Students experience the full breadth of the Victorian Curriculum in Year 7 with some limited choice.

• The Religious Education learning program follows the curriculum structure set by the Diocese of Sale.
• There is a significant focus on literacy and numeracy with additional class time for English and Mathematics.
• Students are allocated classes from a range of introductory subjects from the Arts and Technology Learning Areas to allow them to experience the expectation of subjects in these learning areas.
• Students study Music for half a year and Digital Technologies for half a year. Students study an instrument and participate in an ensemble as part of Music.
• Students choose a language to study in Year 7, they will continue with this subject in Year 8.
• The Individual Support Program is available for students who require their learning program to be adjusted to support them with literacy intervention or general program support.
• Numeracy intervention is offered through the mathematics learning program.
• Students participate in Camp in Year 7 to help them with the transition process.

Year 7 - Religious Education

In Year 7 Religious Education, students are welcomed as members of a Catholic community. “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) – our college mission calls us to come to know Jesus as the model of discipleship and the way to God. Through a variety of topics, students explore beliefs and traditions of the Catholic faith and its role in the world – past, present, and future. They engage with other religious perspectives and use their own beliefs and ideas to make meaning for themselves.

Future Directions
Students continue to study Religious Education as a Core Subject in Year 8. They also have the potential to enrol in elective courses: Youth Ministry or Cantabile.

Year 7 - English

The study of English is central to the learning and development of all young Australians. It helps create confident communicators, imaginative thinkers, and informed citizens. It is through the study of English that individuals learn to analyse, understand, communicate, and build relationships with others and with the world around them. The study of English helps young people develop the knowledge and skills needed for education, training, and the workplace. In Year 7 English, students study a variety of different text types throughout the two semesters. Students create a range of imaginative, informative, and persuasive writing pieces. These may include narratives, procedures, performances, presentations, and reports. Students are encouraged to read a variety of texts including non-fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, and historical genres. Key learning areas in English include the modes of ‘Reading and Viewing,’ ‘Writing,’ and ‘Speaking and Listening,’ as well as the strands of language, literature, and literacy.

Future Directions
Core English Year 8 and 9, Literature Enrichment Program.

Year 7 - Mathematics

Year 7 students continue to develop and consolidate their numeracy skills across a range of mathematical concepts from the Victorian Curriculum. Students engage with key Year 7 Mathematical concepts while also addressing gaps in their understanding through differentiated learning approaches. Students are provided with varied opportunities to build confidence and become creative, capable, and effective communicators of Mathematics.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 Mathematics. Students who demonstrate capacity, may be invited into Advanced Mathematics

Year 7 - Science

During Year 7 Science students understand how new evidence can change scientific knowledge. They discuss how diverse teams develop scientific knowledge and consider ethical, environmental, social, and economic factors in scientific responses to issues. They analyse the role of science communication in shaping viewpoints and policies.

Students explain biological diversity and represent matter and energy flows in ecosystems and predict environmental changes. They use particle and kinetic theories to explain substances, distinguish between pure substances and mixtures, and design separation procedures. They model Earth-Sun-Moon cycles to explain seasons and tides and demonstrate simple machines and forces. Students develop hypotheses, plan investigations, and consider ethical issues. They use precise equipment, organize data, and identify patterns and errors. They provide science-based explanations, support conclusions with evidence, and communicate findings effectively.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 Science.

Year 7 - Health and Physical Education

In Year 7 Health and Physical Education, students take part in a wide range of activities designed to build fundamental movement skills, including strength balance, coordination and teamwork. The program aims to improve students’ fitness, confidence, and positive participation in physical activity while encouraging respectful behaviour and good sportsmanship. Students will participate in a variety of sports and activities, including Netball, T-ball, Soccer, AFL, Minor Games, Volleyball, Cricket and Fitness. Throughout the year, students will also explore a range of health topics and investigate current local, national, and global issues during theory lessons, helping them develop knowledge and skills to support healthy and active lifestyles. Topics studied include bullying, respectful relationships, making healthy decisions, and the importance of water and sun safety.

Future Directions
Successful completion of Year 7 Health and Physical Education can lead to the Basketball or the Sports Enrichment Program classes in Year 8.

Year 7 - Humanities

Students study a Humanities program that consists of Geography, Economics and Business, Civics and Citizenship, and History. This combination of subjects will challenge students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to question, understand and contribute to the world in which they live.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 Humanities and consider a Humanities elective such as the Year 8/9 Enrichment Program.

Year 7 - Arts: Music (compulsory)

Students develop skills to create, rehearse and perform music in both a solo and ensemble setting, as well as develop an understanding of the various elements of music and how to manipulate them to create their own compositions. Students develop a vocabulary of music-specific terminology which they can utilise in the analysis and evaluation of various musical performances.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation to proceed to Year 8 Music.

Year 7 - Digital Technologies (compulsory)

Year 7 Digital Technologies course introduces students to the foundations of digital systems, programming, data, and cybersecurity. Through hands-on learning with the BBC Micro:bit, students design and code interactive systems using inputs, outputs, and simple algorithms. Students are introduced to networking fundamentals, including how data is transmitted between devices, how protocols enable communication, and how data is kept secure through techniques like encryption. They investigate cybersecurity threats such as phishing and learn how to protect themselves using tools such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and secure passwords.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 Data & Computing or to apply for the STEM Enrichment Program.

Year 7 - Languages: Japanese

This subject covers the study of the Japanese language. It focuses on the development of basic vocabulary, sentence patterns and alphabets. Through the study of Japanese language, students develop their skills in oral and aural language, reading and writing. Students also develop their ability to analyse and interpret comprehension tasks relating to themselves and others around them.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 Japanese.

Year 7 - Languages: Spanish

Spanish is spoken by approximately 500 million people across the world. Spanish is a Romance language, derived from Latin, and so has many connections with English. Knowledge of Spanish can facilitate the learning of other languages from the Romance family, such as Italian, French, Portuguese, and Catalan. In Year 7, students are introduced to the foundations of Spanish language. They learn to greet others and develop their confidence in holding introductory conversations. Students begin to understand and apply the rules of Spanish grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. They are introduced to key grammar concepts such as gender/number agreement and word order.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of Year 7 Spanish gives students a sound foundation to proceed to Year 8 Spanish.

Year 7 - Arts: Drama

This course introduces students to Drama and the fundamental skills required for the creation and presentation of performances. Students will develop their collaborative skills, working in groups to devise and perform original or scripted works, focusing on expressive skills, performance skills and character development. Students will view professional works and develop their literacy skills in the process of analysing, evaluating and describing the performances.

Students may be allocated this subject in Year 7. Not all students will complete this study.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 Drama.

Year 7 - Arts: Art and Design

In Year 7 Art and Design, students explore a variety of media, materials and processes including rendering, watercolour painting and design drawing. They learn to identify and apply the Elements and Principles and explore how messages are sent through artworks and communication design. Students generate and develop design ideas in response to a brief and present a final design solution.

Students may be allocated this subject in Year 7. Not all students will complete this study.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 8 or 9 Visual Arts and/or Visual Communication Design or to apply for the Visual Arts Enrichment Program.

Year 7/8 - Design Technology: Food Studies

Food studies introduces students to the life skills specific to the preparation and production of food products based upon the healthy eating food models recommended by the Australian Government. Students develop a sense of pride, satisfaction and enjoyment from their ability to create food products.

This subject may be allocated to a student in Year 7 or selected at Year 8. Students study this subject with their year level.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Year 9 Food Studies.

Year 7/8 - Design Technology: Textiles

Textiles teaches students design and fabric construction skills. By following the design process, students apply their newly learned hand and machine sewing skills in a creative manner to produce a textile item. Students will complete theory components to familiarise them with textiles terminology and an understanding of how textiles are used in everyday living situations.

This subject may be allocated to a student in Year 7 or selected at Year 8. Students study this subject with their year level.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Design Technology: Textiles in Year 9.

Year 7/8 - Design Technology: Materials Technology

In this subject, students will learn about working safely in a workshop using different tools and machinery. They will be introduced to the ‘Design Process’ and use these skills to create a product using a range of timber and plastic materials.

Students learn about safe workshop practices and the safe use of a range of hand tools and powered machinery. This understanding is reinforced through the successful completion of various safety exercises, tests, and production tasks.

Students are introduced to the design process and work within the constraint of a design brief to develop two and three-dimensional designs. Students follow a logical sequence of production processes and learn to manufacture a product of their own design. They are also expected to analyse and evaluate their finished products for performance, function, and appearance.

This subject may be allocated to a student in Year 7 or Year 8. The project processes are modified for Year 7 to exclude the use of hand-held power tools.

Future Directions
Satisfactory completion of this subject will provide a sound foundation for students to proceed to Design Technology: Materials Technology in Year 9.

Year 7/8 - Design Technology: Horticulture

Food and fibre are the human-produced or harvested resources used to sustain life. They are produced in managed environments such as farms, gardens and plantations or harvested from wild populations. Challenges for world food and fibre production include an increasing world population and an uncertain climate, and competition for resources such as land and water. These pose ethical challenges, for example in relation to economic, environmental and social sustainability.

In Horticulture, students have opportunities to engage in these challenges by understanding the processes of food and fibre production, and by investigating innovative and ethical, including sustainable, ways of supplying agriculturally produced raw materials. They progressively develop knowledge and understanding about the managed systems that produce food and fibre by creating designed solutions.

This subject may be allocated to a student in Year 7 or selected at Year 8. Students study this subject with their year level.

Future Directions
Students may go on to study Horticulture at Year 9.