Western Heights College 2021 Curriculum Handbook CURRICULUM HANDBOOK CONTENTS USING THE 2021 HANDBOOK ............................................ 5 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 3 & 4 ..................................... 37 SPECIALIST SPORTING PROGRAM 2021 ....................... 7 TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY 1 & 2 ......................... 38 YEAR 7, YEAR 8 AND YEAR 9 CURRICULUM................ 11 HISTORY: REVOLUTIONS 3 & 4 ....................................... 39 YEAR 7........................................................................................ 13 GENERAL MATHEMATICS 1 & 2 ...................................... 40 YEAR 8 ....................................................................................... 16 FURTHER MATHEMATICS 3 & 4 ....................................... 41 YEAR 9 ....................................................................................... 19 MATHEMATICAL METHODS 1 & 2 ................................... 42 YEAR 10 .................................................................................... 24 MATHEMATICAL METHODS 3 & 4.................................. 43 VCE STUDIES ......................................................................... 24 HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 1 & 2 .............. 44 VET (VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING) ............. 24 HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 3 & 4 ............. 45 VET – TASTER ........................................................................ 24 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1 & 2 ........................................... 46 WORK EXPERIENCE ............................................................ 25 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 3 & 4 .......................................... 47 YEAR 10 - VET CERTIFICATE II/III IN APPLIED BIOLOGY 1 & 2 ....................................................................... 48 LANGUAGES – CHINESE ................................................... 27 BIOLOGY 3 & 4...................................................................... 49 YEAR 10 – VET CERTIFICATE II IN OUTDOOR CHEMISTRY 1 & 2 ..................................................................50 RECREATION........................................................................... 27 CHEMISTRY 3 & 4 .................................................................. 51 YEAR 10 - VET CERTIFICATE II IN HOSPITALITY ....... 28 PHYSICS 1 & 2 ........................................................................ 52 YEAR 10 VOCATIONAL PATHWAYS PROGRAM ...... 29 PHYSICS 3 & 4 ....................................................................... 53 YEAR 11 & 12 ............................................................................ 30 STUDIO ARTS 1 & 2 .............................................................. 54 VCE PROGRAM ..................................................................... 30 STUDIO ARTS 3 & 4 ............................................................. 55 VICTORIAN VIRTUAL LEARNING NETWORK (VVLN) ..................................................................................................... 30 VET HOSPITALITY CERT II .................................................. 56 VCAL PROGRAM .................................................................. 30 VET OUTDOOR RECREATION CERT II ......................... 57 VET .............................................................................................. 31 VCE VET APPLIED LANGUAGE (CHINESE) .................. 58 SCHOOL BASED APPRENTICESHIPS AND VET – VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING . 59 TRAINEESHIPS ........................................................................ 31 VET AT WESTERN HEIGHTS COLLEGE ........................ 59 ENGLISH 1 & 2 ........................................................................ 33 VET AT GEELONG INDUSTRY TRADE TRAINING ENGLISH 3 & 4 ....................................................................... 34 CENTRE.....................................................................................60 ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL) ..... 35 VET AT GEELONG PARTNER SCHOOLS ...................... 61 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT UNITS 1 & 2 ........................ 36 VET AT THE GORDON ........................................................ 63 2 Dear Parents/Carers At Western Heights College, we pride ourselves on providing individualised learning programs for all students to ensure that they develop their knowledge and skills to prepare them fully for a rapidly changing world of work. In Year 7-9 the learning program includes a range of core studies to enable them to be fully immersed in all domain areas and capabilities which connect closely to the essential skills requirement of the Victorian Curriculum. In 2021, all students in Year 10 will have an accelerated learning program as they will choose from either a VCE study with a Unit 1 and 2 sequence or a VET program that is delivered on-site at Western Heights College. By providing this opportunity, we are enabling students to then complete a Unit 3 and 4 sequence the following year as part of their Year 11 learning program. Alternatively undertaking a VET program in Year 10 enables students to gain a nationally accredited qualification and develop a work-skill set. These VET courses also enable students to achieve a Unit 1 and 2 sequence toward their VCE. The WHC Pathways Fair is scheduled for Wednesday 12 August from 5pm until 7pm. In response to the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic we will run the Pathways Fair remotely via Google Classrooms. This event provides current Year 9, 10 and 11 students, parents and carers with the opportunity to access a range of resources to support their course and subject selections for 2021. There will be live presentations with information specific to both the Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 2021 learning programs. The Leader of each Domain will also have a live meet session scheduled where they will present information specific to the subjects on offer in their learning area. Individual course counselling will take place for current Year 9 and 10 students on Wednesday 26 August from 11am until 7pm. There will be no timetabled classes for these students on this day. Instead students and parents/carers are expected to book appointments via Compass to meet with a course counsellor. Students are expected to attend this appointment, along with their parent/carer where they will discuss learning program options for 2021 and will also make their subject selections. Students will be required to return a signed hard copy of their finalised subject selection form to their mentor meeting. Year 11 students are currently enrolled in either a VCE or VCAL course and in some instances VET programs. The majority of Year 11 students will be making slight adjustments to their current program when choosing their subjects for 2021. For example, most VCE students will be deciding which of their current subjects they do not wish to continue with in 2021. For example, most VCE students will be deciding which of their current subjects they do not wish to continue with in 2021. VCAL students will be confirming their enrolment in their VET course as these are generally of two year duration. Based on this scenario, current Year 11 students have two options when completing their subject selections. Firstly, they are welcome to book an appointment via Compass with a course counsellor from 11am until 7pm on course counselling day Wednesday 26 August and attend with their parent/carer. The second option for current Year 11 students is to make their subject selections during workshops that will operate during mentor meetings. Please note that all students will be required to return a signed hard copy of their subject selection form to the College before their selections can be validated. All subject selections must be finalised by Friday 4 September. Course selection is a significant event for students and as such, there are a range of factors that need to be taken into consideration: career pathways, cost, student interest and the possibility of acceleration are just a few 3 examples. Getting the selections right for each student is of paramount importance. As such, there are a number of stages in the process that lead to the confirmation and finalisation of choices. The initial step is for students and families to familiarise themselves with the curriculum handbook so that you are fully aware of what is on offer. We offer a range of subjects and then determine which will run in 2021 based on student interest and pathway programs. This means that we can be responsive to the changing needs of students, with the subjects we run changing each year depending on interest while professionally balancing this with a need to ensure we are also addressing pathways. Considerable emphasis is placed on course counselling with processes and timelines communicated to all students and carers. This process involves parents/carers and students together with a course counsellor to ensure each student has an appropriate selection of subjects prior to confirmation. We expect that for each student their 2021 subject selections will be well chosen. It is not anticipated that changes to student courses will be necessary after the confirmation of courses. Course confirmation normally occurs in early October. However, due to COVID- 19 this year, course confirmations may end up being available in November. We know that students in well-chosen studies are better connected to their learning and tend to achieve higher and for this reason we ask that you give this process consideration. It is vital,