Philosophy literally translates to mean ‘love of wisdom’. If you are interested in learning how to think more deeply and ask the big questions about life, then this subject will offer you a chance to explore these deep questions and be a part of a ‘community of enquiry’. 

You will learn the key skills in philosophical analysis, deepen your critical thinking and - as part of a team - apply your knowledge through preparation for and participation in the state-wide Victorian Secondary School Philosothon. 

The Philosothon is a ‘competition’ of sorts that gathers young philosophers from around the state to engage in an exploration of big concepts of meaning, nature and why we hold the beliefs we do. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Socratic Circle discussions

• Philosophical Enquiry

What does it mean to be an Australian? Today, our country is made up of people from all nations around the world who practice a range of religions, have varying customs and cultures and express their identities in a million different ways. So how can we all come together and create a nation that lives with tolerance and understanding of those around us? 

In citizenship and diversity we will explore the nature of cultural identity in modern Australian society and the global community. This elective explores major religions and their beliefs and history, the nature of a diverse society and pluralism and the importance of culture and social media in shaping our attitudes and values. 

Students will have a chance to do an in-depth study on one aspect of identity in modern Australia with the potential to design and implement a school or community-wide campaign raising awareness and understanding about a particular group, religion or sub-culture.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Research task

• Presentation

Unfortunately, sometimes the decisions businesses make create problems, and to solve them we need people, like you, to offer solutions. 

These problems can range from clothing manufacturers using child labour, supermarkets ripping off farmers or even cafes that don’t source their coffee from sustainable sources. 

Throughout a semester of Economics: Big Business, Big Problems you will work on developing a solution for a local or global business of your choice. You will research the nature of the problem, get in touch with them to find out how they work, and discover why they make the decisions they make. Using the knowledge we build in class, you will offer them a solution, that, hopefully, results in a fairer world!

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Business Solution Folio

• Test

Sport Education provides students with the opportunity to participate in various sports in the local and broader community. The program aims to develop student’s technical skills and tactical and strategic awareness within their sport.  Students will develop their overall decision making through a game-based learning model, which includes modified and small sided games. 

Students select a different sport each term. Sports are offered based on staff and venue availability and the season (e.g. winter or summer sports). Students would have the opportunity to represent FHS within their chosen sport if they chose a sport aligned with the interschool sport program for that term. Team-oriented sports compete in round-robin competitions against other schools in the region at the end of terms 1-3. Students will experience the cooperative and competitive requirements of sports, with a focus on teamwork and resilience. 

Sports that are offered include tennis, baseball, softball, netball, table tennis, football, soccer, hockey, cricket, badminton, volleyball and basketball.

The Maths Plus elective provides an opportunity for all students to further develop their numeracy skills and build upon their understanding from core Maths Pathway classes. Students of all ability levels are encouraged to apply if they are looking for extra class time to consolidate their learning as they progress to year 10 mathematics. In particular, this subject is designed to give students concrete support in developing and applying foundational numeracy skills at all levels of the 7 to 9  mathematics curriculum.

Students will spend time in class developing their own goals and considering the strategies that help them learn most effectively in maths classes. The topics taught will closely align with the topics offered in core Maths Pathway classes, providing students additional time to work with these concepts. Technology (calculator, spreadsheet, graphing calculator) skills will be taught and used in this course. 

Throughout this elective, students will develop learning strategies, critical thinking skills, and problem solving techniques to prepare for future mathematical courses. A focus of learning in these lessons will be hands-on, rich tasks that offer a low-floor and high-ceiling and promote students' resilience in handling complex mathematical tasks. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Skills Exercises and Worksheets

• Rich Learning Tasks

• Maths Pathway Tests

Financial literacy is the ability to make informed judgments and to take effective decisions regarding the use and management of money. 

In today’s world of increasingly complex financial decisions, financial literacy may be considered a vital skill for all. You will learn the basics of financial literacy and banking in this course. 

Topics covered include: earning an income budgeting, importance of spending plans, non-traditional financial services, being an informed consumer, buying stocks (playing the Stock Market Game) , sell strategy, investing in education, planning for the future, planning for retirement, purchasing your first car, purchasing your first home, buying a home versus renting, taxes and tax planning, life insurance options, health insurance, property insurance, estate planning, and keeping money in perspective, understanding the financial impact and consequences of gambling, banking and financial services, savings and investing, understanding loans and borrowing money.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Skills Exercises and Worksheets 

• Major Project 

• Assignments 

• Portfolio - Stock Market Game

Students will study the scientific, legal and analytical role that forensic science plays in society (crime, natural disasters etc.) A study of the different ways forensic science is portrayed in a range of media will also be undertaken. Investigation and practical work involving a variety of relevant techniques will be an integral component of the project. Techniques such as fingerprinting, plaster casting, blood splatter analysis, hair and fibre analysis, facial recognition software, DNA extraction and blood detection will be covered. Students will also investigative selected case studies in crime scene investigative procedures

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Conducting Scientific Investigations

• Reporting on Scientific Investigations

• Communicating Scientific Knowledge

Psychology is a year 9 science elective in which you'll learn about yourself, your brain, your strengths and how you can use psychology to succeed.

You will learn about how your brain works, how the world works and how people interact through the perspective of psychology. You will learn about topics like growth mindset, psychological experiments and mindfulness.

You will have the opportunity put these skills into practice and succeed in all areas of your school life.

Assessment tasks include: 

• Conducting Scientific Investigations

• Reporting on Scientific Investigations

This elective subject provides students with the opportunity to develop further their own creativity. Students use a variety of media to produce a folio of personal exploration of their choice of subject matter based on common themes. Students are introduced to the work of artists in association with folio tasks and develop an appreciation of art and culture through the study of selected artists.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Studio process and folio of finished artworks

• Written Analysis Tasks

Students will be involved in both practical and theoretical activities during classes. They will learn and perform group dance work and also be involved in the choreography and performance of a solo/duo/small group dance work.

Students will complete research and analysis of a dance from another cultural background. Students will also learn to critically recognize and evaluate the processes involved in choreographing/learning, refining and performing both their own choreography and the choreography of others.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Performance of Learnt Group Work

• Performance of solo/small group choreography

• Dance in Other Cultures assignment

• Write up of Choreographic process

Students will develop and enhance skills in ensemble playing and gain experience in performing. Key skill elements such as an understanding of music language and notation, aural recognition, listening and responding to music will be covered. A major focus is a rehearsal as preparation for performance.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Rehearsing and performing

• Music Language

• Music Analysis Listening Task

In this unit, students will continue to develop their improvisational and performance skills through a variety of activities. Students will experience and learn the theoretical and practical aspects of performance and theatre. These include tension, focus, space, role and motivation.

Students will undertake performance work that involves working with a script and a detailed rehearsal process to culminate in a final presentation of a group ensemble.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Practical Performance

• Creative Performance

• Research Tasks

• Journal

Students will investigate Australian films and Filmmaking. They will analyse story elements, conventions and production techniques that Australian film-makers employ to reflect Australian social and cultural issues for both national and international markets. Applying investigative skills students explore local community-based topics to create a 'fly on the wall' style documentary, establishing their camera and narrative skills. After which they pitch their own original story idea to the class to create and produce a short film of their selected genre.

Students will learn techniques for designing and planning a film production story. They will also learn the organisational and technical skills required to develop, produce, write, direct and edit an Australian film for public screening.  Students will use a range of equipment to create their media products including their personal phone and our DJI Phone Gimbals, as well as Nikon and Cannon DSLR camera and RODE Mics.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Reflective folio/blog

• Short Documentary Group Film Task

• Original Story Short Film Task

In Digital Art students explore and develop artistic ideas linking traditional and digital artistic practices.

In the making of artworks students follow the studio process, using inspiration for ideas and techniques, exploring,  experimenting, recording and annotating their ideas relating to basic photography skills of rules of composition, elements & principles of art. Students also analyse and compare the work of artists working in different historical and cultural contexts and learn basic editing practices.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Practical & Online tasks

• Written research tasks

Students explore a range of processes to create photographic imagery, and explore a range of processes and techniques to edit, enhance, adapt and finally to present photographic imagery. using point and shoot skills.

In the making of artworks students follow the studio process, using inspiration for ideas and techniques, exploring and experimenting, and recording their decision making, and the skills they have learnt. Students also analyse and compare the work of artists working in different historical and cultural contexts and the basic steps of editing.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Practical Photography Tasks

• Analysis and evaluation

Design is everywhere. The posters, brochures, logos, websites, magazines, signage, and packaging you see every day. The things you use: from your phone to your toothbrush, your clothes, and the buildings and spaces you rest, work and play in. In Viscomm we learn about graphic design, environmental design and designing the products we live with and use every day. 

Focus for study in year 9 includes: illustration and advertising design; fashion and decorative arts; and the design of furniture and everyday ‘things’. This subject enables the development of design knowledge and creative design thinking skills, using a range of materials and methods, from traditional pencil drawing and construction techniques to digital design software, laser-cutting technology and 3D printing. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• 3D Design Prototypes 

• 2D Graphic Design Solutions 

• Design Process folio 

• Design in Context 

This unit provides students with a range of design briefs increasing in complexity to allow them to develop skill and understanding of how to design products using Computer Aided Drawing [CAD] software. 

Some of the designs can then be manufactured using CNC or computer controlled machinery. Dedicated 3D modelling software allows students to design various parts and assemble them on screen. Experience in Computer Aided Machining [CAM] and 3D rapid prototyping are also features of this course.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• CAD tutorials

• Research Assignment 

• Project Work 

• Project Folio

• Test

This unit provides students with a primarily project based experience where they will learn how to design and make products using a range of design and technological processes. 

Students will learn how to assess and control risks, describe and quantify materials before using tools and machinery to manufacture projects made predominantly from timber. CAD software and wood machining including CNC machining are also features of the unit.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Practical Skills Project 

• Project Folio 

• Research Assignment 

• Safety Assignment

In this elective students will develop analytical and problem-solving skills in the context of electronics and control circuitry. Students are introduced to the world of robotics using LEGO robots along with basic skills and knowledge in electronics, soldering and programming. 

Theory topics include; an introduction to simple control systems, mechanical power and its transfer, identification and anatomy of robots, technological systems used in the construction of basic robots and an understanding of computer-controlled technology. 

Practical use of CAD/CAM technology, construction of LEGO Robots and applications of CNC Milling Machines will be undertaken. The eventual production of simple robotic devices will enable robotic challenges such as racing, wrestling and hill-climbing to take place.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Project Work 

• Project Folios 

• Research Assignment 

• Test

This unit is offered to enable students to develop an understanding of the construction and application of electric and small internal combustion motors. Students investigate the application of electric motors in various devices such as DVD players, washing machines, inkjet printers, mobile phones and more. 

Students will learn practical skills in disassembling and reassembling an electric bike and scooter. The basic components and function of a single-cylinder petrol engine will also be studied. Students will compare the design similarities and operational differences between a small engine and the engine of a motor car. 

Students will gain practical experience working with a variety of workshop tools to disassemble, reassemble and test one or more single-cylinder petrol engines. They will also determine the fuel consumption rate of an engine by data logging and analyse performance graphs. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Class Theory Exercises 

• Practical Motor Building Tasks 

• Research Assignment 

• Tests

This subject provides students with a broad knowledge and understanding of food properties, processing, preparation and their interrelationship, nutritional considerations and consumption patterns. It addresses the importance of hygiene and safe working practices and legislation in the production of food. 

Students will develop food-pecific skills, which can then be applied in a range of contexts enabling students to produce quality food products. They will learn to plan healthy meals according to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, the revised Healthy Eating Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Australians. They will look at the influences on our food choices including culture, sustainability, seasonality, food intolerances and allergies.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Design Briefs

• Research Tasks 

• Practical Activities

Students will be introduced to a diversity of cuisines from around the world. Each week students will examine a new country and complete an investigation-based task, followed by the preparation of a food production that is rich in authentic ingredients and processes. 

The weekly investigation will form the basis of their portfolio. Some of the countries students will investigate are: Italy, Greece, Mexico, Spain, France and Thailand as well as the region of The Middle East.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Research Assignment 

• Productions 

• Portfolio

• Cultural Celebration Presentation

This course introduces students to programming in javascript and the creation of small web-based applications (apps). 

This introductory course places an emphasis on understanding the principles of computer programming (coding) and revealing those items that are universal to all computing and programming languages. Students will program in an environment created by Code.org called App Lab that allows the user to write javascript programs with click and drag blocks and/or text typing.

The unit begins with students solving problems with classic turtle style programming, focusing on the power of procedural abstraction and personal expression with code. After learning some basics of programming with the turtle, we gradually blend in elements more commonly seen in apps, like buttons and text inputs, images and so on, teaching programming from an event driven perspective. 

The course concludes with students creating a small app of their own to share with friends and family. 

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Programming and Information System Tests

• Generative Art Project

• App Design Portfolio

This unit will combine elements from Media, Visual Arts, Science, Mathematics and Information & Communications Technology [ICT]. The focus of the study will be upon exploring computer-based games and game making processes as well as an overview of the game making industry. Students will learn the history of game design from the classics of Pong and Space Invaders, to the immersive 3D massive multiplayer online games and casual games that are flooding the market today. They will learn the foundations of game design including level, character and sprite design, sound effects and developing their own graphics. Students will then design and code their own games using Gamemaker and showcase their work in a portfolio by the end of the course. The unit will also involve students presenting review presentations of selected current computer-based games.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Major Game Project 

• e portfolio 

• Research Assignments

• Game Review Presentations