Year 11

Pastoral Care: Ms Julie Flanagan, Mr Jonathon Shumack, Mr Mitchell Clendinning, Mrs Ruth Patrick

Year 11 marks an important point in a student's learning journey. It is an exciting time where subjects are studied by choice and independent learning skills come to the fore. Whilst Year 11 is an early phase in the completion of the HSC credential, it is incredibly important that positive habits and organisational skills are developed during Year 11 in preparation for the HSC. The Pastoral Care team will spend time this year focussing on understanding ourselves as learners and developing positive and healthy habits to assist in optimising performance in the HSC and to prepare ourselves for 'the real world'. The first round of Stage 6 assessment tasks can often build stress and worry. Please note that research or portfolio tasks that may have a due date in a 'busy' assessment week can be worked on in the weeks prior to the submission date to help alleviate due date stress. The Pastoral Care team will work with the students to break-down the assessment calendar to help students to prioritise and organise their time to ensure that 'pressure-points' are manageable. The team of Ms Julie Flanagan, Mr Jonathon Shumack, Mr Mitchell Clendinning and Mrs Ruth Patrick look forward to forging strong relationships with Year 11 this year.

English Standard: Ms Grace Welch

Students begin their Stage 6 English journey by making explicit links between reading and the writing process. This unit, 'Reading to Write', focuses on the idea that wide reading is a prerequisite for appreciating, understanding, analysing and evaluating how and why texts convey complex ideas. Students read, analyse and evaluate a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts, and undertake considered and thoughtful writing of imaginative, persuasive and discursive texts. Other modules studied include 'Contemporary Possibilities' and a 'Close Study of Literature' unit.

English Advanced: Mr Mitchell Clendinning

As an introduction to Stage 6 Advanced English, students examine a range of short texts in order to understand the craft of composition and textual design. Students examine short stories, poems, short films and non-fiction speeches in a way that models writing and technical decisions. This ultimately leads to the girls composing their own crafted compositions with a considered reflection on their creative decisions. Year 11 is a year to develop skills in English and to enjoy the experience of a wide range of different texts. Other modules this year will include an examination of "Narratives that Shape our World', and a critical study of Shakepeare's 'Othello'.

Modern History: Ms Julie Flanagan

Students begin their fascinating exploration of Modern History by unpacking two intriguing historical mysteries - the sinking of the Lusitania and the assassination of JFK - encouraging consideration of both the construction and contestability of historical accounts. Students analyse written and archaeological sources, examine popular theories, and use their skills as historians to draw their own conclusions and communicate their knowledge in well constructed texts. Case studies, including a study of the decline and fall of the Russian Romanov dynasty, lead to students undertaking their own historical investigation on a topic of their choice. A study of the horrors of WWI completes the Year 11 course in 2023.

Mathematics Extension 1: Mrs Marilyn Faithfull

Mathematics Extension 1 is studied alongside Mathematics Advanced and further extends students' knowledge and understanding of what it is to work mathematically. The course enables students to develop skills in logical reasoning, to employ complex techniques and to make connections across different areas of mathematics. Concepts and skills are applied to problem-solving and modelling in the areas of trigonometry, functions, calculus and combinatorics.

Mathematics Advanced: Ms Amanda Burney

Students who study Mathematics Advanced will build their ability to work mathematically as they deepen their knowledge, understanding and skills and connect ideas. Alongside fluency in algebra, the ability to communicate concisely and systematically in mathematical contexts will be enhanced. The classroom culture will promote positive dispositions towards learning including flexible thinking, asking questions, working collaboratively and resilience. Students will increasingly take ownership of their learning, informed by regular informal assessments of progress and targeted feedback. Key content areas studied include functions, trigonometry, calculus and statistical analysis.

Mathematics Standard: Mrs Marilyn Faithfull

Building the ability to interpret and communicate mathematics in both written and verbal forms, including diagrams and graphs is a core element of the Year 11 Mathematics Standard course. Students continue to use algebra to unpack contexts involving linear relationships, with financial mathematics, measurement and data analysis the other key areas of study. Asking questions, approaching errors with a positive and resilient attitude and working collaboratively are work habits that will underpin success in this course.

Business Studies: Ms Sophie Westermarck

Students will dive straight into the world of business by investigating contemporary business issues through articles, videos and case studies. Term 1 focuses on the Nature of Business, exploring different types of businesses and their life cycle. The second topic is management and leadership, where students investigate inspirational leaders from around the world and how different businesses are organised. During Term 3 students will investigate how to plan a business and create a business plan. The Year 11 course lays an excellent foundation for the Year 12 course, which starts in Term 4.

Biology: Mrs Yvette Ballard

Students will progress through Modules 1-4 during the Yr 11 Course. Initial focus will be on Ecosystem dynamics and will include a compulsory fieldwork excursion. We will then progress to Biological DIversity, allowing the students to further extend their knowledge of ecosystems and how by studying past and present ecosystems, we can predict the outcomes for future ones. Students will complete a Depth Study where they will investigate the effects of keystone species and the introduction of invasive species into ecosystems. The latter part of the course will involve looking at Cells as the basis of life and the Organisation of living things..

Chemistry: Mrs Kate Fittler

Students will progress through Modules 1-4 during the Year 11 Course. Initial focus will be on the properties and structure of matter. We will then progress to quantitative analysis in Chemistry, requiring mathematical problem-solving skills. At the course Mid-point, students will complete a Depth Study where they will investigate the effects of varying quantities and conditions during a specific chemical reaction. The latter part of the course will involve looking at a variety of reaction types and the factors that drive these reactions.

Visual Arts: Mrs Emma Schaeffer

Across a cultural and thematic investigation students will examine how artists’ have explored the representation of the world around them with a focus on representations of places and spaces. Students will use the Conceptual Framework to investigate the relationship between representation and the role and function of art in particular times and places through specific movements, styles and artists. They will investigate a range of different approaches to artistic Practice including in their own artmaking they will investigate drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics to represent their ideas. They will use the Frames to investigate how artworks can be understood from different points of view. Students will investigate a range of different genres and styles in some teacher directed artmaking activities related to their theoretical studies and at the same time be encouraged to develop their own artistic interests and skills. In the first unit of work students will investigate the artworks of historical Australian Landscape artists. A variety of different cultural approaches to representation will then be investigated through a study of Indigenous Australian art, Chinese Art, Land and Environment Art and through various Contemporary Art practices. Students will use their Visual Arts Process Diary to document their artmaking explorations, intentions and processes and they will use it to investigate their own artistic responses to the world around them.

Drama: Mrs Joanne Wysel

Year 11 Drama delves into a study of different styles of theatre such as surrealism and absurdism and the background to the uprising of these styles of theatre. What was happening in society that would make theatre practitioners and playwrights ask their audiences - 'what is this all for?!' A group devised assessment allows students a practise of what is expected for the HSC drama course. Students are exposed to Elements of Production in Term 2 exploring all of the components in putting on a live theatre performance: from lighting, to promotion and programming, marketing, set design, costume design and analyses of play scripts. In our final term, we take a look at the historial Bertolt Brecht. Many of the new theatrical conventions that we see in Australian Contemporary Theatre today have come from Brecht's theatre, so exploring this just before we begin our HSC course in Term 4 of this year, gives students a head start!

Design & Technology: Ms Paula Cowley

Senior Design and Technology is a dynamic subject that offers many practical activities that engage critical thinking skills. We start with skills development across multiple aspects of the course. This term, students will collate articles and journals on a range of designs and designers to present a Designer Scrapbook. Year 11DT is a fun and creative subject that allows the learner to explore how and why things work, to solve problems, and to create ideas and solutions. Over the semester, students will choose an interest project in the design and manufacture of an educational children's toy. All project and portfolio work builds a foundation for the Year 12 Major Design Project and is a prerequisite of the expectations and requirements of the course.

Agriculture: Mrs Yvette Ballard

Students will progress through different aspects of Australian agriculture during the Yr 11 Course. Initial focus will be on an overview of agriculture focusing on the interactive nature of agricultural production. We will then progress to a Farm Case Study allowing the students to further extend their knowledge of farm production systems by investigating and visiting a working farm. Students will then focus on the production and management of plants and animals for commercial purposes.

Music 1: Mr Sam Azon-Jacometti

Students in the Music 1 course will dive straight into music making and composition. We will use the robustness of the pentatonic scale to allow students to create their own musical ideas, developing skills in melody writing and notation. From there we take a look at the most ubiquitous musical group - the small ensemble. What is so common? What is needed to keep a group together? What unlikely combinations exist out there? In term three we switch our attention to music for film, radio, television and multimedia. This music is so rich and in the context of film music, often goes unnoticed yet it allows us to feel what the actors on screen are going through. Hold onto your hats ladies and gentlemen, it's going to be an exciting year!

Music 2: Mr Sam Azon-Jacometti

In Music 2, students commence the year by looking at the mandatory topic, Music from 1600-1900. Students will traverse through the ages as they investigate music from the baroque through to the romantic period in the mandatory topic Music of the 1600 - 1900. Our course will enhance the students skills in performance as well as concept analysis, aural and sight singing. There will be an abundance of opportunities for applied learning in performing and experimenting with repertoire covered. It's going to be a rigorous and wonderful journey and Music 2 is a subject which rewards the hard work and discipline which musicians are renowned for, as well as being a fun and creative space to explore new ideas.

Hospitality: Mrs Melissa Hobbs

Students studying the Hospitality course will be focusing on the mandatory units: Hygiene, Safety and Working in the industry. Through practical experiences in all competency units of the Kitchen Operations Stream they will be learning to prepare and serve menus to an industry-accepted standard. The first practical unit is "Prepare simple dishes". Students will also be working in the industry on work placements to gain further experience. The assessment task in each unit of competency is given and assessed as "competent" or "Not competent".

Extension English: Mrs Kate Clynch

The Year 11 Extension course furthers students' understanding of how literature, art and cinema represents the world we live in through the common module 'Texts, Culture and Value'. Students will explore concepts associated with literary theory and will study the core text 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte and transformations and manifestations of this text over time and in different cultures. There is an emphasis on creative writing and responding to texts and stimuli. The unit of work will encourage students to consider historical and cultural perspectives in interpreting the meaning and values embodied in various texts. The course is designed to prepare students for the HSC Extension course and encourage them to consider the option of Extension 2 study at HSC level.

PDHPE: Mrs Ruth Patrick

The Year 11 PDHPE course begins with two core modules. Core 1 looks at Better Health for Individuals, where students will explore the meaning of health, influences of health and strategies to promote health amongst individuals. Core 2 focuses on the Body in Motion. In this module, students will examine the scientific foundations of human movement and focus on the relationships between anatomy, philology, fitness, biomechanics and human movement. We will finish the course by examining two options. First aid will allow students to investigate the major assessment techniques for different injuries and allow students to explore the cause and symptoms of medical conditions. Our final option fitness choices will allow students to investigate what exercise means to different people and factors that influence exercise choices. This course will provide the foundation for the HSC course, which will start in Term 4.

Investigating Science: Mrs Kate Fittler

Investigating Science will assist students to master the scientific method. As we move through the course students will gain the skills required to design scientific investigations, process data and critically evaluate information presented in the media about the world and its galactic neighbourhood. We will start with Module 1: Cause and Effect – Observing and then move to Module 2: Cause and Effect – Inferences and Generalisations. We will then critically explore how information from research is analysed to give us Scientific Models in Module 3, before we move to Module 4: Theories and Laws.

French Continuers: Mrs Margarita Pérez García

The ability to speak another language is a key element in building relationships and cultural understanding. It helps to create trust and underpins interaction and cooperation across borders and societies. French is spoken by more than 220 million people on all five continents. French is an important language of international communication. French is the second most learnt language after English and the sixth most spoken language in the world. In this Continuers HSC Preliminary course, the girls will explore a variety of linguistic and cultural resources around three main themes: the individual, French-speaking communities and the changing world. The course will support the girls in becoming confident and effective users of the language and in developing their understanding of the culture and societies of countries where French is the dominant language. Throughout the course the girls will increase their vocabulary and develop their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills so that they can express themselves confidently and accurately in the present, past and future.

German Continuers: Mrs Sophie Westermarck

The German Continuers course will continue on the themes of Stage 5 German. Students will deepen their writing and conversation skills through reading authentic texts and speaking about themselves, their surroundings and youth issues. They develop their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills so that they can express themselves confidently and accurately. This course will support the girls in becoming confident and fluent speakers of German, which can open up new opportunities for work and study abroad.