Curriculum

The College is organised to provide students with experiences suited to their needs and level of development All students study Religious Education, plus subjects from eight other Learning Areas: English, Mathematics Science, Society & Environment, The Arts (visual and performing arts), Languages other than English Italian Japanese), Health and Physical Education, and Technology & Enterprise. The academic program focuses on two schools: middle school and senior school.

Learning Enrichment

Academically gifted students are exposed to a variety of learning experiences that are designed to expose them to new challenges. Our Talented and Gifted Program offers extension in two areas: Maths and Science, and Society & Environment and English. Excellence is promoted in a broad range of academic fields. For instance, the College has a tradition of all Year 8 students participating in the annual English Speaking Board examinations.

Students with special needs are well catered for under the guidance of the Head of Learning Enrichment and Support. This department is supported by Teaching Assistants who are available to support classroom teachers. The students' particular learning styles are accommodated and participation in all activities is encouraged.

We also offer individualised and small group programs for students who require additional support in literacy and numeracy.

In recognition of our striving for excellence, Academic Scholarships are awarded each year both to our incoming Year 8 students and to those entering Year 11. In addition, Aboriginal Scholarships are awarded to students entering Year 8.

Middle School

Middle schooling practices are utilised in Years 8 and 9 to engage student learning within the context of a continued subject-specific program. From 2009, the Middle School program will commence at Year 7. Learning Teams of teachers devise strategies to engage students and maximise their learning opportunities. In Year 8, all students study Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Society and Environment, Science, Health & Physical Education, and either Japanese or Italian. Electives in Year 8 include Music, Art, Design & Technology (woodwork and metalwork), Home Economics (cooking and textiles). Information Technology is integrated in the curriculum at Year 8 level, and is seen to be important for all students. Using digital cameras, videos and appropriate software and digital presentations are the new tools used by teachers to engage students further. In Year 9, students not only study a `core' of academic subjects, but are able to select subjects in the Technology and Enterprise, Languages Other Than English (Japanese or Italian) and the Arts Learning Areas.

Academic Enrichment is offered to students in Years 8 and 9. An additional teacher may be assigned to work with individuals or a small group of students, especially in the area of English and Mathematics.

Senior School

YEAR 10

The senior school program commences at Year 10. Students begin to select subjects and pathways that include a broad range of university entrance and vocational subjects. The extended academic program challenges students in preparation for the demanding university entrance courses in Year 11. The Vocational programs allow students to gain qualifications towards TAFE entrance, apprenticeships, traineeships or employment, whilst remaining at school. All Year 10 students study Religious Education and Health & Physical Education, and select a course in each of English, Science, Mathematics, and Society & Environment, dependent on their level of achievement at the conclusion of Year 9. A further three subjects are selected from the Arts, Technology and Enterprise, and Languages Other Than English Learning Areas.

University Entrance in Years 11 and 12

The academic rigour necessary for the many students with university aspirations is offered with a full and varied range of suitable Courses of Study. Entry into many of these courses requires the attainment of prerequisite performance in Year 10 subjects. In Years 11 and 12, all students study Religious Education plus five Courses of Study from the following list:

English, Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Human Biology, History, Geography, Economics, Drama, Art, Music, Japanese, Italian. In Year 11 the university entrance courses in mathematics are presently: Foundations of Mathematics or Introductory Calculus, and Geometry and Trigonometry. In Year 12, university entrance courses in maths are: Discrete Mathematics or Applicable Mathematics, and Calculus.

In addition, students choosing a university pathway may also be able to choose to sit the external examination in either Physical Education Studies or Applied Information Technology in Year l2. Other Courses of Study selected include all those offered to students opting for a vocational pathway.

Vocational Pathways in Years 11 and 12

In general, students who select a vocational pathway are required to study the following courses: Religious Education, English, Workplace Learning and Work Studies. The Workplace Learning and Work Studies subjects allow students to experience different workplace environments and gives them a chance to find out what type of career would interest them. Meaningful choices can then be made on the vocational courses they wish to pursue. In addition, the College strongly recommends a Mathematics course, likely to be Mathematics in Practice (Modelling in Mathematics in Year 12), although this is not compulsory. They will also be required to choose four more subjects from the following Courses of Study:

Applied Information Technology, Food Production, Early Childhood Studies, Furniture Design and Technology, Metals Technology, Physical Education Studies, Senior Science, Art, Drama, or Dance.

Students who study a vocational pathway will also have the opportunity to complete TAFE Certificate I and/or Certificate II programs as part of their courses in Business, Hospitality, Metals and/or Information Technology.

A small group of students who wish to pursue an apprenticeship may opt to choose a School Apprenticeship Link (SAL) program requiring two days in training and three days at the College studying a reduced program of courses. SAL programs are offered in Building and Construction, Metals, Hairdressing, Retail and Hospitality. Students in this program often prefer to complete school graduation, although they may be fairly certain about wishing to pursue an apprenticeship when they leave school. This program reduces the length of an apprenticeship.