This is a diverse department covering Years 7-12 and currently encompassing:
Geography (Years 7-10 and VCE)
History (Years 7-10 and VCE)
Personal Investment (Year 10)
VCE Accounting
VCE Business Management
VCE Economics
VCE Global Politics
VCE Legal Studies
All of these subjects aim to build the skills for lifelong learning and to encourage resilient and creative thinkers. A wide range of teaching and learning strategies such as thinking routines help to make the learning visible and are used to foster deeper understanding and develop independent learning skills. Visible learning is evident in the use of explicit Learning Intentions and considered Success Criteria, incorporating a common language of learning. Working in conjunction with the School's teacher/librarians and School goals, our courses are constantly monitored and modified to ensure that students’ needs are met, that their outcomes are maximised and that our teaching and learning strategies reflect evidence-based best practice.
The course material is informed by the Australian Curriculum and Victoria’s VCE to develop student knowledge and understanding of their social, physical, cultural, economic and political environment. As they progress, their horizons are widened to encompass the wider world. With the skills and knowledge being taught in the earlier years, the foundation is laid for success in the VCE years
This is a diverse department covering Years 7-12 and currently encompassing:
Accounting
Accounting is an information system, providing financial and other information for making and evaluating decisions about the allocation and management of resources. Accounting information is used to help evaluate business performance and to report on the operation of a business from both an internal and external perspective.
VCE Accounting focuses on the financial events and decision making for a small business. Students will study theoretical and practical aspects of Accounting and develop skills in calculating, recording and reporting financial events to support more effective decision making. The Accounting information will be collected and applied using both manual and information and communications technology (ICT) methods.
Business Management
In contemporary Australian society, there are a wide variety of organisations, which vary in terms of size, ownership, objectives, resources and location. These organisations are managed by people. Business Management examines the ways in which people at various places within a business organisation manage resources to achieve the objectives of the organisation.
The study recognises that there are a range of management theories rather than a single theory of management. Each unit examines some of these theories and, through exposure to real business scenarios and/or direct contact with business, tests them against management in practice.
Economics
Economics is the study of how individuals and societies use resources to satisfy needs. It is central to understanding why individuals and societies behave as they do. Economic decisions are about resource use in producing goods and services and about the distribution of the proceeds of production. To understand the basis for these decisions, and their impact, requires an understanding of basic economic principles and concepts. Students will develop an awareness of the links between economics and the influence of political, ethical, environmental and social forces on economic decision making.
VCE Economics equips students with a unique set of concepts, ideas and tools to apply to individual and social circumstances, and helps them to be more informed citizens, consumers, workers, voters, producers, savers and investors. Skills, as well as knowledge, play an important part in the VCE study of Economics. Students develop an ability to identify, collect and process data from a range of sources. They use the inquiry process to plan economics investigations, analyse data and form conclusions supported by evidence. They also use economic reasoning, including cost-benefit analysis, to solve economic problems, which assists them in understanding the economy, society and environment, and to verify values and attitudes about issues affecting the economy, society and environment.
History
At all year levels, History encourages an inquiring, evidence-based approach to learning. Information literacy skills are taught at Year 7 and these skills are built on in subsequent years. A range of primary and secondary sources are analysed and evaluated at all year levels. The evaluation of sources is used to investigate contentious issues in History. History students learn to communicate their findings in various oral, ICT and written formats. Deeper learning is encouraged through the techniques of Visible Learning concepts into the planning and implementation of curriculum.
Geography
Geography focuses on places and how they change. Students begin by learning Geographic skills in a theoretical way and then applying these skills in fieldwork and research activities. At all year levels, fieldwork plays a significant role in encouraging active leaning. Fieldwork includes tree planting, visit and camps in National Parks, a stay in Melbourne and for the adventurous, the opportunity to travel overseas as part of a school trip. In recent years, groups have travelled to Vietnam. The study of Geography begins locally and the outlook broadens over subsequent years with a focus on the Asian region. It considers the place of Australia within the Asia-Pacific region, and as part of a global economy.
Global Politics
This subject investigates the key global actors in twenty-first century global politics. Contemporary evidence is used to analyse the key global actors and their aims, roles and power. It is concerned with contemporary issues and events and the background to these issues. Key global challenges facing the international community in the twenty-first century are analysed. Students then evaluate the effectiveness of responses to these issues. Students also explore the context and causes of global crises, and consider the varying effectiveness of responses and challenges to solving them.
Legal Studies
This study is about the way the law relates to and serves both individuals and the community. It focuses on developing an understanding of the way in which law is generated, structured and operates in Australia. The study covers key legal institutions including Parliament, delegated bodies, courts and the police. Both criminal and civil law are studied. The teaching of this subject delivers authentic learning in a variety of ways including exposing students to realistic legal procedures and prison visits.
Personal Investment
This course introduces students to a range of financial skills and knowledge, which aim to make them more financially literate and competent. After completing this course of study, students will have the ability to make informed judgements and effective decisions regarding the use and management of money in a dynamic and complex financial system. Authentic learning is encouraged as students create and manage their own share portfolios in a competitive manner using the real market but not real money.
