Page 1 of 12 2025 Year 9 Curriculum Handbook
Page 2 of 12 Year 9 Elective Subject Costs 2025 Students in Lower School are required to meet educational outcomes in a variety of learning areas. Elective courses in Lower School enable students to meet these outcomes in The Arts, Technologies and through additional courses in Health and Physical Education. ASHS students have access to some specialised subjects which are resource rich but expensive to run. Students do not need to enrol in high-cost electives to meet the required educational outcome. Low or no cost options are available as indicated in this booklet. SUBJECT PRICES ARE INDICATIVE ONLY AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. NOTE: payment of subject charges is compulsory. Payment arrangements are available to all families. Please contact the school for further information. Secondary Assistance Scheme Parents with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card will have access to the Secondary Assistance Scheme (SAS). This will be applied towards education program charges in the first instance, with any residual to be applied to the voluntary Contribution (for years 7 to 10) or as negotiated with the parent/guardian (for years 11 to 12). Applications need to be made to the school during Term 1, 2025 to be eligible. It is expected that all School Charges will be paid in full prior to the end of Term 1 each year.
Page 3 of 12 Year 9 Course Definitions & Procedures 2025 Students study the following COMPULSORY COURSES: • Mathematics • English • Science • Humanities and Social Sciences • Health and Physical Education The courses above are described in SECTION 1 of this handbook. In Year 9 students are aligned to differentiated courses (pathways) in Mathematics. Specialist literacy support classes are available for students requiring extra literacy support. In addition to the compulsory course above, students choose to study ELECTIVE COURSES from the following learning areas: • The Arts • Technologies • Health and Physical Education • Languages Students choose six Elective Courses for the year, three in Semester One and three in Semester Two. Elective courses allow students to engage in higher levels of specialisation in learning areas of interest. Assessment Assessment in Mathematics, English, Science and HASS covers several content strands in each learning area, each of which have equal weighting and importance.
Page 4 of 12 LEARNING AREA: MATHEMATICS COMPULSORY COURSE In Years 7 to 10, students undertake study in the following strands of the Western Australian Curriculum (Mathematics), as set out by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA). Content Strands Proficiency Strands • Number and Algebra • Measurement and Geometry • Statistics and Probability • Understanding • Fluency • Problem Solving • Reasoning The proficiencies describe how the content is explored and reinforce the significance of working mathematically within the content. For detailed content descriptions in each of the content strands above, refer to the latest version of the WA version of the Australian Curriculum from the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) at www.scsa.wa.edu.au. In Years 8, 9 and 10, students are placed in pathways which are matched to their prior achievement in Mathematics, based on teacher recommendation and the student’s class ranking. There are opportunities for students to move between classes during the year, dependent on their level of achievement on assessment tasks and subject to maximum class sizes. In all cases, consultation between their teacher and the Head of Learning Area (Mathematics) takes place before student movement occurs. LEARNING AREA: ENGLISH COMPULSORY COURSE English is a thought provoking and interesting subject which is organised into three interrelated strands that support students’ growing understanding and use of Standard Australian English. Together, the three strands focus on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in Writing and Creating, Reading and Viewing, and Listening and Speaking Outcomes. The three strands are: • Language: knowing about the English language • Literature: understanding, appreciating, responding to, analysing and creating literature • Literacy: expanding the repertoire of English usage Most people are very familiar with the Reading and Writing Outcomes in English, but Creating, Viewing, Speaking and Listening are possibly less familiar. ‘Creating’ encourages students to examine ways of communicating their knowledge and ideas, including through digital and multimodal texts. Viewing provides students with the opportunity to analyse visual texts such as; television news, television drama, film, works of art, graphic design, digital and print advertising, while Speaking and Listening facilitates the study of aural texts as well as encouraging students to develop and demonstrate effective communication skills both as speakers and listeners. As students move through their schooling, the texts they encounter for analysis and the texts they compose increase in complexity.
Page 5 of 12 LEARNING AREA: SCIENCE COMPULSORY COURSE Science at Albany Senior High School follows the Western Australian Curriculum and has three interrelated strands: 1. Science Understanding 2. Science as a Human Endeavour 3. Science Inquiry Skills Together, the three strands of the Science curriculum provide students with understanding, knowledge and skills through which they can develop a scientific view of the world. The Year 9 course, Science Understanding strand, is broken down into four units which are integrated and assessed each term: • Biological Sciences • Chemical Sciences • Physical Sciences • Earth and Space Science LEARNING AREA: HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMPULSORY COURSE In Year 10 Humanities & Social Sciences, all students study Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Geography and History. Throughout the course, students develop increasing independence in critical thinking and skill application, which includes questioning, researching, analysing, evaluating, communicating and reflecting. They apply these skills to investigate historical and contemporary events, developments, issues and phenomena. LEARNING AREA: HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION COMPULSORY COURSE Physical Education Physical Education provides students with the skills for confident participation in sports and recreation activities. The course is a year-long program covering various invasion, striking/fielding, net, target, and individual sports such as cross country and athletics. Health Education In Health Education, students enhance their understanding of contemporary health issues around alcohol education, mental health, first aid, sexuality issues, and relationships, enabling them to develop the skills to make responsible decisions that promote their own and others' health and well-being.
Page 6 of 12 LEARNING AREA: THE ARTS ELECTIVE COURSES Visual Arts Electives VISUAL ARTS DISCOVERY Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $22 Total Cost: $32 Learn a variety of analytical drawing and rendering techniques, including how to draw from observation. Translate drawn ideas and convert them into finished artworks, learning to control wet and dry media. Develop artworks using drawing, painting, print making or textile processes. CREATIVE ARTS Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $22 Total Cost: $32 Go on a journey of visual and mixed media experimentation, exploring visual 2D and 3D techniques. Be innovative and generate your own expressive artworks. WE THROW CLAY Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $21 Total Cost: $30 Develop ceramic techniques used for working with clay, both hand built and wheel work. Create imaginative functional vessel forms with glazes and painted finishes adding colour to your work. CLAY SCULPTURE Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $21 Total Cost: $31 With a focus on sculpture, develop your hand-building clay skills and discover your creative style, appreciation and enjoyment of sculpture. Performing Art Electives PERFORMING ART – DRAMA FOCUS Semester 1 No/Low Cost Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $ 0 Total Cost: $10 Be dramatic, engage with an audience, rehearse and improvise for both scripted and creative pieces. Build puppets and perform a Melodrama! Explore different forms and styles.
Page 7 of 12 PERFORMING ART – DANCE FOCUS Semester 2 No / Low Cost Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $ 0 Total Cost: $10 5,6,7,8 ....... Move with the music! Show off your creativity and rhythm as you explore, choreograph and perform different dance styles. Year 9 Music Electives POPULAR BAND Semester 1 AND/OR Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge per Semester: $11 Total Cost per Semester: $21 Release your inner rock god, teen popstar or alt rock superstar. Develop skills for the contemporary music scene, including stagecraft, performance, microphone technique, managing amplifiers and effects. A performance-based course that will include in-class and public performances. Previous musical skills are highly beneficial. This is a Semester 1 and 2 course. Students can select either Semester 1 or 2 or both semesters. CLASS MUSIC Semester 1 AND Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge per Year: $40 Total Cost per Year: $40 Class music empowers you to be an active and knowledgeable participant in the music industry, from classical music through to hip hop, electronic, and film music. Practical music-making, composition activities and analysis skills exploring the cultural context of musical styles are covered. This course is available as an elective by negotiation with Music teachers, to any students learning music privately. This course is compulsory for all students enrolled in the Instrumental Program and must be select both Semester 1 and 2. INSTRUMENTAL AND ENSEMBLE MUSIC Semester 1 AND Semester 2 (IMSS Students only) Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge per Year: $40 Total Cost per Year: $40 All students receiving a lesson through the IMSS scholarship program are automatically enrolled in this course. Participate in your free group lesson on woodwind, brass, strings, guitar, voice, or percussion/drums, and your compulsory musical ensemble (Concert Band, Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble, Choir, Rock Band). Ensembles may involve performances, camps and tours, as well as other social opportunities. Ensemble rehearsals occur outside of school hours, and instrumental lessons take place on a rotational system across the school day to minimise disruption to academic classes. Inclusion in the IMSS Instrumental Scholarship Program at ASHS requires the student to also enrol in Class Music
Page 8 of 12 Year 9 Media Electives MEDIA FILM Semester 1 No / Low Cost Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $ 0 Total Cost: $10 It’s time to make movies and start your own film career. Focus on film genre and producing short films and trailers, using high-definition cameras and professional editing software to enhance your films. MEDIA ANIMATION Semester 2 No / Low Cost Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $ 0 Total Cost: $10 Create animated stories using sophisticated software. Animate with paper, clay or other media, then apply the capabilities of Photoshop. LEARNING AREA: TECHNOLOGIES ELECTIVE COURSES DESIGN & TECHNOLOGIES Food Specialisations COOKING Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $70 Total Cost: $70 In the future you will probably find yourself living on your own or with friends and having to plan and prepare meals for yourself. Plan and prepare healthy meals for yourself as an independent young adult. ITALIAN COOKING Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $70 Total Cost: $70 Pizza, pasta, risotto, tiramisu........Italian favourites! Experience Italian culture through food, by preparing food and using ingredients and techniques from various regions of Italy. CREATIVE CHEF Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $70 Total Cost: $70 Be the next Master Chef? Prepare foods for fun and flavour! Learn some basic techniques then get creative with ingredients and flavours and design recipe variations, to create exciting and interesting food products.
Page 9 of 12 GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $70 Total Cost: $70 Instead of giving up on favourite fast foods, have fun creating tasty alternatives with plenty of flavour, perfect for a healthy, active lifestyle. Materials & Technologies Specialisations (D&T Context) JEWELLERY Semester 1 or 2 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $70 Total Cost: $70 Design and make jewellery to give to friends and family, using a range of jewellery and silver-smithing skills and processes. Projects might include: a collection of rings, bangles and pendants in a range of metals, including sterling silver. Semester 2 will be a REPEAT of the Semester 1 course. Only select Jewellery in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. METALWORK Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $56 Total Cost: $56 Design and manufacture with metal, using hand tools in the workshop, plus the lathe and oxyacetylene equipment to produce metal-based products. Projects might include toolbox, key tag and a dustpan. You will also develop skills in design work. This is a Semester 1 course. Students may also select the Semester 2 course. METALWORK Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $56 Total Cost: $56 Design and make projects from metal. Use machinery and metal working equipment such as the lathe, drill press, oxyacetylene set, magnetic bender and spot welder to design and manufacture items from steel and non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, copper or brass. Skills in bending and shaping metal will be introduced. PHOTOGRAPHY Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $28 Total Cost: $38 Use a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) and Photoshop editing processes, to take interesting photos from macro to telephoto and improve the quality of snapshots. This is a Semester 1 course. Students may also select the Semester 2 course.
Page 10 of 12 PHOTOGRAPHY Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $28 Total Cost: $38 Further develop skills in taking interesting photos and refining Photoshop editing skills. Learn about the advanced functions of the camera and use various lenses and filters to achieve different effects. WOODWORK Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $38 Total Cost: $48 Develop your design and practical skills using hand and electrical power tools when working with wood. Projects might include mystery book, chopping boards and a picture frame. This is a Semester 1 course. Students may also select the Semester 2 course. WOODWORK Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $38 Total Cost: $48 Create wooden projects, develop woodwork designs and the practical skills in the use of hand and power tools to construct the design. Projects may include CD racks, toolboxes and stepladders. Engineering Principles and Systems ENGINEERING - MECHANICAL Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $14 Total Cost: $24 Design and create practical solutions to problems using engineering principles of force, motion and energy. Projects could include bridges, cranes and electrical circuits. ENGINEERING - MECHATRONICS Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $14 Total Cost: $24 Be future focussed with the world of mechatronics and robotic operated devices. Apply engineering principles as you develop systems and combine programming skills with practical construction.
Page 11 of 12 LEARNING AREA: LANGUAGES ELECTIVE COURSES Are you interested in a career in hospitality, tourism or education? Or perhaps you’re interested in working as a translator or a diplomat. Do you intend to travel overseas in the future? There are lots of career opportunities for people able to speak a second language. You will be studying in a supportive and academic environment with other students who are passionate about languages. You’ll be surprised at how your language abilities improve. Talk to your language teacher about next year’s program. INDONESIAN Semester 1 AND Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $11 Compulsory Charge: $29 Total Cost Per Year: $40 The themes for this course include: • Young people in rural and urban Indonesia (jobs, school, weekend activities, hobbies) • At home - describing their house • Daily routines • Cities and giving directions NOONGAR Semester 1 AND Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $11 Compulsory Charge: $ 29 Total Cost Per Year: $40 Kaya… Language is culture, culture is language. Immerse yourself in the Language and Culture of the Noongar people and the Menang Boodja (land) on which we live and learn. LEARNING AREA: PHYSICAL EDUCATION ELECTIVE COURSES Marine and Maritime Studies and Outdoor Education Students must undertake a swimming competency test before commencing practical classes as it forms part of the risk mitigation requirements for water-based activities. Students who cannot pass the competency assessment will be moved to a different elective. MARINE AND MARITIME STUDIES Semester 1 OR Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $76 Total Cost: $76 For those who enjoy water-related activities, this may be the unit for you. Covering canoeing and kayaking, an introduction to power boats, surf awareness, and basic equipment maintenance. Semester 2 will be a REPEAT of the Semester 1 course. Only select Marine and Maritime Studies in either Semester 1 or Semester 2.
Page 12 of 12 OUTDOOR EDUCATION Semester 1 OR Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $ 0 Compulsory Charge: $50 Total Cost: $50 If you are interested in experiential outdoor learning and being in the outdoors, then this may be what you are looking for. The base activity will be snorkelling or canoeing while also delving into hiking, rope work, sandboarding, camp cooking, camp craft and other general outdoor skills. Semester 2 will be a REPEAT of the Semester 1 course. Only select Outdoor Education in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. RECREATION Semester 1 OR Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $ 7 Total Cost: $17 A fun physical activity unit where the emphasis is on your ability to interact and work effectively with other students in non-traditional activities such as table tennis, archery, and skateboarding. Semester 2 will be a REPEAT of the Semester 1 course. Only select Recreation in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. High Performance Electives Participation in at least one high performance elective is highly recommended for students contemplating Physical Education Studies in Senior School. Students selecting high performance subjects will be chosen based on their past general physical education participation and results. HIGH PERFORMANCE BASKETBALL Semester 1 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $ 3 Total Cost: $13 Bounce into this elective and dribble productively. It is designed for students involved in community competitions who display a higher skill level in Basketball. Your knowledge and skills in basketball will be extended, and more advanced game strategies will be introduced. HIGH PERFORMANCE VOLLEYBALL Semester 2 Voluntary Contribution: $10 Compulsory Charge: $ 3 Total Cost: $13 Extension of knowledge, skills and strategies to prepare you for community competition and Country Week. This elective is highly recommended for students contemplating Physical Education Studies in Senior School.