Year 10
Pastoral Care: Mrs Yvette Ballard, Mr Andrew Patrick, Ms Sophie Westermarck
Welcome Year 10 at PLC Armidale! It is wonderful to have such an energetic and diverse group of girls in Year 10 in 2023! As your academic studies take a step up this year in terms of study requirements and assessments, we are excited and keen to see you develop your study skills and find your strengths as you move through the year. In Pastoral Care we will be looking to assist you in developing effective study habits, building strong relationships, and making the most of your time in Year 10. We are here to help and very excited to see you flourish this year! We are looking forward to working with you all.
English: Ms Julie Flanagan, Miss Grace Welch
Ms Flanagan and Miss Welch will be teaching Year 10 English this year. We look forward to taking students on an exploration of the human condition through studies of fascinating, engaging texts including William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies', war poets throughout history and Shakespeare's memorable play 'Macbeth'. Students will discover how composers through the ages have held a mirror up to their respective societies, reflecting attitudes and values that reveal much about what it means to be human. Students will read, view, analyse and evaluate texts, as well as compose their own critical and creative texts that reveal their understanding of the world around them.
Science: Mrs Kate Fittler
Mrs Fittler will be looking after Year 10 Science this year. We will begin by exploring Newton's 3 laws of motion by studying the unit 'Motion and Energy Transfer'. This will include an assessment task where we will delve into the wonders of movement thoroughly. Next we will explore the world of Chemistry by observing chemical patterns and familiarising ourselves with different chemical reactions. Year 10 will also explore Genetics and inheritance patterns. The year will finish with a study of the Universe. Yr 10 study in Science will also involve students undertaking a Scientific Research Project, providing an opportunity for deeper exploration and investigation within an area of interest.
Mathematics 5.2: Mrs Marilyn Faithfull
Learning to interpret real-life situations and systematically apply appropriate mathematical strategies to solve problems are key objectives for students in Year 10 Mathematics 5.2. In addition to continuing to develop algebraic skills, students will explore in detail financial contexts, including compound interest and making use of spreadsheets to analyse scenarios. Students will continue to build their ability to use trigonometry, working with angles of elevation and depression and bearings. They will also learn to analyse bivariate data. Taking increasing responsibility for managing their learning is a core expectation for students at this level. Keeping up with work expectations, marking, following up on errors, and maintaining a growth mindset will underpin good progress and set a strong foundation for future studies in Mathematics.
Mathematics 5.3: Ms Amanda Burney
In the Year 10 Mathematics 5.3 course students continue to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills, with the algebra and graphs of non-linear relationships a particular area of focus. They learn how to calculate the volume and surface area of various composite solids, explore trigonometric relationships in non-right-angled triangles and prove geometric properties of circles. Core thinking skills are built as students interpret information, question, reason and link mathematical ideas in finding solutions to both routine and non-routine problems of increasing complexity. Courage, flexibility and resilience are key qualities that underpin effective mathematical working and these will be fostered in our classroom.
Geography: Mr Andrew Patrick
Year 10 Geography will start the year investigating environmental change and management. This topic is increasing in relevance day by day as we delve into the challenges that Australia and the world face in our changing environmental landscape. Students will consider multiple perspectives and evaluate responses in order for us to achieve sustainable management of our environments. This area of study will be brought to life by guest speakers and field trips. Geography in Year 10 will incorporate self-directed learning, scaffolded inquiry-based learning in class using textbooks and online platforms. We then move into the topic of 'Changing Places' with a focus on the rise of cities. Students investigate urbanisation through the movement of people and question why the world is as it is and what are the opportunities and consequences for us now and in the future.
History: Mrs Roxanne Shumack
The Year 10 History Course focuses on Australia in the 20th Century and is titled "The Modern World and Australia". In covering this broad topic, students will consider such topic areas as the development of Rights and Freedoms, and Australia's involvement in and engagement with the UN in various peacekeeping roles. Other topics include Migration Experiences in post World War II Australia and a Case study of the Holocaust. Students will be undertaking research and developing research skills, strengthening their ability to analyse and use historical sources, construct effective reports and extended responses and develop reasoned arguments in informal and formal written and spoken texts.
PDHPE: Mrs Ruth Patrick
Year 10 PDHPE Term 1 will commence with a unit called Risky Business. Students will develop the knowledge, understanding and skill to empower them to make healthy and safe choices and take action to promote the health and wellbeing of their communities. Students will engage with a range of social issues such as drug use, sexual health and road safety and identify strategies to keep them healthy, safe and active. In practical lessons, we will focus on field games where students will be assessed using a strength-based approach later in the term. During this year, theory work will also be completed in work booklets with a focus on literacy skills, visible thinking routines and critical inquiry approach to further develop students' understanding of class content.
Christian Studies: Ms Jennifer Leahy
This term Year 10 will be looking at Church History, particularly looking at some key people and key events who have impacted the world we live in. This unit allows students to think deeply about key issues and how they relate to everyday life. Year 10 will also explore the emotions in the Psalms and a unit contrasting 'Power and Humility'.
Stage 5 Agriculture: Mrs Yvette Ballard
Agriculture will start with an overview of the place of Australian agriculture in the wider economic environment. We will cover a plant enterprise and an animal enterprise over the course of the year. This will include direct contact with both plants and animals. We will carry out growth trials and study the relationships between production, processing and consumption. There will be a paddock to plate component to the course which will allow students to further experience the roles associated within Agriculture and related service industries. There will also be some relevant field studies carried out outside of the school environment.
Stage 5 Commerce: Mr Sam Azon-Jacometti
Commerce is a fantastic course which guides students through how business life works. What is a tax return? How do you run a business? Has covid changed the way that workers engage with employment? So many fun and interesting ideas will be presented in this course and students will have the opportunity to ask plenty of questions along the way. Our topics for the year will be Employment and Work Futures, Promoting and Selling, Running A Business and Law and Society. We hope to have a number of guests in the classroom as well as activities that get students asking questions about the world around them.
Stage 5 French: Mrs Margarita Pérez García
Year 10 French is a fully immersive course taught by Madame Pérez García. The girls learn French in French! In the first term, the girls will improve their skills in pronouncing the sounds of the language, decoding its characters and reading fluency to read independently and begin a free voluntary reading programme. The rest of the year is dedicated to developing their ability to tell stories in the past tense through active use of the language: speaking, interacting with others, reading and writing. We will work with twelve different stories throughout the year. The stories will provide an opportunity to learn about familiar vocabulary themes. Within each story, we will interact orally in French, the girls will listen to the teacher and each other as they create a story, they will read different versions of the story, they will create their own in a role play, and they will finish the story with a writing task.
Stage 5 Food Technology: Mrs Melissa Hobbs
Mrs Hobbs will teach Stage 5 Food Technology in Term 1. Students are studying the focus areas, "Food Trends" followed by Food Equity and Food Service & Catering". The emphasis on food safety and hygiene will be reinforced in practical food preparation. Through a range of practical applications, students will be able to learn about nutritional consideration when selecting and preparing menus. Students will be assessed in both practical and theoretical components of the course.
Stage 5 Design and Technology: Ms Paula Cowley
Design and Technology is an elective subject for Stage 5. Students will build on subject specific terminology, design concepts and processes with a focus on innovation, previously studied in the mandatory Stage 4 Technology. The practical project for Semester 1 will endeavour to enhance textile embellishment and construction skills while investigating historical, cultural and innovative aspects of textile products. In Semester 2 students will have the opportunity to design and make a product of their choice, in the unit, 'Passion Project'. This unit of work enables the students to concentrate on their specific interests within the diverse options available in Design and Technology.
Stage 5 PASS: Mr Andrew Patrick
Learning collaboratively through movement, this course represents a broad view of physical activity and the many possible contexts in which individuals can build activity into their lifestyle. It incorporates a wide range of lifelong skills including; physical fitness, social skills, communication, organisation and leadership. This year, we will explore four units including; Fundamental movement skills, Physical Fitness, Body Systems and Technology in Sport. Throughout the units, we will utilise our diverse community resources, to learn about recreation, physical activity, sport and related health fields and individual community access to health and wellbeing.
Stage 5 Drama: Mrs Joanne Wysel
We have an exciting year ahead in Stage 5 Drama looking firstly at an essential course component - Dramatic From - working with scripts. We delve into Hitler's Daughter, a play adapted from the novel by Jackie French. Skills learnt in Drama are skills for life - collaboration, team building, and problem solving. Term 2 will see us looking at the history of theatre and specifically delve into the Bard himself where students will have an opportunity to create a performance piece in the Shakespeare Carnival in June this year. In term 3, we delve into Commedia del-arte and explore the use of mask and physical comedy through stock characters popular in 1600. We move on to Monologues and Method Acting in Term 4. We are set for an exciting year in Drama.
Stage 5 Psychology: Ms Jennifer Leahy
Ms Leahy will be teaching 'Psychology' this year. Over the year Stage 5 will cover Social Influence, Language, Thought and Communication, Abnormal Psychology, Personality Psychology and Forensic Psychology. This is a course that looks at both significant case studies, different theories and some practical tasks. Over the year, students will gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Stage 5 Critical and Creative Composers: Ms Julie Flanagan
Stage 5 CCC continues to provide students with opportunities to explore and analyse engaging texts and experiences. We will start the year by examining a number of creation stories and ancient Greek myths, discussing and assessing their impact on modern literature through the study of various appropriations. We then move to a study of the impact of Jane Austen on contemporary texts, an exploration of the poetry from 'Dead Poets Society' and finish the year by conducting an auteur study of the films of Tim Burton. This course offers ample opportunities for a range of creative and critical composition.
Stage 5 Visual Arts: Mrs Emma Schaeffer
Stage 5 Visual Arts provides the opportunity for students to explore artistic traditions, build their technical skills and discover their creative ability through the exploration of different media and ideas. In conjunction with making art, students will examine the practice of artists from a range of cultures, genres and forms that can inspire and inform their own practice.
Stage 5 Music: Mr Matther Minter
Stage 5 music is such an exciting course, The first unit explores the elements of music such as rhythm, harmony and melody in more detail. Students deconstruct, analysis, query and explore various repertoire, to discover how the music achieves its expressive potential. Guided by these discoveries students work through the process of creating an original composition. Into term 2 we have a major focus on performing in groups, continuing to develop skills in arranging and improvising to develop skills in ensemble performance. In Term Three the focus is on Music from the Romantic Period, exploring the great masters of the 19th Century before looking at contemporary Australian music in Term 4. The course is designed to inspire students through providing them with the tools and techniques to compose and analyse music and the opportunity to work together collaboratively in performance.