Introduction to Middle School and Year 9
Matthew Nguyen
Director of Middle School
Marina Stergiou
Assistant Principal – Curriculum Programs and Professional Learning
Welcome to Middle School in 2026. Over the coming weeks you will be making some important decisions about your learning program for next year, and to some extent, for future years. It is important that you read this Handbook closely with your parents/guardians, be attentive and focused at the information sessions, and seek further information from the Careers Team or the Curriculum Area Leaders of the elective subjects you are interested in selecting.
After reading the Handbook and receiving the Course Selection Sheet, you should discuss initial choices with your parents/guardians. Career and counselling advice is available through the Careers Team led by Ms. Huffer. You are encouraged to visit the Careers Room in B Block at lunchtimes and after school to use the available resources.
The Middle School curriculum offers a wide range of opportunities. In Year 9 you will undertake five core subjects, and select electives for the first time.
As you move into this next phase of your education, you will be expected to take greater responsibility for your own learning. This starts now as you consider elective selections to make up your course of study for 2026. The elective offerings will provide opportunities for you to explore areas of interest, and possibly provide some background for subject selection in later years. It is for these reasons you must make wise choices, based on carefully considered information and advice provided by Careers Team and Curriculum Area Leaders in the College.
The electives offered at Year 9 provide you with the opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects. Year 9 electives (with the exception of Languages) are not prerequisites for VCE subjects.
In this Handbook you will find outlines for each of the five core subjects and all the electives which are provisionally offered in Year 9 for 2026. This combination of core and elective subjects you select is arranged so that you will complete some subjects across all curriculum areas during Years 9 and 10 which will help you prepare and make choices for your senior studies.