Contents
Planning Your Pathway 2
Subject Selection Process 2
Key Personnel 3
Beyond Horizons – An Inquiry Learning Program 4
Elective Program Information 4
2016 Subject Grid – Year 9 5
Compulsory Subjects 5
Elective Options 5
Learning Support Options 5
Core Subjects – Course Descriptors 6
Religious Education 6
English 6
Mathematics 6
Science 7
Humanities 7
Health & Physical Education 7
Elective Subjects – Course Descriptors 8
Health & Physical Education 8
Performing Arts 8
Drama 8
Music 8
Visual Arts 9
Art 9
Media 9
Visual Communication and Design 9
Technology 10
Food Technology 10
Textiles 10
Information Technology 11
Languages Other Than English (LOTE) 12
Learning Support Options – by invitation only 13
Learning Plus 13
Learning Plus: Literacy 13
Learning Plus: Numeracy 13
Subject Selections form 14
Planning Your Pathway
At Year 9, under AusVELS (National Curriculum in Victoria), students begin to consider and explore future pathways into the Senior Years and beyond. It is at this time that students normally start to think about what they might like to do in the future. We have designed the Year 9 curriculum with this in mind and are therefore offering a breadth of subjects which we believe will cater for different personal interest and abilities and facilitate a learning pathway in each of the key learning areas.
This Handbook provides an overview of the Year 9 program offered at Mount St. Jo
seph Girls' College in 2016 and details the offerings for each of the domains. It is designed to assist students and their parents provides to make informed choices about subjects for Year 9. There are a number of core subjects and a range of elective subjects, all of which have been developed to ensure that basic skills continue to be developed. The provision of a number of electives allows students the opportunity to undertake the study of subjects for interest but also with a view to future learning.
Mrs Joanna De Bono
Deputy Principal – Learning and Staff
Subject Selection Process
In order to complete your selection of electives for 2016, it is important that you work through the following process.
You need to:
Ø Think about your abilities, interests and academic achievements in various subjects.
Ø Read this 2016 Year 9 Handbook. Note that the document is also posted on the Intranet and can be accessed via the Subject Selection Online Logo. The booklet includes an overview of the Year 9 Program and descriptions of the elective subjects to assist you in making choices.
Ø Identify which electives you wish to complete in 2016.
Ø Complete the Year 9 2016 Subject Selection Form.
Ø Obtain your on-line subject selection password that will be emailed to you.
Ø Enter your Subject Selections into the Online Subject Selections on the Intranet for Semesters 1 and 2. Note that you need to click on the icon, and work through the process.
Ø Print two copies of your selections at the end of the process and ask your parents to sign both copies.
Ø Submit one signed printout to your Pastoral Group Teacher with your Year 9 2016 Subject Selection Form (hard copy) and keep one for yourself.
Notes:
Every endeavour will be made to accommodate your elective selections however the College retains the right to withdraw an elective if there are insufficient student numbers. Students will be notified if they need to reselect any electives.
You must complete the Year 9 2016 Subject Selection Form (hard copy) and submit it to your Pastoral Teacher by August 12, 2015.
Key Personnel
Principal / Catherine DillonDeputy Principal – Learning and Staff
Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing / Joanna De Bono
Steven Mifsud
Director of Catholic Identity / Danielle Fairthorne
Director of Learning and Teaching / Fran Dorgan
Director of Learning Engagement
Director of Wellbeing / Matt Smith
Stacey Bourke
Domain Leaders
English / Brad Abraham
Mathematics / Anil Krishna
Science / Mia Loft
Humanities / Gerry Pinto
Performing Arts / Belinda Sorbello
Visual Arts / David Meilak
LOTE / Luisa Ragusa
Health / Physical Education/ Food Technology / Courtney Baka
Religious Education / Lee-Anne Furlong
Co-ordinators
VCAL / Jacqui Krell
Learning Support / Helen Thomas
Digital Learning / Adam Gonzalez
Pathways / Jacqui Krell
Year 12 / Anna Stafrace
Year 11 / Clare Kubacki / Kelly Sexton
Year 10 / Cherie Meurant
Year 9 / Merryn Snooks
Year 8 / Alison Duncan
Year 7 / Lidia Morlin
Student Support Services
Counsellors / Susha Arnheim
Ana Gasparis
MSJ | 2016 Year 9 Course Selection | Page 3
Beyond Horizons – An Inquiry Learning Program
“Inquiry-based learning is a student centred or active learning approach that takes as its starting point the natural process of inquiry, building on this to develop information processing and problem-solving skills. The focus is on 'how we know' rather than 'what we know', with students actively involved in the construction of their own knowledge.”
(VCAA, 2009)
Beyond Horizons brings into sharp focus the influences that impact on a student’s future career and direction. Thinking about life after secondary school can be overwhelming, so the Beyond Horizons Career exploration unit provides opportunities for students to investigate and consider future learning, paid and volunteer work. They investigate the requirements for vocational education, university, and paid employment. Students develop skills, knowledge and understandings to apply throughout this weeklong inquiry eventuating in a Career Expo.
Throughout the unit students visit places of work and interview guest speakers from within our MSJ community to gain insights and develop a personal pathway.
This is a compulsory unit conducted over one week of the year.
Students will gain further skills in:
· Planning a career pathway
· Team work and collaboration
· Planning and organisation
· Self management and self development
· Design and Presentation
· Searching online
· Navigating the Myfuture and VTAC websites and career resources
Elective Program Information
Guidelines
· Students are able to choose four elective options, completing two in each semester.
· Students are to select a minimum of one elective option from Performing Arts, one from Visual Arts and one from Technology, unless selecting a LOTE where the student is to then select two different electives from either the Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Technology Domains.
· Students selecting a LOTE are ineligible to select the Outdoor Education elective.
· LOTE subjects run for the entire year and count as two electives.
MSJ | 2016 Year 9 Course Selection | Page 32016 Subject Grid – Year 9
Compulsory Subjects
Religious Education SEM1 / Religious Education SEM2English SEM1 / English SEM2
Mathematics SEM1 / Mathematics SEM2
Science SEM1 / Science SEM2
History SEM1 / Civics & Citizenship SEM2
Health & Physical Education SEM1 / Health & Physical Education SEM2
Elective Options
LOTE / Performing Arts / Visual Arts / Technology / Health and Physical EducationFrench / Drama Performance / Art / Food For Life / Outdoor Education
Italian / Music / Visual Communication and Design / Information Technology
Japanese / Media / Textiles Design
Learning Support Options
A student who is identified as needing additional support in literacy and numeracy may be invited to undertake a Learning Plus program. Admission to these programs occurs through consultation with the student’s teachers, coordinators and parents. Selection to each Learning Plus program is by invitation only.
If a student is invited and accepts to undertake a Learning Plus program, their program of electives will be considered and revised through consultation with the College.
Core Subjects – Course Descriptors
Religious Education
Subject Title: / Religious EducationUnit descriptor: / This unit focuses on the religious beliefs developed by one or more religious traditions in response to the big questions of life. Students explore the ways in which these religious beliefs create meaning for religious traditions and their members. Students are encouraged to base their lives on the teaching and example of Christ. Religious Education enhances students’ understanding and reading of Scripture. In the Religious Education classroom we promote the value of students’ spending regular time in personal prayer and reflection to strengthen their awareness of how religion helps to answer real questions about the meaning of life. This supports students’ relationship with and belief in Christ as a real person in their daily lives.
English
Subject Title: / EnglishUnit descriptor: / Learning in the English domain is based upon the study of both texts and language. Through a variety of key skills and knowledge within the reading, writing and speaking and listening dimensions, students develop competency in both the analysis and creation of written and spoken language. At this level, students focus on a close examination of the critical and socio-cultural dimensions of language, and they learn to be critical and independent users of texts and language appropriate to situations in school, in their daily lives and in the workplace.
Mathematics
Subject Title: / MathematicsUnit descriptor: / The study of Mathematics can enhance our understanding of the world and the quality of our participation in society. It provides important tools and thought processes, which can be used at personal, civic and vocational levels. Mathematics provides opportunities for students to acquire mathematical knowledge, ways of thinking and confidence in thinking independently and problem solving using mathematics. It enables students to understand that Mathematics is an activity requiring observation, representation, critical thinking and application of patterns and formula. It provides opportunities for students to develop the skills necessary for success in studying Mathematics into VCE and further study.
Science
Subject Title: / ScienceUnit descriptor: / Units comprising an array of disciplinary science including but not exclusive to: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics and Psychology enabling students to explain, hypothesise, conduct investigations and evaluate key scientific principles of the world around them. The fundamental concepts behind each developing a sound knowledge base for further Science pathways.
Humanities
Subject Title: / History, Civics and CitizenshipNotes: This subject runs for two semesters. One semester will consist of History and the other semester will include Civics and Citizenship.
Unit descriptor: / The Year 9 curriculum provides a study of the history of the making of the modern world from 1750 to 1918. It was a period of industrialisation and rapid change in the way people lived, worked and thought. It was an era of nationalism and imperialism, and the colonisation of Australia was part of the expansion of European power. The period culminated in World War 1, 1914 to 1918, the ‘war to end all wars’. The content provides opportunities to develop historical understanding through key concepts, including evidence, continuity and change, cause and effect, perspective, empathy significance and contestability. These concepts may be investigated within a particular historical context to facilitate an understanding of the past and to provide a focus for historical inquiries. In Civics and Citizenship, students will learn about; Having their say in the Law, Human Rights, and Young People and the Law.
Health & Physical Education
Subject Title: / Health Physical EducationUnit descriptor: / Students will work towards developing an increased range of manipulative skills. They will focus on strategies to improve the quality of their performance during a number of games, physical activities and sports such as basketball, badminton and softball. The development of strategies to counter opposition players will be a focus. As part of the health requirements for this unit students will examine perceptions of risk, safety and challenge in a range of environments. A harm minimisation approach will be investigated. Aspects of women’s health will also be explored. The importance of nutrition and the development functions it performs in the body are investigated. Students also devlop skills relating to coaching practices and analyse their contribution to improved performances.
MSJ | 2016 Year 9 Course Selection | Page 3
Elective Subjects – Course Descriptors
Health & Physical Education
Title of elective: / Outdoor EducationNote: This is an enhanced unit for students that enjoy exploring the outdoors and requires vigorous practical and theoretical applications.
Unit descriptor: / Students will experience a number of outdoor pursuits in a range of challenging environments. They will be required to participate in both practical and theoretical components. Students will be exposed to practical skills such as bush walking, orienteering, camp preparation, first aid and some other practical skills. Students will complete theory related to map reading skills, National Parks and their roles, first aid and food preparation for camping. All students must be prepared to commit to the outdoor expeditions that will involve bushwalking and an overnight outdoor camp.
Performing Arts
Drama
Title of elective: / Drama PerformanceNotes: Drama Performance is a semester based elective in Year 9.
Unit descriptor: / In this unit, students create an Ensemble Performance based on the subject matter of Asylum Seekers versus Migration and The Stolen Generation. The Stolen Generation also coincides with their Humanities unit. Students develop skills in making decisions about creative ways of generating and implementing ideas. They reflect on their experiences and observations, consider what they have learnt about styles and forms and explore ideas, concrete and abstract. They keep their intended aesthetic qualities in mind when they experiment with, select, vary combinations and manipulate arts elements, principles and/or conventions to effectively realise their ideas.
Music
Title of elective: / MusicNote: Music is a semester based elective in Year 9.
Unit descriptor: / Music is geared towards the student looking for a fun, hands-on performance based subject. It covers music group performance. Students will learn a range of skills on a variety of instruments. They will have the opportunity to further develop their music theory and aural skills. It also introduces students to using music technology to create a musical arrangement. Year 9 Music is the minimum ‘stepping stone’ for Year 10 Music.
Visual Arts
Art
Title of elective: / ArtNote: Art is a semester based elective in Year 9.
Unit descriptor: / Art encompasses two key areas of study, Creating and Making and Exploring and Responding. Students will explore different materials, skills and techniques in drawing and painting based on organic and inorganic art forms. Experimenting with imaginative and innovative ways of using traditional and contemporary skills, students will create a folio of artworks. The focus of the folio will be to develop the application of two and three-dimensional art using the elements and principles of design. Students will also learn to observe, research and critically discuss a range of contemporary, traditional, stylistic, historical and cultural examples of artworks.
Media