Year 9

In Year 9, students enter Stage 5 and begin working towards the Record of School Achievement (RoSA). The focus is on developing independent study habits, deepening subject knowledge, and taking increasing responsibility for learning and organisation. Students also commence the first year of their two-year commitment to two 200-hour elective courses, chosen at the end of Year 8, which allow them to explore areas of interest in greater depth and begin shaping future study and career directions.

Year Adviser

Ms Anne Grivas

Deputy Principal

Mr Darren Mitten

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: Ms Anne Grivas – first contact for general enquiries or wellbeing concerns. Deputy Principal: Mr Darren · Deputy Principal: Mr Darren Mitten – oversees and supports all aspects of the year group’s learning and wellbeing.

· 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 9 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
Parent Information Evening	Term 1 Week 3	Mini Hall – Slides will be uploaded
Swimming Carnival	Term 1, Week 2	Lambton Pool
Athletics Carnival	Term 1 Week 6	Fearnley Dawes Track
Cross Country Carnival	Term 1, Week 10	Lambton High School
Subject Selection for Year 10	Term 3 Week 6	Information shared via assembly and Canvas
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 9 students at Lambton High School study a combination of core and elective subjects as part of the Stage 5 curriculum. For detailed subject descriptions and assessment information, refer to the Year 9 Course and Assessment Handbook (PDF).

Students have six lessons each day, organised on a fortnightly timetable accessible via Sentral portal as follows:

Subjects
Subject	Periods
English	9 periods
Mathematics	9 periods
Science	9 periods
HSIE - History & Geography	8 periods
PDHPE (3 practical, 2 theory)	5 periods
Sport	4 periods
X-Elective (200hr)	8 periods
Y-Elective (200hr)	8 periods

Students continue to build on the skills developed in earlier years, focusing on critical thinking, communication, and self-management. Teachers guide students to refine research, writing, and digital literacy skills across all Key Learning Areas.

Mentoring sessions continue to follow the GEM framework (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness) from The Resilience Project, supporting social-emotional learning and wellbeing.

Assessment tasks are scheduled progressively across the year. A detailed overview, including task dates and policies, is available in the Assessment Information & Credentials section below.

Class Structure & Progression into Year 10

Year 9 classes at Lambton High School are designed to provide stability while allowing increasing specialisation as students move through Stage 5.

Core Class Structure

Each Key Learning Area (KLA) forms its own classes based on student achievement data and teacher recommendations from the previous year. English, Mathematics, Science, HSIE and PDHPE may stream classes independently to best support student learning.
The L and T classes are academically higher-achieving groups, while all other classes are typically mixed-ability, reflecting the diversity of learners across the cohort.

Class formation is overseen by the Head Teachers of each KLA, who work collaboratively with the Learning Support Team (LST) and Year Adviser to ensure academic balance, social compatibility, and equitable access to support.

Elective Classes

In Year 9, students begin studying the two elective subjects they selected at the end of Year 8. Each elective runs for 200 hours across Years 9 and 10, allowing sustained skill development and deeper learning in areas of interest.

Assessment Information & Credentials

Assessment helps students demonstrate what they know and can do, while providing feedback for improvement.

The Year 9 Course and Assessment Handbook (PDF) outlines all formal assessment tasks, weightings, and policies on submission, late work, and academic integrity.
Students and families can also access the Assessment Planner, which provides an at-a-glance schedule of due dates across all subjects.

If a student is unable to complete a task due to illness or misadventure, they should submit an Illness/Misadventure Form (available on Canvas). Documentation such as a medical certificate should be provided promptly.

Results and teacher feedback are accessible through Canvas and Sentral.

Preparing for the RoSA

Year 9 marks the beginning of formal preparation for the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) – the credential awarded by NESA at the completion of Year 10.

Students begin accumulating grades that reflect consistent effort and achievement across Stage 5 subjects.
Regular attendance, engagement, and completion of all assessment tasks are essential for eligibility.

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 9 continues to build students’ skills in preparing for formal tasks and meeting deadlines.
The Year 9 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 9 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.

NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is undertaken by all students in Years 7 and 9. It assesses key skills in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and numeracy.
Results provide insight into each student’s literacy and numeracy growth since primary school and help teachers identify areas for additional support or extension.
Further information about NAPLAN, including dates and preparation advice, will be shared with families closer to the testing period.

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 9. 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.