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Teaching & Learning at Mount Erin

VISION:

At Mount Erin College, our vision is to promote a consistent and collaborative whole-school approach to teaching and learning by developing and maintaining high-quality programs that ensure all members of the learning community maximise their growth potential.

MISSION: 

Mount Erin College aims to use educational best practice and evidence based contextual research to provide a collaborative, supportive and respectful learning environment for all members of the teaching and learning community. 

Our whole school instructional model aims to facilitate high quality learning outcomes for students and provide a framework for staff to deliver excellence in teaching strategies.

We value developing a growth mindset and personalised learning. This enables students to progress along the learning continuum, using feedback to set their own learning goals.

PHILOSOPHY: 

We believe that learning is our priority. All learners in our learning community:

  • Can learn and achieve their personal best
  • Use feedback to improve
  • Will take an active role in their learning
  • Find value in their learning
  • Can learn about themselves and the world, independently and collaboratively

ENGLISH

English at Mount Erin

VISION:

To develop the Mount Erin community’s skills so that they can use language to communicate effectively. We aspire to literary improvements and personalised learning that is relevant and provides skills for lifelong learning.

MISSION:

From our teaching and learning, we hope to enable all students to be successful in their chosen pathways within the English curriculum. We recognise the importance of helping young people develop the knowledge and skills needed for education, training and the workplace. We aim to create confident communicators, imaginative thinkers and informed citizens.

PHILOSOPHY:

The teaching of English at Mount Erin College is underpinned by the ASPIRE values. Teachers plan to use explicit teaching strategies to personalise learning for each student. Through a comprehensive and engaging curriculum, we will work to encourage highly literate, confident and effective language users. Teachers work with students to develop not only their ability to read, listen to, view, speak, write and create a range of texts, but to encourage an appreciation and enjoyment for the English language in all its variations.

English Areas of Study

Students in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 will undertake studies in the following areas: 

Text Study and Analysis Persuasive Language Creative Response Comparative Text Study

Students are expected to study a variety of texts that include novels, short stories, poetry, persuasive texts, visual texts such as films, images, graphs and drawings, and texts from a variety of genres and styles. Students undertake supported independent study using the Reading Plus Program and participate in a Weekly Homework Program targeting Writing and Spelling.

Students in Year 10 will undertake studies in one of the following compulsory areas:

English English Enhancement

In both areas students will undertake a course that prepares them for VCE English in the following areas:

Text Study and Analysis Persuasive Language Creative Response Comparative Text Study Analysing Argument

Students may also elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Introduction to Literature Film Studies

Students in VCE must study the following:

English Unit 1 & 2 English Unit 3 & 4

Students may also elect to undertake the following:

Literature Unit 1 & 2 Literature Unit 3 & 4

MATHS

Maths at Mount Erin

Vision:
To enable the Mount Erin community to use mathematical knowledge to understand the natural world and society to A.S.P.I.R.E to be effective members of the community beyond their expectations.

Mission:
To enable students to achieve understanding of mathematical concepts and skills beyond
their expectations and for students to demonstrate:
Junior: growth (i.e new learning) in mathematics of between one to one and a half years for one year of work.
Senior: achieve at or above their predicted result in at least one VCE Mathematics study.

Philosophy:
The learning of mathematics at Mount Erin College is based on a growth mindset (Dweck, 2006) and mastery learning philosophy which places the student at the centre and in control of their learning. Both teachers and students are aware of the individual ‘point of need’ and where each student is along the mathematics learning continuum. Teachers assist students to identify the ‘gaps’ in their mathematical knowledge and improve the students’ understanding and skills to close the ‘gaps’. Teachers work with students to build new mathematical knowledge and develop students’ skills along the mathematics learning continuum. There are three types of lesson styles used in lessons to ensure
students show growth beyond their own expectations.

Maths Areas of Study

Students in Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 will undertake studies in the following areas: 

Measurement & Geometry Number & Algebra Statistics & Probability

Students are expected to study all three areas as prescribed by the Victorian Curriculum. Student experience individual and group work, project based investigations, problem solving tasks, rich learning tasks, internet based learning and small focus groups all aimed at improving numeracy skills and knowledge.

Students in VCE are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

General Maths Further Maths Math Methods Specialist Maths

Students can apply to accelerate early into a VCE subject through the college’s extensive Subject Selection and Course Counselling process.

SCIENCE

Science at Mount Erin

Vision: 

The Mount Erin College Science Program aims to provide an approach to learning that engages students physically and cognitively in a rich and rigorous inquiry-driven laboratory program where students operate as “Student-Scientists.” The primary goal of the program is to develop substantive science literacy in all students. The program must provide students with opportunities to expand, change, enhance, and modify the ways in which they view the world. Teachers facilitate an environment that promotes students’ thinking, honesty, curiosity, and questioning. Students will be empowered to express and share points of view, solve problems, and make decisions based on evidence.

Mission: 

The curriculum shall provide a flexible program for the acquisition of knowledge and utilization of the scientific processes appropriate to the level of the student. The science curriculum and instruction presented to students in science classes will be differentiated to provide appropriate rigor and challenge for all learners. Teachers may tailor the depth to which students pursue solutions to these driving questions in order to meet the unique needs of the students in their classes. For example, students enrolled in SEAL science classes will participate in a program that has a level of rigor and challenge appropriate for high ability learners. Other students may require instruction on content and skills that specifically addresses their learning needs. The ultimate goal is to guide all students to intelligent decision-making through the assimilation of scientific knowledge and the application of scientific inquiry.

Philosophy: 

Science provides an empirical way of answering interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and technological world. The knowledge it produces has proved to be a reliable basis for action in our personal, social and economic lives. Science is a dynamic, collaborative and creative human endeavour arising from our desire to make sense of our world through exploring the unknown, investigating universal mysteries, making predictions and solving problems. Science aims to understand a large number of observations in terms of a much smaller number of broad principles. Science knowledge is contestable and is revised, refined and extended as new evidence arises.

Science provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of important science concepts and processes, the practices used to develop scientific knowledge, of science’s contribution to our culture and society, and its applications in our lives. The curriculum supports students to develop the scientific knowledge, understandings and skills to make informed decisions about local, national and global issues and to participate, if they so wish, in science-related careers.

In addition to its practical applications, learning science is a valuable pursuit in its own right. Students can experience the joy of scientific discovery and nurture their natural curiosity about the world around them. In doing this, they develop critical and creative thinking skills and challenge themselves to identify questions and draw evidence-based conclusions using scientific methods. The wider benefits of this ‘scientific literacy’ are well established, including giving students the capability to investigate the natural world and changes made to it through human activity.

The ability to think and act in scientific ways helps build the broader suite of capabilities in students as confident, self-motivated and active members of our society.

Science Areas of Study

Students in Year 7, Year 8, and Year 9 will undertake studies in the following areas of Science: 

Science Understanding Science Inquiry Skills

Students are expected to study both areas as prescribed by the Victorian Curriculum.

Students in Year 9 are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Forensic Science Marine Biology

Students in Year 10 will undertake studies in one of the following compulsory areas:

Science Science Enhancement

Students in VCE are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Biology Chemistry Physics Psychology

Students can apply to accelerate early into a VCE subject through the college’s extensive Subject Selection and Course Counselling process.

HUMANITIES

Humanities at Mount Erin

VISION:

The aim of the Humanities Domain is to engender in our students a passion for learning and a curiosity about the world they live in. Through the various strands of Humanities, we help students explore the complexities of what it means to be human over time and in different settings and the impact they have on the world and the world has on them.

MISSION:

To enable students to achieve understanding of Humanities concepts and skills beyond their initial comprehension and expectations.

  • Junior: growth in Humanities in each of the areas of Humanities teaching and an understanding of the breadth of the Humanities area – History, Geography, Commerce Civics
  • Senior: achieve at or above their predicted result in at least one (two) VCE Humanities study.

PHILOSOPHY:

The experience of Humanities at Mount Erin College is based on the idea that students must understand the impact people have on the world in a physical, social and economic sense. In order to do this students must develop skills in asking and answering questions to bring a better knowledge of both the problems faced by people at an individual level as well as at a community and societal level.

Teachers offer opportunities for students to discover new knowledge and to ask questions of accepted understandings. This allows students to grow their understanding and abilities to think for themselves and defend their opinions.

Humanities Areas of Study

Students in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 will undertake studies in the following areas: 

Civics & Citizenship History Geography Economics & Business

Students are expected to study all four areas as prescribed by the Victorian Curriculum.

Students in Year 10 will undertake studies in one of the following compulsory areas:

Humanities Humanities Enhancement

Over the course of the year students will select at least one or more of the following electives:

Accounting Business Management Geography
History Legal Studies Sociology

Students in VCE are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Accounting Business Management Geography
History Legal Studies Sociology

Students can apply to accelerate early into a VCE subject through the college’s extensive Subject Selection and Course Counselling process.

HEALTH & PE

Health & PE at Mount Erin

Vision
To enable the Mount Erin community to use Physical Education and Health knowledge to understand the context of physical activity to benefit overall health.

Mission

To develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to enable students to

  • access, evaluate and synthesise information to take positive action to protect, enhance and advocate for their own and others’ health, wellbeing, safety and physical activity participation across their lifespan
  • develop and use personal, behavioural, social and cognitive skills and strategies to promote a sense of personal identity and wellbeing and to build and manage respectful relationships

Philosophy

In Health and Physical Education at Mount Erin College, students develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to strengthen their sense of self, and build and manage satisfying relationships. The curriculum helps them to be resilient, and to make decisions and take actions to promote their health, safety and physical activity participation. As students mature, they develop and use critical inquiry skills to research and analyse the knowledge of the field and to understand the influences on their own and others’ health, safety and wellbeing. They also learn to use resources for the benefit of themselves and for the communities with which they identify and to which they belong.

Health & PE Areas of Study

Students in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 will undertake studies in the following areas: 

Personal Social Community Health Movement & Physical Activity

Students are expected to study all four areas as prescribed by the Victorian Curriculum. Student experience individual and group work, project based investigations, problem solving tasks, rich learning tasks, internet based learning and small focus groups all aimed at improving numeracy skills and knowledge.

Students in Year 9 are able to elect to undertake studies in the following units:

Coaching for Advanced Performance First Aid Program Sport and Exercise Science Outdoor Recreation

Students in Year 10 must undertake studies in at least one of the following units:

Fitness Training Sport and Nutrition Women in Sport VCE Physical Education

Students in VCE are able to elect to undertake studies in the following units:

Health and Human Development Physical Education Sport and Recreation (VET)

Students can apply to accelerate early into a VCE subject through the college’s extensive Subject Selection and Course Counselling process.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology at Mount Erin

VISION:

The Technology Domain will give all students the opportunity to experience different areas to explore investigating, designing, producing and evaluating in a range of contexts. This will enable students to be global citizens and effective members of our community.

MISSION: 

To enable students to achieve understanding of Technological concepts and practical skills beyond their expectations and for students to demonstrate:

Junior: To give all students the opportunity to participate in a range of different technological areas. Students will be able to learn technical skills and apply their knowledge in a range of practical and theoretical applications.

Senior: Students will be able to select to continue to develop their technological skills. This will enable them to expand their technological knowledge and further build their practical skills. This will enable them to develop lifelong skills and also enable them to select career pathways.

PHILOSOPHY:

Technology is an essential tool for the future. Technology is necessary for a well-rounded 21st century education. The learning at Mount Erin College is to equip the student to develop their skills to enable them to be a well-rounded 21st century citizen. At Mount Erin College we engage the students using a range of tools to develop their practical skills and knowledge. The students will be challenged to think independently, use the knowledge and skills learnt to allow them to grow to their full potential.

Technology Areas of Study

Students in Year 7 and Year 8 will undertake studies in the following areas: 

Technology (woodwork and metalwork) Food Technology

Students in Year 9 are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Algorithms & Programming Building & Construction for Beginners Design & Technology
Food Around the World Food for Fun Food for Fun 21st Century of Electronics and Design
Microcontroller Technology (Picaxe) The Internet Woodwork

Students in Year 10 are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Food Around the World Food by Design Product Design and Technology
Pre-VCE Systems Engineering/VET Electro-Technology Certificate II in Building and Construction (Carpentry) Pre-apprenticeship Woodwork

Students in VCE are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Food Studies Product Design and Technology Systems Engineering
VET Electrotechnology Certificate II in Building and Construction (Carpentry) Pre-apprenticeship

Students can apply to accelerate early into a VCE subject through the college’s extensive Subject Selection and Course Counselling process.

ART

Art at Mount Erin

VISION:

At Mount Erin College the Arts enable students to develop their creative and expressive capacities by learning about the different practices, disciplines and traditions that have shaped the expression of culture locally, nationally and globally. Students are both artist and audience in the Arts. They make and respond and learn to appreciate the specific ways this occurs in different disciplines.

MISSION:

To enable students to use creative approaches in a variety of settings to further develop an understanding of the arts in different cultures and time periods. To give students the opportunity to be involved in the art making processes as well as in presenting their work to the wider community of the school. Also to further students’ confidence as they work towards specific areas of study in the VCE level.

PHILOSOPHY:

To allow students the opportunity to be involved in a broad and vibrant faculty that values different and new ideas. Within this faculty each student will have the opportunity to further develop confidence in a wide variety of the arts. We aim to cater for all students to foster growth in expression of ideas, as well as being an active participate in viewing the arts from different cultures and time periods.

Art Areas of Study

Students in Year 7 and Year 8 will undertake studies in the following areas: 

Art Drama
3D Art Art & Design

Students in Year 9 are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Ceramics Drama – Acting and Character Drama – Theatre Making Drawing and Illustration
General Art Photomedia Visual Communication

Students in Year 10 are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Digital Photgraphy Drama Drama – Introduction to Theatre Studies General Art
The History of Art Media Visual Communication

Students in VCE are able to elect to undertake studies in the following areas:

Art Drama Media
Studio Arts Theatre Studies Visual Communication

Students can apply to accelerate early into a VCE subject through the college’s extensive Subject Selection and Course Counselling process.

LOTE

LOTE at Mount Erin

VISION:

The aim of the Indonesian Department is to develop in our students a passion for learning and an interest in the languages and cultures other than their own, in particular naturally, the language and culture of Indonesia, our neighbour.

MISSION:

The aim of the Indonesian department is to engage students in the classroom so that they can:

  • use Indonesian to communicate with others;
  • understand and appreciate the cultural contexts in which Indonesian is used;
  • understand their own culture(s) through the study of other cultures;
  • understand language as a system;
  • make connections between Indonesian and English, and/or other languages;

PHILOSOPHY:

The study of Indonesian at Mount Erin College is based on:

  • The firm belief that the study of a language other than English contributes to the overall education of students, most particularly in the area of communication, but also in areas such as cognitive development, literacy and general knowledge
  • the knowledge that we are all part of a global community and as such should be equipped with some cross-cultural understanding
  • That in our global community both the similarities and differences of others should be respected and celebrated;
  • the belief that students and teachers will work together so that all students can achieve their own personal best

LOTE Areas of Study

Students in Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 will undertake studies in the following areas of Indonesian: 

Communicating Understanding

Students are expected to study all four areas as prescribed by the Victorian Curriculum. Student experience a range of activities designed to immerse them in the culture of Indonesia as well as develop skills and knowledge in socialising, informing, creating, translating, and reflecting on the use of language.

Students in Year 11 and 12 will undertake studies in the following areas:

Indonesian Unit 1 & 2 Indonesian Unit 3 & 4

Students can apply to accelerate early into a VCE subject through the college’s extensive Subject Selection and Course Counselling process.

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