Year 9 Curriculum

The Year 9 Curriculum continues to provide a broad range of general subject matter, but expands the overall experience of students with 5 elective subjects included.

Curriculum and Classes 

Year 9 builds on existing literacy and numeracy skills and knowledge. Students also study 5 electives across 3 distinct learning streams: Arts; Design Technology; and Digital Technologies. Every student at either of our Catholic senior high school campuses will choose 1 elective from each of these streams, and then 2 extra electives from a stream of their choice.

In Year 9, languages become elective subjects. If chosen, the language is studied across both semesters, and students may negotiate to not study one compulsory subject to encourage language study.

Our Religious Education learning program follows the curriculum structure set by the Diocese of Sale.

To increase the availability of subjects for students, subjects in the Religious Education, Arts, Technology, and Extension Academy streams are run with both Year 8 and Year 9 students included. This is designed to ensure that more subjects run each semester and can be chosen by students.

Students also study an Inquiry and Project Based Learning subject for half a year (alternating each semester with the third elective).

Extension Academies 

As a leading Catholic school in Melbourne, we are dedicated to facilitating growth and offering more to students who are performing above standard and have a high level of interest in a particular subject. Year 9 continues the Extension Academy program and offers students the opportunity to further their learning in the following areas:

• Basketball
• Health Sciences
• Literature
• Performing Arts
• Philosophy
• STEM (Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics)
• Sport
• Visual Arts

These subjects require an application process prior to admission, and students who successfully enrol in an Extension Academy may negotiate to not study a compulsory subject.

Programs

A Year 9 highlight is Outward Bound, a five day outdoor expedition experience to give students practical and enjoyable experiences.

Both our Officer and Berwick school campuses offer ‘Hands-on Learning’, a popular program which is provided by many other Catholic Schools in Melbourne. The program is aimed at engaging students to help them discover their talents and find success in their schooling career and later in life. This supportive program helps students build confidence and connect with the school.

Additionally, our Individual Support Program is available for students who require personalised adjustments to their learning program. This can include support with literacy intervention or general program support. Numeracy intervention is offered through the mathematics learning program.

The ISP subjects are studied as an alternative to another subject in consultation with the Learning Adjustment Team. The subjects on offer are:

• Literacy Skills (Years 8/9)
• Literacy Program (Years 8/9)
• Life Skills (Years 8/9)
• Adjusted Humanities (Years 8/9)
• Brick Social Skills Therapy (Years 8/9)
• Program Support (Years 7/8/9)
• Numeracy (through mathematics program)

Subjects 

The majority of subjects are repeated across Semesters 1 and 2. These include:

• Religious Education
• English
• Mathematics OR Advanced Mathematics (by invitation)
• Science
• Health and Physical Education
• Humanities
• Care Group

Religious Education includes 5 subject options: Just Faith; Crossroads and Signposts; Creating God’s Image; Faith in Action; and Junior Cantabile.

Elective Streams 

Students complete 5 elective subjects across the year. Students must complete at least 1 elective from the three major streams, with their final two subjects able to be chosen from any stream and a list of additional electives.

Arts Subjects:

• Dance
• Drama
• Media Arts
• Media Arts — 3D Modelling and Animation
• Music (can be studied both semester)
• Visual Art
• Visual Communication Design

Design Technology Subjects:

• Electronics
• Food
• Horticulture
• Textiles
• Wood

Digital Technologies Subjects:

• Creative Digital Solutions
• Digital Systems and Networks
• Robotics

Additional Electives:

• Health and PE: Fitness and Training
• Humanities: Civics and Citizenship — Crime and Punishment
• Humanities: Economics and Business
• Humanities: Geography
• Humanities: History — Australians at War
• Languages: Arabic (full year)
• Languages: Japanese (full year)
• Languages: Spanish (full year)
• Science: Into the Galaxy