Junior Curriculum
The Junior Curriculum is designed to lay the foundation for our students’ education and future success and provide them with a broad knowledge of the world around them. There is a strong emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy and all English classes are supported by an additional teacher trained in literacy and EAL strategies.
Students also study Science, Geography, History, Physical Education, Art, Music, Health and Food Studies. They choose from a range of Languages: Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Macedonian or Vietnamese.
All classes are designed around a core curriculum with built in opportunities for students to choose learning tasks according to their interests or learning style. Students are supported by their Home Group teachers to take charge of their learning by improving their organisation, study techniques and time management.
Mid Curriculum
The Mid Curriculum builds on the foundations laid in the Junior years, developing deeper understandings, making connections across knowledge areas and linking learning with real world issues.
Students continue their studies in all curriculum areas and begin to plan for their transition to senior schooling and beyond. All Mid students take part in the Introduction to VCE Program, taking part in a series of VCE taster subjects in which they learn about the subject content, essential skills for VCE study and future pathways related to each subject.
Year 9 students learn about with STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts & Mathematics) through a hands-on, investigative approach; Health and Human Relationships is an essential area of study for all Year 9 students.
Year 10 students all complete Unit 1 of VCE Industry & Enterprise; this subject focusses on planning future career pathways, learning about job search skills, workplace safety and their rights and responsibilities at work. A two-week work experience placement is a compulsory part of this course.
For further information about the topics, skills and knowledge learned in each subject, scroll further or click on the links below.
English and EAL
Maths
Science
Geography and History
Health and Physical Education
The Arts
Food Studies
Languages
English and EAL
English focusses on effective communication essential to our daily living. Students read or view a range of texts such as novels, memoirs, films, documentaries and news. They learn to understand, interpret and critically analyse these texts. They are taught to plan, write and edit their own texts such as narratives, persuasive essays and analytical pieces. They are explicitly taught spelling, grammar, sentence and paragraph structure. They also take part in discussions, give oral presentations and complete listening tasks.
The English as an Additional Language program provides additional support for students who have recently arrived in Australia from a non-English speaking country. It provides intensive study in English and supports students in their studies in other subjects.
Science
Science is part of the human desire to understand the world around us. Science at the Junior level aims to develop students’ scientific understanding and laboratory skills. Topics studied at the Junior level include: Forces & magnets, Mixtures & separation methods, Cells and transport, Earth in space, Solid, liquid and gases, Energy, Light and sound, Classification and ecosystems and Geology.
Science at the Mid level further develops students’ scientific knowledge and challenges them to form and test theories. Students will study Genetics, Evolution, Diseases, the way in which the human body self-regulates, Renewable Energy, Road Science, Forces & Motion, Chemistry and Space Science.
Geography and History
The study of Geography and History helps students to understand and participate in the modern world as well as learning how past events and societies have shaped us. It encourages debate and thinking about present and future challenges. Students learn through a combination of direct instruction and independent problem-solving projects.
In Junior History students learn about the Vikings, the Conquest of the Americas, the Mongol expansion and Ancient Greece; Mid History students focus on the modern era – the Industrial and French Revolutions, Migration and the World wars
Geography students learn about Water, Landscapes & Landforms, Urbanisation, Liveability, Food Security and Environmental Change & management.
Health and Physical Education
Health, Physical Education and Sport at Thomastown Secondary College is concerned with helping young people to develop confidence in decision-making and behaviours to promote an active, healthy lifestyle. They learn about ways to improve and maintain health; they develop their physical, cognitive and social skills and learn to work collaboratively and play fairly.
The Arts
Studying the Arts enables students to develop their creative and expressive abilities. They make their own art as well as appreciating and responding to the art of others from the present, past and around the world. Students learn through direct instruction, hands on creativity and enquiry-based learning. Students attend excursions and incursions to galleries and exhibitions as part of their studies.
They study the elements of art and draw from observation of the natural world; they learn about and create surrealist artworks as well as pop art and OP art.
Visit our College art gallery here.
Music
The Music program aims to develop our student’s confidence to be creative, innovative and informed musicians. They develop an appreciation of different styles and traditions of music as well as learning simple musical notation.
As they move into the Mid program, they take part in the Introduction to VCE Music Production program, learning the essentials of music performance. Students at all levels have the opportunity to take part in the instrumental music program learning guitar, keyboards, percussion, vocals and participating in a number of school bands and concerts.
Watch our musicians perform in our annual school performance, Visions here.
Food Studies
Students learn about food safety, hygiene, nutrition and how to create healthy eating habits. They adapt recipes from around the world, creating delicious combinations of taste, colour and texture.
Languages
The Languages curriculum aims to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure that students can communicate in a language other than English. It helps students to develop an understanding of the relationship between language, culture and learning and to develop intercultural understanding.
Junior students have the opportunity to study Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Macedonian or Vietnamese.