Catalyst: Junior Secondary Curriculum 2018 | Page 9

STRIVE – our Academic Talent Program Our Academic Talent Program, STRIVE, provides students with specific academic talents and encourages strong personal drive. STRIVE students have the opportunity to pursue learning that will challenge and inspire them to achieve more than they thought possible. Our STRIVE subjects extend and challenge student understanding and skills. Students in Years 8 and 9 can pursue STRIVE subject offerings in both Core and Discovery learning areas. This means that students who excel in non-mainstream subject areas are also given the chance to excel in their particular area of interest. STRIVE English (Advanced) Our STRIVE program allows students with similar interests and ability levels to come together, providing greater challenge and engagement through shared common interests. Previous STRIVE Discovery Courses have included: • Nanotechnology • Critical and Creative Writing • Education Technology in Practice • Neuroscience • Epidemiology Tom Year 8 STRIVE Maths (Advanced) My Discovery Course selections were based around courses that I thought I would enjoy, or where I might find a future career path. My selections in 2017 were Drama, Sports Science, Technology and Materials Studies and Small Business Project. Having studied Sports Science in Years 7 and 8, I am interested in pursuing a career in this area. Catalyst has given me a great variety of learning opportunities and made learning more interesting. I have learned to improve my preparation before sports games, different methods of philosophical thinking, how to use different machines, how to run a small business and how to edit movies. I think Catalyst is a good format for students. The Discovery Courses give us a good variety of options each semester whilst still focusing on the core courses. It works really well. Tom – Year 8 9