Year 10 students engaged in the study of coastal management. 
Year 12 students gaining first hand experience in sustainable resource management. 
The Southern Highlands offers many opportunities for field work.
Coastal studies.
Shared learning.
Investigating fragile ecosystems.
Investigating the complexities of the biophysical environment.
| | The Social Science Faculty at Chevalier College provides students with the opportunity to attain knowledge and skills in a wide range of the humanities subjects. The faculty offers the mandatory School Certificate subject of Geography in Years 7 - 10 and the elective subject of Commerce for Years 9 and 10. In the Senior School, students can select any combination of Economics, Business Studies, Geography, Legal Studies and Society and Culture.
The aim of the Geography Years 7–10 Syllabus is to stimulate students’ enjoyment of, and interest in the interaction of the physical and human environments. Students achieve this as they develop geographic knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes and learn to engage in the community as informed and active citizens. Geography is a rich and complex discipline giving students exposure to two key dimensions:
* the spatial dimension – where things are and why they are there
* the ecological dimension – how humans interact with environments.
Studies in Commerce provide knowledge, skills and values that form a foundation to assist young people to make sound decisions in a wide range of areas related to business and finance, consumer issues, legal and employment matters.
Senior courses have wide range of desired outcomes also. Students have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills related to business and economic matters and issues, the legal system and its processes and studies in societal and cultural structures and processes. Senior Geography flows on from the School Certificate course.
All the Social Science subjects aim to prepare students to be well rounded individuals, ready to become active and informed participants in society, contributing to a better world. It is hoped that they will carry with them fundamental values and perspectives founded on the MSC ethos of heart spirituality, ready to promote these values and the decisions they underpin to make the world a more just place and to contribute to an ecologically sustainable future.
FIELDWORK AND INDEPENDENT LEARNING
Students are involved in a variety of experiences outside of the classroom. Years 7 and 8 Geography do participate in lessons outside the classroom , elsewhere on campus as particular knowledge and skills components of the Stage 4 course dictate. Year 9 Geography undertake a day fieldtrip to Balmain and Sydney Harbour to further their understanding of the dynamics of urban and community change. Year 10 Geography undertake a detailed study of the Illawarra coastline as part of their study of the topic “Coastal Management”. Senior Geographers undertake fieldwork ranging from local area biophysical studies and natural resource management studies to urban studies and visits to a dairy farm. Year 11 Society and Culture students visit a Mosque in Auburn in order to further their understanding of the Muslim faith.
A strong focus continues to be placed on students undertaking independent fieldwork investigations. Students in Years 10, 11and 12 in particular have produced some excellent original research in a variety of topic areas. The best of these projects may be entered in the Arthur Phillip Geography Fieldwork Competition conducted by the Geography Teachers Association of NSW. Junior Geography students undertake a variety of independent learning activities.
Year 9 Commerce students have the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in the area of business management. Students form small businesses, develop and design products, and then sell the products in a lunchtime market activity held in the quadrangle. Students gain first hand experiences in the pitfalls and challenges of running a business. Additionally, they gain satisfaction from their effort and consolidate their learning through first hand experience.
COMPETITIONS:
Students have the opportunity to participate in the following competitions:
1) Australian Geography Competition:
Over 80,000 students from over 800 schools Australia wide participate in this competition. Students have the chance to compare themselves Australia wide in terms of knowledge and skills in areas such as place geography, contemporary issues, and interpretative skills.
Weblink: Australian Geography Competition
2) The Australian Stock Exchange Sharemarket Game:
Students from Year 9 to Year 12 are encouraged to develop their skills in financial management. Students form syndicates and compete over a 3 month period to make a capital gain on an initial nominal $50,000 investment.
Weblink: ASX Sharemarket Game
3) The Australian Financial Literacy Assessment:
Students in Year 9 and Year 10 Commerce are given the opportunity to compete in this national competition involving financial literacy.
Weblink: Australian Financial Literacy Assessment |
