Curriculum

Subject Selection Dates for 2010

The process for choosing subjects for elective units in 2010 will begin in late July 2009.  Please note the following key dates:

Learning Areas

At Parade College the subjects on offer are divided in a number of Learning Areas:

• The Arts which includes the Visual Arts, the Performing Arts (Music and Drama)

• English, including English as a Second Language (ESL)

• Health and Physical Education (HPE)

• Humanities which consists of two areas of Humanities: History & Geography; and Commerce

• Languages Other Than English (LOTE)

• Mathematics

• Science

• Technology which includes: Technology, Design and Creativity; and Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

• Religious Education

Year 7

In Year 7 students experience subjects in each of the Learning Areas listed above. Students experience practical classes in Science, the use of Information Technology across the Learning Areas and an emphasis on literacy and numeracy. Languages available at Year 7 include: Italian, French, and Japanese.

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Year 8

Students in Year 8 undertake two units each of Religion, English, Mathematics, Science and a LOTE in their common program.

Students are then required to undertake four other units, as outlined in the table below. This structure enables students to develop skills and knowledge in the Learning Areas while also providing choice and depth of learning.

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Year 9

Students in Year 9 undertake two units each of Religion, English, Mathematics, and Science in their common program.

Students are then required to undertake six other units, as outlined in the table below. This structure enables students to develop skills and knowledge in the Learning Areas while also providing choice and depth of learning.

* Students may not choose more than 2 units of HPE (including the compulsory unit).
^ Students may not choose more than 2 units of Technology

In addition, all students participate in the Year 9 Program, involving:

• Four choices of learning4life seminars that run for 5 half-days each; and
• Three choices of 7-day Extended Learning Projects.

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Year 10

Students in Year 10 undertake two Units of Religious Education, two Units of English and one Unit of Careers in their common program.

Students also undertake two Units of Mathematics but the difference here is that there are a number of different Mathematics as alternatives. The other seven Units are chosen from the range of Units on offer, as directed in the table below.

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Edmund Rice Pathways
The Edmund Rice Pathways Program is an alternative, vocationally orientated program for Year 10 students. Students are NOT able to openly apply for this program. House Leaders in consultation with a range of interested parties will identify potential students and invite them to apply for a place. The program is offered to a limited number of students at Year 10.

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Acceleration

Parade College actively encourages highly able students undertaking Year 10 to select a VCE Units 1 & 2 subject. Apart from English and the Religious Education subjects, students may select from any of the Parade offerings subject to approval and availability of places. Students may only select one subject for acceleration. Students would normally be expected to average an A-grade for each of their Graded Assessment Tasks in the relevant subject.

Students who have successfully completed the Year 9 Advanced Placement courses may choose up to two VCE Units 1 & 2 courses in Year 10 (excluding English & Religious Education offerings).

The purpose of the acceleration program is to offer students the chance to maximize their options by studying six Unit 3 & 4 sequences over two years. It must be understood that regardless of the program of study undertaken in Year 11, all Year 12 students must select and complete five Unit 3 & 4 subjects in Year 12 (this may include University Enhancement studies) unless they undertake a pathway which requires them to spend significant time out of school.

Advanced Placement Program

The Advanced Placement program is open to students who are academically strong, highly motivated, and have an excellent work ethic. The program is firmly focused on challenging, accelerated, and negotiated content.

In Year 10, Advanced Placement students may be offered Advanced Placement English and acceleration into VCE  Units 1 and 2 in their areas of strength.  In Year 11 they may be offered VCE Units 3 and 4 studies in their areas of strength.  In Year 12, students who qualify may be offered the opportunity to undertake tertiary studies which can gain them credit towards their chosen degree at University and can be counted as a sixth study in their TER score. This program is tailor-made for students who have long term ambitions to maximise their Tertiary Entrance Ranking for University entrance.

Please click here to view details of the Advanced Placement courses.

For further details about the Advanced Placement Program, please contact our Placement Coordinator.

Years 11 & 12

Students at Years 11 & 12 have a choice of two pathways for the final two years of school. They can choice either the V.C.E (Victorian Certificate of Education) or the V.C.A.L. (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning).

V.C.E. (Victorian Certificate of Education)
The College offers a number of VCE units for completion. Students must select a minimum of four units from the English group over the two years, including at least one Unit 3/4 sequence. Other requirements our outlined in the table below.
 

 V.C.A.L. (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning)
Students may instead select the VCAL program which can be completed in one year at Intermediate Level or over one or two years at Senior Level. Students must undertake Units in Literacy, Numeracy, Personal Development and Work Related Skills. They must undertake some vocational training.