Year 7 - 9

Students at St Francis Catholic College have access to a wide range of engaging experiences and pathways throughout their learning journey.

Contemporary learning is at the forefront of the opportunities we provide, including the development of skills in innovation, creativity, critical and ethical thinking and teamwork and collaboration. 

Digital technologies foster connection to the wider community and our global society. Underpinning our work are the core values of instilling a love of life-long learning, creating a sense of hope and nurturing strong aspirations in every student.

With an expectation of excellence, students are challenged and encouraged in their learning opportunities at each year level and pathway. In partnership with families, students develop responsibility for their learning to achieve academic success.

The Victorian Curriculum, introduced across all learning areas in Year 7 to 9, acknowledges that student needs and interest will vary and allows for planning a curriculum that responds to this.


Years 7 and 8

A successful transition to secondary school is integral to a young student’s future.

The curriculum in Year 7 at St Francis Catholic College is diverse and caters to student needs and interests, including those who need extra support and those who require extension.

Each House Mentor Group and core classroom is carefully constructed to promote positive relationships between new friends and old while ensuring that achieving excellence is always a priority.

We aim to engage all students in an innovative curriculum that nurtures their love of learning, develops their sense of self-worth and encourages aspiration and ambition.

They develop knowledge and skills that broaden their understanding and are supported through the use of digital technologies.

Core subjects include English, Mathematics, Religious Education, Humanities, Science, Health and Physical Education, Art, Product Design and Technology - Wood, Digital Technologies, Italian and Music.

Our Year 8 program continues to offer range and scope across all domains focusing on students further developing their confidence and enthusiasm as learners. The core subjects continue to build student skills and knowledge in an engaging and challenging academic environment.

Core subjects include English, Mathematics, Religious Education, Humanities, Science, Health and Physical Education, Italian, Visual Communication Design, Drama, Food Studies, Fibre (Textiles).

Learning continues with an emphasis on literacy and numeracy skills through targeted teaching approaches.

Year 9 - The Gadal Learning Program

Gadal, according to Bible scholars, means to grow up, be magnified and do great things.

Our vision for Year 9 students is that during the year they learn, grow, discover, do great things, create and achieve their dreams. The Gadal Learning Program was introduced as a response to the differing learning and pastoral needs of Year 9 students and is an exciting initiative aiming to help students achieve our vision for them.

Having a separate learning program, with a core team of staff, emphasis on strong relationships, and a different model of teaching and learning, promotes greater openness to learning, a strong sense of connectedness, engagement, and self-confidence.

While students continue to extend their knowledge in core subjects, they also choose from a range of electives to explore their interests and develop their talents.

To support their personal development, students participate in the year-long Rite Journey program, which uses a rite of passage framework to deepen their experiences of the important transition from childhood to adulthood.

The program encourages the ongoing development of self-awareness and builds strong, honest, and respectful relationships with peers, parents, and teachers. It is taught in same-gender classrooms, allowing for role-modelling, greater focus, and freer discussion.

The focus is on supporting the development of self-awareness, vitality, responsibility, respectfulness, and resilience. Rite Journey influences young adults to become self-motivated, engaged, and interested in their learning.

Core subjects: English, Mathematics, Religious Education, Humanities, Science, Health and Physical Education

Electives: VET Languages (Italian), Food Technology, Materials Technology - Wood, Materials Technology - Fibre, Digital Technology, Art, Media, Visual Communication Design, Dance, Drama, Music, Global Health, Human Development, Outdoor and Environmental Education, Sport and Leadership

Rite of Passage

Each year, the College hosts a Calling and Departure Ceremony for its young men and women in Year 9 as part of the Rite Journey program.

The Rite Journey is designed to support the development of self-aware, responsible, respectful, resilient and resourceful adults. The program recognises the transition from childhood to adulthood, beginning with a contemporary rite of passage ceremony.

Students are joined by parents, guardians or a significant adult in their lives at the ceremony. The adults write a letter to their child about how they value them and the childhood mindsets and behaviours they would like them to let go of as they venture into adulthood.

They also write about the adult mindsets and behaviours they would like to see them grow and develop.

Students respond with a gratitude letter to their significant adult, highlighting the many aspects of their relationship for which they are grateful.

Once the letters are exchanged, the students and adults talk to each other about what was written, which usually prompts lots of tears, laughter, conversation and hugs.

Students then write their childhood mindsets and behaviours on a piece of paper and their adult ones onto a wooden leaf. Their Rite Journey teachers call them by name to commence the ceremony. One by one, they throw their old habits into a fire pit and then pin their leaf to our “adult arch” walking through it into their new journey towards adulthood.

It is a special evening that symbolises the journey our young men and women take in Year 9.