Year 8

In Year 8, students consolidate the skills developed in Year 7 while taking greater responsibility for their organisation, study routines, and learning goals. They begin to explore elective subjects, participate in whole-school sport, and deepen their understanding of formal assessment processes.

Year Adviser

Mr Jordan Toumazos

Deputy Principal

Mr Grant Godfrey

Key Contacts & Communication Channels

The people and channels below can assist students and families throughout the year. Please contact your child’s class teacher first for class-specific questions or concerns.

· Year Adviser: Mr Jordan Toumazos – first contact for general enquiries or wellbeing concerns. The Year Adviser can also refer to the Learning Support Team if additional learning support is required.

· Deputy Principal: Mr Grant Godfrey – oversees and supports all aspects of the year group’s learning and wellbeing needs.

· Class Teachers: find your child’s teachers via their timetable on Sentral for subject-specific enquiries or concerns.

· Administration Office: attendance, absence explanations, exemption forms, school fees, and general enquiries.

· Further assistance is available through the Wellbeing Hub, Learning Support Team, and Careers Office.
Classroom teachers make reasonable adjustments within lessons to support individual learning needs. Where a student requires or is eligible for additional assistance, this is coordinated through the Learning Support Team (LST) in consultation with staff and families. Visit the Learning Support page for more information.

If you’re unsure who to contact, the Administration Office can direct your enquiry to the right person. Contact us

Important Dates

Key dates for Year 8 are listed below. A full overview of school-wide events is available on the Whole-School Dates and Events page.

Learn about our key assessments and dates.

Important Dates
Event	Date	Notes
Swimming Carnival	Term 1, Week 2	Lambton Pool
Parent Information Evening	Parent Information Evening	Mini Hall – Year 8 Parent Information Evening 2025
Athletics Carnival	Term 1 Week 6	Fearnley Dawes Track
Cross Country Carnival	Term 1, Week 10	Lambton High School
Semester One Report	Term 2, Week 10	Distributed electronically via Sentral Parent Portal
Semester Two Reports	Term 4, Week 10	Distributed electronically via Sentral Parent Portal

For all additional or whole-school events such as Green Day, special assemblies, NAIDOC, ROSE Awards, and other community celebrations, visit the Whole-School Dates and Events page.

Dates for smaller excursions or subject-based activities will be shared through SchoolBytes, with individual permission notes.
Further details about major events already listed above will also be distributed through SchoolBytes and the school newsletter Short Takes.

Curriculum Structure & Learning Timeline

Year 8 students at Lambton High School follow a broad and balanced curriculum designed to build strong foundations across all key learning areas.
For detailed subject descriptions and assessment information, refer to the Year 8 Course and Assessment Handbook (PDF).

Students have six lessons each day, and subjects are allocated across a fortnightly timetable (accessible to students and parents via the Sentral portal) as follows:

Subjects
Subject	Periods
English	9 periods
Mathematics	9 periods
Science	9 periods
HSIE - two semesterised courses: History & Geography	7 periods
PDHPE (3 practical, 2 theory)	5 periods
Sport (integrated; separate to Years 8–10 cohort)	4 periods
Technology Mandatory - two semesterised courses: Textiles & Industrial Technology	6 periods
X-Elective	5 periods
Y-Elective	5 periods

In addition, students participate in:
• Lambton Learning Ladder (L3) – one period per fortnight. L3 uses inquiry-based learning to develop communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking through real-world projects.

• Weekly mentoring sessions that follow the GEM framework (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness) from The Resilience Project. These sessions run for approximately 20 minutes each week and help students develop wellbeing skills, emotional awareness, and positive connections with peers and staff.

Assessment tasks are scheduled progressively across the year to support learning in each subject. A detailed overview, including due dates and policies, is available in the Assessment Information section below.

The Year 8 program ensures all students experience the full range of Key Learning Areas and meets the mandatory study requirements set by NESA and the NSW Department of Education for Stage 4 learning.

Class Structure & Progression

Year 8 classes at Lambton High School are carefully formed during the transition process to ensure each student’s learning and wellbeing needs are supported.
The Learning and Support Teacher (LaST) works closely with partner primary schools to gather academic, wellbeing, and social-emotional information about each student.
Data sources include NAPLAN, Year 7 profiles, and information from teachers and support staff.

Core Class Structure

Students continue in core classes for English, Mathematics, Science, HSIE, and PDHPE.
These classes generally remain together for most of the school day, providing consistency in peer connections, a supportive learning environment, and coordinated teaching across subjects.

When forming Year 8 classes, the school considers information from Year 7, including academic progress, classroom engagement, and wellbeing data.

Two streamed classes, 8L and 8A, provide additional academic challenge for students who have demonstrated strong achievement across key learning areas.
These classes are balanced for both academic profile and gender.

All other classes are mixed-ability groups that reflect the diverse range of learners at Lambton High School.
When forming these classes, staff carefully consider:

maintaining balanced class sizes and gender distribution

separating students where known social or behavioural conflicts exist

supporting students who require adjustments by placing them where Learning and Support resources can best assist their needs

Class placements may be reviewed during the year to maintain balance or respond to significant changes in a student’s learning or wellbeing needs.

From Year 9 onwards, streamed placement typically occurs within individual Key Learning Areas, allowing subject-specific differentiation and targeted extension in areas of student strength.

Electives

All Year 8 students study two elective subjects for the year.
This experience introduces choice within the curriculum and helps students identify interests for Year 9 subject selection.

Students who were part of the CAPA Enrichment (7A) or E3 (7L) classes in Year 7 generally continue within their pathway — progressing to specialist CAPA subjects such as Drama, Music, or Visual Arts — however, they are also encouraged to explore new interests through their elective choices.
This supports a broad, balanced learning experience while maintaining opportunities for enrichment and extension.

Progression to Year 9

During Term 3, students receive information about Year 9 subject selection and course requirements.
They choose two elective subjects to be studied as 200-hour courses through Years 9 and 10.
The selection process is supported through information sessions, teacher guidance, and the Year 8 Parent Information Evening.

For detailed subject descriptions and elective information, refer to the Year 9 Course and Assessment Handbook (PDF).

School-Based Assessment

Assessment plays an important role in helping students demonstrate what they know and can do, while providing teachers and families with feedback on progress throughout the year. Assessment in Year 8 continues to build students’ skills in preparing for formal tasks and meeting deadlines.
The Year 8 Course and Assessment Handbook (PDF) outlines all tasks, weightings, and expectations for each subject, including policies on submission, late work, and academic integrity. Within the handbook, families will also find the Assessment Planner, which provides an at-a-glance schedule of formal tasks across the year — a useful tool for managing time and preparing for busy periods.

If a student is absent or unable to complete a task due to illness or misadventure, they should complete an Illness/Misadventure Form (available on their year-specific Canvas homepage) and submit supporting documentation promptly.
Junior (Years 7–9) applications are managed by the Head Teacher of the relevant faculty , while Senior (Years 10–12) applications are managed by the relevant Deputy Principal.

Assessment results and feedback are provided through Canvas, allowing students and families to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

External Assessments

Throughout the year, Year 8 students participate in several statewide assessments that provide valuable information about their learning progress and help guide teaching and support programs. The timing of these assessments is set by the NSW Department of Education, and the current schedule is available on the NSW DoE Assessment Dates page.

Check-in Assessment
Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 complete the Check-in Assessment, an online literacy and numeracy assessment developed by the NSW Department of Education. It provides diagnostic information to support individual learning goals.

VALID – Science
Year 8 and Year 10 students complete the VALID (Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development) assessment in Science. This assessment evaluates understanding of scientific concepts and skills developed throughout Stage 4.

Other Assessments
Occasionally, students may participate in other national, statewide, or international assessments that provide feedback on curriculum implementation and student learning – for example, PISA, TIMSS, or PIRLS.
Participation in these assessments is usually sample-based and may involve selected classes or cohorts only. Families will be notified through SchoolBytes and the school newsletter if additional assessments occur, including any permission or scheduling details.

Excursions & Wellbeing Activities

Excursions and wellbeing activities extend learning beyond the classroom and support social connection and personal growth. There are no overnight camps or major recurring annual excursions for Year 8. Subject-specific excursions and enrichment opportunities occur throughout the year to support curriculum learning. Families receive permission notes and details via SchoolBytes.

Wellbeing Activities and Sessions
Across the year, students participate in a variety of Wellbeing Activities and Mentor Sessions that support inclusion, resilience, and respectful relationships.
These sessions align with our school’s Care value and are guided by The Resilience Project’s GEM framework (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness).

Typical activities include:
• Police presentations on safety, respect, and decision-making
• R U OK? Day activities
• Harmony and Reconciliation Week sessions
• Whole-school initiatives such as the Colour Run, Green Day, and Elevate sessions

Information about upcoming wellbeing activities or incursions is communicated through SchoolBytes, year assemblies, and the school newsletter.

Other Excursions and Events
Subject-specific excursions and enrichment opportunities occur throughout the year to support learning in areas such as Science, HSIE, and CAPA. Families will receive permission notes and details via SchoolBytes.
Major events such as the Swimming, Athletics, and Cross Country Carnivals are listed in the Whole-School Dates and Events calendar.