Our vision is to empower learners to have a strong sense of self so that they have the capabilities to become active and engaged members of the community.
A strong self-concept and the courage to pursue
Year 9 and Year 10 are a time of social and emotional change and is a defining period of growth in a student’s learning journey. Having consolidated the basics in Junior School, students enter Middle School with a yearning for increasing independence and influence.
Our Year 9 program is defined by exploration and inquiry, design thinking and real-world applications of learning, leadership, and community partnerships. Importantly, our Year 9 students will develop a strong self-concept together with the skills and aptitude required to pursue academic and vocational excellence.
Year 10 is a time for students to make important decisions about their career and study directions. Our Year 10 program provides students with opportunities to understand their strengths and make informed decisions about pathways into Senior School.
The Year 9 program consists of 6 core subjects, 4 semester-length electives, and 4 term-length MYSELF units.
Core Year 9 Subjects
- English / English as an Additional Language (EAL)
- Mathematics / Mathematics (Extension)
- Science Inquiry
- Health & Physical Education
- Humanities
- Future Ready
Year 9 Electives
Students select four different semester-length electives**
The Arts
- Media Arts
- Drama
- Music Performance
- Music Technology & Production
- 2D Art
- 3D Art
- Visual Communication & Design
Technologies
- Electronics
- Food Technology
- Woodwork
- Digital Technology
Languages
- Italian
- Chinese (Mandarin)
** If a student selects a Language then this is a year-long elective and takes the place of two elective slots.
The MYSELF program
The MYSELF program is unique to Doncaster Secondary College and provides a valuable opportunity for students to engage in leadership development and design thinking skills to positively contribute to the wider community.
Year 9 students will study four term-based MYSELF electives; one unit from the area of Leadership and three units from the area of Design Thinking.
MYSELF Electives
Students select one Leadership unit and three Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship & Community units**
Leadership
- My Future Leader
- My Peer Leader
- Duke of Edinburgh
Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship & Community
- My Animal
- My Business
- My City Planning
- My Coding
- My Fitness
- My Outdoor
- My Product Design
- My Urban Art
** If a student selects Duke of Edinburgh, then this takes place of two MYSELF electives (two terms).
Future Ready
In Year 9, the Future Ready unit is a careers education and pastoral care program that empowers students to explore career pathways and hone self-management and self-awareness skills. Students will develop a clear sense of purpose by identifying their strengths and interests, as well as gain an understanding of our senior school programs, educational pathways, and career opportunities.
In Year 10, students will study six subjects in semester 1 and six subjects in semester 2. English, Maths, Health and Physical Education (HPE) and Science are compulsory subjects. Science can be studied semester-length or year-length.
Unless a student has a particular area of interest, students are advised to select subjects from different groupings.
Core Year 10 Subjects
- English / English as an Additional Language (EAL) / English Language & Literature / Extension English
- Mathematics (General) or Mathematics (Extension)
- Science General (semester-length) or Science Extension (year-length)
- Health & Physical Education
Year 10 Electives
Art, Design & Technology
- 2D Art
- 3D Art
- Design & Technology – Electronics
- Design & Technology – Wood
- Drama
- Food Technology
- Introduction to Practical Coding
- Media Studies
- Music
- Visual Communication & Design
Humanities
- Economics and Business
- Geography
- History
- Philosophy
- The Law and You
Languages
- French
- Italian
- Mandarin
VCE Advancement
Year 9 students who are committed to their educational outcomes can apply to undertake a Unit 1 & 2 VCE Unit in Year 10. Completing a VCE subject in Year 10 requires a level of maturity and commitment and students seeking this opportunity will need to meet a range of criteria.
The benefits of completing a VCE Advancement provides practice to the demands of VCE assessment and an opportunity to take on a University Enhancement study in Year 12. However students must assess their ability to meet the increased workload and extending VCE studies over three years.
Careers Experience Week
During the last week of Term 2, our Year 10 students head out on their Careers Experience Week. The program is designed for students to develop key transferable skills and gain valuable experiences that assist them with making informed choices about their future.
Students are expected to make contact with employers to arrange their own placement however our College Careers Centre are on hand to provide support and encouragement to reach out to potential employers.
The Revive program
The Revive program is unique to Doncaster Secondary College and is a careers development and pastoral care program. Over the year, students will engage in Morrisby Profiling, careers and subject counselling, and opportunities to discover their values, preferences and skills. Each term our Year 10 students will enjoy a dedicated Revive Day where they come together as a cohort and focus on wellbeing activities.
