Aspiration, Respect
& Empathy
Curriculum
Year 7
Overview
In Year 7, our focus is on introducing students to a broad range of subjects and ensuring they establish a sound foundation for their secondary education. Most of our Year 7 students have taken part in the Grade 5 and 6 Transition Programs run throughout the year, and are already familiar with many aspects of the college. First days at a new school are exciting and filled with introductions to new subjects and friends. To help this transition we allocate each student to a small Mentor group who meet daily. This ensures there is always a staff member who is closely connected to each student and is able to act on any concerns a student may have, and become a link between the school and the family. CSC has recently adopted the Berry Street Education Model (click here for more) which provides a framework in which every student is to nurtured and offered guidance as they establish themselves in their new environment. This helps them to settle into their studies with ease so they can each develop skills needed to reach their full potential.
Learning
At Year 7, students learn Victorian Curriculum, including the Capabilities (click here for more), and are introduced to a variety of subjects. Students engage with core subjects of English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Languages and Sport, and discover a range of Technology and Art subjects. Throughout the year, units of Art, Visual Communication, Drama, Music, Textiles, Woodwork, Metals, and Food Technology are studied, enabling students to explore each subject and discover talents and passions for them. As part of our broad range of subjects CSC is able to offer a choice of two languages, one Asian and one European. As students enrol at the school they will need to choose whether to study either Indonesian or French at Year 7, which they then continue with as they move through to Year 9.
Wellbeing
The Mentor system is the cornerstone of our Wellbeing program at the college. It enables every student to develop a supportive relationship with a staff member who becomes their guide, confidante and ally at the college. The Wellbeing program also provides a range of incursions which are designed to give students the learning skills they need, provide opportunities to develop inter-personal skills and understand the world around them in greater depth. All students attend a camp in Term 1, which was held at Mt Evelyn in the Dandenong Ranges in 2018. This adventure camp offers students activities such as abseiling, canoeing, flying fox, and mountain-biking, all of which are designed to encourage participants to develop interpersonal skills, communication and teamwork, and most of all, have fun.
Year 8
Overview
In Year 8, students continue to consolidate their study skills in core subjects, while exploring a range of Art and Technology subjects. Study skills and routines are honed, while engaging and challenging opportunities to grow are incorporated into the classroom and extra-curricular elements of school life. Students also begin to develop an understanding of subject preferences and strengths as they continue to engage with the Victorian Curriculum. Mentor groups continue to meet daily, ensuring there is always a closely associated Mentor to offer support if needed.
Learning
At Year 8, students continue to learn Victorian Curriculum, including the Capabilities (click here for more), and further explore a range of subjects. Students engage with core subjects of English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Languages and Sport, and a range of Technology and Art subjects. By the end of Year 8, every student will have studied units of Art, Visual Communication, Drama, Music, Textiles, Woodwork, Metals, and Food Technology.
Wellbeing
The Mentor system is part of the Wellbeing program from Year 7 through to Year 12, and offers a supportive staff member who is linked to the students and there to offer advice and support if needed. The Wellbeing program also provides a range of incursions which are designed to give students the learning skills they need, provide opportunities to develop inter-personal skills and understand the world around them in greater depth. All Year 8 students should ensure they take the opportunity to go on camp to Warrnambool in 2019 as it offers a range of surf coast activities, all of which are designed to encourage participants to develop physical and interpersonal skills, communication and teamwork, and most of all, have fun.
Year 9
Overview
In Year 9, students begin to specialise their pathways as they select a more personalised range of elective subjects to follow. Core subjects are still a key part of the curriculum, but there is an emphasis on developing a program which matches the students’ interests more specifically. Mentor groups continue to meet daily, ensuring there is always a closely associated Mentor to offer support if needed.
Learning
In Year 9, students continue to study the core subjects of English, Maths, Humanities, Science, Languages, Health and Physical Education. Students also begin to specialise their pathways as they choose a more personalised range of elective subjects to study, selected from discipline-based electives, and project-based electives. Electives allow students to experience and develop a more specialised skill-set in an area of interest or aptitude and assist in the development of personal awareness, social, thinking and enterprising skills. A list of these electives is available in the Course Selection Handbook.
Wellbeing
The Mentor system is part of the Wellbeing program from Year 7 through to Year 12, and offers a supportive staff member who is linked to the students and there to offer advice and support if needed. The Wellbeing program also provides a range of incursions which are designed to give students the learning skills they need, provide opportunities to develop inter-personal skills and understand the world around them in greater depth.
Year 10
Overview
In Year 10, students are offered a broad curriculum choice, and are able to select a range of subjects to suit individual interests. Students are also encouraged to consider the study of one of the VCE or VET subjects on offer at Year 10 as an extension and as a valuable way of gaining an introduction to VCE study.
Learning
In Year 10, students continue to study the core subjects of English and Maths in both semesters, and must also study one unit of Humanities and one unit of Science though the year. Students will also study at least one unit from Art, Technology, Health and Physical Education, plus 3 electives of their choice. Electives allow students to continue to develop a more specialised skill-set in an area of interest or aptitude and assist in the development of personal awareness, social, thinking and enterprising skills. A list of these electives can be found in the Course Selection Handbook.
Wellbeing
The Mentor system is part of the Wellbeing program from Year 7 through to Year 12, and offers a supportive staff member who is linked to the students and there to offer advice and support if needed. The Wellbeing program also provides a range of incursions which are designed to give students the learning skills they need, provide opportunities to develop inter-personal skills and understand the world around them in greater depth.
VCE – years 11 & 12
Overview
Castlemaine Secondary College offers all Year 11 and 12 students a program to suit their individual learning styles and preferences with the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), and Vocational Education and Training (VET) available. All students are fully supported to develop their skills and knowledge as they work towards the final goals of their secondary education at the college.
Learning
In these Senior year levels, students tailor their course to their individual interests and goals. Castlemaine Secondary College has a broad range of VCE and VET subjects available, with most of these being taught in small groups to enable best outcomes. Further information about subjects available is in the Course Selection Handbook.
Wellbeing
The Mentor system is part of the Wellbeing program from Year 7 through to Year 12, and offers a supportive staff member who is linked to the students and there to offer advice and support if needed. The Wellbeing program also provides a range of incursions which are designed to give students the learning skills they need, provide opportunities to develop inter-personal skills and understand the world around them in greater depth.
