Year 9 | 2025
Middle School
Highton Campus
Head of Campus Welcome
Christian College embraces the needs and passions of 21st century learners and our students are blessed to have on offer a vast array of new learning opportunities. All students are encouraged to become active participants in their own educational journey, as they are given greater autonomy to learn and a voice to direct where that learning might seek relevance. Christian College is proud of the engaging subjects and pathway programs that we offer our Middle School students, with specialisation and experiential learning being implemented from Year 5.
This course selection handbook provides an overview of the studies available in 2025.
The core and elective offerings are part of the learning landscape at Christian College that aims to support each student to identify their passion for learning, their ability to think, solve problems and to manage their individual learning. We want our students to become well rounded positive contributors through the way that they make global connections and seek to connect deeply with others. At the end of their journey at Christian College, our students will be ready
to make a positive difference to the lives of others, through ‘good work’ that is excellent, ethical and engaged in local, national and global contexts. I look forward to partnering with all families in support of your precious young people, as they look towards their 2025 studies.
Yours faithfully,
Natasha Troop
Natasha Troop Head of Campus
Year 9 Core Subject Overview
The diverse and challenging curriculum at Middle Years is guided by the Australian Curriculum. It offers a breadth and depth of learning opportunities tailored to suit the unique learning needs of our students. Each opportunity develops core knowledge and skills within each subject area, as well as developing capacities in our students within the General Capabilities and Cross Curricular opportunities. Every student will experience a broad range of subject areas within our program comprised of whole year and semester based opportunities, these are complimented by a wide range of elective choices catering to the needs and interests of our learners.
Global Connections
Year 9 students are encouraged to continue studying a language – either Japanese or Indonesian. An alternate subject, called Worldview, is undertaken by students not wishing to continue with a language pathway. Indonesian, Japanese and Worldview
Experiential Learning
The following two experiences combined make up one term’s study for each Year 9 student:
Students in Year 9 will participate in the following core subjects for the whole year:
• Christian Education
• English
• Health and Physical Education
• History
• Mathematics
• Science
• Wellbeing
are each studied for three terms. Students intending to continue with a language pathway at Senior School are required to study that language in Year 9.
• Rural Experience at Back Creek Farm
• Transformation Program
Year 9 Elective Subject Overview
In Year 9, Christian College students continue to choose some of their own subjects, in line with their specific interests and areas of passion. Year 9 students complete two elective subjects per term for three terms, for a total of six for the year.
On the back page, you will find a ‘Subject Selection Worksheet’. This is intended to be used as a resource for students and families, while you are considering the subjects on offer. You may like to print it for ease of use.
Begin with your choice of Indonesian, Japanese or Worldview.
For the elective subjects in the table on the selection worksheet, rank your top 12 preferences, with 1 being your first preference, 2 being your second preference, and so on. It is recommended that you select your most preferred electives in rankings 1 to 6. However, please note that you may not get your perfect choice of all subjects, so please take the time to list your top 12, in order, carefully.
Subjects identified in this booklet with a double asterisk (**) can be selected for one or two terms of study. Marine studies can be undertaken as either Snorkelling or Rock Pools not both.
To formally submit your preferences, please follow the instructions sent to you in your school email account. For students new to Christian College in 2025, please check your parent/guardian’s email account for the instructions.
$ Subject Levy
Some Elective subjects have additional costs beyond the standard College tuition fees. These subjects, as listed in the booklet, include:
• Subjects with overnight excursions involving accommodation and/or other travel expenses.
• Subjects requiring significant resource and/or equipment purchases.
If a student enrols in a subject with a listed levy amount, this cost will be applied to the College Fee Account at the beginning of the year.
Antony Benson Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Indonesian
In Year 9 Language, students build a repertoire of language skills, interpersonal competencies and intercultural capabilities important for everyday communication, travel and future vocational opportunities.
Indonesian students engage with students from our twin school in Lombok, Indonesia discovering connections in sports, hobbies, music, leisure activities and the use of social media in the digital world.
Through simple Indonesian texts, films and excursions, students are introduced to the historical, economic and religious influences that have significantly shaped the modern nation. They gain an appreciation of the sustainability of traditional food and lifestyles, community and environment in our increasingly modernising and connected region.
Learning Indonesian not only opens a door to the fourth largest nation in the world, but also connects us with ‘Bahasa’ speaking communities in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Timor Leste and Australia’s own Territories, the Cocos and Christmas Islands.
Japanese
In Year 9 Language, students build a repertoire of language skills, interpersonal competencies and intercultural capabilities important for everyday communication, travel and future vocational opportunities. They engage with students from our twin school in Wakayama, Japan, discovering connections in sports, hobbies, music, leisure activities and the use of social media in the digital world.
Through simple Japanese texts, films and excursions, students are introduced to the historical, economic and religious influences that have significantly shaped the modern nation. They gain an appreciation of the sustainability of traditional food and lifestyles, community and environment in our increasingly modernising and connected region.
Learning Japanese helps our students to further develop interest in another country with a very different culture and strengthen their desire to make connections with Japan. Developing relations with other young people in Japan not only enriches their own personal lives but contributes to the overall friendship relations between Australia and Japan.
Worldview
For those not choosing to study a language, Worldview aims to foster a sense of curiosity for the wider world, a deeper awareness of cultural difference, and the ability to think critically and creatively about global challenges.
Students investigate a range of global challenges such as rapid population growth, food security, globalisation, the production and consumption of goods, the ever changing nature of transport and communication, and the equity and economics of global trade.
In each of these studies, the emphasis is not only on understanding the issue, but identifying and connecting with those people impacted by this issue. Students interpret and analyse a variety of information, maps and data to propose explanations for patterns, trends, relationships and anomalies, and to predict outcomes. They draw reasoned conclusions and propose action, taking into account the environmental, economic and social consequences.
THE ARTS
Art Making and Exhibiting**
Visual art is a critical way in which we communicate and express meaning in the world around us. This elective is designed to help each student grow as an individual artist. It encourages the expression of ideas and a process for examining identity through a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, film and sculpture. Engagement with artworks facilitates creative thinking and the development of new ideas. It also supports connection and exchange within local, national and global communities.
Studio Arts encourages and supports students to recognise their individual potential as artists and develop their understanding of the art making process. They will explore and experiment with a variety of ways to express meaning in their artworks based on a chosen theme. They will have the opportunity to explore and create artwork in a variety of traditional and contemporary styles. In this elective, students may have the opportunity to visit a popular gallery space, including some contemporary and traditional art gallery spaces.
Drama**
Dive into the exciting world of drama, where students become storytellers, performers, and collaborators! In this subject, you’ll unleash your creativity through improvisation, rehearsal, and performance, all while attending captivating professional shows.
Get ready to master the art of drama as you explore various theatrical styles, from the grandeur of Greek theatre to the intrigue of Elizabethan drama and the bold innovation of Brecht’s Epic theatre. You’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to create mesmerizing theatre works across these styles and more.
But that’s not all! You’ll have the chance to create theatre in diverse and exciting contexts. Imagine working with younger children to build performances and explore the magical world of the outdoors, or collaborating across campuses to rehearse and perfect a text for a thrilling public performance.
Delve into the world of production as you experiment with scriptwriting, directing, costume and sound design, applying your newfound expertise to both scripted and original pieces. Join us in this vibrant drama journey and watch your imagination come to life on stage!
Media**
The world in which we live in is increasingly becoming a digital society with a rich and wide variety of visual digital mediums, from hand held devices, print media to cinema screens. Students will be able to analyse, interpret and create a variety of digital media that captures an audience and informs through a narrative.
In this area of study students will investigate, discover and create still and moving images. They learn the code and conventions of media productions, investigate appropriate video production roles, evaluate professional film productions, use a range of traditional and contemporary still and moving media materials, equipment and technologies and discover the composition and artistry of photography. They will experiment with a variety of photo graphic conventions and techniques to represent a theme, concept or idea through their production pieces. Students may produce works based around film, photography or print media.
Music**
Year 9 Music provides students with engaging practical activities, suited to musicians of all standards and also prepares students for music studies in Year 10. Students learn about music’s amazing evolution.
The areas of study are designed to challenge students’ thinking about music as they explore the impact that innovative composers have made by ‘bending the rules’. Activities are designed to develop students’ general musicianship and performance skills. These will include: rehearsing and performing; composing and arranging; music theory; aural skills; music listening and style analysis activities; and performance craft workshops. Instrumental music students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one term of elective music. Music students have the option to accelerate and complete VCE Music studies in Year 10. Students who wish to be considered for music acceleration in Year 10 must complete at least 1 term of Year 9 Music.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Food Studies**
This food-based enterprise elective aims to embrace students design thinking and entrepreneurial skills. The unit has a business focus where students will have the opportunity to research, design and produce their food products with a view to making and selling their creation to the school community.
Being able to safely prepare nutritional meals and snacks is an integral part of our lives. This combined with developing an understanding of where our food comes from are important components that are explored in this subject. Students will increase their understanding in safe food handling, build on their knowledge, analyse links between current health issues and diet and extend their practical capabilities.
Students will research topics around the responsible consumption and production of food and life on the land. Students will design, source local ingredients and prepare nutritious meal options based on a variety of needs or opportunities utilising locally produced ingredients.
Subject levy: $30
Product Design | Materials**
Product Designers invent, visualise and prototype design solutions to problems in the form of new products. This subject challenges students with the task of developing increasingly complex approaches to product development, utilising a range of materials and new technologies.
Students will encounter a series of design challenges, using Technologies such as 3D printing, laser cutting and Computer Aided Design. The subject includes active investigation and experiential learning, and the production of a Take Home Product.
Students generate and represent original ideas and production plans in two and three-dimensional representations using a range of technical drawings. They produce rendered, illustrated views for marketing and use graphic visualisation software to produce dynamic views of virtual products.
Students will make objects, draw on computers, create models and prototypes of products, market their ideas and learn about current designers and design ideas. They will be encouraged to take part in the current world of design and become informed consumers.
Product Design | Textiles**
Textile articles may be viewed as the products of technology, as cultural symbols, as works of art, or as items of trade. Students apply creative and practical techniques to develop both hand and machine sewing skills and embellishing techniques through the production of innovative textile items.
Students specifically focus on preferred futures, taking into account ethics, social values, economic, environmental and social sustainability factors and using strategies such as life cycle thinking. Using a range of textile technologies including a variety of graphical representation techniques to communicate, students generate and clarify ideas through sketching and annotated concept sketches.
They develop plans to manage design tasks, including safe and responsible use of materials and tools, to successfully complete design tasks. Students establish safety procedures that minimise risk and manage a project with safety and efficiency in mind when making designed solutions.
Systems Engineering**
Alternative energies, mechanical engineering and controlling integrated electrical and digital systems is a growth industry in our modern society. In this elective, students have the opportunity to either design and develop a model solar vehicle to compete in a national solar competition or utilise Lego Mindstorms with a range of input sensors to develop and code autonomous robots that will negotiate a dynamic course.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the design and evaluation process and analyse how motion, force, coding and alternative energies are used to manipulate and control electromechanical systems. Students apply project management skills to document and manage production processes. They independently and safely produce effective designed solutions for the intended purpose whilst demonstrating lateral thinking and developing new skills related to the correct use of tools, equipment and construction techniques.
Visual Communication Design**
The way people consume their information is changing dramatically each and every day. With branding, marketing, packaging, and promotional material, and the rise in visual mediums such as blogging, livetweeting, and print media, the way you connect with and reach an audience is ever changing. Visual Communication Design (VCD) examines the way visual language can be used to convey ideas, information and messages. We all reside in a built environment, how we relate to and take enjoyment from these spaces, from buildings to open spaces is defined by Architecture. It is a creative and exciting design-based skill that combines art, science and technology with business, social and environmental concerns. Students develop the skills to manipulate and organise design elements, design principles, in selected media and materials. Creative, critical and reflective thinking supports students to progress through and focus on the design process.
Visual Communication Design relies on drawing as the primary component of visual language to support the conception and visualisation of ideas. Students generate and represent original ideas in two and three-dimensional representations using a range of technical skills. They produce illustrated, and rendered views, and use graphic visualisation software for dynamic design solutions. Areas of study may include; architecture, brand identification, marketing and promotional materials.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Digital Technologies**
Enter the ‘game lab’ where you will actively engage in exploring, experimenting and innovating with all aspects of game development using GB Studio or Godot. Students will explore problem solving, design and coding in an environment that requires initiative, self-management and strong problem-solving skills.
In today’s digital world, individuals are increasingly required to understand how digital systems work and to apply this knowledge to new and challenging situations. Employers seek people with skills and dispositions for communicating and collaborating effectively in a creative team. Critical analysis, creativity and innovation are highly prized. The ‘game lab’ is a fertile environment for growing these skills. Students will need to work together and draw on analyses of data and model games to develop skills and produce a game concept with a compelling narrative, engaging media elements and logical computer code.
In this elective, students will develop the essential skills and knowledge to be capable of working with a team to design, prototype, test, produce and share an original video game. Students may take this elective a second time as “additional study” where they will further build their existing skills and focus more closely on bringing their own game concept to life.
The Editorial
There are stories all around us, just waiting to be told. This dynamic subject allows students the opportunity to tell stories in ways that capture and captivate readers.
Students will learn about, and experiment with, all elements of story-telling, from selecting subject matter, to research and interview skills, to writing and editing, creating and manipulating visual mediums (including photography), and publishing.
Students will work on the creation of individual stories as well as working collaboratively through the editing process, with opportunities to publish work to authentic audiences.
HUMANITIES
Geography
The beautiful beaches and spectacular scenery along the Victorian coastline have attracted both permanent populations and a growing number of national and international tourists. Through case studies of the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road, students will investigate the changing characteristics of coastal environments and predict the challenges such locations will face in the future. They consider the impacts of urban sprawl, as the growth of townships put increasing pressure on natural resources, infrastructure and biodiversity.
A two-day fieldtrip along the Great Ocean Road provides students with an opportunity to apply a range of geographical skills including data collection and the use of spatial technologies.
This elective aims to provide students with a pathway into VCE Geography and, more generally, a greater understanding of some of the economic, social and environmental challenges facing human populations. This is a preferred elective for students wishing to undertake VCE Geography Units 1 and 2 as an accelerated subject in Year 10.
Law and Order
In this elective, students will investigate a range of case studies in both criminal and civil law. They will have the opportunity to discuss, reflect and debate in class the reasoning behind the laws made to protect and serve our community. Students conduct research to analyse the facts and judgements behind some of Australia’s most well-known court cases. They will also examine the ways political parties, interest groups, media and individuals influence government and decision-making processes.
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Australia’s Health
Students explore the health and wellbeing of Australians. The course focuses on two main areas, the first being the way in which Australia’s youth experience health. This involves exploring the physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions of health in detail.
The second focus area looks at factors influencing health which includes biological, sociocultural, lifestyle and environmental factors. Students gain an appreciation for total health and wellbeing and are able to make comparisons of Australia and other countries.
This is a theory-based course and is a preferred elective if students are considering undertaking VCE Unit 1 & 2 in Health and Human Development in Year 10.
Principles of Training
Students develop a theoretical understanding of how the body functions and how it responds to training. This elective is broken up into a theory and practical component. In the ‘theory’ class, students will be introduced to topics such as energy systems, anatomy, fitness components, training methods and key principles of effective training.
During the ‘practical’ class, students complete a range of fitness tests and participate in various training methods to appreciate the training principles that can be implemented to alter physical performance.
This is a preferred elective if students are considering undertaking VCE Units 1 & 2 VCE Physical Education in Year 10.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Outdoor and Environmental Studies $
In Outdoor and Environmental Studies, students utilise our local coastal environment as a means to develop confidence in the surf, investigate surf forecasting, study environmental impacts and ways to manage these sustainably into the future. Through a combination of classroom-based activities, and weekly experiential learning opportunities, students will investigate threats and propose ways to better manage these ecosystems for future generations. Regular surfing sessions will facilitate a rich and authentic means for students to connect with the outdoors, reflect on their skill development and gain a practical understanding of local surf conditions, hazards and risks associated with open water. These sessions will also allow students to develop their board handling skills regardless of whether they have any prior experience in surf. Students will use their new knowledge of the environment to identify and propose solutions to environmental and social problems.
Subject levy: $100
GEOS | The Prom $
Natural and urban environments are under pressure from an expanding human population. This elective blends the concepts of Geography and Outdoor Education, focusing on environmental sustainability. Through a combination of classroom-based activities, geographical investigation and practical outdoor experiences, students will examine the key factors that threaten the sustainability of Wilsons Promontory. They will consider the impacts of such change and the future strategies needed to manage change, including the preservation of natural spaces. This unit involves a 3-day hiking trip to the prestigious and picturesque Wilsons Promontory National Park. Here, students will be able to test their own abilities, experience an ‘untouched’ part of the world and develop opinions and ideas about the content learnt back in the classroom. *Please be aware that trips could depart on Sundays and if Wilsons Promontory tracks are closed the Great Ocean Walk will be utilised as an alternative.
Subject levy: $400
Marine Studies $
Snorkelling or Rock Pools
In Marine Studies students will investigate local and global marine issues, environments and their biological workings. Students will engage with a variety of different marine ecosystems through a range of hand-on activities (snorkelling is water based and term 1 & 4 and rock pool investigations is land based in term 2 & 3) to help them make real world connections and develop practical skills. These weekly practical field-based experiences will be complimented with reflective practice and project work. Students will develop knowledge of marine biodiversity, ecosystems and marine adaptations to investigate and understand global marine issues and their local impacts. Students will choose a specific line of questioning that engages them and investigate how these issues shape our contemporary lives. Students will participate in a peak experience (a swim with the dolphins) that draws on practical skills developed throughout year 8 and 9, this will also allow further opportunities to apply real world observations to theory.
Subject levy: $280
Year 9 Subject Selection Worksheet
Language Notes Tick
Indonesian
Japanese
Worldview
Electives Rank 1-12 Additional Study
Drama**
Media**
Music**
Art Making and Exhibiting**
Digital Technologies**
Food Studies**
Product Design - Materials**
Product Design - Textiles**
Systems Engineering**
Visual Communication Design**
The Editorial Geography
Law and Order
Australia’s Health
Principles of Training
Outdoor & Environmental Studies
GEOS - The Prom
Marine Studies - Snorkeling
Marine Studies - Rock Pools