Year 8 into 9 Subject Selection

What should you consider when choosing elective subjects?

• What subjects interest me the most? Interest will mean enjoyment and enjoyment usually leads to dedication and success.

• In what subjects have I already been successful? Think carefully about the subjects you experienced in Year 7 and 8.

• What subjects will be useful in finding a job or for future studies?

• What do I consider will be good for ME?

What should you avoid when choosing subjects?

• Don’t choose your subjects just to be with your friends - there will be plenty of time to be with them.

• Don’t choose your subjects just because friends and relatives have done them or have advised you to do them – subjects have changed a great deal in recent years and someone who left school a few years ago would find that today’s subjects are very different.

Who should you see for help?

• Your Year Advisor [Ms Neil]

• The Careers Advisor [Mrs Cull]

• Teachers and Head Teachers in subject areas that interest you

• The Principal or the Deputy Principals

• Your family

ABOUT THE RoSA

The Record of School Achievement (RoSA) is a credential that shows your school achievement from Year 10 up to the HSC.

 Eligible students who leave school before receiving their Higher School Certificate (HSC) will receive the NSW Record of School Achievement (RoSA).

The RoSA:

• is a credential for eligible school leavers (students are generally eligible for the RoSA after four years of secondary school);

• is a cumulative credential – that is, it grows as your achievements are added;

• means fair grades for everyone – RoSA grades are determined by your teachers using established guidelines and processes to ensure consistency; and

• recognises Life Skills outcomes and content.

The RoSA records completed Stage 5 (Years 9 & 10) and Preliminary Stage 6 (Year 11) courses and grades, and participation in any uncompleted Preliminary Stage 6 courses.

WHAT IS A RoSA FOR?

• It is of specific use to students leaving school prior to the HSC.

• If a student intends to leave school before the HSC, they also have the option of taking literacy and numeracy tests and can use these results as evidence of these skills if they leave school.

• Students who go on to complete the HSC will see all their Stage 6 (Year 11 and 12) courses and results on their HSC.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE RoSA

To qualify for the RoSA, a student must have:

• attended a government school, an accredited non-government school or a recognised school outside NSW;

• completed courses of study that satisfy the NSW Education Standard Authority’s (NESA) curriculum and assessment requirements for the RoSA (see table);

• complied with all requirements imposed by the Minister or NESA; and

• completed Year 10.

Students leaving school who do not meet the RoSA requirements will be issued with a printed Transcript of Study.

MANDATORY CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to complete the following mandatory curriculum for the RoSA:

English

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.

Mathematics

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.

Science

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10.

Human Society and Its Environment

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. 400 hours to be completed by the end of Year 10 and must include 100 hours each of History and Geography in Stage 4 and 100 hours each of Australian History and Australian Geography in Stage 5.

Languages Other than English

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. 100 hours to be completed in one language over one continuous 12-month period between Years 7–10 but preferably in Years 7–8.

Technological and Applied Studies

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. NESA’s Technology (Mandatory) Years 7–8 syllabus to be studied for 200 hours.

Creative Arts

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. 200 hours to be completed, consisting of NESA’s 100-hour mandatory courses in each of Visual Arts and Music. It is NESA’s expectation that the 100-hour mandatory courses in these subjects will be taught as coherent units of study and not split over a number of years.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education

NESA Developed syllabus to be studied substantially throughout Years 7–10. 300-hour course in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education is to be studied in each of Years 7–10.

ELECTIVES

Students at Riverstone High School study two electives in Year 9 and 10. This consists of 2 x 200 hour electives. Electives are structured so that 200 hour courses are studied for 2 years.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

• NESA does not set a minimum attendance for the satisfactory completion of a course, but a principal may determine that, due to absence, course completion criteria may not be met.

• One requirement for the RoSA is that a student must attend until the final day of Year 10 at their school.

‘N’ DETERMINATIONS

• ‘N’ determinations are issued to students who do not complete the requirements for a course.

• Schools issue warning letters to students who are in danger of not meeting course completion criteria, giving the student time for the problem to be corrected.

• If a student has been given an ‘N’ determination in a mandatory course, they will not be eligible for the RoSA. If they leave school, they will receive a Transcript of Study that will list the mandatory course(s) for which an ‘N’ determination was given. The words ‘Not completed’ will appear next to each ‘N’ determined course.

• If a student is given an ‘N’ determination in a non-mandatory course, the course will not appear on their RoSA or Transcript of Study.

At Riverstone High School if a student is ‘N’ determined for any subject they may not participate in the graduation assembly.

More information about our N Warning process can be found on the Assessment Hub website

LIFE SKILLS                                        

Courses based on Life Skills outcomes and content satisfy the mandatory curriculum requirements for award of the RoSA. The Profile of Student Achievement provides details on Life Skills syllabus outcomes achieved by students.

• A Profile of Student Achievement is printed and issued by NESA to students at the same time as their RoSA (or if ineligible for the RoSA, with the Transcript of Study).

• Teachers are required to indicate outcomes achieved by students in Years 10, 11 and 12 for each course based on Life Skills outcomes and content

• When entering information, teachers can select from two options:

-       Achieved – for outcomes achieved independently or with adjustments required for demonstration on the same basis as their peers.

-       Achieved with support – for outcomes achieved with additional support, such as visual or verbal prompts.

Outcomes that have not been addressed in the teaching and learning program or that the student has not achieved will remain indicated as ‘Not applicable’.

RECEIVING THE RoSA

• Students who leave school and satisfy eligibility requirements for the RoSA will receive the formal credential.

• Students who leave school and are not eligible for a RoSA will receive a Transcript of Study at their departure. The Transcript of Study contains the same information as the RoSA for courses satisfactorily completed.

• All students have access to a record of their courses studied and their grades through Students Online.

• Students who receive their HSC will be able to receive a RoSA at the same time as their HSC, detailing their achievement in their earlier years of study.

While formal RoSA credentials are for school leavers, all Years 10 and 11 students will be able to access their results electronically and print a transcript of their results.

Any time a student wants an up-to-date snapshot of their academic progress, a transcript called a Student eRecord can be accessed via Schools Online or Students Online and printed or emailed.

Course Contributions

Most Elective Subjects come with a course contribution. This amount of money helps to cover expenses required to run this subject. Parents/Carers should be aware that additional learning opportunities or excursions may occur throughout the course and may require additional payments. 

Payments can be made at any time, in any amount. POP Payments and EFTPOS facilities are available. 

Subject Equipment

Each year RHS releases a list of required equipment for our subjects. This involves books, stationary and anything else required to engage in all aspects of the course. Where possible, this equipment will be supplied or sold by the school. Subject Equipment lists will be released in Term 4 in preparation for the following year.