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Technologies: This Learning Area incorporates the subjects of Design & Technology, Digital Technology and Home Economics across Years 7-12.

Years 7 – 10

Knowledge, understandings and skills involved in the design, development and use of technologies are influenced by, and can play a role in, enriching and transforming societies and our natural, managed and constructed environments.

The Western Australian Curriculum: Technologies actively engages students in creating quality designed solutions for identified needs and opportunities across a range of technologies contexts. Students consider the economic, environmental and social impacts of technological change and how the choice and use of technologies contributes to a sustainable future. Decision-making processes are informed by ethical, legal, aesthetic and functional factors.

Through Design and Technologies students manage projects, independently and collaboratively, from conception to realisation. They apply design and systems thinking and design processes to investigate ideas, generate and refine ideas, plan, produce and evaluate designed solutions. They develop their ability to generate innovative designed products, services and environments.

At Thornlie SHS our interpretation of the WA curriculum provides students in Years 7&8 with opportunities to build skills and experience within a safe and stimulating workshop/kitchen environment. As students progress chronologically through each year, they can elect to specialise in a particular aspect of Technologies demonstrating increased input into projects that satisfy the requirements of design briefs.

Years 11&12

Our Senior students in the Technologies study courses that are vocationally based in that they lead to further training or direct employment in a trades based area. Students are offered a selection of courses that are either VET based as in the Certificate II courses or alternatively the SCSA subjects in Technologies. Each of these courses allows students to develop areas of specialisation and build skills in design and production. Coupled with Workplace Learning, students can use these subjects to demonstrate their skills to a prospective employer or tertiary training centre.

Digital Technologies

Digital systems are everywhere, mobile and desktop devices and networks are transforming learning, recreational activities, home life and work. Digital systems support new ways of collaborating and communicating, and require new skills such as computational and systems thinking. Technologies are an essential problem-solving toolset in our knowledge-based society.

The Western Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies empowers students to shape change by influencing how contemporary and emerging information systems and practices are applied to meet current and future needs. A deep knowledge and understanding of information systems enables students to be creative and discerning decision-makers when they select, use and manage data, information, processes and digital systems to meet needs and shape preferred futures.

Digital Technologies provides students with practical opportunities to use design thinking and to be innovative developers of digital solutions and knowledge. Digital Technologies enables students to become innovative creators of digital solutions, effective users of digital systems and critical consumers of information conveyed by digital systems.

At Thornlie SHS we provide access to a range of computer technologies which can be utilised as an aid to learning in every subject in the curriculum. In Digital Technologies there are further opportunities for students to develop various specialisations in such fields as Programming, Graphic Design, Technical Graphics and Network Engineering to name a few.

Years 11&12

Our Senior students in Technologies study courses that can be vocationally based in that they lead to further training or direct employment. Certificate II courses include Hospitality, Community Services, Engineering, Visual Arts (Furniture) and Business while interested students may alternatively choose the Certificate III course in Information Digital Media and Technology. This course is partnered with the Cisco Network Academy program as an industry partner. These courses require students to participate in WPL and achieve a certain amount of hours in the work place to achieve certificates.

Students are also offered a selection of ATAR courses such as Computer Science, Food Science, Applied Information Technology and Accounting and Finance. Each of these courses are examinable and used to calculate an ATAR score which can used to meet university entry requirements.

Steve Young – Head of Department

Science at Thornlie SHS is a key learning area that is well resourced and growing. We have a big and dedicated team of highly qualified teachers and laboratory technicians, each of whom is an expert in their chosen field.

We offer the full range of ATAR science subjects in senior school and have multiple classes in Physics, Human Biology and Chemistry. Now we have Integrated Science running and look forward to watching these important subjects grow and succeed. Our senior students score consistently well in their ATAR studies at Thornlie SHS and many have gone on to pursue successful science careers beyond school.

Our facilities include seven air-cooled laboratories and two large preparation areas all connected wirelessly to the internet. Our laboratories also have the latest interactive whiteboards with 5.1 digital surround sound. Uniquely, we have a large and secured plant nursery with the full range of supporting equipment including electronically controlled reticulation. Housed in this facility are our worm farms.

In Science, we run an Academic Extension (AE) pathway for year’s seven to ten. These students get an enriched and diversified curriculum that includes more challenging assessments as well as plenty of additional excursions and incursions. This year alone we’ve visited Scitech, Alcoa Refinery, Murdoch and Curtin Universities, Adventure World and the South East Regional Centre for Urban Landscapes. We’ve had visits from Kanyana Wildlife Sanctuary, Scitech, South Thornlie Primary, Edith Cowan University and even WA’s Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken. Each AE student is also required to participate in a range of external science competitions including the annual ICAS Exams and Rio Tinto’s Big Science Competition with formal recognition and prizes for competition winners. Their performance is closely monitored as enrolments in this program are highly competitive with many students applying to enter every year. Your child must perform to a high level to remain in this wonderful program. Following year ten, many of our AE students go on to choose science in senior school which helps explain our exceptional ATAR results. 

Mainstream students don’t miss out either; they get the best science education available. We use proven pedagogy that gets results and the latest teaching programs linked to the new Western Australian Curriculum. Students get expert tuition using a mix of direct instruction and an inquiry-based approach where they get plenty of opportunities to do experiments and investigations. Our staff know that by getting students out of their seats, working in groups and designing experiments that produce quality data, we are well on the way to implementing an engaging and effective science curriculum.

Finally, we have an exciting new STEM club running.  Importantly, given the importance of STEM education to our economy, we are also offering a completely new science STEM elective. This elective will delve much deeper into the world of robotics, coding and mechatronics providing students with pathways to possible future careers in this growing area.

Should you be interested we look forward to your child enrolling in our school and hope they succeed in their science studies like so many before them.

Jose Cuenca – Head of Department

Mathematics aims to develop the numeracy capabilities that all students need in their personal work and civic life and provide the fundamentals on which mathematical specialities and professional applications of mathematics are built. Additionally, it provides students with the ability to describe, interpret and reason about their social and physical world.

Mathematics at Thornlie aims to:

• Encourage students to develop an interest and a passion for Mathematics
• Instil in students an appreciation of the elegance and power of mathematical reasoning
• Provide a challenging curriculum that fosters appropriate academic and creative development
• Engage students in analytical, investigative and problem-solving strategies ( USSR )
• Provide opportunities for remediation to students who find Mathematics challenging.

In Year 7, all students follow a general program for the whole year (those selected for the Academic Excellence Program (AE) follow a different stream) and in Year 8, students are placed into specialised pathways to ensure that opportunities in Year 11, Year 12 and beyond are optimised. To find out more about the programs, click here.

For students with a drive to extend their mathematical interests and abilities, we offer the Academic Excellence stream in Years 7-10, with opportunities to participate in competitions and undertake additional assessments such as the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC).

With a focus on assisting each student to achieve their best, we provide daily “Homework Sessions” before school. these sessions are situated in Room 101 and are available from 8.00am through to 8.40am, when students are expected to proceed to their Period 1 class. We also have individually focused programs in place for students who have found difficulty in reaching their NAPLAN or OLNA targets.

At Thornlie, we see parents as partners because we know that true success in this discipline can only occur with parental support.

• Information regarding programmes of work, assessment items and results are all available to students and parents through COMPASS.
• Homework should be treated seriously by students (and supported by parents) as a means to validate understanding and application of concepts learned in class. Regardless of the new skill being learned, students will improve their performance only by regular practice.

The experienced staff in Mathematics are keen to work as a team, with parents, in ensuring the best outcomes for their children. Parents are invited to contact the relevant classroom teacher regarding their child’s progress or wellbeing. For all other issues, parents are requested to contact the Head of Department.

Mandeep Dhillon – Head of Department

 Mathematics Courses and Pathways

Humanities and Social Sciences at Thornlie Senior High School offers students a range of subjects which provide them with the knowledge and skills to develop and understand the world in which they live and how to be active and informed citizens in the 21^st century.

It is compulsory for students to study Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) in years 7 – 10. In each year students study four subjects – Geography, Economics, History and Civics and Citizenship.

In upper school, we offer a range of subjects which include Psychology ATAR, Politics and Law ATAR, Ancient History General and Career and Enterprise General.

Joseph Elson – Head of Department

Welcome to the English Learning Area!

At Thornlie Senior High School, English is an evolving and dynamic subject area that provides students with opportunities to explore the three interrelated strands of language, literature and literacy. Together, the strands focus on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating. Learning in English builds on concepts, skills and processes developed in earlier years, and teachers will revisit and strengthen these as needed.

In English, students communicate with peers, teachers, individuals, groups and community members in a range of face-to-face and online/virtual environments. They experience learning in familiar and unfamiliar contexts that relate to the school curriculum and local community. In Years 7 and 8, there is a focus on regional and global contexts, whilst in Years 9 and 10, vocational and global contexts are considered.

For Senior students, the English Learning Area provides a range of courses to suit every life path:

In Year 11 we offer:           

• Foundation English
• English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD)
• English
• English Literature
• ATAR EALD
• ATAR English

In Year 12, we offer:

• EALD
• English
• ATAR EALD
• ATAR English.

We look forward to sharing your English journey…

In 2017, Thornlie Senior High School began its journey into the world of STEM, with a focus on creating a sustainable future. We are fortunate to have many teachers with STEM backgrounds offering our students a wide variety of programs to engage in, namely:

• Design and Technology – Certificate II in Engineering, as well as a wide array of Technology Courses
• Digital Technologies – including Certificate III in I.T. and CISCO Certification
• A new dedicated year nine STEM Class that runs all year.
• An after-school STEM Club.
• Science enrichment in years 7 to 10 which includes a wide range of excursions and incursions involving universities, government agencies and private enterprise.
• A senior General Integrated Science course.
• Robo Cup and Solar Car Challenge.
• Waste Wise
• Recycling and composting program.
• eSport Club
• Sustainability Studies
• Powering Careers in Energy, in partnership with CHERVON.
• Cross-Curricular studies between Science, Maths and Technologies.

The library is open from 8.00am to 4.00pm during the school year. We are open at recess and lunch for students to read, play games, or catch up on schoolwork.

Resources available in the library include:

• A wide range of both fiction and non-fiction books that can be borrowed by students and staff.
• Study booths for group work, comfortable seating for reading.
• Access to computers for research and schoolwork.
• Board games, card games, and puzzles for students to use, including a giant outdoor chess game.
• A subscription to Wheelers ePlatform – a collection of eBooks and audiobooks for school age kids.
• A subscription to WorldBook Online to assist students with their research needs.

The library staff aim to work collaboratively with subject teachers in order to:

• promote the centre as a source of materials for leisure activities and educational purposes.
• actively support the educational aims and programs of the school
• foster positive attitudes toward learning

Important Links

	Library Catalogue For finding resources available in the Library
	ClickView Educational Videos Movies and TV shows                                          (Limited to age appropriate titles)
	Wheelers e platform ebooks and Audiobooks
	World book Online Encyclopedia a good starting point for all research assignments.

Library enquires can be sent to thornlie.shs.library@education.wa.edu.au

The aim of Connect is to provide a secure internet service that allows teachers to provide information about the teaching and learning activities occurring in their classes directly to parents. Participation in Connect is optional but we strongly encourage all parents to use the service but you will require internet access and a computer. No additional software is required. The Department of Education will issue you with a unique user name and password which will provide you with access to Connect.

Connect will provide general class information to you about the teaching and learning activities that your child is currently undertaking. The service allow more flexible communication between parents and teachers as well as providing personalised information about your child’s learning activities and progress.

In order for you to take part in Connect, please review the attached Parent Flyer and contact the school so we can confidentially issue you with your own unique user name and password as well as access details for Connect.