In human society and its environment (HSIE), both subjects of history and geography are mandatory from Kindergarten to Year 10.
Students learn specific historical and geographical concepts and skills in history and geography. They also have an opportunity to learn more about people and the societies and environments in which they live through elective subjects in Years 7 to 10 (Stages 4 to 5).
A large number of individual subjects make up the key learning area of HSIE in which students:
- research, gather and analyse information
- question and make judgements
- write for a variety of purposes.
In Year 11 and 12, students can choose from a range of HSIE courses. These include:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Ancient History
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- History Extension
- Legal Studies
- Modern History
- Society and Culture
- Studies of Religion.
The HSIE faculty at Francis Greenway High Schools offers a wide range of courses across the school curriculum. The faculty promotes student centered and independent learning through group work and individual research in a supportive caring environment.
The faculty aims to create a learning environment that:
- Sets high expectations of student achievement, behaviour and ethos of cooperation, sharing and community.
- Holds relevance of material taught to the students
- Encourages active student engagement
- Fosters and builds a greater understanding on literacy, numeracy, problem solving. The development of these key thinking skills can then be applied across all subject areas.
- Encouragement of students to partake in extra-curricular activities including state and national competitions
Faculty Structure
History and Geography are mandatory subjects for students of FGHS in stages four and five. Students are engaged in learning within these courses for one semester each year. Elective subjects are studied in stages five and six and are studied by students throughout the entire school year.
Stage 4 and 5
Commerce ( Stage 5 only)
The aim of the Commerce is to enable young people to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills so that they can make sound decisions about consumer, financial, economic, business, legal, political and employment issues. It develops in students the ability to research information, apply problem-solving strategies and evaluate options in order to make informed and responsible decisions as individuals and as part of a community.
Geography
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 engage in the community as informed and active citizens.
History
The aim of the History syllabus is to stimulate students' interest in and enjoyment of exploring the past, to develop a critical understanding of the past and its impact on the present, to develop the critical skills of historical inquiry and to enable students to participate as active, informed and responsible citizens.
"The world's finest wilderness lies beneath the waves…"
- Wyland, Marine Life Artist
Stage 6
Ancient History
The study of Ancient History enables students to acquire knowledge and understanding, historical skills, and values and attitudes essential to an appreciation of the ancient world; to develop a lifelong interest and enthusiasm for ancient history; and to prepare for informed and active citizenship in the contemporary world.
Geography
The aim of Geography Stage 6 is to enable students to study the spatial and ecological dimensions of biophysical and human phenomena in a changing world.
Without Geography you're nowhere!
Geographers are space explorers!
Georaphy - the subject with latitude!
Geography - the learning from life!
Business Studies
Business Studies aims to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and values which enable students to make judgments about the performance of businesses in a dynamic business environment.
Legal Studies
Legal Studies develops students' knowledge, understanding and critical thinking skills in relation to the legal system and its effectiveness in promoting a just and fair society, with a view to empowering students to participate effectively as responsible citizens at the local, national and international level.
Modern History
Modern History is designed to enable students to acquire knowledge and understanding, the skills of critical analysis and synthesis, and values and attitudes essential to an appreciation of forces that have shaped the modern world; to develop a lifelong interest in the study of history; and to prepare them for informed and active citizenship in the contemporary world.
Who controls the past controls the future:
Who controls th epresent controls the past-
George Orwell
Society and Culture
The aim of Society and Culture Stage 6 is for students to achieve social and cultural literacy by developing their knowledge and understanding about societies and cultures, developing their social and cultural research skills, and promoting positive values and attitudes essential to achieving social and cultural literacy.
Work Studies
The aim of the Work Studies syllabus is to enable young people to develop the skills, knowledge, understanding and confidence to allow them to experience a successful transition from school to work and further education and training.
Retail Operations
The following competencies will be completed to achieve a certificate II in Retail Services
- Apply point-of-sale handling procedures
- Interact with customers
- Organise and maintain work areas
- Communicate in the workplace to support team and customer outcomes
- Operate retail technology
- Work effectively in a customer service environment
- Minimise loss
- Apply safe work practices
- Sell products and services
- Merchandise products
- Advise on products and services
- Balance and secure point-of-sale terminal
- Perform stock control procedures
- Plan, create and maintain displays
- Perform retail finance duties
A dream doesn't become reality through magic;
It takes sweat, determination and hard work.
Colin Powell
Student enrichment activities
- Hyde Park Barracks
- Fairfax Printing Beresfield
- Sport and Recreation Sailing (Central Coast)
- Business Studies Study Day
- Year 10 Coastal Management (*2)
- Retail Training Day
- MUNIS
- Hunter Wetlands
- ASX Stock market game
- Geography Teachers Association statewide skills test
- Fishing Newcastle harbor
- Sydney police and Justice Museum
- Maitland Court House
- Maitland Goal
- Newcastle Fish Cooperative