Subject Selection Booklet Year 9

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1 Subject Selection Booklet Year

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS... 1 INTRODUCTION... 1 PAPERCUT (STUDENT PRINTING)... 2 COURSE CONTENT... 2 STATIONERY FOR STUDENTS... 2 CAREERS INFORMATION... 3 Introduction... 3 COURSE STRUCTURE YEAR 9 COURSES... 5 Structure... 5 Basic Compulsory Subjects (18 hours per week)... 5 Option Subjects (8 hours per week)... 5 Technology Options... 5 Arts Options... 5 Languages Options... 5 Special Programmes... 6 The Learning Support Centre... 6 Enrichment and Extension... 6 Digital Access to the School Wireless Network... 6 Digital Delivery Class... 6 Option Descriptions... 6 Digital Technologies Options... 6 Technology Options... 7 Arts Options... 8 Languages Options... 9 CAREER PATHWAYS

4 INTRODUCTION Important decisions require access to accurate information. This booklet provides you with the ability to construct courses with a clear eye on the future. Students, I encourage you to consider these questions as you select each subject: Does it lead me in my preferred career direction? Will it keep my options open, or close them down? Remembering that it s best to study from a range of departments, keeping your options as broad as possible for as long as possible. Does it interest me? Will it challenge me enough, or be too easy? Where does it lead to in the senior school? See Course Structure Will it give me the prerequisites for course entry in Year 12, & 13? Parents, I recommend you do the following: Discuss career aspirations with your sons and daughters. Use the Where To? diagrams in this booklet to assist with seeing which careers different subjects lead to. Make yourself familiar with Course Structure 2016 in this booklet. Read the relevant subject entries in this booklet. Go to which holds a wealth of relevant information. Parents and students are welcome to contact our Careers Department at any time to talk through any aspect of planning for a career. Yours sincerely Stephen Hensman Principal 1

5 PAPERCUT (STUDENT PRINTING) We use a printing package called PaperCut to manage students printing at school. Every student has been allocated a value of $30 to cover miscellaneous printing during the year which the school funds (free to parents). We have allocated extra printing for students who are taking options which might require extra printing, such as IT, Photography, Design & VLN. Once a student s allocation has been used additional printing credits can be purchased from the school office. At the end of each year the student s PaperCut balance will be cleared to zero and a new allocation for the new school year applied. Any under-use of the original allocation will not be carried over from one year to the next. However, if the student has purchased extra printing credits and these credits have not been used up, the remaining credits will be carried over. Printing prices are as follows: A4 Black and White A3 Black and White A4 Colour A3 Colour 10 cents per page 15 cents per page 50 cents per page $1 per page Each time a student prepares to print they will be able to see their available printing credits. COURSE CONTENT The information provided about each course should be regarded as a guide only, as some courses are currently being reviewed. The confirmed list of assessment standards included in each course will be confirmed in the assessment statements issued to students at the start of the year. STATIONERY FOR STUDENTS Stationery for students is available online through OfficeMax, link is Enter your school name and select the subjects you are taking and your year level. Year 9 and 10 students will need to buy a core pack which includes all stationery for your core subject, i.e. English, Maths, Science, Social Science and PE/Health. This service is available from 1 December. Please note, you should get stationery for all your options at this stage, even those you will be taking later in the year, particularly if you are taking DVC (Graphics), as the OfficeMax online or in store packs are only available from December through to early February. 2

6 CAREERS INFORMATION INTRODUCTION When planning a course of study Students should look at their strengths and what they enjoy doing. Making a career decision requires a personal awareness of skills, abilities, attitudes and interests. Try to match this awareness with a career area. Keep your options open as long as possible. A career plan may change. It is quite normal for people to change their minds about their careers as they progress through school. There are people in the school who can assist you with your career planning. They include: Your subject teachers Your Deans The Guidance Counsellor (C2) The Careers Advisers (C10) A useful website for career information is Tertiary course pre-requisites can also change so please check current entry requirements for individual tertiary institutions by investigating their websites or looking at the information available in C10. Be aware that most universities now impose Guaranteed Entry Scores (GES) as well as the University Entrance requirement. Students that attain these levels will gain automatic admission as long as they apply on time. Please check individual university websites for details. Generally speaking, minimum academic entrance requirements vary between degree and diploma courses and between universities and polytechnics. Most certificate and diploma courses require a minimum of NCEA L2, while degree courses require minimum passes in NCEA L3. Check each tertiary institution s website for their specific entry requirements. A number of courses are very popular and impose higher NCEA L3 results for entry. The most common degree restrictions are found in architecture, commerce, communications, engineering, medicine and law. University Entrance (UE) is the minimum requirement to go to a New Zealand university. To qualify you will need: NCEA Level 3 Three subjects at Level 3, made up of: o 14 credits each, in three approved subjects Literacy 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of: o 5 credits in reading o 5 credits in writing Numeracy 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of: o achievement standards specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or o unit standards package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, all three required). Once you have met the requirements for University Entrance it will appear on your Record of Achievement. Credits can be accumulated over more than one year. If a unit and an achievement standard assess the same learning outcome, only the credits for ONE standard can be counted. In other words they are mutually exclusive. A list of such exclusions is published each year. Universities have also introduced a Guaranteed Entry Score (GES). Each university will set their own levels for this score which is based on students Level 3 credits with points allocated for Achieved, Merit and Excellence. 3

7 COURSE STRUCTURE

8 YEAR 9 COURSES STRUCTURE It is the policy of the school that all students are given the opportunity to gain the widest experience of as many subjects as possible while in the junior school. This approach avoids the need to make premature decisions, which might severely limit vocational and further study alternatives. This is balanced by studying options for four hours a week, allowing students to develop a depth of understanding in the subject. Each Year 9 student will undertake a course involving 6 compulsory subjects, up to 8 subjects from the option list and may have the opportunity of participating in a special programme. In addition to their school subjects, students are actively encouraged to participate in a range of co-curricular activities sport, music, culture. Basic Compulsory Subjects (18 hours per week) All Year 9 students study the basic compulsory subjects which include; English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Physical Education and Health. Option Subjects (8 hours per week) All Year 9 students study two different option subjects each term hence a total of 8 subjects from the option list. Information on every option subject is given on the following pages. Notes: All students are required to complete the Information and Communication Technology Course We recommend students select options from all 3 of the following groups Students must choose seven options (additional to Information and Communication Technology) from: Technology Options DVC (Graphics) Digital Technology Horticulture Textiles Skills Technology Nutrition Arts Options Art Introduction Drama Performance Music Languages Options French Introduction Japanese Introduction Te Reo Maori Introduction French Extension Japanese Extension Te Reo Maori Extension Reading Support This option is for students with special needs in this area. Students will be selected into this option based on their abilities. 5

9 SPECIAL PROGRAMMES An important aspect of our curriculum is the delivery of special programmes to meet the needs of individual students. The Learning Support Centre The Learning Support Centre offers students with learning difficulties the opportunity for individual assistance, or help within a small group. Students can be withdrawn from their normal compulsory classes for various lengths of time and individual programmes will be designed to meet their particular needs. Enrichment and Extension The stimulation of able students occurs in two main ways. Very able students will be identified early in Year 9 and will embark on an accelerated programme designed to equip them to sit NCEA Level 1 in a range of subjects in Year 10, selected Cambridge Examinations in Year 11 and then slot back into NCEA at Year 12. As part of normal class differentiation, staff are encouraged to provide a range of extension work to meet the individual learning needs of students in each class. Digital Access to the School Wireless Network The school has a robust wireless network which is available to all students. Students have access to office 365, the internet and printing. Taradale High School has a Windows based network. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase a Windows based laptop in order to gain greatest functionality. Digital Delivery Class All Year 9 and 10 students are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop to school as much of the curriculum is being enhanced with 21 st century teaching. Check the school website for great deals, insurance and warranty available from PB Technologies, our preferred IT supplier to Taradale High School. The network is ostensibly a Windows based network and devices with Windows operating systems achieve greater functionality with Office 365. OPTION DESCRIPTIONS Digital Technologies Options Information and Communication Technology This is a compulsory course taken by all Year 9 students, of one term duration. This course will cover using the school network, including the introduction and familiarization of school software e.g., Office 365, file management, keyboard skills, research strategies, digital literacy, digital citizenship, MS Word skills and MS Excel skills. We offer Microsoft Office Specialist Certification for students who wish to take the exams. Digital Technology This course follows on from 9ICT and is an option subject of one term duration. This course will further develop the students ICT skills and confidence in using a variety of applications in a specialist environment and will also introduce students to HTML. Aims: to develop basic text management skills, to extend the range and use of computer functions and design skills, 6

10 to develop confidence in the use of a variety of computer applications, to continue working in the technology curriculum, to introduce basic coding. Technology Options Nutrition Students are expected to complete a single-term course which emphasises healthy food choices, teaches a range of basic preparation techniques and includes activities which give them the opportunity to successfully apply problemsolving techniques to food-related situations. This option involves research, homework, written activities and practical work once a week. Workbooks: Students studying Nutrition will be provided with a course booklet which they will need to purchase if they wish to write in it, at a cost of $3.50. Design & Visual Communication (Graphics) If you are interested in learning how to draw, if you have ideas about working in design, architecture, engineering or industrial design then this is the course for you. Graphic communication is being used more and more in all areas of life. Year 9 Graphics is an introductory course to the subject of Graphics. DVC Graphics runs through to Year 13. It requires no drawing skills to start with. You will get taught to draw in a variety of ways, computer graphics being one of them. It also introduces you to the process of design and finishes with a short design assignment. Textiles Skills This 1 term course is a combination of the 2 courses, Technological Innovation, and Textiles Skills, that are offered in Year 10. The intent is that students will develop some skills in both areas and will gain a better understanding of what will be the best fit for them in Year 10. The hands on component of this course will be in the textiles area. Course Leads to: Year 10 Technological Innovation or Year 10 Textiles Skills. Refer to the course description for these courses. Entry Requirements: N/A Course Costs: All students will be provided with the basic materials needed to complete the course. Where students are making special (take-home) projects, they will be expected to pay for, or bring, project related materials. Technology Metal Skills This 1 term course is a combination of the 2 courses, Technological Innovation, and Trade Skills, that are offered in Year 10. The intent is that students will develop some skills in both areas and will gain a better understanding of what will be the best fit for them in Year 10. The hands on component of this course will be in the metal workshop area. Course Leads to: Year 10 Technological Innovation or Year 10 Trade Skills. Refer to the course description for these courses. Entry Requirements: Nil. Students can select either one or both courses - Technology Wood Skills and the Technology Metal Skills. Course Costs: All students will be provided with the basic materials needed to complete the course. Where students are making special (take-home) projects, they will be expected to pay for, or bring, project related materials. 7

11 Technology Wood Skills This 1 term course is a combination of the 2 courses, Technological Innovation, and Trade Skills, that are offered in year 10. The intent is that students will develop some skills in both areas and will gain a better understanding of what will be the best fit for them in year 10. The hands on component of this course will be in the wood workshop area. Course Leads to: Year 10 Technological Innovation or Year 10 Trade Skills. Refer to the course description for these courses. Entry Requirements: Nil. Students can select either one or both courses - Technology Wood Skills and Technology Metal Skills. Course Costs: All students will be provided with the basic materials needed to complete the course. Where students are making special (take-home) projects, they will be expected to pay for or bring project related materials. Horticulture Growing plants is an ideal introduction to Year 9 Horticulture. Students will learn through practical work, about many aspects of growing and caring for plants. Students are encouraged to develop and care for a garden with emphasis on enjoyment. All students will be encouraged to take a pride in their own immediate environment, i.e. home, school, community. Arts Options Art Most students have produced art products from pre-school to Year 8. They often know if they enjoy it or if they are good at it. The major emphasis of the courses offered at all school levels remains practical, but a significant shift has occurred towards knowing about art. Drawing is a dominant feature at Year 9; aims include achieving likeness to observations, controlling space and pursuing imaginative concepts. Images are made that explore the use of various media and techniques dye wash, acrylics, print, clay etc. Art is not necessarily an inborn talent, you can be taught. If you are prepared to try hard, we can teach you. Our main aim is to make Art fun. Students who take this course will need to purchase an art pack containing an A3 folder, A3 pad of paper, an eraser and a 6B Art pencil. These can be purchased through school for $5 or from an outside stationery provider. Drama Students will be working within the following curriculum strands: developing practical knowledge in Drama communicating and interpreting in Drama developing ideas in Drama understanding Drama in context Music Course Content: This option is designed as an introduction to music studies, and covers as many basic aspects of the curriculum as time allows. Students learn basic theory and score-reading skills, simple composition and aural skills, as well as gaining performance experience. Students who are not already learning an instrument, should consider beginning lessons on an instrument of their choice (in Year 10 this is compulsory). Those students who already learn an instrument and/or have more advanced theory knowledge, are able to work at their own particular level and can be given extension work. 8

12 NB: All music students are strongly encouraged to attend the private Music Theory classes held after school twice a week. Although this is not compulsory, it is a huge advantage to those Year 9 students who wish to continue with the subject in Year 10, and indeed to all levels of music students. Year 10 Pre-requisite: Students will need to have worked successfully in the year 9 Music option to qualify for the year 10 option, unless they have already been learning an instrument and doing theory classes privately. In this case, entry to the course will be at the discretion of the HOD. Languages Options Three languages are offered French, Japanese and Te Reo Mäori. Note All students are strongly recommended to take at least one language option. Students may take more than one language. Students considering study of a language beyond Year 9 MUST take both the Introduction and Extension stages. Language Introduction Modules For each language this involves a basic introduction to the language. There is a strong emphasis on cultural aspects at this stage. Reading Support The reading support programme is recommended for those students who are experiencing reading difficulties. It is a literature based programme and aims to improve the self-esteem and confidence of the reader as well as the level of skill. The recommendation of teachers and the preferences of students and parents will be taken into consideration in selecting students for this option. 9

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