Music subjects are offered in all year levels, and at Year 12 both solo and group performance options are offered. The junior music program focuses on creativity and practical music skills.
Media is offered to students in Years 9-12. Students learn video production, photography, using a fully equipped darkroom, and we are now introducing multimedia production using the latest technology and including digitised imaging.
Visual Arts is a broad based program, which covers 2 and 3 dimensional areas in Art, Design and Graphics. A feature of a recent program was the implementation of an artist in residence to work with Year 7 students on the production of 3 large canvases, producing a mural with a music related theme. VCE students regularly gain placements in tertiary institutions to do further studies in art and graphic design.The 1997 Visual Arts Faculty Report can be read here.
The overall goal of the English teachers is to extend the literacy levels of all our students, one of the successful strategies being the creation of an audience for student writing at all year levels.
Each year the faculty produces a collection of student writing known as the 'Banksia Big Book'. Over half of the College's students make contributions to the 150+ page publication. Students take great pride in seeing their work in print and the BBB also provides a valuable teacher resource.
The 1997 English Faculty Report can be read here.
In a multicultural society such as Australia is today, the teaching of English as a second language is important. We have two ESL teachers and 3 Multicultural aides: Somalian, Vietnamese-Chinese and Arabic. In 1997 there were 72 ESL students about half of whom were refugees.
Physical Education is a core subject at Years 7-10 and weekly sport is timetabled for Years 7 and 8. Students learn the basic skills for playing a wide range of sports, and Year 7 and 8 students are expected to participate in a representative sports team each term.
The 1997 PE/Sport Faculty Report can be read here.
The Maths program caters for students with a wide variety of needs. The individualised nature of the junior program, combined with group lessons, supports and encourages students to achieve success and grow in confidence.
Italian is taught in Years 7 and 8 and Auslan is offered in VCE.
The Science program caters for students with a wide range of needs and interests. The program is based around a practical approach where students are encouraged to develop their own ideas and, through experimentation, either validate or modify these.An example of this is a forensic science activity with Year 9 students.
If you are not squeamish, visit the Year 11 Biology lab!
Teacher demonstrations are also widely used to foster student interest and further develop enquiring minds.
The students also compete in the Science Teachers Association of Victoria "Science Talent Search" which enables them to understand the scientific principles in an area of their own interest.
The 1997 Science Faculty Report can be read here.
A feature of the SOSE program at Banksia is the Year 10 Social Education Program which concentrates on the theme of Work and Career choices. During the year all students complete a CV and apply for jobs at the mythical RITZ RESORT, to accentuate the feeling of reality. These interviews are conducted by real personnel managers in an off site location. Many other units during the year are on similiar themes, including a two week block of work experience. For Years 7-9, Social Education is 3 periods a week with a cross section of History, Geography and Sociology.
Technology Studies is taught at Years 7-12. There are three study strands: Information, Materials and Systems. During recent years the staff have concentrated on developing the Information strand in line with the CSF.
The 1997 Computer Studies Report can be read here.
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