The HSIE Faculty consists of a dedicated and innovative staff. We pride ourselves on commitment to excellence and strive to further our students to achieve to the best of their abilities.
Staff Members
| Ms Holly NORTHEY – | Head Teacher |
| Ms Kim BOWDEN | |
| Ms Megan HAMILTON | |
| Mr James JACK | |
| Mr Arthur SARANDOS | |
| Mr Cameron WHITE |
Curriculum
The HSIE curriculum comprises of History (Years 7 to 10), Geography (Years 7 to 10) and Commerce (Years 9 and 10).Programs
Stage 4 – Years 7-8
History
Year 7 History
History is studied as part of the HSIE course in the second semester of Year 7. We begin with an overview “What is History?” which looks at how we investigate and record the past. Students then use these skills to learn about Ancient Egypt and Medieval Europe. When studying Ancient Egypt, students are asked to create their own “authentic” Egyptian artefact and there have been some outstanding results over the years!
Year 8 History
In Year 8, History is studied in first semester. The overall topic is “Contact and Colonisation” and under this theme students learn about the Native Americans, the Slave Trade and early European contact with Aborigines in Australia. Students are able to read about and view the experiences of dispossessed indigenous peoples and Africans kidnapped from their homeland to work on plantations in the Americas.
Geography
Year 7 Geography
Geography is studied as part of the HSIE course in the first semester of Year 7. Students begin their study of geography by investigating the tools that geographers use. This includes a study of different types of maps, map reading, line drawings, field sketching and photo interpretation. In second term students then investigate global environments and undertake a detailed study of an environment. The term is completed by an investigation of a world heritage site.
Year 8 Geography
In Year 8, Geography is studied in second semester. Students study Global Change which includes a study of globalisation and global inequalities. This study provides students with an insight into the differences that exist between and within countries. To aid understanding students then investigate global organisations that help reduce inequality.In fourth term students learn about geographical issues that impact on the lives of people throughout the world. The geographical issues studied include threatened habitats and urbanisation Year 8 students will build on the geographic skills learnt in Year 7 and are required to produce a multimedia presentation on a global product as part of their assessment.
Stage 5 – Years 9-10
History
Year 9 History
Students begin the School Certificate Australian History Course in Year 9. It focuses on Twentieth Century Australian History. The Year 9 component covers the period from Federation in 1901 to the end of World War II in 1945. Students investigate how Australians lived at the turn of the century, they study the experiences of soldiers at Gallipoli and the Western Front in WWI, they are encouraged to empathise with the deprivation suffered by many during the Great Depression, and will learn about the effects WWII had on Australians both at famous battles at Kokoda and the Coral Sea, as back on the home front. During the year, students view a performance by a professional theatre troupe on WWI and an impressive display of artefacts from WWI provided by a local historian.
Year 10 History
Year 10 History completes the School Certificate Course and culminates in the state-wide Australian History, Civics and Citizenship exam in November. Students study post-WWII Australia and will see how Australian society has progressed and changed in those sixty years. They investigate Australia’s response to communism and the Vietnam War, and the changing roles of women and Aborigines in our society. All Year 10 students have the opportunity to view a performance on Australian experiences in Vietnam as well as an impressive display of Vietnam War memorabilia, including uniforms, original correspondence and weapons.
Geography
Year 9 Geography
Students begin the School Certificate Australian Geography Course in Year 9. The Year 9 course focuses on ‘Australia’s Physical Environments’ and ‘Changing Australian Communities.’Our study of Australia’s physical environments looks at such features as: landform, drainage basins, climate, weather, Australia’s unique flora and fauna and natural hazards that impact on the lives of those living in Australia. Students learn a variety of geographic skills that support their understanding in this area. Within the study of Changing Australian Communities students learn about what makes up a community, the many different types of communities that exist in Australia and how communities are undergoing change. To demonstrate their understanding of communities, students are required to prepare an oral presentation about a community that they belong to.
Year 10 Geography
Year 10 Geography completes the School Certificate Course and culminates in the state-wide Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship exam in November. The course is divided into two sections. Firstly, students look at two issues that impact on the Australian environment, coastal management and urbanisation. Students undertake fieldwork in Pyrmont as part of their study of Urbanisation.The second part of the course deals with Australia’s place in the world and how we are linked to the global environment. This includes a study of aid, future challenges and human rights and reconciliation.The School Certificate in November examines all of the skills that the students have learnt from Year 7 and the factual information from the Year 10 course.
Commerce
Commerce is an elective that students may choose in Years 9 and 10.
Year 9 Commerce
Topics covered include Consumer Choice, Personal Finance, Buying a Car and Promoting and Selling. Students participate in a variety of exciting activities including the ASX Schools StockMarket Game and the MoneyStuff Competition.
Year 10 Commerce
Topics covered include The Law and You, Employment Issues, Political Involvement, Towards Independence and Travel. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a Mock Trial and Question Time Role Play as part of the excursion to the Justice & Police Museum and NSW Parliament. All students become involved in the political process as part of the Class Election activity where they develop a political party with policies and an election campaign culminating in a class election.