COURSE GUIDE 2026

Description

In Year 9, students can choose to take on Japanese for one semester or the whole year. Year 9 Japanese aims to develop a level of fluency in reading, listening and conversation skills, in structured and familiar contexts as well as unique and unplanned scenarios. Students prior strength in cross-cultural and inter-language understanding will be utilised. Further cultural studies will include a range of unique topics that brings meaning to students own experience and aim to bring a cross-cultural understanding to students that can then be reflected in their contributions to the school and wider community.

Description

This course provides students with the opportunities to develop literacy skills across a range of communication modes, focusing on language and its effects. Topics covered in the Year 9 English course will include:

• Responding to texts: Students learn to evaluate and integrate ideas and information from texts to form their own interpretations. Students learn to understand how interpretations can vary by comparing their responses to texts to the response of others. This takes the format of studying texts such as:
• Novels
• Graphic novels
• Picture books
• Short stories
• Poetry
• Film
• Media texts
• Blogs/Articles

Students also respond to film, media and other text types such as song lyrics and articles.

• Creating texts:
• Students demonstrate how manipulating language features and images can create innovative texts.
• Students will learn to edit for effect, selecting vocabulary and grammar that contribute to the precision and persuasiveness of texts while also using accurate spelling and punctuation.
• Students produce their own examples of texts types, including persuasive, narrative and informative texts

Description

In Physical Education students will engage in a variety of practicals in which they will practice sport specific skills, develop game understanding and be involved in analysing their own performance within the 4 categories of sports (Invasion, Target, Net and Wall, Striking and Fielding). Students will gain a broad understanding of Sport participation and competition organisation through the Sport Education Physical Education Program [SEPEP]. The Health program will provide students with a balance of knowledge, processes and skills to enable them to make informed choices in relation to their own and others’ physical, social and emotional well-being.

Description

In our AFL and Netball Academies, students focus on developing and building high-performance training habits and understanding what this looks like within a team environment. Throughout the course, they will complete structured training sessions designed to improve both skill execution and game awareness in their chosen sport. Students also undertake fitness testing to help create individualised gym programs tailored to their development needs, as well as completing umpiring courses and being introduced to sports trainer practices, including basic injury management and common strapping techniques such as ankle taping. Furthermore, students will be given the opportunity to attend a camp in their chosen sport, where they will tour elite-level facilities and gain an understanding of what happens behind the scenes to prepare athletes to perform at the highest level. The program has been structured to support the development of the “whole athlete”, with a strong emphasis on respect, integrity, leadership, responsibility, and teamwork. Students are explicitly taught how to balance the demands of high-level sport, the pursuit of personal performance goals, and maintaining success in their academic studies.

Description

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will equip them for effective participation in local, national and global communities. Students are taught in their Home Groups and the course is aligned to the Australian Curriculum. Each term focus covers a different aspect of HASS to prepare students for their Year 10 options. Topics covered in the year 9 HASS course include:

• Ancient History
• Trans-Atlantic slave trade
• Knights, Kings and Queens: medieval Europe
• Ancient Rome
• Modern History
• A history of STEM
• Modern warfare
• Influential figures
• Geography/ Tourism
• Future of food
• The ‘not so great’ Barrier Reef
• ‘Don’t walk on me’: Uluru
• Business/ Legal Studies
• Basic economic models
• Marketing
• Government structures and roles
• Law making

Description

In Year 9, students can choose to take on Japanese for one semester or the whole year. Year 9 Japanese aims to develop a level of fluency in reading, listening and conversation skills, in structured and familiar contexts as well as unique and unplanned scenarios. Students prior strength in cross-cultural and inter-language understanding will be utilised. Further cultural studies will include a range of unique topics that brings meaning to students own experience and aim to bring a cross-cultural understanding to students that can then be reflected in their contributions to the school and wider community.

Description

The Year 9 Mathematics course further develops students’ mathematical knowledge of concepts, fluency, understanding, problem solving and reasoning, and supports them to reflect on and refine their strategies. It helps students to be more resilient, purposeful and reflective about their learning and understand the importance of using mistakes as steppingstone to advance their learning. The course covers the following areas. • Number and Algebra: rational and irrational numbers, exponential notation and laws, linear and quadratic expressions and equations and their graphs, using digital tools to solve problems in different contexts. • Measurement and Space: surface area and volume of 3d shapes, scientific notations, scales, similarity, Pythagoras’ theorem, relative and percentage error, trigonometric ratios, enlargement of shapes. • Statistics and Probability: sampling techniques, surveys, data types, distribution, analysis, statistical investigations, compound events, tree diagrams, chance experiments, digital tools and simulations. Where necessary, students continue to consolidate understanding and application of multiplicative thinking and proportional reasoning through the use of different resources including the colour folder program, a small group intervention program designed to extend higher order thinking.

Description

Year 9 Agriculture focuses on livestock and cropping systems, with students exploring sheep, goats, and broadacre crop production. Students investigate animal health, nutrition, welfare, pasture management, soil health, and sustainable farming practices through practical activities and investigations. The course also introduces enterprise and farm management concepts, helping students understand how agricultural businesses operate and make production decisions.

Description

The year 9 Science course supports students to further develop their scientific understanding, advance their inquiry skills and appreciation of science as a human endeavour through a study of the following areas. • Biological Science: role of body systems in responding to negative feedback, sexual and asexual reproductive systems. • Earth and Space Science: carbon cycle, interaction of combustion, photosynthesis and respiration and their reliance on Earth’s spheres. • Physical Science: wave and particle model to describe energy transfer and transformation, conservation of energy. • Chemical Science: development of the atomic model, chemical reactions and equations. Students learn to explore issues through collaboration with their peers to design investigations, form a hypothesis, identify variables, collect and analyse the necessary data and communicate findings.

Description

Students in Digital Media explore the creative processes behind visual communication and media production. Through practical, hands-on projects, they experiment with graphic design, photography, filmmaking, and digital content creation to produce engaging and purposeful media. Throughout the course, students develop foundational skills in analysing, planning, designing, and producing a range of digital media products, including photographic series, promotional graphics, and short films. They learn how design principles, composition, storytelling, and editing techniques are used to communicate ideas effectively to different audiences.

Description

Digital Technologies challenges students to become innovative problem-solvers by exploring how digital systems are designed, developed, and applied in the real world. Students build skills in computational thinking, programming, troubleshooting, robotics, game design, and information technology through practical, project-based learning. Throughout the course, students analyse existing digital solutions, design and develop software and interactive applications, program robots and automated systems, and create digital products that solve authentic problems. They apply design processes, coding skills, and systems thinking to develop solutions for both digital and physical environments while gaining an understanding of emerging technologies and their impact on society.

Description

The Food Technology course aims to develop students’ ability to make informed decisions about healthy food choices. Through practical and theoretical learning, students explore topics such as essential nutrients, healthy breakfasts, making fast food healthier, and budgeting. The course also includes adapting recipes for appropriate serving sizes, converting measurements, and effective time management during practical activities.

Description

Metalwork encompasses a wide range of beginner metal working processes including sheet metal forming, machine applications and introduction to welding. In addition, the course covers the following:

• Interpreting plans and drawings
• Oxy acetylene welding
• Workshop safety

Design skills, issues, and evaluation are integral to the course. It has a significant practical skills focus and serves as an excellent foundation for students aspiring to enter the industry pathways in Senior School. Please note: Students have the option to negotiate size and cost, however this may require additional funding from families.

Description

The Modern Manufacturing course allows students to apply Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) processes. Key skills covered include CAD design, CAM laser and plasma cutting, metal cutting and joinery techniques, and construction with textiles, fibres and materials. The course focuses on product design, incorporating theoretical elements. It provides a strong foundation for future Design and Technology studies. Please note: Students have the option to negotiate size and cost, however this may require additional funding from families.

Description

The Textiles course builds on practical skills developed in Year 8, emphasizing design, construction, and evaluation of textile articles. Students work with sewing machines and overlockers to create their projects. The course includes a theoretical and fashion design component that complements the practical

Description

This course develops knowledge and skills in the following woodworking areas:

• Uses of hand tools
• Drilling machines
• Machinery where appropriate
• Products used for fixings
• Adhesives and finishing procedures
• Project planning and design
• Freehand sketching
• Orthographic projection
• Problem solving and safety

Assembling more than one component in the manufacture of a product and project evaluation are key components of the course. A theory component is also undertaken. Please note: Students have the option to negotiate size and cost, however this may require additional funding from families.

Description

In this semester course students learn about a dramatic style and its conventions. They participate in practical activities that develop their acting skills presenting to their class peers and reflecting on the page to stage process. Students have the opportunity to work as an ensemble, taking on an onstage or offstage technical role to produce a group production to be performed to a public audience. They connect the theory components to the practical aspects of the group production by examining the dramatic process reflecting on their growth as an artist. Please note students may be required to attend after school rehearsals. Content may vary depending on student’s prior knowledge, class numbers and the combination of classes.

Description

Music is a one semester course in Year 9. The course is designed to provide students with experience in the following areas:

• Performance – Instrumental skills development in solo and ensemble performance
• Music theory – Chord theory, rhythm, music reading, comprehension, and song analysis
• Composition – Song writing, basic recording, and electronic music

Description

The School Band is open to students with at least one year of experience on their instrument or through audition. The band performs at school and community events, offering students opportunities for instrumental skill development and personal growth.

Description

In Visual Art, students are required to complete a range of tasks to develop varied techniques and processes. Students build on their understanding of the Elements of Art and apply this knowledge in the use of a variety of mediums (drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture). Basic techniques previously learnt are expanded on in order to develop practical skills. Students analyse and respond to artworks with the use of visual arts language embedded throughout. This is a semester course.