Curriculum Overview
Religious Education is the most important element of the Curriculum. This reflects the distinctively Catholic nature of the school and the Mission Statement that affirms, "We believe that Religious Education has, and must retain, the primary curriculum position." Therefore it is taught at all year levels and underpins the manner in which all subjects are delivered.
The College was restructured in 2003 into Junior (Years 7 and 8), Middle (Year 9) and Senior (Years 10-12) schools. The restructure has been done upon strong educational grounds and will provide students with teaching and learning experiences and opportunities that are consistent with their level of development. The structure will challenge each student to pursue and achieve excellence in a range of exciting curricular and co-curricular areas.
Junior School
A broad and comprehensive curriculum is emphasised in Years 7 & 8. The Junior School structure is also designed to enable students to make an effective and enjoyable transition into secondary school. The music program, creative and manual arts, language education and physical education combine with a focus on key literacy and numeracy skills. The Learning Enhancement Department assists in developing an understanding of the individual’s strengths and weaknesses. Programs can be adapted to cater for individual needs.
Middle School
A research indicates that in Year 9 boys are faced with a range of challenges that could impact upon their performance at school. The aim of the Year 9 program is to engage students in a range of educational experiences that will ensure they remain focused upon their schooling. Research highlights that at this stage of the learning journey, boys need practically focussed activities that provide them with challenges and effectively link up different parts of the curriculum. Students in the Middle School will continue to build numeracy and literacy skills whilst being involved in an exciting range of experiential learning experiences. In Year 9 there is a strong focus on physical activity, outdoor education and fun!
Senior School
The College has adopted the VCE curriculum in Years 10-12. The structure of the Senior School enables students to undertake VCE Units in Year 10, opening up a wider range of subject choices for students as well as allowing students to study additional units at VCE level. The structure of the Senior School encourages students to take greater accountability for their own learning and prepares them for the challenges associated with learning beyond the secondary school environment.
School - assessed tasks and criterion based assessment encourage students to accept a degree of accountability for their own organisational skills while maintaining expectations of excellence.
Subjects offered in 2010
Year 7
Religious Education, Visual Arts, Technology, Drama, English, French, Studies of Society and Environment, Mathematics, Band, Music (Instrumental & Theory), Health and Physical Education, Science, Japanese.
Year 8
Religious Education, Visual Arts, Technology, Drama, English, Food Technology, French, Japanese, SOSE, Mathematics, Music (Instrumental & Theory), Health and Physical Education, Science, Electronics, Printmaking.
Year 9
Core Subjects: Religious Education, English, Commerce, History, Life Education, Mathematics, Science, Health and Physical Education.
Elective Subjects: (3 per semester): Art, Computer Studies, Drama and Social Justice, French, Japanese, Geography, Visual Communications, Music (Instrumental & Theory), Food Technology, Design Wood, Design Metal, Electronics.
Students in Year 9 participate in one major outdoor experience per term as part of the integrated curriculum.
Year 10
Core Subjects: Religious Education, Information Technology, English, Mathematics, Sport Education.
Elective Subjects: (3 per semester): Art, Asian History, Australian History, Social Justice through Drama, Food Technology, French, Japanese, Geography, Visual Communications, Music (Instrumental & Theory), Physical Education, Media Studies, Design Wood, Design Metal, Electronics, Health Education and Careers Education.
Year 10 Science
At least one semester of Science must be completed. Students choose from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Environmental Science (each is one Semester long).
Year 10 students may elect to study VCE Units 1 and 2, upon consultation with the Year 10 Coordinator and/or Director of Studies.
Students participate in one major outdoor education/leadership experience as part of the Year 10 curriculum.
VCE Units
Units 1 and 2
Accounting
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Design and Technology
Drama
Economics
English (Compulsory)
Food Technology
General Mathematics
Geography
History
Information Technology
Legal Studies
LOTE: French, Japanese
Mathematics Methods
Media Studies
Music Performance
Outdoor Education
Physical Education
Physics
Systems and Technology
VET Programs
Sport and Recreation
Hospitality
Automotive
Visual Communication & Design
Units 3 and 4
Accounting
Art
Biology
Business Management
Chemistry
Design and Technology
Drama
Economics
English / English Literature (Compulsory)
Food Technology
Geography
History (Australian)
Information Technology (Information Processing and Management)
Information Technology (Information Systems)
Legal Studies
LOTE: French/Japanese
Further Mathematics
Mathematical Methods
Specialist Mathematics
Media Studies
Music Performance (Solo)
Outdoor Education
Physical Education
Physics
Systems and Technology
VET Programs
Visual Communication & Design
Religion and Society
Texts and Traditions
