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Year 10 Curriculum

The following information provides descriptions for all of the Year 10 subjects available for study at Trinity College.

The maps displayed show links to subjects related to each other and to allow students to select an ideal pathway to their preferred senior subjects.  Students can choose any combination of pathways to suit their interests as there are no prerequisites for entry into VCE, but students are strongly encouraged to select subjects that align with those that they wish to take in VCE.

Religious Education

The Religious Education of students at Trinity College is developed through being part of a community whose life, values and aims are centred upon the inspiration taken from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church. The central aim of the Religious Education Program is to foster in students the following four aspects of human life: - awareness of Self - awareness of Others - awareness of The World - awareness of The Faith Community The program seeks to teach the content of the Catholic faith in a way which contributes to understanding and provides opportunities for students to respond in faith. Through immersion of students in the life of the school they can experience the values of a Christian community and will also be given the opportunity for participation in prayer and worship. The program develops religious literacy, incorporating an appreciation, understanding and desire to know more of the Catholic/Christian tradition, including the symbols and rituals of the community. The content of the Religious Education Program at Trinity College: - is based on the sources of our faith; - is faithful to the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church; - reflects the Core Values, Mission, and Vision of the school; - is sequential and allows for a deepening of understanding, knowledge and experience. The Religious Education of students at Trinity College uses, as its primary framework for course structure, the Awakenings Program as recommended by the Catholic Education Office Ballarat. This program draws from and incorporates the many rich developments in Religious Education over recent decades, providing opportunities and understanding relevant to the individual student, taking into account the needs, interests, abilities, cultural backgrounds and stages of development of students.

In Year 10, students study two semester-long units which each address three Awakenings achievement strandards.

  • Semester one: "Heroes of change and renewal” 

  • Semester two: “Engage with the world” 

Assessment, as in other curriculum areas, is based on classroom participation, assignments and overall student progress. In addition, students attend College liturgical celebrations and participate in class and school prayer and social justice activities.

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Performing Arts

Drama | Music

The Performing Arts subjects are fundamental to the learning of all students. Performing Arts makes a distinct and unique contribution to each young person’s ability to perceive, imagine, create, think, feel, symbolise, communicate, understand as well as to become confident and creative individuals. The Performing Arts at Trinity College can be broken into two strands: Music and Drama. These strands will provide all students with the opportunity to imagine and creatively engage, personally and collectively, within their real and imagined worlds. Music and Drama assist in developing identity, confidence, social participation and inclusion. Units explore cultural diversity and indigenous cultural heritage in line with national curriculum.

This course is an advanced drama unit that will prepare students for VCE Drama. The course explores dramatic elements, production areas, expressive and performance skills, performance styles and the work of significant drama practitioners. Students will work together to create an ensemble performance as well as working on solo performances.  

Recommended Prerequisites
  • Year 9 Theatricality

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Visual Arts

Art | Visual Communication Design | Media

Involvement in Visual Arts is an important part of our lives. We can use the arts to express our emotional, social, cultural, political and religious beliefs and we learn to appreciate experiences of others through their expression in one or other art form. Visual Arts at Trinity College can be broken into three strands: Art, Media and Visual Communication Design. Within these strands, students learn to express and communicate their feelings; this provides them with opportunities to gain a sense of their social and individual identity. Students learn ways of experiencing, developing, representing and understanding emotions, values and cultural beliefs. They learn to take risks, be imaginative, question, explore solutions, share opinions, develop, practise and refine techniques to help in the development of their own art works and the understanding and appreciation of the work of others.

In this unit students will explore two and three-dimensional art forms with a view to experimenting and designing through their own personal interests.

Students will analyse, interpret, and discuss works of art as well as present a comprehensive sketch book with developmental ideas and research of artists and cultures. Students will develop advanced skills in drawing, painting and sculptural techniques, which will culminate in completed pieces of sculpture, canvas and prints through an understanding of elements and principles of design. An excursion to the Geelong Gallery benefits student understanding of the visual arts in society.  

Students will use annotation to express thought processes, design development and aesthetic awareness. A brief introduction to the Interpretative Lenses will be introduced.  A variety of materials will be used including pencils, conte, charcoal, paint, ink, collage and clay.  

Recommended Prerequisites
  • Year 9 Exploring Materials and Techniques

  • or consultation with Visual Arts Learning Area staff

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Design and Technology

Food | Textiles | Wood | Engineering | Systems Engineering

This learning area emphasises engagement in designing, creating and evaluating processes, products and technological systems using a range of materials as a way of developing creativity and innovation. Creativity can be described as applying imagination and lateral and critical thinking throughout design and development processes. Design is a vital step in transforming ideas into creative, practical and commercial realities. Designing and its application involve planning and organising production and evaluating products in a real context.

This course aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop an understanding of a range of menu types and their categories as well as menu planning in a domestic setting. Students will extend their knowledge and practical skills with “on trend” dishes that frequent contempory menus. Patisseries, bread types, pasta and preservation methods are areas that will be explored along with the functional properties of foods. Dishes associated with special occasions will be investigated, designed, produced and evaluated. 

Recommended Prerequisites
  • Year 9 Eating Well for Life; or

  • Year 9 Cooking Around the World

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Digital Technologies

In Digital Technologies, students are actively engaged in the processes of analysing problems and opportunities, designing, developing and evaluating digital solutions, and creating and sharing information that meets a range of current and future needs. Students learn to safely and ethically exploit the capacity of information systems to create digital solutions. These solutions and information are created through the application of computational, design and systems thinking, and technical skills.

Have you ever considered how network security companies such as Google and the big banks fight hackers or how entertainment companies create video gaming systems? This unit focuses on the strategies and techniques for creating digital solutions to meet specific needs and to manage the threats to data, information and software security to prepare students primarily for VCE Applied Computing and for some skills necessary in IT applications. 

Students will explore: 

  • Program design using an object-oriented programming language (such as Python). 

  • Using software to analyse, format and calculate from a set of data. 

  • Application design for Raspberry Pi 

  • The capabilities and limitations of software applications 

  • The uses and components of computers and other devices 

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Languages

English | English as Additional Language | LOTE

English focuses on a study of Language and how it works, an appreciation of Literature in its various modes, and the development of skills for Literacy in our world. The Year 7 to 10 curriculum links directly to the VCE English Units, ensuring students are equipped with the skills required to study and respond to texts and communicate effectively in both oral and written forms.

This course is regular English and is designed for students wishing to go on and study VCE. 

 

Core English aims to consolidate the skills established in the junior school and build on these in preparation for VCE English.  The English curriculum in Year 10 focuses on the study of Language and how it operates, the development of Literacy skills for communication in the modern world, and on stimulating an appreciation for Literature in its various forms.  Students hone their analytical, creative and persuasive essay writing skills in response to the variety of texts studied throughout the year, along with their oral skills through the crafting of a persuasive speech on an issue of contemporary relevance. 

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Health & Physical Education

The Health and Physical Education (HPE) program at Trinity College will contribute to students becoming self-confident, independent, disciplined, healthy and physically fit. Students in Years 7 to 10 will undertake Health and Physical Education for the whole year. Assessed HPE learning areas include First Aid and safety, mental health and wellbeing with a focus on body image and the media, challenge and adventure activities, games and sports, lifelong physical activities, rhythmic and expressive movement activities.

This elective is offered to prepare students who are considering studying VCE Health and Human Development. It will provide a VCE level introduction to physical, social and mental health as well as to physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. Students will consider risk and protective factors for youth mental health and review strategies and organisations dedicated to mental health promotion.  

Comparisons will be made between the health of youth globally and the rationale for the establishment of national health priority areas will be explored. Study may also include the various nutritional requirements for the health of youth.  

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The Humanities

Civics and Citizenship | Economics and Business | Geography | History

Humanities is a broad area of learning which draws upon the areas of Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Geography as well as History. Beyond Secondary Education, the Humanities Learning Area offers strong job prospects and many university options, including studying Commerce, Law, Politics, Accounting, International Business and Economics – these courses can lead to many successful career paths in both the private and public sector.

People and Power introduces students to the studies of Politics and Legal Studies. Students analyse the political system of Australia, working through the structure of Government and how decisions are made, as well as how decisions are stalled. Students study party politics, elections, and where power and decision lie in Australia. Students also investigate the legal system of Australia, focussing on Criminal and Civil law and the concept of ‘the rule of law’ in contemporary Australia. 

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Mathematics

Mathematics pervades all aspects of our lives: as citizens, in our homes and in the workplace. It has applications in all human activities and provides a universal way of solving problems in diverse areas such as science and engineering, business and finance, technology, arts and crafts and many everyday activities. Competence in mathematics enhances both our understanding of the world and the quality of our participation in Australian society. Under the Victorian Curriculum in the Mathematics Learning Area, students in Years 7- 10 complete work from three areas of study: (i) Number and Algebra, (ii) Measurement and Geometry and, (iii) Statistics and Probability. As Mathematics is an integral part of all students’ education, the aim of the Mathematics Learning Area is to ensure maximum success and progress. Year 10 students may elect to participate in an advanced class called “Mathematical Reasoning”, where they will be further extended with topics aligning with the Mathematical Methods (CAS) and Specialist Mathematic courses.

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This course of study is designed for students who enjoy the challenge of Mathematics and require a more in-depth study of Mathematics for their possible career path and is suited for those wishing to undertake VCE Maths Methods or Specialist Maths. The focus of activities in this course is on expanding student’s understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning skills. Each semester topics will be drawn from three areas of study: Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability.

 

To be able to fulfil the digital technology sections of this course, students will need to have a CAS Graphics Calculator. 

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Science

Agriculture | Biology | Chemistry | Physics | Psychology

A major goal of Science education is to develop citizens who are capable of engaging in informed debate about Science and its applications. A fundamental goal for Science education is to stimulate, respond to and nourish curiosity, wonder and questioning. Science provides us with one view of the world – a view that changes as our knowledge and understanding of science evolves. It is becoming increasingly important that students understand scientific challenges and redirections, and the implications of these for their own life choices, the environment and the community (local and global) in which they live. Science extends our understanding beyond what affects us to include what we cannot see, feel, hear or touch but can only imagine. Increasing emphasis will be placed on the role of science and the work of Australian and other scientists in addressing issues of sustainability at a local and global level. Science education provides opportunities for students to develop the skills and understanding appropriate to service and good citizenship. It also encourages students to articulate science values and accept the ethical principles embedded in science research. While only some students directly pursue a career in science and scientific research, all students need to appreciate the significance of science for the long-term future of our society.

This unit will provide students with a solid foundation in the area of Biology.  

The focus of this unit will be on studying DNA structure and function, predicting the outcomes of crosses involving different types of inheritance such as dominant/recessive – partial dominance – sex-linked. Pedigrees will be analysed to ascertain why certain traits run in families, as well as studying the different types of microbes and their impact on human health and the function of the human immune system and evidence for evolution.  

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