Here at Parlkarra District High School our teachers across all learning areas aim to set tasks that motivate and challenge our students in the classroom as well as encouraging students to take pride and be responsible for their work. Teachers embrace the diverse backgrounds of our students and work with them to meet their learning needs by using relevant resources. At Parlkarra it is our goal to help students become independent thinkers who are ready to face the challenges of the modern world. EnglishIn the English learning area, the main aim is to give the students the skills to be critical and creative thinkers (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012) as well as immersing students in the language process. With a focus on reading, writing, viewing speaking and listening, students will study English using a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts from Australia and the world, as well as media and drama texts. Maths
Mathematics is one of the key learning areas. The students undertake a wide variety of open ended tasks to achieve the outcomes. The objective of the Mathematics Department at Parlkarra DHS is to maximise every student’s ability in the fields of numeracy and the understanding and application of mathematical concepts.
There are several enrichment activities being led by the Mathematics Department including ‘Mathletics’, Maths Camp, after school revision classes and Tournament of Minds, all of which contribute to promoting engagement and achievement in mathematics (Newman Senior High School, 2012).
For the primary students, mathematics has seven 'clusters' of outcomes. The working Mathematically outcomes focus on how students think about mathematics and their ways of thinking and working within mathematics. They pervade the six 'clusters' of conceptual outcomes Number, Measurement,Chance and Data and Space (Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012). The upper school students are encouraged to become independent learners by being exposed to a wide range of real life learning contexts. The learning methods are quite flexible, for students to develop their mathematical skills in a variety of situations. Through the various curriculum strands as Chance and Data, Measurement, Number and Algebra and Space which are tied together by Working Mathematically, student develop mathematical literacy preparing for future study (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012). Science In aim of the Science learning area is to create inquisitive students who seek to understand the world around them. Students will work individually and collaboratively to complete tasks that focus on how the world around them is shaped. The Science curriculum covers areas such as human biology, biology and chemistry. Society and Environment In the Society and Environment learning area, students are provided with the opportunities to become global citizens in our changing world. Through studying Society and Environment, students will be exposed to different countries, cultures, environments and political and legal systems as well as a focus on Australia, our culture and heritage. Parlkarra Distric High School, along with the wider community and local businesses is focused on sustainability and this also plays a large role in the Society and Environment curriculum. LOTE Lower school students are expected to achieve six learning outcomes for LOTE, each of which is essential to effective and appropriate communication in the target language. These outcomes include listening and responding, speaking, viewing, reading and responding, writing, cultural understandings systems of the target language, and language learning strategies (Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012). Upper school students focus on the four strands of learning – reading, writing, speaking and listening. It is also important for them to understand and learn about the cultural peculiarities and differences between Australia and countries using the target languages. We encourage our students to practice the language in everyday life, such as Internet sites provided by the teachers, listen to CDs and so on (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012).
Art and Drama In the Arts learning area students develop creative skills, critical appreciation and knowledge or artistic techniques and technologies through the arts forms of dance, drama, media, music, and visual arts. Although these five forms may be used in interrelated ways, each has unique language, techniques and conventions. The four arts outcomes describe the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes that students should exhibit in order to demonstrate achievement of the Arts (Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012). Drama is one of the highlights in the Parlkarra DHS. Lower school students engage in a wide range of learning activities that build confidence, creativity and positive relationships. The Lower School Drama curriculum encompasses the following skills throughout the semester: • Clarity, fluency in speech and skill in vocal control• Mime• Development of imagination and concentration• Body control• Aesthetic appreciation• Stagecraft• Self-expression• Group participation• Form, character and action in improvisation• Reflective processes For upper school students, two drama units are available. One focuses on developing skills, the other focuses on drama performances and events. Characterisation, stage etiquette, and the various roles involved in coordinating a theatrical production are the key priorities, and students are encouraged to pursue various creative and leadership opportunities (Newman Senior High School, 2012). Media and ICT Media is available to students in years 8 - 10 and focuses on building media literacy by allowing students to critically analyse film, television and print media texts. This is also a creative, hands-on course that allows students to apply their media literacy to creating their own media texts. The ICT course is available to students in years 5 - 9 and focuses on building students' computer competency by exposing them to various technologies and programs. Home Economics Home economics at Parlkarra DHS aims to teach important life skills to students, and facilitate them to discover and further develop their own resoures and capabilities to be used in their personal life, by directing their professional decisions and actions or parepraing them for life.
Our Home Economics course provides introductory experiences in the areas of interpersonal relationships, problem solving, food, nutrition and textiles. The opportunity to learn and develop skills is provided. The content aims to provide knowledge, understanding and practical applications associated with food and textiles technology.
Majorly three parts of the course are provided to year 8 to 10 students: (1) Food s and Hospitality: focus mainly on encouraging teenage students to take personal responsibility for their own health and well-being, eg. through the course they will understand the importance of breakfast, and learn to prepare some food.(2) Textile Technology: students learn basic sewing skills which include understanding textile fibres and developing sewing machine skills. They will also apply their creativity at sewing by making their own felt snake.(3) Food culture: In this course students learn about food in a global perspective and why people eat certain foods, how these choices are influenced, along with traditions and customs of various cultures while experiencing new flavours and recipes.They are challenged to think about the foods they eat and where it comes from. They will research a variety of ingredients and apply their findings to create food products from a country of their choice. Methods of cookery, staple foods and traditional customs and eating habits are also considered (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012; Newman Senior High School, 2012). Design and Technology Design and Technology is available to students in years 8 - 10. This course is a creative, hands-on course that covers areas such as plastics, wood-work and metal-work. Health and Physical Education Parlkarra DHS offers a wide range of health and physical education classes to students. These include health education, physical education, outdoor education, sports management, sepcialised sport, health studies and physical education students. All subjects aim to extend students' knowledge of healthy lifestyles and practices. Our air-conditioned indoor recreation centre allows students a wide range of sports including badminton, basketball, European handball, netball and volleyball. Students also undertake several outdoor sports such as cricket, soccer, hockey and AFL football. Elective subjects extend students' participation in physical activities to areas such as first aid, CPR, Bronze Medallion and coaching. The outcomes of the Health and Physical Education learning area are all interralationed and all contribute to the development of healthy, active lifestyles. A holistic approach to planning should incorporate aspects of three system contexts as physical activity, health and outdoor education.Health and Physical Education teaching and learning programs focus on maximim participation and enjoyment, and provide students with the knowledge, skill attitudes and values required to lead and maintain a healthy, active life (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012; Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012). Extra Curricular Parlkarra DHS has a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including excursions, outdoor team sports, vocal and instrumental music programs, and school choir, in order to enrich the students' experience at our school. Activities also include Country Week, Theatre Sports, visiting artists, camps and expeditions, State Emergency Services Cadets, academic challenges and orientation and extension camps. Apart from the above we also have a series of co-curricular programs with our long standing partners, such as West Coast Eagles Football Club (WCE), Swan Districts Football Club (SDFC) and Parlkarra Mine.
EnglishIn the English learning area, the main aim is to give the students the skills to be critical and creative thinkers (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012) as well as immersing students in the language process. With a focus on reading, writing, viewing speaking and listening, students will study English using a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts from Australia and the world, as well as media and drama texts.
Maths
Mathematics is one of the key learning areas. The students undertake a wide variety of open ended tasks to achieve the outcomes. The objective of the Mathematics Department at Parlkarra DHS is to maximise every student’s ability in the fields of numeracy and the understanding and application of mathematical concepts.
There are several enrichment activities being led by the Mathematics Department including ‘Mathletics’, Maths Camp, after school revision classes and Tournament of Minds, all of which contribute to promoting engagement and achievement in mathematics (Newman Senior High School, 2012).
For the primary students, mathematics has seven 'clusters' of outcomes. The working Mathematically outcomes focus on how students think about mathematics and their ways of thinking and working within mathematics. They pervade the six 'clusters' of conceptual outcomes Number, Measurement,Chance and Data and Space (Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012). The upper school students are encouraged to become independent learners by being exposed to a wide range of real life learning contexts. The learning methods are quite flexible, for students to develop their mathematical skills in a variety of situations. Through the various curriculum strands as Chance and Data, Measurement, Number and Algebra and Space which are tied together by Working Mathematically, student develop mathematical literacy preparing for future study (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012).
Science
In aim of the Science learning area is to create inquisitive students who seek to understand the world around them. Students will work individually and collaboratively to complete tasks that focus on how the world around them is shaped. The Science curriculum covers areas such as human biology, biology and chemistry.
Society and Environment
In the Society and Environment learning area, students are provided with the opportunities to become global citizens in our changing world. Through studying Society and Environment, students will be exposed to different countries, cultures, environments and political and legal systems as well as a focus on Australia, our culture and heritage. Parlkarra Distric High School, along with the wider community and local businesses is focused on sustainability and this also plays a large role in the Society and Environment curriculum.
LOTE
Lower school students are expected to achieve six learning outcomes for LOTE, each of which is essential to effective and appropriate communication in the target language. These outcomes include listening and responding, speaking, viewing, reading and responding, writing, cultural understandings systems of the target language, and language learning strategies (Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012). Upper school students focus on the four strands of learning – reading, writing, speaking and listening. It is also important for them to understand and learn about the cultural peculiarities and differences between Australia and countries using the target languages. We encourage our students to practice the language in everyday life, such as Internet sites provided by the teachers, listen to CDs and so on (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012).
Art and Drama
In the Arts learning area students develop creative skills, critical appreciation and knowledge or artistic techniques and technologies through the arts forms of dance, drama, media, music, and visual arts. Although these five forms may be used in interrelated ways, each has unique language, techniques and conventions. The four arts outcomes describe the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes that students should exhibit in order to demonstrate achievement of the Arts (Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012).
Drama is one of the highlights in the Parlkarra DHS. Lower school students engage in a wide range of learning activities that build confidence, creativity and positive relationships. The Lower School Drama curriculum encompasses the following skills throughout the semester:
• Clarity, fluency in speech and skill in vocal control• Mime• Development of imagination and concentration• Body control• Aesthetic appreciation• Stagecraft• Self-expression• Group participation• Form, character and action in improvisation• Reflective processes
For upper school students, two drama units are available. One focuses on developing skills, the other focuses on drama performances and events. Characterisation, stage etiquette, and the various roles involved in coordinating a theatrical production are the key priorities, and students are encouraged to pursue various creative and leadership opportunities (Newman Senior High School, 2012).
Media and ICT
Media is available to students in years 8 - 10 and focuses on building media literacy by allowing students to critically analyse film, television and print media texts. This is also a creative, hands-on course that allows students to apply their media literacy to creating their own media texts.
The ICT course is available to students in years 5 - 9 and focuses on building students' computer competency by exposing them to various technologies and programs.
Home Economics
Home economics at Parlkarra DHS aims to teach important life skills to students, and facilitate them to discover and further develop their own resoures and capabilities to be used in their personal life, by directing their professional decisions and actions or parepraing them for life.
Our Home Economics course provides introductory experiences in the areas of interpersonal relationships, problem solving, food, nutrition and textiles. The opportunity to learn and develop skills is provided. The content aims to provide knowledge, understanding and practical applications associated with food and textiles technology.
Majorly three parts of the course are provided to year 8 to 10 students:
(1) Food s and Hospitality: focus mainly on encouraging teenage students to take personal responsibility for their own health and well-being, eg. through the course they will understand the importance of breakfast, and learn to prepare some food.(2) Textile Technology: students learn basic sewing skills which include understanding textile fibres and developing sewing machine skills. They will also apply their creativity at sewing by making their own felt snake.(3) Food culture: In this course students learn about food in a global perspective and why people eat certain foods, how these choices are influenced, along with traditions and customs of various cultures while experiencing new flavours and recipes.They are challenged to think about the foods they eat and where it comes from. They will research a variety of ingredients and apply their findings to create food products from a country of their choice. Methods of cookery, staple foods and traditional customs and eating habits are also considered (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012; Newman Senior High School, 2012).
Design and Technology
Design and Technology is available to students in years 8 - 10. This course is a creative, hands-on course that covers areas such as plastics, wood-work and metal-work.
Health and Physical Education
Parlkarra DHS offers a wide range of health and physical education classes to students. These include health education, physical education, outdoor education, sports management, sepcialised sport, health studies and physical education students. All subjects aim to extend students' knowledge of healthy lifestyles and practices.
Our air-conditioned indoor recreation centre allows students a wide range of sports including badminton, basketball, European handball, netball and volleyball. Students also undertake several outdoor sports such as cricket, soccer, hockey and AFL football. Elective subjects extend students' participation in physical activities to areas such as first aid, CPR, Bronze Medallion and coaching.
The outcomes of the Health and Physical Education learning area are all interralationed and all contribute to the development of healthy, active lifestyles. A holistic approach to planning should incorporate aspects of three system contexts as physical activity, health and outdoor education.Health and Physical Education teaching and learning programs focus on maximim participation and enjoyment, and provide students with the knowledge, skill attitudes and values required to lead and maintain a healthy, active life (Tom Price Senior High School, 2012; Paraburdoo Primary School, 2012).
Extra Curricular
Parlkarra DHS has a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including excursions, outdoor team sports, vocal and instrumental music programs, and school choir, in order to enrich the students' experience at our school. Activities also include Country Week, Theatre Sports, visiting artists, camps and expeditions, State Emergency Services Cadets, academic challenges and orientation and extension camps. Apart from the above we also have a series of co-curricular programs with our long standing partners, such as West Coast Eagles Football Club (WCE), Swan Districts Football Club (SDFC) and Parlkarra Mine.