8
INTRODUCTION
THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR CORPUS JOURNEY
In Year 8, you get to take increased ownership over your learning by choosing some of the subjects you study. While you will still study your core subjects of Religious Education, Maths, Digital Technologies, English, Science, Humanities, a Language, Physical Education and Health, you will also have the opportunity to select 4 specialist subjects to study across the year (2 each semester). These specialist subjects only run for one semester, so you will be able to increase your expertise in a wide range of unique specialist areas.
When choosing your specialist subjects, think about what you enjoy and what you might want to explore. This is your chance to try something new, even if you have never done it before.
You will not miss out in the future if you do not pick a subject now. For example, you can still study Outdoor Education in Year 9, even if you do not choose it in Year 8. Your Year 8 choices are about exploring your interests, not limiting your future.
Make sure to talk with your family, teachers, and caregivers as you make your choices. But remember, this is your learning journey, and we encourage you to take the lead as you take your next steps.
YEAR 7
In their first year of high school, Year 7 students are introduced to the wide variety of learning opportunities available at Corpus Christi College. They complete a term-long rotation through eight specialist subjects across the Design and Technology and Arts disciplines. This provides a strong foundation and sparks interest across a diverse range of creative and practical areas.
YEAR 8
In Year 8, students begin to refine their interests by selecting from a range of semester-long electives in the Design and Technology and Arts disciplines. This choice empowers students to begin tailoring their learning journey in line with their passions and developing expertise in areas of interest.
YEAR 9
By Year 9, students are encouraged to deepen their focus and extend their skills through a wide variety of specialised elective courses. With over 35 programs on offer, students can explore electives across all learning areas, including options that connect with Science, Humanities, and the Performing Arts.
At this stage, students can also apply to participate in year-long specialist extension programs through the Spark Path, designed for those seeking greater challenge and enrichment in their learning.
YEAR 10
Year 10 is a time for confident decision-making, as students begin to shape the final two years of their schooling. They are encouraged to select from a diverse range of specialised courses aligned with their senior pathway goals. Students may choose to deepen their learning in a particular discipline or explore new areas through certificate courses, university-endorsed micro-credentials, and workplace learning opportunities.
YEAR 11 & 12
In their final years, students craft a personalised study program, selecting from a broad array of pathways that support their post-school ambitions. This may include ATAR courses, General subjects, industry-focused work placements, or a combination of options. Students can also complete university enabling programs that offer direct entry into tertiary education. At every stage, Corpus Christi College supports students to grow in confidence, capability and independence, empowering them to forge a future that reflects their unique strengths and aspirations.
RATIONALE
Students should use specialist subjects to continue to explore their interests and passions.
Students should involve their families and stakeholders in the decision process but take overall responsibility for their final selections.
Students must choose a maximum of 4 elective subjects in total for the year. Two for Design & Technology and two for The Arts.
COURSES OFFERED
2026 SUBJECT SELECTIONS
LEARNING AREA
Design and Technology
COURSES OFFERED IN YEAR 8 IN 2026
SUBJECT
Food - Seasonal Street Food
Metal - Industrial Arts
Metal - Metal Craft
Textiles - Fabric Fundamentals
Textiles - Sustainable Textiles
Wood - Building Blocks
Wood - With the Grain
STEM Brick By Brick: The Lego Engineering Challenge
Music
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Swift Code Developer
Music in Motion: Performing & Producing
Music: Hear It, Feel It, Play It!
Dance: Find Your Groove
Drama: Step into the Spotlight
Drawing and Media Exploration
Media Arts
Painting Fundamentals
Sculpture and Ceramics
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
FOOD - SEASONAL STREET FOOD
Seasonal Street Food brings the finest and freshest tastes to the kitchen. Explore the advantages of enjoying produce at its peak from enhanced nutrition to the simplicity of preparing meals with fresh, locally grown ingredients.
METAL - INDUSTRIAL ARTS
Industrial Art is an engaging Year 8 elective offered within the Design and Technology learning area. Students will embark on a series of hands-on projects that will challenge them to directly shape, form, and, crucially, join metal using a range of essential tools and techniques. Proficiency will be developed in using traditional hand tools and appropriate machine tools for processes such as cutting, forming, and various joining methods to create their unique designed solutions.
METAL - METAL CRAFT
Metal Craft is an engaging Year 8 elective offered within the Design and Technologies learning area, specifically designed to introduce students to the exciting world of metalwork through a hands-on approach focusing on the manual manipulation of steel. This introductory course aims to help students increase their skills and knowledge in working with metal.
Students will engage in a series of set projects that emphasise the direct shaping and forming of steel, providing them with the opportunity to develop techniques that foster both broad educational and industry-level skills. The curriculum is structured to build proficiency and confidence in using a variety of traditional hand tools for processes like cutting, bending, hammering, and filing, alongside appropriate portable power tools and machines for initial preparation or refinement.
DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY
TEXTILES - FABRIC FUNDAMENTALS
Fabric Fundamentals is an introductory course into the world of textiles. Students will gain the practical skills and knowledge around the creation of fabric-based products. Students will be tasked with designing and producing a product with a served function, utilising the design process.
TEXTILES - SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES
This title highlights the Year 8 curriculum’s focus on “sustainable fashion”, and the importance of “reduce, re-use and recycle materials”. It also points to the broader D&T aim of considering environmental impacts.
WOOD - BUILDING BLOCKS
Building Blocks is a foundational Year 8 elective that focuses on the fundamentals of woodworking and hand tools. Students will be introduced to various joinery skill exercises. These skills will be utilised in a final project that students must design and produce through the design process.
WOOD - WITH THE GRAIN
With the Grain is a foundational Year 8 elective that focuses on the fundamentals of woodworking and hand tools. Students will be exposed to the manual manipulation of timber, utilising whittling techniques. These skills will be utilised in a final project that students must design and produce through the design process.
STEM
BRICK BY BRICK: THE LEGO
ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
Dive into the world of creativity, engineering, and teamwork. This course, inspired by the exhilarating First LEGO League (FLL), is designed for students eager to explore the exciting realms of robotics and technology. Throughout the course, students will engage in hands-on learning through building and programming LEGO robots to complete various missions, fostering a deep understanding of engineering and coding principles.
Tackle real-world problems through participating in themed challenges that mirror real-world issues, encouraging innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Collaborate and compete by working in teams to strategise design, and execute solutions, honing their collaboration and communication abilities. Present innovative ideas through developing and presenting projects that address current global challenges, enhancing research and presentation skills. Join us in this dynamic course where creativity meets technology, and teamwork drives innovation. Unleash your potential as you embark on a journey to become a true LEGO Mastermind!
SWIFT CODE DEVELOPER
This course is designed for aspiring developers who want to master ‘Swift’, Apple’s powerful programming language used to build iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS applications. Whether you’re new to coding or looking to sharpen your skills, this interactive program will guide you through the fundamentals of Swift, advanced concepts, and real-world app development. By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence to code your own apps, share them with friends, and maybe even launch your first project on the App Store. Ready to start coding? Let’s do this!
MUSIC
MUSIC IN MOTION: PERFORMING & PRODUCING
This dynamic course invites students to explore both the performance and production sides of music. Whether building on an instrument they already play or trying something new, students will gain hands-on experience in music-making. Alongside live performance, they will learn the fundamentals of digital music production, using software to compose, record, and edit their own music.
Designed to foster creativity and technical skill, this course helps students grow in confidence as performers while developing an understanding of the tools and techniques used in contemporary music creation. Music in Motion is ideal for students who enjoy performing, experimenting with sound, and bringing their musical ideas to life.
MUSIC: HEAR IT, FEEL IT, PLAY IT!
Get ready to tune in and turn up your musical skills! You’ll discover how to truly hear music, not just play it. Inspired by the creative genius Zoltán Kodály, a legendary Hungarian composer who believed that everyone can be musical, you’ll learn to train your ears and voice using Sol-fa (think: do, re, mi!). Through fun games, singing activities, rhythm challenges, and hands-on practice, you’ll develop powerful musicianship skills that will help you play, perform, and understand music like a pro. It’s all about listening, connecting, and making music that feels right.
PERFORMING ARTS
DANCE: FIND YOUR GROOVE
In Year 8 Dance, you’ll build on your skills and creativity while exploring fun and energetic styles like hip hop & contemporary dance. You’ll learn to perform with control, focus, and confidence, and work in groups to choreograph a routine based on the theme of Contrasting Colours.
You’ll continue developing your technique and use the elements of dance to communicate meaning through movement. You’ll also reflect on how different styles express ideas in different ways.
This course is perfect for anyone who wants to be creative, expressive, and active, whether you’ve danced before or are brand new to dance.
DRAMA - STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
You’ll step beyond the classroom and onto the stage, learning how to create powerful performances and memorable characters. Across the semester, you’ll plan, rehearse, and perform scenes using professional drama techniques that build confidence and creativity.
You’ll explore representational theatre with scenes inspired by real events like the Colditz Castle escapes. You’ll learn Stanislavski’s acting methods, stage blocking, costume design, and how different stage types and positions enhance storytelling. You’ll get creative with allegorical characters that represent big ideas like Freedom or Fear. Using symbolic props, movement techniques from LeCoq, and original monologues, you’ll bring these characters to life and work in teams to devise scenes about real issues faced by young people. This high-energy, hands-on course is 80% practical and perfect for creative thinkers who love working in groups and expressing ideas through performance.
VISUAL ARTS
DRAWING AND MEDIA EXPLORATION
This course offers students a deeper exploration of drawing as a foundation for visual arts. Using a range of traditional and modern materials, students will develop their technical skills and learn how to express ideas visually. Through creative experimentation and mixed-media approaches, students will produce a series of artworks, including a major piece selected for exhibition.
MEDIA ARTS
This introductory course gives students a hands-on experience in the exciting world of media. Students will explore how images, sound, and text work together to tell stories, share ideas, and influence audiences. They will learn the basics of animation, photography and print media while working individually and in groups to create short media projects. This course builds creative and technical skills and encourages students to think critically about the media they see every day.
PAINTING FUNDAMENTALS
This course offers students a deeper exploration of painting as a foundation for visual arts. Using a range of traditional and modern materials, students will develop their technical skills and learn how to express ideas visually. Through guided painting workshops, students will produce a series of artworks, including a major piece selected for exhibition.
SCULPTURE AND CERAMICS
In this hands-on course, students will explore the world of three-dimensional art through sculpture and ceramics. They will learn how to shape and build with clay and other materials, while discovering different techniques such as hand-building, carving, and modelling. Students will study how artists use form and texture to express ideas and will create a range of artworks, including a final piece to be displayed.
DECISION TIME
HOW DO I SELECT MY SUBJECTS?
Read Year 8 Handbook and discuss subject options with my parents.
Contact my teachers if I have any questions about subjects or selections (see contact list on the following page).
Make a final decision on which 4 subjects I would like to study. Select two reserve subjects also.
Complete subject selection using the login and code sent via email.
*PLEASE NOTE: all electives are subject to availability and enrolment numbers. Every effort will be made to ensure students receive their exact choices, however, this may not be possible in all cases.
CONTACT
General questions about subject selections
Questions about Arts Subjects
Questions about Technology & Enterprise Subjects
Questions about Media Arts
Your Homeroom Teacher in the first instance or the Head of Year 7, Mrs Erin Thomasz.
Contact specialist teachers, depending on the Arts speciality area you are enquiring about.
Mr Tyson Jones - Head of Learning Area for Technology & Enterprise
Mr James Dove - Coordinator of Digital Integration
Erin.thomasz@cewa.edu.au
Visual Arts – Brigitte Pedraza Delgado Brigitte.pedrazadelgado@cewa.edu.au
Dance / Drama – Jo-Anne Palmer Jo.palmer@cewa.edu.au
Music – Charles Pinkham Charles.pinkham@cewa.edu.au
Tyson.jones@cewa.edu.au
James.dove@cewa.edu.au
