Curriculum

The Arts

Through ‘the Arts’ students are given opportunities to explore creative and critical thinking and develop skills relevant to careers in the Creative industries. Studies also foster the cross-curricula capabilities (Personal and Social, Intercultural, Ethical) as well as literacy and numeracy through engagement in both the art-making process and discussion and debate of diverse artworks/art-forms. Roxburgh College offers a broad range of studies in both ‘Performing’ & ‘Visual’ Arts. Our disciplines: Drama, Dance, Music, Visual Art, Ceramics, Photography and Visual Communication Design are all well established as ‘stand-alone’ subjects available for students to select as electives. Within these studies students learn specialised skills with clear pathways into VCE and VET(Dance, Music).

Technology

Technology involves the application of knowledge, experience and resources to create products using special processes. Students have the opportunity to work with a range of materials including wood, metal, food and fabric and a chance to build and evaluate systems using electronic processes. Students develop and use critical and creative thinking to solve complex problems. They use the design process to achieve solutions related to the specified material. Students will be working with equipment that is suitable to their own skill development.

Health and Physical Education

Health and Physical Education focuses on students enhancing their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts. It offers students an experiential curriculum that is contemporary, relevant, challenging, enjoyable and physically active. Students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to strengthen their sense of self, and build and manage satisfying relationships.

Integral to Health and Physical Education is the acquisition of movement skills, concepts and strategies to enable students to confidently, competently and creatively participate in a range of physical activities. As a foundation for lifelong physical activity participation and enhanced performance, students develop proficiency in movement skills, physical activities and movement concepts and acquire an understanding of the science behind how the body moves.

English

English aims to develop and deepen the knowledge of language and linguistic competence. The Victorian Curriculum provides the framework for informing the curriculum at Roxburgh College. The framework and standards provide a clear focus for developing programs and reporting to parents and guardians. In Years 7 to 10, students focus on analysing and creating texts for a variety of purposes and audiences. Students learn to value and enjoy their ability to use language to persuade, to analyse, to tell a story, convey ideas and communicate feelings. Public speaking is an important part of the course and is celebrated each year. A love of reading is encouraged through students developing explicit reading comprehension strategies and a tailored reading program in the college library. VCE English and EAL (English as an Additional Language) requires students to study at least four texts in both Year 11 and 12. Throughout the course, students explore how meaning is created in a text. They explore how authors use structures, conventions and language to represent characters, settings, events, explore themes, and build the world of the text for the reader. Students build on their understanding of argument and the use of persuasive language in texts that attempt to influence an audience.

Language

Studying a language can open many doors in terms of further study, future career and social opportunities. In today's global world, the ability to communicate in another language will give students a definite advantage when applying for jobs, promotions and transfers. This is especially true in areas such as commerce and trade, medicine and science, telecommunications, banking and finance, hospitality and tourism and in international companies. Understanding, speaking, reading and writing in another language provides students with the opportunity to meet and relate to people from a huge range of rich and varied cultures.

Mathematics

Learning Mathematics creates opportunities for and enriches the lives of all Australians. Mathematics provides students with essential mathematical skills and knowledge in Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. It develops the numeracy capabilities that all students need in their personal, work and civic life, and provides the fundamentals on which mathematical specialities and professional applications of mathematics are built.

Science

Science offers students different opportunities to apply their learning in practical situations. It gives them the critical thinking skills to apply to real world situations and prepare them for industry and jobs of the future. They use the design process to achieve solutions related to scientific problems and learn about the ethical implications of scientific testing. Students work with equipment that is suitable to their own skill development.

Humanities

At a time when global conflict seems overwhelming, and every time we turn on the television we hear what seems like a never-ending list of terrible events, the study of History helps us place these events as part of a narrative of the human story that has experienced similar times and found ways to work together and survive.

At a time when climate change, animal extinction and global migration is affecting every country in the world, the study of Geography helps us understand these problems and provides real careers for students that find solutions and management of these important issues.

At a time when the gap between the rich and the poor is changing and becoming more complex, the study of Economics and Business enables students to make connections between the decisions of business leaders and how this impacts every-day people.

At a time when people are feeling disconnected with political processes, the study of Civics, Citizenship, Sociology and Politics, provides a way of understanding how people who hold power use it for their own gain and how people who remain uninformed and unaware place themselves at risk. But it also shows the power of communities and groups of people, just like all of us.