INTRODUCTION
Year 8 is an exciting year for our students and their families. The College endeavours to not only extend the use of their gifts and talents in the curriculum offered, but to continue to assist their transition into adulthood through pastoral means. Year 8 marks the first year of high school where students have some choice over what they study. With all choices come responsibilities.

All schools in WA are required to teach according to the outcomes set out in the mandated Australian Curriculum. The Curriculum sets out the knowledge, understandings, skills, values and attitudes that students are expected to acquire through their schooling to Year 12. In WA Catholic schools, a further Learning Area, Religious Education, has been mandated by the Church.

Particular attention is given to the holistic view of the curriculum, with an emphasis on teaching vital skills such as literacy, numeracy and social cooperation, whilst integrating knowledge, skills and values across all learning areas. The fundamental role of curriculum is the promotion of student enjoyment of learning and achieving one's potential is continually promoted.

In Year 8, students at Sacred Heart are given a broad experience across all nine learning areas – Religious Education, English, Health and Physical Education, Humanities, Languages (French or Japanese), Mathematics, Science, The Arts (visual and performing) and Technologies.

The transition from Year 7 into the important curriculum choices in the upper school years begins in Year 8. Year 8 should be a key year in developing the study skills and habits that are vital for success in secondary school.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Each Year 8 student will have the following period allocation per week:

• Religious Education - 3 periods in one semester, 4 periods in other
• Health & Physical Education - 3 periods in one semester, 4 periods in other
• Digital Technologies - 2 periods for one semester only
• English - 4 periods
• Mathematics - 4 periods
• Science - 4 periods
• Humanities - 4 periods
• Languages (Japanese or French) - 2 periods
• Two Elective subjects each term - 4 periods 
• Change Makers (Semester 1) - 2 periods

Year 8 students study subjects from all nine Learning Areas. In Years 9 and 10, students will have an opportunity to select elective subjects from The Arts, Technologies and Languages, whilst continuing to study subjects from the remaining six Learning Areas.

Students in Year 8 should note that if they intend to study Music in Year 11 and Year 12, they must complete Music in Years 7 to 10.