Learning

Connect Program

Connect is an important program delivered each day through roll call. The Connect program focuses on a range of pastoral care activities including study skills, diary use, organisational skills, health, wellbeing and reading. It is also the time where our FOCUS program, based on principles of Positive Behaviour for Learning, is delivered and where we emphasise our school values of being respectful, responsible and successful.

Students are allocated to Connect classes according to their house group, which enables students to identify with and support their house group, namely, Chisholm, Goolagong, Hollows or Whitlam. Connect classes are also grade-based which allows for targeted support to be provided by the Connect teacher in terms of daily messages, revision and monitoring.

One of the most important features of the Connect program is that most students will have the same teacher for Connect from Year 7 to Year 12. Alongside their Year Adviser and Deputy Principal, this provides another source of support for students and parents with Connect teachers getting to know their students and how they learn.

A number of special Connect classes exist for programs and groups including SRC, peer literacy, reading, house leadership, STARS and Yarn. Year Advisers and Head Teachers use Connect time to make additional contact with individual students, classes and the whole grade as another layer of wellbeing support.

Our subjects

Explore how we teach the NSW curriculum through key learning areas.

Our School offers a wide catalog of subjects with incredible facilities:

Learning Area	Subjects
Creative Arts	Music Visual arts Drama Dance Photography Visual design Video and Digital Imaging
English	English Extension 2 English Extension 1 English Advanced English Standard English Studies English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) English Life Skills.
Human society and its environment	History Geography Aboriginal Studies Ancient History Business Studies Economics Geography History Extension Legal Studies Modern History Society and Culture Studies of Religion VET Business Services
Mathematics	Mathematics Mathematics Extension 2 (Year 12 only) Mathematics Extension 1 Mathematics Advanced Mathematics Standard 2 Mathematics Standard 1 (Optional HSC examination) Mathematics Life Skills
Personal development, health and physical education	PDHPE Community and Family Studies (CAFS) Exploring Early Childhood Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation Studies Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) Health and Movement Science (HMS)
Science	Science Biology Chemistry Earth and Environmental Science Investigating Science Physics
Technological and Applied Studies	Technology Mandatory Years 7-8 Agricultural Technology Years 7-10 Design and Technology Years 7-10 Food Technology Years 7-10 Graphics Technology Years 7-10 Industrial Technology Years 7-10 Information and Software Technology Years 7-10 Textiles Technology Years 7-10 Agriculture Stage 6 Design and Technology Stage 6 Engineering Studies Stage 6 Food Technology Stage 6 Industrial Technology Stage 6 Information Processes and Technology Stage 6 Software Design and Development Stage 6 Textiles and Design Stage 6. Timber Multimedia Construction Graphics Enterprise Computing Hospitality (Food and Beverage) Hospitality (Kitchen Cookery)
Life Ready	Life Ready is a mandatory 25 hour program for students in Years 11 and/or 12 in NSW public schools. It aims to prepare and support senior students as they encounter situations related to health and safety as they become more independent and gain more responsibilities. Life Ready focuses on offering opportunities for students to build the functional knowledge and skills for life after school.

Religion and ethics

There are no special religious education and special education in ethics approved providers available at this school.

For more information, visit the department’s website or contact us.

High potential and gifted education

At our school, we give the right support to help advanced or talented learners grow and do their best.

We notice these students early. They may learn quickly or show strong skills in creativity, leadership, problem solving or sport. We help them stay challenged with lessons and activities that match their strengths.

Contact us to learn more about how we support high potential and gifted learners.

Assessments and Reporting

Our teachers use a variety of strategies to assess student learning.

Teachers observe students' work in class and look closely at tasks throughout the year. They also formally assess a student's achievement based on the outcomes described in the syllabus of the subject.

As a parent or carer, you’ll receive a written report twice a year. It gives you a clear picture of your child’s achievements – what they know and can do.

In Years 7 to 10, we use the  common grade scale  in reporting. In Year 11, we use the  Preliminary grade scale.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses are assessed on achievement of competencies.

Assessments

We provide detailed information to students about what we expect from them throughout the year and how their work will be assessed. Students have a number of formal assessments throughout their schooling.

• National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)  – reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and numeracy tests for students in Years 7 and 9. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) holds the tests in May each year. Results and student reports are released in August.
• Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development (VALID)  – online diagnostic science assessments for students in Year 8. Some schools also choose to sit the tests in Year 10.
• The  Record of School Achievement (RoSA)  is awarded to eligible students who leave school before completing their Higher School Certificate. The RoSA records a student’s grades between the end of Year 10 and when they leave school.
• The  Higher School Certificate (HSC)  is an internationally recognised qualification awarded to students who successfully complete Years 11 and 12 in NSW.
• Some students may apply for placement in a selective high school. For more information, visit  selective high schools and opportunity classes.

Scholarships and Awards

Our students can take advantage of several scholarship and award opportunities.

NSW School Nanga Mai Awards

• The  Nanga Mai Awards  are an annual event organised by Aboriginal Education and Communities Directorate. The awards recognise and celebrate innovation, excellence and educational achievement in Aboriginal education in NSW public schools, school communities and department directorates.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

• This  Premier’s Reading Challenge  encourages students from Kindergarten to Year 9 to develop a love of reading and plays an important role in developing literacy.

Premier’s Debating Challenge

• The  Premier’s Debating Challenge  is open to students from Year 5 to 12. Teams compete in a round robin series of debates against other schools. The winners go on to compete at regional and state level to determine the eventual state champion.

Public speaking competitions

• The Arts Unit offers  public speaking competitions  for NSW school students. Each competition is a great opportunity for students to develop their speech-writing and presentation skills while representing their schools in a state-wide competition.

Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarships

• The  Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarships  are an opportunity to visit significant overseas sites associated with Australia’s participation in war for Years 10 and 11 students in selected schools.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia

• The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia  provides an internationally recognised, self-development program for people aged 14 to 25. The program equips young people with the opportunity to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities.