HSIE

The HSIE (Human Society and Its Environment) faculty has the very important task of introducing students to the humanities and social sciences through a broad selection of mandatory and elective courses.

Ample opportunity exists for all students to find their passion and achieve their potential through a variety of extension and enrichment activities, which have been incorporated into all teaching programs.

Our faculty also has a strong focus on development of our students' literacy, research and critical thinking skills along with field study opportunities.

Courses

The HSIE faculty offers a diverse range of courses.

Year 7

All Year 7 students complete the Mandatory Stage 4 History Course covering the topics of:

• The Ancient World
• Investigating The Past
• The Mediterranean World

All Year 7 students complete the Mandatory Stage 4 Geography Course, which from 2017 will include the new Geography Curriculum topics of:

• Landscapes and Landforms
• Water In the World

Year 8

All Year 8 students complete the Mandatory Stage 4 History Course covering the topics of:

• The Ancient to The Modern World
• The Asia - Pacific World
• Expanding Contacts

All Year 8 students complete the Mandatory Stage 4 Geography Course which from 2018 will include the new Geography Curriculum covering the topics of:

• Place and Liveablity
• Interconnections

Year 9

All Year 9 students complete the Mandatory Stage 5 History Course covering the topics of:

• The Making Of The Modern World
• Australians at War

All Year 9 students complete the Mandatory Stage 5 Geography Course which from 2017 will include the new Geography Curriculum covering the topics of:

• Sustainable Biomes
• Changing Places

Year 10

All Year 10 students complete the Mandatory Stage 5 History Course covering the topics of:

• The Modern World and Australia
• Rights and Freedoms
• Australia In The Vietnam War Era

All Year 10 students complete the Mandatory Stage 5 Geography Course which from 2018 will include the new Geography Curriculum covering the topics of:

• Environmental Change & Management
• Human Wellbeing

As a result of studying these mandatory courses, students develop a more sophisticated understanding of the interaction between humans and natural phenomena so that they may be more informed, active and responsible members of society.

Stage 5 Elective courses available for Year 9 and10 Students

Students also have the option of studying electives in years 9 and 10. In addition to their mandatory HSIE courses student may elect to follow; elective History (People In Time), elective Geography (Global Studies), elective Commerce and Big History (History of People and the Universe, Philosophy & Ethics.)

• People In Time (Elective History)
• Global Studies (Elective Geography)
• Commerce
• Big History

Stage 6 Courses - Year 11 and 12

The senior courses offered are: Ancient History, Business Studies, Economics, Geography, Legal Studies, Marine Studies, Modern History, History Extension, Studies of Religion, Society & Culture.

Excursions

Excursion opportunities vary from year to year, but some of the regular opportunities our students enjoy include:

• A Broken Head Excursion to the National Park and Nature Reserve
• Minyon Falls waterfall trail walk
• Fieldwork at Belongil/Tallows/Main Beach
• Sea Kayaking in Byron Bay
• Byron Arts & Industrial Estate
• Byron Bay Court
• The South Passage Sailing trip around Moreton Bay and Stradbroke Island

Competitions

We encourage our gifted and talented students to participate in a range of competition, some of which include:

• Australian Geography Competition for Years 8, 9 and 10
• Australian History Competition for Years 8 and 10
• ASX Business Studies Competition for Year 10 Commerce Students

Teachers