Curriculum

In Year 10, girls complete their Stage 5 curriculum and meet the requirements of the Board of Studies for the School Certificate. The wide range of subject options beyond the core subjects required by the Board of Studies helps lay the foundations of good subject selection for a girl's final two years at Wenona.

In Years 11 and 12, the focus is on preparation for the Higher School Certificate. Girls may select up to 12 units from a broad range of subjects. We advise them to undertake a program of study that best suits their interests, abilities and career aspirations. Extension courses are available in English, Mathematics (both Preliminary and HSC courses), History, Music and some languages (HSC courses only).

Higher School Certificate elective subjects

Wenona offers these elective subjects to Years 11 and 12:

• Advanced English
• Ancient History
• Biology
• Business Studies
• Ceramics (Non-UAI)
• Chemistry
• Chinese (Beginners)
• Dance
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• Earth and Environmental Science
• Economics
• Extension 1 English
• Extension 2 English
• Extension 1 Mathematics
• Extension 2 Mathematics
• French (Continuers)
• General Mathematics
• Geography
• German (Continuers)
• Japanese (Continuers)
• Legal Studies
• Mathematics
• Modern History
• Music 1
• Music 2
• Personal Development, Health, Physical Education
• Physics
• Senior Science
• Standard English
• Studies of Religion (1 Unit)
• Studies of Religion (2 Unit)
• Textiles and Design
• Visual Arts
• Visual Design (Non-UAI)

Extension courses are available in Music, History and languages (French, German and Japanese).

As well as the languages Wenona offers, girls are supported in studying HSC languages through the Open High School or the Saturday School of Community Languages.

Certain VET courses are available, for example, Hospitality. These courses lead to an HSC qualification and the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accreditation.

Technology

Wenona is committed to providing an innovative Information Communication and Technologies (ICT) program that utilises technology to enhance teaching and learning.

Senior College students are issued with a school-owned laptop. These computers let students and staff enter a new world of curriculum possibilities, allowing authentic engagement in learning and teaching through online learning approaches, online chats and resources, and access to information, teachers and peers beyond the school's physical boundaries.

Student thinking, student participation and student interaction are much more accountable in the digitally equipped classroom. Laptop computers are customised to facilitate the exploration of key learning areas, resulting in more personalised learning.

This personalisation means that teachers and students communicate with each other electronically. Students can be asked to cast a vote, express an opinion, answer a question, respond to a survey, or participate in a lively real-time, online class discussion.

Wenona's laptop program is supported by a campus-wide wireless network. Through wireless connectivity, girls can use the network – in a classroom, in the garden, in a student common room, in their Boarding House - wherever and whenever they need it.

Laptop users have seamless access to the Internet, the Wenona Portal and other network software. Wireless connectivity lets our girls work collaboratively and share information quickly and easily with one another, with their teachers and with those beyond Wenona.

Careers advice

The Careers Counsellor at Wenona provides guidance and career education to enable girls to make informed decisions about their future pathways at school and beyond, and to make an effective transition to the world of work and training.

Wenona provides a careers service to all girls. The Careers Resource Room gives girls access to a variety of materials and resources, both online and in print. There are also sessions with guest speakers drawn from commerce, industry, universities, professions and the arts. Many speakers are past Wenona students.

A range of services is offered, including:

• individual and group counseling
• careers aptitude testing
• career management programs
• support for staff with specialist speakers in relevant subject areas
• co-ordinating trips and activities, such as visits to tertiary institution open days
• organising career work experience for girls
• assisting girls with the transition from school to tertiary training or the work force
• training in CV preparation and interview skills
• preparation for university and other tertiary institutions
• guidance in preparing enrolment applications to tertiary institutions
• facilitating overseas exchanges in senior years
• facilitating GAP placements