Year 10

At Monte, students are encouraged to be active learners and to critically assess the world around them. The dynamic and experienced English teachers at Monte strive to develop a love of literature in their students. They assist students to make links between ideas, knowledge and the world around them and encourage a holistic engagement with the intellectual, spiritual and personal.

The Year 7 to 10 programs incorporate the NESA Outcomes and the framework of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. The programs are based around the Areas of Interaction and Guiding Questions, so students approach the texts by grappling with questions such as:

• How do experiences lead to growth and change?
• Can Shakespeare’s comedies do more than make us laugh?
• How do we understand our relationship with ourselves, our community, and the environment through the study of narrative and mythology?

The aim of Year 10 is to prepare and encourage the students to continue undertaking a science through Years 11 and 12. Students begin the year by applying their knowledge and skills in undertaking a major research project of their choosing using scientific experimental analysis. Students use technology extensively and computer skills are further enhanced. They apply and use databases and other multimedia to access, research, manipulate and present information to their peers. Students are also given many opportunities to discuss, express and debate their ideas and feelings on topics such as the origins of the universe, cloning, nuclear medicine and energy sources.

In Mathematics from Years 7 - 10, we focus on the following strands: Number, Measurement, Data, Patterns and Algebra, Geometry and Working Mathematically.  

In Mathematics, technology is providing us with new tools to assist students’ learning. Research in education tells us the value to students of receiving instant feedback. Students’ laptops are installed with textbooks and their interactive learning objects, dynamic geometry software like Geogebra, programs like Excel spreadsheet and websites such as Mathletics and MyMathsOnline. Graphs and diagrams are no longer static and prediction, estimation, modeling and reporting are encouraged. Students are engaged and the understanding of and interest in key concepts are promoted.

Geography

Students study Australian Geography by exploring the physical and human uniqueness of Australia and its future challenges on a local, regional and global scale. To enhance their studies in Year 10 they undertake fieldwork on coastal Management.

History

Students study Australian History from Federation to the present focusing on the social, political and cultural events and international changes occurring throughout this time period.

Commerce

Students study a variety of commercial, business, legal and employment topics relevant to everyday life. To enhance their studies they create many ICT presentations including iMovie’s, and involve themselves in online financial competitions such as the ASX Share Market activity.

In Year 7, students must choose one of the following languages: French, German, or Italian. They continue their study of the chosen language for four years. Currently in Years 8, 9 and 10 they continue their study of either French, German, Italian or Indonesian (Years 9 and 10 only). 

In Year 10, there are opportunities for involvement in Language Days at the universities, cultural activities at Language Institutes such as the Alliance Francaise, and competitions and viewing of foreign films.

Click here to download a copy of the Languages Phases document.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) provides students with the opportunity to explore issues that impact on the health and wellbeing of themselves and others. These issues may include physical activity, mental health, drug use, sexual health, nutrition, supportive relationships, personal safety, gender roles and discrimination.

In Year 10 students learn many interesting and different topics including Active for Life, Planning for Safety, Volleyball and Dealing with Mental Health.

Students in Years 9 and 10 can choose to participate in the Physical Activity and Sports Studies electives course. The course caters for students who have shown aptitude and interest in the subject area and the school sporting program. The aims of the course are to provide students with:

• experiences in many lifetime recreational activities extensions of the Years 7-10 course
• preparation for the 2 unit PDHPE course
• healthy lifestyle practices in the terms of activity, diet and use of leisure time increased knowledge about lifestyle issues and world health problems.

Design and Technology is a mandatory 100 or an elective 200-hour course that develops a student's ability for innovative and creative thought. They gain a range of skills in a variety of materials/ medium including plastics, wood, graphics, food, multi media and textiles.

Students are given a design challenge and must apply an appropriate material/medium and technical skills using new and emerging technologies to generate quality solutions. Through the development of their design projects and the analysis of the design work of others, students reflect on the impact of their and other’s designs on society and the environment.

Innovations and emerging technologies are investigated together with the impact these technologies have on the environment and populations. The experiences of researching, designing, managing, evaluating and producing expose the students to a process they can apply to their life long learning.

Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College is united to being Christ in the world, to the Gospel values, to the Mercy tradition and the Mission of the Church.

As Catherine McAuley said: "We should be as the compass that goes round its circle without stirring from its centre – our centre is God..."

God is Mercy. Because of God’s Mercy, the word was spoken and creation began.

In the mystery of faith, we have the Grace of who we are as Monte, why we are Monte, what we stand for as Monte and the living growth of becoming.

The first word written on the Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College motto is ‘Religio’ “re” means “again and again” or “all ways”, ‘ligio’ means “bind to” or “hold together” so in a sense religion is describing our continual closeness to God, our centre.  

The Religious Education Curriculum has a twofold focus. primarily, Religion in a Catholic College is a lived experience from the Faith seeking understanding of the classroom to the Liturgy, Prayer, Reflection Days and Retreat.

The Religious Education Curriculum also strives for academic excellence, student learning and the acquisition of knowledge.

In Visual Arts at Monte, we value student-centred learning where individuals are encouraged to develop their ideas, creativity and talents, whilst taking responsible risks, in a well resourced, engaging, supportive and caring environment.

Our programs are designed to respond to the changing developmental needs and interests of students from Years 7 to 12, within the framework of the NESA Syllabus and the International Baccalaureate, Middle Years and Diploma Visual Arts Programme. All Visual Arts courses are based on the three practices in the contemporary world of art and design:

• Making Artworks – reflecting the practice of the visual artist and designer
• Critical Study - reflecting the practice of the art critic
• Historical Study - reflecting the practice of the art historian

Through these courses, Visual Arts students are empowered to become self-motivated, resourceful, reflective learners who are adaptable, critical and creative thinkers.

Drama

Year 10 begins the year by learning various theatrical devices to help interpret and write a script. Later, given an abstract script and the subtext, the students create their own version of the play’s message, centering on a social or political issue of global relevance. In addition, they extend the script to create an exciting performance using previously studied Abstract and Expressionistic styles and conventions. Additionally, the students create scenes using ‘Theatre of Cruelty’, Brecht, Dario Fo or Boal’s ‘Image Theatre’ that illustrates to the audience that outrageous theatre can be most engaging. They make also make short films based on a theme and a selection of these are showcased in Monte’s Shortcuts Film Festival. 

Short Cuts Film Festival

Students in Years 9 and 10 Drama classes submit films for selection for Monte’s Short Cuts Film Festival.

Music

Year 10 students became experts in Jazz, developing improvisation and performance skills, and compositional skills in a wide variety of jazz styles. They study and make links between music from the 19th century and current popular music, and finish the year by arranging and performing popular songs for five or more instruments and/or voices.