scepticism, pushing them to question what they truly know. By the end, students will not only think deeper but will make more thoughtful, informed choices when considering their future lives.
More information: Philosophy
Outdoor Education gives students the opportunity to learn unique and specific skills facilitated by the outdoor environment. Through a variety of outdoor pursuits, students develop their social skills, gain self-confidence, use initiative, provide leadership, and collaborate with others. Understanding nature through direct experience, students develop an adventurous spirit and learn the value of lifelong outdoor recreation in a safe and enjoyable way. Activities for this Semester unit may include: Foundations of Outdoor Education, Rock Climbing and Bushwalking/navigation.
Approximate costs $100
More information: Outdoor Education 1 Summer
Outdoor Education gives students the opportunity to learn unique and specific skills facilitated by the outdoor environment. Through a variety of outdoor pursuits, students develop their social skills, gain self-confidence, use initiative, provide leadership, and collaborate with others. Understanding nature through direct experience, students develop an adventurous spirit and learn the value of lifelong outdoor recreation in a safe and enjoyable way. Activities for this Semester may include: Snow sports - Snowboarding, skiing, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, Caving.
Approximate costs $1000
More information: Outdoor Education 1 Winter
Sports Science is an elective year long subject where students study the following topics:
Body Systems - students will look at the anatomy and physiology of the major systems of the human body and how these relate to sporting performance and exercise physiology.
The Body at work - how the healthy human body works during exercise, and how to prevent sports injuries.
More information: Sport Science
Enrolment in this subject is by application only. For more information, see the Application Only page.
This subject is a year-long program and offered exclusively to boys.
Enrolment in this subject is by application only. For more information, see the Application Only page.
This subject is a year-long program and offered exclusively to girls.
Enrolment in this subject is by application only. For more information, see the Application Only page.
A continuation of Connecting to Country, this subject builds on students’ understanding of Ngunnawal Country while making meaningful connections with science, sustainability and caring for the environment. Using Country as Teacher pedagogy, students will learn through and with Country, drawing on First Nations ways of knowing, being and doing alongside scientific knowledge.
This subject is for students who are passionate about sustainability, caring for Country and making a positive difference. Students will explore the work of local land carers and investigate how communities are building resilience in our local landscapes in response to climate change and extreme weather events. Together, we will explore how collective action, sustainable practices and local knowledge can help us care for Country and create a more sustainable future.
Students will also have the opportunity to connect their learning beyond Ngunnawal Country by engaging with the broader region through cultural exchanges with Vincentia High School and Jervis Bay Primary School. Through these connections, students will learn alongside and from Yuin Knowledge Holders and community members on the South Coast, including opportunities to engage with the Booderee National Park Rangers. These experiences will support students to deepen their understanding of the connections between Country, culture, science and sustainability across different landscapes and communities.
More information: Caring for Country
This course hopes to provide students with a growing awareness of the wider world, including the diversity of languages, cultures and forms of intercultural communication. By the end of each semester students should be able to use basic phrases in the language of their choice and reflect on intercultural perspectives and their experience of interactions, and make cross-curricular connections. They should also consider fundamental concepts such as the diversity of peoples, cultures, geographic locations and languages. They should also explore aspects of environment, lifestyle and practices across cultures and make comparisons with their own. They will also develop a metalanguage for discussing language and culture, and monitor and reflect on their language and culture learning through discussions, journalling or contributions to a shared digital space. Learners will also engage with online courses such as Education Perfect, DuoLinguo and Edx to provide them with material to study their chosen language.
More information: Languages
This introductory unit equips students with the foundational skills to communicate using Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) as a living, dynamic language of the Deaf community. Across the semester, students learn to introduce themselves, exchange information about daily life, and participate in voice-off interactions, building confidence through expressive (signing) and receptive (viewing/comprehension) channels. Students explore the grammatical and cultural features of AUSLAN, including how it differs structurally from English, the role of facial expression, body language and non-manual features, and the importance of cultural protocols and signed etiquette. By the end of the unit, students can initiate and maintain simple signed conversations, apply foundational grammar, and demonstrate awareness of and respect for Deaf culture.
More information: AUSLAN for Beginners
This unit covers the principles of Forensic Science. Topics covered will include transference, fingerprinting, DNA analysis, blood typing, blood spatter, track analysis, fibre analysis, hair analysis, ballistics and crime scene analysis. The major task is to create your own crime scenario for others to solve.
More information: Forensic Science
Marine Biology covers the study of a range of marine ecosystems, organisms and their adaptations for life in the ocean. The unit will also consider the impact of human activities on marine life and marine resources. Students will use the skills of scientific inquiry to conduct investigations and communicate their findings. They will develop an understanding of science as a human endeavour within the interdisciplinary field of Marine Biology and be offered opportunities to complete field work in coastal habitats as part of the unit work. This elective is for anyone who is interested in marine life and passionate about conservation.
Approximate costs $500
More information: Marine Biology
This elective is designed for students interested in science, health and medicine, particularly those considering pathways such as nursing, paramedics, pharmacy, medical laboratory science, health science, dentistry, or medicine. It is a hands-on, thought-provoking course where students investigate how the body works. From molecules to the entire system, students will learn how diseases affect these systems, and how treatments, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle choices influence health and wellbeing. The course extends knowledge in specialised areas of science through the review of scientific and medical evidence, with a strong focus on the chemistry and biology underpinning medical sciences. The key areas of study will also include biochemistry, molecular biology (with microbiology and haematology), molecular genetics, physiology, nutrition, pharmacology, toxicology, neuroscience, and biotechnology.
More information: Medical Science
Students will learn and practise the skills of baking through a series of weekly challenges. These challenges include developing an understanding of the role of ingredients and equipment in different cooking processes and an opportunity for students to develop their own creative baked product. The course will include the element of product design to meet the needs of various scenarios, clients and occasions. Food practicals include common items found in bakeries such as pies, sausage rolls, cakes, slices and yeast cookery products.
More information: Bakehouse
Students will investigate food related issues associated with the production of food from farm to fork (or paddock to plate). Key topics covered will be setting up a kitchen garden, organic produce, ecological and environmental sustainability of food and presentation of food on a plate. Students will work in teams to design an ethical celebration hamper/market Stall. Students will plant, nurture and harvest vegetables and herbs. Food practicals include meal production, cakes and biscuits incorporating as much of the food produce we grow as possible.
More information: Farm to Fork
These subjects will introduce and develop both practical and design skills in the Metal Workshop. Students will safely complete a number of Metalwork projects utilising a range of hand and machine tools. Students choosing a 3rd or 4th semester of Metalwork will have the opportunity to create their own project utilising the skills they have developed.
This subject is repeatable. Students who have previously completed a semester of Metalwork will be enrolled in Metalwork 2, 3 or 4 as appropriate, and should select Metalwork as their elective option in the semester(s) of their choice.
More information: Metalwork
Learning to work with wood has taught humans to survive through the ages, create tools for hunting and eating, build structures that we can live in, and protect ourselves during the changing seasons. In woodwork, students will learn how to develop practical skills in using hand and machine tools to work with wood and other materials. With an emphasis on safety, students will work in a collaborative workshop environment to design, personalise and build a range of practical projects that they can use at home.
Students choosing a 4th semester of Woodwork will have the opportunity to create their own project utilising the skills they have developed.
This subject is repeatable. Students who have previously completed a semester of Woodwork will be enrolled in Woodwork 2, 3 or 4 as appropriate, and should select Woodwork as their elective option in the semester(s) of their choice.
More information: Woodwork
The Understanding Building and Construction Program (UBCP - Try-a-Trade) supports the participation of females and gender diverse students in construction-related vocational education and training to increase the number of women in the construction industry.
Students learn about a diverse range of careers in the construction industry in a supportive, inclusive environment to help remove barriers that prevent young women from entering the industry. Lots of industry connections are provided, training in white card, asbestos awareness and silica awareness and work experience is included.
This subject is only available to girls and gender-diverse students. Students in Year 10 will be given priority for this subject given there are opportunities for work experience placements offered throughout.
More information: UBCP - Women in Construction
This course is an introduction to Computer Aided Design using more advanced programs from what students learned in years 7/8. Students will learn to resolve 3D design problems in creative ways using 3D modelling software. Blender and Fusion 360 will be used to make complex models, where students look in detail at creating and sculpting shapes and objects, and utilise 3D printing to realise the computer model as an actual product. The projects undertaken in the course will include Character Modelling and animation, 3D Printing, Video Game/Animated film assets and Design concepts.
More information: Computer Aided Design (Digital Art and Animation)
This course is an introduction to Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture with a focus on Engineered Products. Students will learn to resolve Engineering design problems in creative ways using 3D modelling software. Projects will include product development, engineering challenges, reverse engineering and architectural design.
Sketchup and other, industry standard, software packages will be available for students to create complex models focussing on details and utilise 3D printing to realise the Computer model as a physical product.
More information: Computer Aided Design (Engineering)
In Computer Technology Semester 1 students will further develop a wide range of computer based, problem solving projects in a collaborative class environment. They will extend their knowledge of programming structure and problem solving, extending on the skills developed from 7/8 Digital Technologies. They will learn to use and create spreadsheets, create websites using HTML and work with data to answer interesting questions about the world.
More information: Computer Technology: Web Design
In Computer Technology Semester 2, students will further develop a wide range of computer based, problem solving projects in a collaborative class environment. They will extend their knowledge of programming structure and problem solving, extending on the skills developed from 7/8 Digital Technologies and semester 1 Computer Technology. They will learn to use Python to create a text based RPG adventure, create 3D models and assets using Blender and develop games through the Unity Engine.
More information: Computer Technology: Game Design
This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of robotics, focusing on the construction and programming of autonomous mobile robots. Students will build and test increasingly more complex robots using a variety of sensors and motors to overcome a series of robotic challenges.
More information: Robotics