About the Year 9 Curriculum

As a learning community, Year 9 at Canowindra:

Recognises the ongoing nature of learning.
Acknowledges that learning involves taking risks.
Recognises the variety of ways in which we learn.
Involves parents and other interested people in our classrooms.
Encourages talking, writing and doing - parents, students and teachers.
Encourages participation from parents and students in decision making.
Recognises that at different times of the year different programs require intense focus and attention,
which impact significantly upon the regular delivery of the curriculum.
Ensures a team approach to the development of the whole curriculum across the year.
Supports one another.
Focuses on current community issues.
Exposes students to the world beyond their local community.
Encourages professional interaction about the learning needs of young adolescents.
Accepts the concept of life-long learners for all of us.
Involves teachers involved with collaborative groups of students.
Provides a supportive learning environment for all.
Involves students in co-curricular activities.

The Year 9 curriculum is divided into the Core and the Learning Choices program. Year 9 offers all students a broad range of experiences; from the bush to the city in the Duke of Edinburgh and City Experience Programs, as well as in their local community. Being a stand-alone program, it fosters a close sense of community amongst the students through the emphasis on teamwork and collaboration.

Core programs run during the morning sessions up until the lunch break. Our Focus Week Programs run for five weeks of the year. This adaptation of the Core Program allows for deep focus on one particular topic over the period of a week.

Core Program

English • English Study Skills • Health and Physical Education • Humanities • It’s a WRAP – Weekly Reflection Achievement and Learning • LOTE German • LOTE Indonesian • LOTE Mandarin • Mathematics • Religious Studies • Science

Learning Choices

Learning Choices Learning Choices fall into three categories – Authentic Learning, Depth Studies and Electives. Authentic Learning subjects are where students are engaged in producing a product or engaging in the service of others. Depth Studies are based on our Core Subjects and allow students to deep dive into a subject that is of particular interest to them. Finally, electives follow the traditional format of exposing students to different learning opportunities and only run for one semester.

Authentic Learning

Model Solar Vehicle Challenge (whole year) • Racing for the Future (whole year) • Voluntary Service (one semester) • Year 9 Leadership (one semester)

Depth Studies

Ahead of the Game • Digging Deeper: Explorations into History, Geography and Beyond• Literature • Mandarin – Chinese Language, Culture and Society • Mind Matters • What’s Growing On?

Electives

App Development • Art • Business Technologies • Dance • Design and Technology • Digital Design • Drama - Laughing Matters • Media 1 - Analysis • Media 2 - Production • Music Performance • Music Technology • Outdoor Education • Visual Communication and Design

To see the range of subjects on offer please refer to the

Year 9 Course Information Booklet

For more information about Year 9 , contact the Head of Year 9, Josette Paterakis.