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English
English
Contact person: Mrs Lucas
English in Years 9 and 10 develops skills to enable students to experiment with ideas and expression and to become active, independent learners. Through responding to a wide variety of texts and composing their own texts, students learn about the power, value and strength of the English language for communication, knowledge and pleasure.
Students will experience and respond to a variety of styles of texts including novels, poetry, drama, non-fiction, film, media and multimedia. They will explore texts that include literature from both past and contemporary societies, developing skills to appreciate, question and challenge these texts. In their own compositions students will develop skills in the creation of both imaginative and analytical texts.
Student achievement in Stage 5 will be based upon both classwork and across form assessment tasks. Those students who perform at the highest level will be given the opportunity to apply for Advanced and Extension English in Year 11.
English in Stage 5 will prepare students to take their place as confident, articulate communicators, critical and imaginative thinkers and active participants in society.
Mathematics
Mathematics
Contact person: Mr Chittick
In Years 9 and 10, students are placed in one of three courses depending on their ability. The three courses are Stage 5.3 (Advanced), Stage 5.2 (Intermediate) and Stage 5.1 (Standard). In Stage 5 Mathematics students continue to build on their skills in each of the strands (Working Mathematically, Number, Patterns and Algebra, Data, Measurement, Space and Geometry).
The depth of study incorporating the process of questioning, reflecting, reasoning and proof depends on the course of Mathematics being studied. Students will be given the opportunity to solve meaningful and challenging problems in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts to develop their “mathematical thinking, understanding, competence and confidence in the application of mathematics.”
Assessment is carried out by class or course assignments, tests and formal examinations.
It is important to note that:
a scientific calculator is essential (These are available from the front office at a cost of $20.)
the level of Mathematics studied in Years 9 and 10 may affect or limit a student’s choice of Mathematics course for the HSC
Geography
Geography
Contact person: Mrs Woolnough
Geography is about the world and how people live and work. The Year 9/10 Geography course allows students to enjoy and take an interest in their world and its future management. They achieve this as they develop geographic knowledge, understanding, skills and values, and become informed and active citizens.
Topics:
Year 9: Students will undertake studies in global biomes, global population and increased urbanisation, as well as the challenges that are associated with feeding the world’s growing population.
Year 10: Current issues in the Australian and global environments, consequences of environmental change, and management for future generations. Human Wellbeing will be explored with differences in living standards and development being studied. Issues of sustainability and management of resources will come into question as the earth’s population approaches 8 billion.
Local field studies allow students to collect information about issues such as urban salinity, water management, growth and changes in towns and give them the knowledge and skills to take action as active and informed citizens.
Senior Studies: Geography provides excellent preparation for aspects of HSC courses, such as Geography, Legal Studies (Environmental Law) and Society and Culture.
Careers: Geographers go into careers such as architecture, the armed forces, town planning, environmental science, park rangers, marine science, teaching, tourism, social work, international relations and overseas aid.
History
History
Contact person: Mrs Woolnough
History is about people in the past. History students investigate the lives of people and the events they lived through, using different sources and artefacts that have been left behind. This allows us to look at our world today with an understanding of how events have unfolded over time. Year 9 and 10 History explores Australia’s history and our place in the world since 1901.
Topics:
Year 9 – The Making Of The Modern World – Making A Better World?; Movement Of Peoples and Australians at War (World War I and II).
Year 10 – The Modern World and Australia – Rights and Freedoms; The Globalising World and a school-developed Depth Study.
Students explore the “big picture” of Australia’s history by focusing on the lives and achievements of particular groups and personalities.
Assessment: One formal assessment task per topic, such as a research assignment or source study; all course work is included in assessment so it is essential to keep up-to-date with class tasks.
Equipment required: 90 page exercise book, fully equipped pencil case.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Contact person: Mrs Brown
The focus of this course is to allow students to develop their own personal wellbeing, enjoy an active lifestyle, maximise movement potential and advocate lifelong health and physical activity. The students are encouraged to adopt a healthy, active and fulfilling lifestyle by developing skills in communicating, decision making, interacting, moving, planning and problem solving.
Personal Development and Health is concerned with enhancing each student’s sense of self, improving their ability to manage challenging circumstances and to develop caring and respectful relationships. It assists students to take action to protect, promote and restore individual and community health.
Physical Education allows for students to develop individual and teamwork abilities through the medium of movement. Students are offered opportunities to participate in a variety of physical experiences.
Assessment is conducted using a range of methods including: presentations, group work, written reports, topic tests, research projects, self-assessment, peer assessment and physical performances. Year 10 has a formal assessment schedule with common tasks across the year group.
Equipment required: Sports uniform, laptop, pens and pencils.
Science
Science
Contact person: Mr Curry
This Stage 5 Science course builds on the concepts and language taught in Years 7 and 8. Students will be asked to become involved in, and ask questions about, simple and complex systems that lead to a greater understanding of how our world works. They will be introduced to the development of technologies to investigate problems. Concepts that they will study include: electrical energy, atoms and chemical reactions, response to disease, plate tectonics and natural disasters, genetics and evolution, astronomy, ecosystems, waves and energy transfer, and the physics of vehicle motion and safety.
As well as undertaking practical experiences conducted in class time students are to undertake a variety of research projects and hands-on practical investigations at home called ‘student research project’.
In Year 9, students are assessed within their classes and across their Year group by common assessment tasks. Year 10 has a formal assessment procedure involving a number of across the course/year tasks.
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