Dance

The Dance curriculum aims to develop students’ body awareness and technical and expressive skills through exploration of choreographic and performance skills. In this course, students will develop an understanding of aesthetic, artistic and cultural dance from both the past and contemporary contexts. Students will consider the relationship between dance and other arts forms and the contribution it makes to world cultures and societies.

Drama

Students will experiment with, apply a range of exercises, skills and techniques, and seek to refine their own skills in performance. Students will be introduced to concepts of Theatrical Conventions and Stagecraft and will revisit and extend their knowledge of Expressive Skills and Dramatic Elements. They will view drama created by others and analyse their use of these concepts and will work together to create an ensemble performance which allows students to bring these concepts together and apply them in practice.

Making Music

Students in class will be making music through various means as listed below:

• Class practical sessions, using traditional instruments (piano, guitar, drums, saxophone, trumpet, etc.).

• Making music through technology (using D.J. systems, Garage Band, etc.).

• Music for cartoons (either composed themselves or through the use of Sony Acid Music Studio).

• Written work will be given to support the instrument playing and theory will be learnt mainly through an activity/games based process.

This class will cater for both the beginner and the advanced learner. Students who wish to learn an instrument are welcome to join.

Media Arts

In Media Arts, students engage with communications technologies and cross-disciplinary art forms to design, produce, distribute and interact with a range of print, audio, screen-based or hybrid artworks. Students explore, view, analyse and participate in media culture from a range of viewpoints and in a variety of contexts.

Visual Arts: 2D

With a focus on 2D artwork, students will use a variety of media, materials and technologies drawn from a range of contexts and prepare and present artworks to different audiences. Students will experiment with imaginative and innovative ways of using contemporary and traditional skills, techniques and processes. Students will cover the dimensions of creating and making, and exploring and responding. Students will learn and explore a range of art forms. Areas studied in this Unit: Visual Art Analysis (Art elements and principles), Drawing, Painting and Printmaking.

Visual Arts: 3D

With a focus on 3D artwork, students will use a variety of media, materials and technologies drawn from a range of contexts and prepare and present artworks to different audiences. Students will experiment with imaginative and innovative ways of using contemporary and traditional skills, techniques and processes. Students will cover the dimensions of creating and making, and exploring and responding. Students will learn and explore a range of art forms. Areas studied in this Unit: Visual Art Analysis, Ceramics, Recycled materials and Sculpture.

Visual Communication Design

This course will focus on developing skills and confidence in the following areas: technical drawing (using equipment), freehand drawing from observation and rendering surface textures, and creative thinking in a design task with reference to the design elements. Areas studied in this Unit: Technical drawing, Free hand drawing and rendering techniques, Problem solving through a design task and written analysis.

Agriculture

This class focuses on a range of local Agricultural enterprises including Dairy and Beef farming. The major focus is on livestock with topics including: Introduction to Livestock (breeds, structure, feed requirements, pests and disease), Basic Livestock Handling Skills, Basic Farm Maintenance (including fencing, caring for livestock and an introduction to poultry management). Old clothes and steel capped work boots are required for this subject.

Backyard Blitz

Backyard Blitz provides students with the opportunity to work in small groups on one or more landscaping/garden maintenance/basic construction projects. Students plan and manage projects from conception to realisation. Students are also introduced to management of the College's Olive Grove and Fruit Orchard. They apply design and systems thinking and design processes to investigate ideas, generate and refine ideas, plan and manage, produce and evaluate designed solutions. They develop a sense of pride, satisfaction and enjoyment from their ability to create innovative designed solutions.

Food Technology Around the World

In this Unit, students identify and examine food consumption trends in Australia and compare these with those in other countries. Students obtain an understanding of the major nutritional requirements and use this knowledge to investigate relationships between diet and current health issues. A focus of this subject is to incorporate the elements of design in food preparation. This requires students to follow a design brief to create, produce and evaluate their final food design outcomes. This Unit caters for students with interests in the food, entertainment and hospitality industry, whether it is through TAFE courses, apprenticeships, or university degrees in dietetics, new food development and production industry, nutrition agencies or teaching.

Introduction to Metalwork

In this introductory Unit, students learn about different metals and their common applications as well as how they differ in terms of welding, shaping, cutting and fabrication. Skill-tasks include forming sheet metal projects using rivet joints and spot welding and fabrication of small projects using mild steel. Students learn about the characteristics of metal using specialist tools such as the magna bend and spot welder. Students interested in entering a trade, engineering career or TAFE/ VET should consider this Unit.

Making a Model in Wood

Students clarify their understanding of design brief requirements and their design ideas. They develop evaluation criteria and use a variety of drawing and modelling techniques to visualise design ideas and concepts. The culmination of this learning enables students to build a range of functional products.

Textiles

Students clarify their understanding of design brief requirements and their design ideas. They develop evaluation criteria and use a variety of drawing and modelling techniques to visually design ideas and concepts, including pattern interpretation. Students investigate the range of fibres available and the variety of ways in which fibres can be made into fabrics. Using these handmade fabrics, students will then design and construct usable textile items. They will study a variety of ways in which recycling and re-using materials can create textile-based items. Techniques involved in Textile art; hand and machine sewing, techniques such as tie-dye and stencilling are used to enhance individual projects; fibres including knitting and felting. Students create folios following the design brief principles to document their studies. Students evaluate the level of safety and performance of their products. They suggest modifications to improve their products in light of performance, function and appearance.

Coding and Robotics

The practical application of coding and programming in the evolving world of robotics is one of the most quickly developing areas in society. This course will involve students in the development, building and programming of robots in order to solve problems. Robots may be designed with aims to undertake obstacle avoidance, to sense surroundings or to be controlled remotely. Hardware utilised in this course will include the BBC Micro:bit and Arduinos and may include the opportunity to 3D print robotic parts designed by students.

Computer Programming

This unit introduces students to the concepts involved in using a computer programming language. Students will be shown how to methodically develop their problem solving strategies by breaking information problems into manageable parts that can be solved through the writing of a list of logically developed instructions.

The Python programming language will be used to enable students to create computer animations, chatbots, simple computer games and other projects intended to produce information solutions.

Digital Media Production

This unit requires students to develop skills in stop motion animation, video production, audio editing and graphics manipulation. Students will be required to use advanced features of editing and encoding software to create finished products in a format suitable for a variety of delivery methods, using software such as Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro and After Effects. Students will be required to work collaboratively through online forums when developing solutions and record their processes in a web-based digital folio

Enrichment English and Creative Writing

This extension course is designed to allow students to develop and extend their skills in a variety of forms. The analytical study in this course will extend beyond the standard Year 9 English curriculum by providing a focused study through prescribed content, assisting students to enhance their analytical skills and extend the complexity of their written responses. In the creative writing section, students will be challenged with a range of creative writing tasks for different purposes and audiences. Writer’s workshops throughout the course include topics such as: characterisation, plot structures, genre requirements, learning from the work of others, writing to ‘show’ and not ‘tell’ and learning to write effectively at different lengths.

Fitness and Training

The Year 9 Fitness and Training program offers students the opportunity to study the principles related to the science of Sport. Fitness and Training will engage students in training methods that will develop individual fitness through practical activities. Students will also develop an understanding of the body systems, nutrition and principles of training that maximise their performance and recovery in a variety of sports and physical endeavours.

Please Note: Year 9 Fitness and Training is a prerequisite to study Year 10 Advanced Fitness and Training.

Australian Politics

Australian Politics builds students’ understanding of the Australian political system and how it enables change. Students examine the ways political parties, interest groups, media and individuals influence government and decision making processes. They compare Australia’s system of government with another system of government in the Asian region. Students examine Australia’s roles and responsibilities within the international context, such as its involvement with the United Nations. They investigate the features and principles of Australia’s Court system, including the role in applying and interpreting Australian law. Students also study the purpose and work of the High Court. Students also examine global connectedness and how this is shaping contemporary Australian society. They investigate the values and practices that enable a democratic society to be sustained.

Justice, Money and Markets

The Justice, Money and Markets curriculum explores the ways in which individuals, families, the community, workers, businesses and governments make decisions in relation to the allocation of resources. It enables students to understand the process of economic and business decision-making at the personal, local, national, regional and global levels and the effects of these decisions on themselves and others, now and in the future. Students learn to appreciate the interdependence of decisions made and develop the knowledge, understanding and skills that will inform and encourage them to participate in and contribute to the economy.

Languages: Japanese

The Year 9 Japanese Curriculum enables students to build on their communication skills developed in Year 7 and 8. Students learn to listen to, speak, read and write about a broader range of topics, related to everyday leisure and domestic activities. With preparation, they learn to talk about identity, daily routines, shopping, health and leisure activities. Students are encouraged to fully develop their hiragana and katakana writing skills. In addition to this, students are introduced to the reading and writing of kanji as well as some more complex verb and adjective forms. Students will also develop an insight into the cultural background of Japan by conducting research and participation in a variety of class activities.

Please Note: In order to proceed to study Year 10 Japanese, students must successfully complete both Semester Units of Japanese in Year 9.

Enrichment Mathematics

Students are introduced to aspects of Mathematics that are not currently part of the curriculum to provide stimulating and enriching challenges for the students. This course is an enrichment program designed for students who want to develop a more thorough and extensive background in Mathematics. The course includes looking at problem solving techniques and investigations about topics that are relevant to the real world. Students will also complete and present a problem solving activity for the class to complete.

Inquiry Based Learning

Students will engage in their passion, unleash their creativity and will be given the time and tools for innovation and discovery.

Liveable Melbourne

Students will be given the opportunity to discover and explore Australia’s most liveable historical, cultural and sporting city. This project will consist of a series of visits to Melbourne.

Psychology in Action

Psychology in Action introduces students to the scientific nature of psychology and how the brain and body interact to influence human behaviour. This course covers scientific research methods and students will be required to conduct their own investigations and practice constructing formal scientific reports based on the evidence they have collected. Students will also investigate potential careers in Psychology, including Forensic and Sports Psychology.