Core subjects

English as an Additional Language

Ryde Secondary College has a large population of students for whom English is an additional language. Many students were born in Australia and speak their first language at home or have recently moved to this country and have limited experience with day-to-day English.

Students who need support with their acquisition of English and their studies are assisted in their classes or in small groups. Assistance is available across the curriculum from qualified EAL/D (formerly ESL) teachers. All levels of English are catered for and individual strengths and interests considered when developing appropriate programs to enable the students to progress. In the senior years, students who have been in an English-speaking educational setting for fewer than 5 years are eligible to study the BOSTES English ESL course for the HSC. Ryde Secondary College gains excellent results in this course.

Newly arrived students appreciate the inclusive atmosphere and friendly attitude of the students and staff. Their experience in a new setting is enriched by the variety of extra curricula activities which give opportunities to broaden experience and foster social situations.

Parents are welcome to request an interpreter for meetings with staff so that communication is always open to members of our community.

Stage 4 Mathematics (Years 7 and 8)

By the end of Stage 4, students use text, diagrams, tables, mathematical terminology and algebraic notations to communicate a variety of ideas and link concepts and processes developed. They are required to apply their mathematical knowledge to solve real-life problems and analyse their solutions to these problems.

Assessments over the year include a Research Project in term 1 and formal assessments in terms 2, 3 and 4. The formal assessments include a 15 mark Working Mathematically section where students demonstrate their ability to utilise their knowledge to solve problems and communicate their process.

Stage 5 Mathematics (Years 9 and 10)

The course structure in Stage 5 is designed to cater to the wide range of abilities of students. The Stage 5.1 course is incorporated into the stage 5.2 course and the stage 5.3 course incorporates all the content of the 5.1 and 5.2 courses.

These courses create pathways into years 11 and 12.

Stage 5.3 Course is required for success in 2 Unit Mathematics and Mathematics Extension 1 Courses.

Stage 5.2 Course: Students who have studied at this level should be studying Preliminary Mathematics General in year 11 and Mathematics General 2 in year 12. Students who study this course do not have the pre-requisite knowledge required to succeed in the 2 Unit Mathematics course or the Extension 1 course.

Stage 5.1 Course: It is suggested that students in this course study the Preliminary General course in year 11 and the Non-ATAR General 1 Course in year 12 or no Mathematics in years 11 and 12.

Stage 6 Mathematics (Years 11 and 12)

For more information regarding these courses please access the links to the syllabus documents.

Mathematics General 1 (Non-ATAR) and 2: Syllabus Link.

New Mathematics Standard 1(Non-ATAR) and 2 (for implementation in year 11 in 2018 and year 12 in 2019. This course replaces the Mathematics General course. Syllabus Link.

NESA has provided new Guidelines for Assessment and in these General and Standard one Assessment is a Major Project. Mathematics (2 Unit): Students need to have completed the Stage 5.3 course to cope with the demands of this course. Syllabus Link.

Mathematics Extension 1: Students need to have completed the Stage 5.3 course to cope with the demands of this course. Syllabus Link.

Mathematics Extension 2: This course is by invitation only. It is expected that students seeking to study at this level should have a 90+% average in 2 Unit Mathematics and a 75+% average in Extension 1 in order to be considered for acceptance in this course. Syllabus Link.

New HSC Courses will be implemented in 2019 include:

Mathematics Advanced and Mathematics Extension 1 and 2. These syllabi are yet to be finalised.

Students across these courses achieve outstanding results. Recently students achieved the following results in each of the courses offered:

• Mathematics General 2: 49% of students in the top three bands
• Mathematics: 67% of the cohort in the top two bands and 87% in the top three bands
• Extension 1: 90% of the cohort in the top two bands
• Extension 2: 100% of the cohort in the top two bands.

Competitions

As part of the Mathematics Curriculum, students participate in a number of competitions. These competitions include:

• Australian Mathematics Competition
• The Mathematics Challenge.

Students at RSC have achieved outstanding results across all these competitions. Recently we attained 2 High Distinctions, 33 Distinctions and 70 Credits in the Australian Mathematics Competition.

Peer Tutoring

A Peer Tutoring program is operating at RSC. In this program our talented year 9, 10 and 11 students provide assistance to any student in the junior school who is in need of help with their Mathematics. They meet every Wednesday at lunchtime. Students are encouraged to attend if they are in need of some assistance with their homework, classwork, assignments or any other problems with their Mathematics.

Club Infinity

The aim of Club Infinity is to provide students with the opportunity to enjoy and learn Mathematics beyond the classroom. Club Infinity encourages students to participate in a range of activities that enhance their problem-solving skills, ability to reason logically and further develop their ability to communicate mathematical ideas and concepts in ways that are meaningful. Participants are given the opportunity experiment with their ideas and approaches to problem solving complicated practical problems.

Recently the focus of problems posed was more competitive with prizes for those that built the tallest tower or the strongest bridge, with a focus on models reflecting real world bridges and towers.

Other Activities

There are a number of other activities organised for students, to support the teaching and learning occurring in the classroom. These include:

• Year 7 students participate in a Problem Solving Incursion called 'Inquisitive Minds'
• Year 8 students go to Luna Park for a 'Ride and Learn' Excursion
• Year 8 Selective students attend a Gift and Talented Day
• Year 9 talented students attend an 'Inquisitive Minds' incursion.

In Senior years, Ryde Secondary College offers classes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth and Environmental Science. Traditionally, students perform well above state in each stream. In 2012, 56% of students sitting the HSC Chemistry exam and 55% of those sitting Physics gained results in the top two bands. Your child will benefit from the experience and expertise of our highly trained and experienced Science faculty.

The study of History at Ryde Secondary College is enhanced by incursions and excursions and site studies. Students work on projects and demonstrate their historical understanding through a wide array of assessment tasks and research assignments. History students organise and speak at the annual ANZAC Day Assembly at the college and take part in HSC study days in their senior years.

Activities such as the National Geographic Australian Geography competition, Environment Day business simulations, Money Savvy Workshop, Australian Stock Exchange Share Management Competition, NSW Department of Fair Trading Money Stuff Challenge, ESSI Financial Literacy simulation and Legal Studies excursions to the Law Courts enrich our teaching programs.

The Social Sciences faculty is located in four well-appointed classrooms, each with data projectors and one with an interactive whiteboard, and our students are supplied with the latest editions of current textbooks.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)

We believe strongly in the values of Physical Education for all students. We believe that Physical Education promotes the following:

• Knowledge relating to wellbeing, health and physical development
• Positive attitudes about lifestyle, activity, health and fitness
• Self-confidence and interpersonal skills

The aim of our program at Ryde Secondary College is to provide all students with a broad range of skills and experiences in physical activity and to develop their knowledge and skills in making decisions which affect their lives. We hope that throughout program students will develop a lifelong commitment to participation in active and healthy living. These long term benefits also include increased fitness, better health, enjoyable involvement in social and competitive activities and satisfaction derived from performing skilled movements.

PDHPE – Years 7-10

This area of study provides for the intellectual, social, emotional, physical and spiritual development of students. It involves students learning and practicing ways of maintaining active, healthy lifestyles and improving health. Students study aspects of a social view of lifestyles where the principles of diversity, social justice and supportive environments are fundamental aspects. Individual, family and community values and beliefs and the sociocultural and physical environments in which we live will be examined.

In Year 7 all students complete 4 periods of PDHPE per fortnight. One of these periods is theory, the other 3 are practical. In Year 8, 9 and 10 all students complete 5 periods of PDHPE per fortnight. Two of these periods are theory, the other 3 are practical. Theory units of study include: bullying, self image and self esteem, growth and development, nutrition. Practical units of study include: Fitness, touch football, dance, basketball, soccer, netball, cricket, athletics and cross country.

Physical Activity and Sports Studies – Stage 5 (Yrs 9 and 10)

Many of our students have strong commitment to sport and personal physical fitness. PASS is an extension of the mandatory PD/Health/PE in years 7 to 10 and caters to students who wish to extend their knowledge and experience in movement skills. Students will be give the opportunity to further understand the importance and benefits associated with increased fitness levels and reduced lifestyle diseases.

The course leads to a grading for the School Certificate based on performance descriptors. There are five periods per cycle over the two years of the course involving both theory and practical sessions.

Students will develop:

• An understanding of factors which influence participation in physical activity
• An understanding of the development of sport and its influence on society
• An understanding of society's values in relation to sport, exercise and fitness
• An awareness and positive attitude towards increased participation in sport, exercise and fitness at an individual and community level.

Course Content - Year 9

Anatomy and physiology systems | Concepts in muscular movement | Performance development | Fitness and training | Physical exercise, sports and personal improvement. Options include - develop own training program and an in-depth sports study.

Course Content - Year 10

Exercise principles and skill acquisition through human movement | Biomechanics & Exercise Physiology | Technology & Ergogenic Aids in Sports | Sport and Society and the Olympic Spirit | The acquisition of the Level One Coaching Certificate

Course Content - Stage 5 (Years 11 and 12)

This course deals with a wide range of issues from the Health, Personal Development and Physical Education areas. It combines rigorous academic study with practical application.

As students are confronted by particular PDHPE issues, they are challenged to examine them in socially imaginative ways and respond in terms of individual plans, lifestyle decisions and clarification of values. The syllabus gives emphasis to the development of those skills that enable students to translate knowledge, understanding and beliefs into action.

The course provides a direct link with study and vocational pathways in the areas of recreational, paramedical, movement and health sciences. Related career opportunities are expanding and gaining recognition throughout the community as legitimate fields of endeavor.

Sport, Lifestyle and Recreational Studies - Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12)

Would you like to improve or learn about skill movement, sports coaching, recreational and social aspects of sport? As a course participant you will be given the opportunity to develop in the following areas:

• Assessing physical fitness and programming the development of athletes
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Healthy lifestyle factors
• Personal ability and qualifications as a Coach
• Personal ability in a number of sporting areas.

The course is progressive and allows the participants in this highly practical course to enhance knowledge and physical abilities in a number of areas. It can be studied in conjunction with the 2 Unit PD/H/PE course or as a separate subject in its own right.

NB. While it can be counted as 2 Units towards the HSC, it cannot be included in the calculation of the U.A.I.

Work Studies

The successful transition of students from school to the workforce, further education and training is a major issue faced by Australian students, schools, employers and tertiary education organisations. The Work Studies syllabus is designed to assist students in their transition from school to work. It develops knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by students in the transition to work and the skills needed for effective career planning and performance of tasks in the work environment:

• Career Planning
• Performing Work Tasks
• Working With Others
• Managing Change

CAFS - Community and Family Studies

The Community and Family Studies Stage 6 Syllabus includes two 120-hour courses. The Preliminary course consists of three mandatory modules. The HSC course consists of three core modules representing 75% of course time. An options component representing 25% of course time includes three modules of which students are to study only one.

Knockout Sport at Ryde Secondary College

There are many opportunities for students of all years to play in the competitive NSW Combined High Schools Knockout Competitions. We enter teams in the following competitions:

Basketball– Opens and 15s | Cricket - Boys | Rugby league – Opens and 15s | Rugby Union – Opens and 15s | Rugby Union - Girls | Indoor Soccer – Futsal | Volleyball - Boys and Girls | Table Tennis | Tennis – Boys and Girls | Softball | Touch Football- Boys and Girls | Netball– Opens and 15s | Squash.

Check here for dates of these knockouts and see the PDHPE Faculty for details. (link incorrect / outdated / moved?)

Stick With It: Laura Geitz Video.