Learning Philosophy
At St Helena the purpose of all learning is to produce students who thrive and are fulfilled at each life stage so they can excel and continually realise their potential.
We believe the best learning conditions are created for students by our:
- safe, nurturing environment
- positive teacher/student relationships
- structures, routines, policies and processes
- broad ranging opportunities
- contemporary facilities and access to a range of current digital tools and technologies
- values and wellbeing education
Junior School
Curriculum
English
Mathematics
Science
Humanities: History, Geography
Health and Physical Education
Italian
Music, Drama
Food Technology, Design and Technology
Art
IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG…..
for our newest students to appreciate what an exciting learning journey is ahead of them at St Helena.
Year 7 students are welcomed through a comprehensive transition program that begins well before day 1 and extends into the year of commencement. Experiencing the supportive, inclusive environment, discovering what to expect, understanding the routines and processes, being assigned to a House, learning about the great range of opportunities on offer, and meeting caring staff and friendly peers all makes for a positive, happy start.
Our Year 7 students primarily occupy a discrete physical space on the campus. This provides an ideal context for their learning and development as a cohesive, cooperative cohort. They are supported by a dedicated team of Junior School managers and STRIVE teachers (two per form).
Students and teachers work together to create the safe spaces and learning conditions that promote holistic growth and optimise outcomes for everyone. Integral to this is explicit positive education input and expert attention to individual learning needs.
The relevant, engaging and rigorous curriculum inspires success in all its forms. At St Helena, excelling is all about achieving your personal best. Understanding that, makes daring to achieve big things not just possible, but the norm. Our regular celebration of learning progress has fostered a culture in which, according to our students, it’s genuinely ‘cool to be clever’.
It’s in this first year of secondary college that students begin to engage with the possibilities for their future learning. Through STRIVE, students complete step 1 of their Career Action Plan. The ‘I Discover’ curriculum helps students discover their strengths and talents.
Middle School
Year 8-9
The learning and developmental needs of Years 8 and 9 students are addressed in the Middle School through the curriculum, co-curriculum and wellbeing programs.
The breadth and depth of opportunities in and beyond the classroom facilitate multiple expressions of excellence.
A core curriculum continues to provide a rich and balanced learning program for Year 8 students. The Sydney Tour, offered annually in September, complements the personal and academic growth agenda. Tour activities are linked to English and Humanities studies.
The addition of electives to the core curriculum at Year 9 provides access to the range of pathways offered in the Senior School.
All Year 9 Students undertake R3: Responsibility, Relevance and Relationships
This full year subject involves students in age appropriate, relevant projects that foster resourceful, reflective, resilient and independent learners. Integral to this program is a community service component.
Students can also apply for a place in The Outer Edge (TOE), an optional full year outdoor education program that incorporates completion of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
Students in the Accelerated Curriculum and Enrichment (ACE) Program study the same subjects but at an accelerated pace and in greater depth.
The ‘I Explore’ and ‘I Focus’ steps of the Career Action Plan are also undertaken by Year 8 and 9 students respectively as part of the STRIVE program.
YEAR 8 CURRICULUM
English
Mathematics
Science
Humanities: History, Geography
Physical Education
Italian
Music, Drama
Food Technology, Design and Technology
Art
YEAR 9 CURRICULUM
English
Maths
Science
Humanities
R3
Health and PE
Electives
CHOOSE 4*
1 or more from Group 1: The Arts
1 or more from Group 2: Technology
1 or more from Group 3 Domains
* Italian is a full year subject, so is taken with 1 Arts elective in semester 1 and 1 Technology elective in semester 2.
Group 1 Electives: The Arts
Animation Café
Art in the 3rd Dimension
Fashion, Drawing and Illustration
Grand Design and Architecture
Music Legends of rock
Music Performance
Music Technology
Street Art and Design
The Artist’s Studio
Dance
Drama
Group 2 Electives: Technology
Create and Bake
Design it, Make it, Wear it
From Trees to Tables
Girls Fix Cars
Girls Design It and Build It
Micro-Electronics
Rev Heads
Rockets and Rocket Cars
The World of Food
Group 3 Electives: Domains
English – Beanbags and Books
Maths – Maths in Sport
Science – Animal Science, Aviation, Practical Chemistry
Italian – Music and Film, Travel and Culture, Regional Cuisine
Humanities – Geography of Terrorism, Managers and Manufacturers, Monsters and Maniacs,
Women in Power
Health and PE – Athlete Development Program (selected students only), Girls Lifestyles and Fitness,
The Ultimate Fitness Challenge
Info Tech – Build Your Own Apps, Digital Gaming
Group 1: Arts/Italian
Group 2: Technology/Italian or Additional elective
R 3 . Responsibility, Relevance and Relationships
Term 1
Theme
- My Identity
Content
- Developing understanding of identity; of self, others, the local and global community
- Explore: ancestry, cultural and national identities, personal qualities
Activities, Skill Development
- plan
- research
- present
outcomes
- Personal Project:
- What’s your story?
Term 2
Theme
- My Future
Content
- Reflect on skills, knowledge, interests and possible career paths
- Exposure to work options
- Visiting speakers
- Subject pathways expo
Activities, Skill Development
- teamwork
- collaboration
- research
- communication
outcomes
- Team Research Project
Semester 2
Theme
- My Community
Content
- City Experience
- CBD excursions
- City based research
- Community service
- Issues investigation: homelessness
Activities, Skill Development
- independence – travel
- interpersonal skills
- initiative
- citizenship
outcomes
- Community Learning Project
The Outer Edge (TOE)
- Students opting into this program must commit to a 1 hour after school class on Mondays.
- The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award involves completing a program of activities over four categories:
Service – to develop and encourage a sense of community spirit and responsibility to others
Skill – to encourage the development of personal interests and practical skills
Physical Recreation – to encourage participation in physical recreation and improvement in physical fitness and performance
Adventurous Journey – to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery
- The St Helena expeditions: 2 x 3-day camps in Term 4 – The Grampians, the Alpine National Park
- This program is subsidised by the Victorian Government.
Senior School
YEAR 10 Programs
Work Experience*
Ski Camp
Formal
YEAR 11 Program
Student Leaders Camp
Central Australia Tour
VCAL – Sailing Camp
Debutante Ball
YEAR 12 Program
Student Leaders Camp
Study Camp
Formal
Graduation
OPTIONAL FOR ALL
G’day USA
Italian Trip (bi-annual)
World Challenge (bi-annual)
NASA Camp
Performing Arts Tour
Band tour
Year 10-12
Senior students at St Helena are educated in a supportive and enriching environment.
Students are offered a range of pathways, subject choices and learning approaches that cater for their varied interests, needs and aspirations. Students work productively with their teachers and peers to succeed now and in the future.
In these years, our focus remains on the holistic development of students; their growth as confident, resilient, resourceful, autonomous, healthy and principled community members.
The positive result of having dared to excel is evident in our students’:
- outstanding academic results
- stellar performances – productions, music, drama and dance
- wide ranging sporting achievements
- Arts/Technology exhibits
- achievements in the commercial kitchen, the automation centre and any of our specialty technology centres.
Personal growth and skill development is further facilitated through our:
- Athlete Development Program
- International tours
- Camping and outdoor education programs
- Community service endeavours
- House traditions and events
- Student leadership structure.
Each student’s Career Action Plan develops further with progression through the ‘I Plan’, ‘I Decide’ and ‘I Apply’ steps facilitated through STRIVE. The incremental planning, decision making and application process ensures pathways are chosen intentionally, with a deep appreciation for where they lead and the learning/career opportunities they afford.
Compulsory
Year 10
Students have a number of pathway choices including the:
Standard Program
Early Start
Specialist Choice
Specific Requirement
Accelerated and Curriculum Enrichment Program
VCAL
Year 10
Standard Program
English or Flying Start English
Mathematics (several options)
Science, Science at Work or Flying Start Science
Humanities, Contemporary Humanities or Flying start Humanities
Four elective subjects
EARLY START
Create and Bake
Design it, Make it, Wear it
From Trees to Tables
Girls Fix Cars
Girls Design It and Build It
Micro-Electronics
Rev Heads
Rockets and Rocket Cars
The World of Food
SPECIALIST CHOICE
Standard Program plus Two VCE or VET subjects
No elective subjects
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
English
Mathematics
This is an individual program for specific students.
Entry is strictly in consultation with the Year 9 Manager
ACCELERATED AND CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT (ACE)
Flying Start English
Extension or Pre-Methods Mathematics
Flying Start Science
Flying Start Humanities
At least one VCE/VET subject with two electives or two VCE/VET subjects with no electives
The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is usually a two year course of study.
It is implemented and managed by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA).
All studies are organised into semester units. Units 1 and 2 are usually undertaken in Year 11 and Units 3 and 4 are usually undertaken in Year 12.At St Helena, students typically take 12 Units in Year 11 and a further 10 Units in Year 12.
VCAA stipulates enrolment in both Units 3 and 4 of a subject.Student performance in Units 3 and 4 is assessed by:
- School Assessed Coursework (SACs). These tasks are mainly completed in class time under teacher supervision. They are directly linked to classroom teaching programs.
- Externally set examinations
VCE STUDIES ON OFFER INCLUDE:
English: English, English Literature
Health and PE: Health and Human Development, Physical Education,VET Early Childhood Education, VET Sport and Recreation
Humanities: Accounting, Australian and Global Politics, Business Management, Economics Geography, History – 20th Century (Units 1 &2), History – Global Empires (Units 1 & 2), History – Revolutions (Units 3 & 4), Legal Studies, Philosophy
Info Tech: Information Technology, VET Information Technology
Maths: Foundation Maths, General Maths, Specialist Maths, Mathematics Methods
Languages: Italian
Science: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics, Psychology
Technology: Products Design – Wood/Metal, Plastics, Products Design – Textiles, Food Studies, Systems Engineering, VET Automotive, VET Building and Construction, VET Furniture, VET Hospitality
The Arts: Art, Dance (Units 3 & 4 only), Drama (Units 3 & 4 only), Media, Music Performance, Music Investigation (Units 3 & 4 only), Studio Arts – Photography, Theatre Studies, Visual Communication and Design, VET Dance
Our VCE Results
VCE Results
St Helena Secondary College’s VCE results are consistently excellent with impressive percentages of both girls and boys achieving at the highest levels.
Our students consistently rank above the State average, with median ATAR scores above 65 and median study scores of 31.
Approximately 55% of students achieve an ATAR of 60%+, placing them in the top 40% in the state.
When predicted results are compared with achieved results in each subject, our students, on average, gain 1.5 points above the expected subject score. This is attributed to the School’s rigorous academic culture.
A large number of students consistently achieve personal best VCE results.
Almost 100% of VCE students who apply for a tertiary place are offered courses of their choice.
State Awards
Premier’s Award
VCE Season of Excellence:
Include the following areas of study…
Top Arts
Top Class
Top Designs
Top Acts
Follow
Us
