Year 10

Delve Deeper

Academic vision for year 10

The Rolleston College academic vision for a year 10 learner is continuing to foster a holistic educational experience that prioritises the consolidation of literacy and numeracy skills while encouraging learners to delve deeper into various curriculum areas and begin to showcase expertise in specific subjects.

Emphasis is placed on positively engaging in learning, promoting higher-order thinking skills, and providing opportunities for learners to continue to explore different pathways. The vision underscores the importance of building skills and knowledge essential for academic success in NCEA, thereby laying strong foundations for future academic pursuits.

Year 10 learners enjoying Active As opportunities.

Year 10 learners in Connected learning classes.

Learning in term two

This term, Year 10 students have been deeply engaged in exploring the theme of ‘Risk’ through their Connected learning programme – with ConA centred around financial and social risks.

In Selected learning, students have taken advantage of a wide range of opportunities to pursue their passion – whether it be in the arts, technology, sport, or languages – developing new skills and growing in confidence.

In Ako, year 10 learners have been focused on their Quest presentations and have enjoyed the opportunity to take part in Active As activities.

During Literacy and Numeracy, learners have been focused on the key skills needed for the common assessment requirements for NCEA.

PE has been all about being active – an important part of the curriculum that ensures our learners understand the importance of physical movement.

It's been inspiring to see our learners so engaged in all of the areas of the New Zealand Curriculum!

Assessment using SOLO

Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) is a framework used at Rolleston College to assess and support teaching, learning, and progress. It tracks how skills and knowledge develop over time, aligning with the New Zealand Curriculum. For year 10 students, it generally reflects learning within Level 5 of the curriculum.

SOLO levels

Prestructural: the student is yet to identify ideas related to the task.
Unistructural: the student has an idea related to the task. Their next step is to describe their idea further.
Multistructural: the student describes several ideas related to the task. Their next step is to explain the relationship between the ideas that they have.
Relational: the student integrates and connects ideas related to the task to demonstrate a more coherent understanding. Their next step is to reflect on their ideas as they apply in other contexts.
Extended Abstract: the student looks at their ideas in a new way, and this is used as the basis for prediction, generalisation, reflection, or creation of new understandings.

Junior learners enjoying dance class.

Connections to NCEA

The way knowledge and skills are represented in NCEA is connected to the SOLO taxonomy.

Generally, the Multistructural level represents Achieved, Relational is equivalent to Merit, and Extended Abstract represents Excellence.

The reason SOLO is used at the junior levels is to make more explicit the ways in which learners are developing their skills and knowledge.

Our aim is for learners to be able to articulate their own progress and speak meaningfully about where they are at and where they are heading.

School diary

Our school diary is a fantastic tool to help learners organise their time and keep up-to-date with home learning and assessments.

There are some great activities that support good study habits throughout the diary as well.

Juniors in Connected learning.

Panning for gold on year 10 camp in Central Otago in 2024.

Coming up in term three

Get ready, year 10 learners: term three is shaping up to be an action-packed, inspiring adventure as we launch into our Connected learning theme: 'The World Around Us'. This thought-provoking concept will come alive across Maths, English, Social Science, and Science, offering you the chance to explore big ideas and global connections.

In English, you’ll dive into a captivating novel study, while Social Science takes you deep into systems of government and how societies make decisions. Science opens your eyes to human and natural disasters around the world – exploring their causes, impacts, and what we can learn from them. In Maths, you'll tackle algebraic and quadratic equations, discovering how they show up in real-world scenarios and why they matter.

Selected options are switching up this term, giving you the opportunity to try something fresh, challenge yourself, and uncover new passions. PE continues to build your strength, coordination, and confidence – just remember to bring your PE gear every time so you can fully join in.

In Ako, we’ll journey further into the Health curriculum and continue our exciting exploration of Quest learning – where you’ll go deeper into the things that truly interest and inspire you. Keep an eye out for year 10 camp information coming soon! Our camp concepts were proposed by year 10 learners as part of Quest.

Don’t forget: Literacy and Numeracy sessions are your powerhouse zones for building the core skills that fuel success across every subject. They’re especially important as you prepare for NCEA Literacy and Numeracy assessments – so lean in and make the most of every moment!

Tips for getting the most out of term three

Stay curious and open to new ideas – this is your time to grow, explore, and evolve.
Bring your PE gear every lesson – be ready to move, play, and participate.
Dive into your new Selected options – take a chance, discover something new.
Use Literacy and Numeracy to sharpen your skills – it’s an investment in your future.
Ask questions, collaborate, and share your voice – your perspective matters.

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