Middle and Senior Years Information

Approximately 150 students are expected in Middle School (Years Five to Eight) and 55 students in Senior School (Years Nine and Ten) at ICA Casey College in 2010. The class groupings will be one Year Five class, two Year Six classes, three Year Seven classes, two classes each at Years Eight and Nine, and one Year Ten class.  On current projections, the class sizes seem likely to be between 16 and 23 students, with 25 per class as an absolute maximum class size.

ORGANISATION

The Middle School organisation at ICA Casey College reflects recognised educational structures that support the needs of children in the pre-adolescent and early-adolescent phase of development. 

Classes at Years Five and Six will have a key Homeroom teacher responsible for the overall pastoral care of students including the development, implementation and evaluation of the majority of learning programs (Literacy, Numeracy and Integrated Studies). Specialist teachers in LOTE (Mandarin Chinese), Art, Drama, Music, Health and Physical Education as well as ICT will support the learning program through specialist lessons.

Classes at Years Seven and Eight will have Homeroom teachers who will oversee the pastoral and academic needs of each group of students. The students Homeroom will be their own space and where they will meet for roll signing at the beginning and end of each day. Students will be responsible for ensuring this space is maintained in a manner compatible with our high expectations.

YEAR SEVEN AND EIGHT CURRICULUM

Students will study English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities (History, Geography and Economics) as core. Generally, these subjects will be taught inthe class group'sHomeroom, providing students with a learning environment that they can “own” and identify with. These core subjects will comprise approximately half the curriculum time.

In addition, students will study Health and Physical Education and LOTE (Mandarin Chinese) as part of their core learning.

Specialist subjects also studied in Years Seven and Eight in 2010 will include:

• Visual Art
• Drama
• Music
• Food Technology
• ICT

For most specialist subject lessons, and practical Science activities, the students will use the variety of specialist teaching spaces available in the specialist building.

YEAR 9 CURRICULUM

The Year 9 curriculum at ICA Casey College is drawn from the Victorian Essential Learning Standards and designed to address the Vision, Charter and Aims of the College.  ICA Casey College is committed to standards of excellence in curriculum and student learning pursued through a sound curriculum framework, sound study programs and assistance to students with special needs.  Personal excellence and the achievement of each student’s personal potential are vigorously pursued. 

The College is attuned to state and national requirements and current educational research, trends and innovations.  All curriculum decisions are informed through sound processes of analysis, monitoring, assessment, evaluation and review. 

Year 9 coincides with an important stage of adolescence where students grapple with the need to work out who they are and how they fit into the world.  They have to learn to reconcile the pressures of physical change, peer group influence and a more complex school experience.  The opportunity will exist for students to participate in and reflect on activities that extend their understanding of themselves and the world.

The curriculum for students in Year 9 is based on the belief that students require breadth and depth in their studies to ensure the necessary skills and understandings are developed to provide flexible options for students, within and beyond their traditional secondary schooling.  In Year 9, students undertake a core curriculum but for the first time they will have the freedom to make some guided choices about elective subjects. 

The Core Curriculum in Year 9 students will comprise a full year’s program in each of:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• The Humanities (History, Geography)
• Health and Physical Education

For Year 9 elective subjects in 2009, a number of combinations of units are possible within the timetable structure.  The elective subjects available will depend on total number of students, the demand for a subject and the availability of staff.   In the case of students not achieving their first choices, negotiation will occur as to an available place within another area.

Possible elective units, from which students will be asked to choose three units per semester, include:

• The Arts - Art
• The Arts - Drama
• LOTE (Chinese)
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
• English - Literature
• Health and Physical Education – Sport in Life
• Design, Creativity and Technology - Food Technology
• The Humanities – Economics - Business Studies
• Science - Environmental Studies

As well as being offered as a specific elective, Information and Communications Technology is an integral part of each Learning Area for the enhancement of teaching and learning.   Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills will be taught as an integrated element of all courses.  A broad range of software applications are available to staff and students for these purposes.

Learner Assistance programs will continue as required by student needs.

All Year 9 students participate in co-curricular programs which not only enhance and balance academic subjects but help to develop our students into confident, independent leaders and decision makers.  Interpersonal Development, Personal Learning, Thinking Processes, Communication and Civics and Citizenship are integral parts of each Learning Area for the enhancement of teaching and learning and are also addressed in the College’s Pastoral Care program.  It is intended that the Year 9 program* incorporate:

*Actual program will depend on Year 9 student enrolments and staffing

Time Allocation

English, Mathematics, Science and The Humanities will comprise over half the curriculum time. 

                                                                     
Elective Coursework List

The following electives are available for students to consider. A combination of these electives, based on the preferences received from year 8 students will be used to compile the Year 9 elective program (refer to the elective preference sheet on the final page of this document).

1. Business Studies

Unit title:  Globalise me?

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

As students living in Australia, Globalisation has impacted on us in many ways. We drink Coke, eat at McDonalds, wear Nike runners and use Nokia mobile phones. With this in mind, it is time to ask ourselves the questions 'What does Globalisation have to do with me?' Students will have the opportunity to explore this issue of Globalisation and its affects from a social, economic, political and environmental perspective. This unit will be based on a WebQuest from Global Education.

2. DRAMA/THEATRE STUDIES

Unit title:  Stepping into Someone Else’s Shoes

Unit length: Two terms

Coursework description:

The unit allows students to take on a variety of roles and learn through the process of ‘stepping into someone else’s shoes’. By imagining themselves to be other people or projecting themselves into another situation students can explore their own world, speculate on possible futures and deepen their understanding of themselves and others. The learning begins with the individual and develops through the co-operative process to produce experiences that provide a unique and exciting way of learning about ourselves and the world.

Some of the core learning covered will include;use of voice-projection, tone, dynamic, pace etc.; verbal communicationto show character, human emotion, actions etc.; non-verbal communication to show the full range of human emotions and to show a clear picture to an audience;introduction of communication through movement; and introduce students to the concept of portraying characters through workshop and performance to an audience. Enrichment activities may include one or more of the following: in-school theatre visits; out-of-school theatre visits; guest artists and leadership roles in school performing arts projects.

3. FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Unit title:  Baker’s Delight

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

This unit of study will focus on practical techniques used to bake perfect pastries and pies, dough delights and gorgeous gourmet goodies!  A range of these delicious delicacies will be served at the afternoon tea hosted by you, the students!  The Bakers Delight unit will culminate with students designing and creating their own celebration cake.

4. FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Unit title:  Around the World in Food  

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

This unit of study will focus on using practical skills to prepare foods from around the world.  Students will have the opportunity to select the countries they will visit from places such as France, Italy, Greece, Thailand, China, Mexico, The Middle East and other exotic world regions on our gourmet travels!  The unit will culminate with a visit to a local restaurant to taste traditional foods prepared by a native chef.

5. HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Unit title:  Sport in Life  

Unit length: One or two terms

Coursework description

This elective will investigate sport at a competitive level. Students will gain information about skill acquisition, performance evaluation and biomechanical principles. Students will also look at issues such as sport specific safety and sports first aid. Students will engage in a variety of physical activities that could include: Hockey, European Handball, Soccer and Badminton.

6. INFORMATION COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Unit title:  Using Applications to Solve Information Problems  

Unit length: One or two terms

Coursework description:

This unit is designed to develop skills in a variety of different applications.  Students will be able to use these applications and the skills developed to solve problems which may be encountered in a range of subjects and beyond school in the business environment.  The unit will respond to each student’s background and particular needs. The unit will interest students who want to learn how to use various computer applications to solve everyday information problems.  It is suitable for students with little or no exposure to these applications.  The course is also an excellent basis for students wishing to study VCE Information Technology in Years 11 or 12.  The applications are widely taught in many tertiary level courses. Some examples are accounting, business management, engineering, tourism, recreation and hospitality courses. They are also widely used in the business community.

The software types covered will be:

• Web authoring software to create web site solutions
• Database software to create database management system solutions
• Spreadsheet software to produce solutions to financial and mathematical problems
• Programming software to produce tailored solutions.

7. LITERATURE

Unit title:  Text "Thru" Time

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

Students will have the opportunity to explore the story and language of "Romeo and Juliet" through a variety of text types including Shakespeare's original play and Baz Luhrman's contemporary film adaptation. Additionally, the impact of contemporary technology will be considered by exploring how this timeless story has been retold using SMS language. This unit will develop students' understanding of key literary concepts that will provide a solid foundation for future studies and enhance students' capacity to identify and evaluate the values and messages conveyed by texts by considering how such values have been selectively constructed and read across time and culture.

8. LOTE (MANDARIN)

Unit title:  Mandarin – Year 9  

Unit length: Four terms (full year)

Coursework description:

The coursework will be drawn from the five major topics in the Chinese Made Easy textbook. While the text will be the core learning resource, supplementary materials including digital, text and community resources will also be used.

Unit 1 Colours and Clothing

Unit 2 The weather and Holidays

Unit 3 Hobbies

Unit 4 School schedule

Unit 5 School

9. MUSIC

Unit title: Rhythms of the West

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

The unit will focus study of African drumming methods from West Ghana. This unit is suitable for everyone from musical novices to those with prior instrumental experience.  Learn the techniques of the Djembe, Dun Duns, Shakeres and Balaphons in a team building and interactive musical environment. Explore the progression of African music through slavery through to it is influence on rock, popular and Rhythm and Blues (RnB) genres. 

10. MUSIC

Unit title: Beats, Breakdowns and Backing Tracks

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

Mix your own musical ideas with samples from your favourite artists. Explore the recording process and use of mixing, mastering and microphone techniques. Create your own original song with film clips using and release your own CD single. Explore the context of popular genres from House, Disco, Punk, Motown, Hip Hop and Grunge.

11. VISUAL ART

Unit title:  Living in a Changing World  

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

The focus of this unit will be the investigation of Art over time, reflecting on how the artistic contributions of the people of different ages have influenced and reflected their social and cultural contexts. In particular, students will have an opportunity to investigate Egyptian style, Aboriginal Art, Colonial Art, Pop/Expressionism, Appropriation as well as a brief look at Graffiti Art. The artistic methods will include Printmaking (lino block and embossing), Collage and Mixed Media.

12. VISUAL ART

Unit title:  Careers in Art  

Unit length: One term

Coursework description:

Through the concept of applied art versus fine art, student will investigate and discover the diverse range of careers in Art that are available to them. The coursework will focus on the range of careers in visual art fields; contribution of artists and designers to the world of work; artistic design in everyday life; fine art versus applied art; graphic design and product design; logos and advertising; and illustrations. Students will have the opportunity to do a negotiated design brief that may include one or more of the following; creating logos, writing, designing and illustrating a number of pages of children’s book; designing their own marketable product including the associated swing tag, bag and logo.

HOMEWORK

Our expectation for homework in the Middle Years is that students would be doing five sessions of between 45 minutes and one hour per week in assigned tasks, revision and onward learning planning. This forms a very important part of our education philosophy in that it helps to prepare students to be independent and capable of success at a senior secondary level.

SENIOR YEARS CURRICULUM

The Years Nine and Ten curriculum structures have been finalised for 2010.  Further specific information can be obtained through College Reception.

Students in Year Ten have the opportunity to study VCE Psychology, thereby completing their VCE course over three years and maximising their ENTER.  They also have the option to participate in a VET course at Chisholm TAFE.

In addition, students will study Health and Physical Education.