Southern Cross is now offering full-time enrolments in Years 9 and Year 10 (Stage 5), as part of the “Ignite Your Passion” initiative,

The Performing Arts stream will provide a specialist pathway for gifted and talented students with experience in and a passion for the Performing Arts. Disciplines include;

  • Dance (Classical or Contemporary)
  • Drama, Music – Instrumental (Classical or Contemporary)
  • Music – Voice (Classical or Contemporary)
  • Musical Theatre (Singing, Dancing and Acting)

The College offers three creative and performing arts elective courses in Years 9-10: Dance, Drama and Music

The additional courses offered at the college cover the NESA syllabus requirements – developing the core skills of literacy and numeracy – and our Archdiocesan Religious Education curriculum.

Performing Arts NESA Curriculum – Stage 5

The Elective Dance course is designed for a range of students – from those performing in Dance Ensembles or Musicals, to those who have been training in an area of specialty such as contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, jazz, acrobatics and tap. 

In Dance, students are assessed in up to 70% practical skills – Performance and Composition, with the other 30% focused on Appreciation. 

Over the two years, Dance students study a variety of topics which include Safe Dance Practice, Jazz, Contemporary/Modern, Classical Ballet, Dance in other Cultures, Musical Theatre Jazz, Dance History, as well as completing composition projects.

Students can choose to study Dance for 100 hours (either in Year 9 or 10), or 200 hours (in both Years 9 and 10)

The Elective Drama course is designed for students who are keen to develop skills in the areas of Performing, Making and Appreciating. The practical component is 70% and the theory component is 30%.

Students study topics and skills such as Improvisation, Playbuilding, Scripted Theatre, Dramatic Forms (eg Realism, Shakespeare, & Playback Theatre), Monologues, and Characterisation. Students learn how to write scripts, and design their own elements of production (eg Costume, Lights, Sound & Set).

Students can choose to study Drama for 100 hours (either in Year 9 or 10), or 200 hours (in both Years 9 and 10).

Elective Music is a course for students who love to perform, compose, or listen to a wide range of music. 70% of this course is practical – Performance and Composition – and 30% focusses on Aural skills.

Topics covered over the two years include genres such as Rock, Popular, Blues, World Music, Theatre Music, Australian Art Music, Classical and Romantic.

When students choose Music, they must major in either voice or another instrument, and receive weekly private tuition. If students do not have access to a tutor outside of school, they may utilise on-site tutors. 

Music can be studied for 100 hours (in either Year 9 or 10), or for 200 hours (in both Years 9 and 10).

Students who study Music in both Years 9 and 10, pre-qualify for all Senior Music subjects including Music 1, Music 2 and Music Extension.

Religious Education is at the heart of Catholic education. It informs all aspects of school life and supports the evangelising and catechising mission of the Catholic Church. Through Religious Education, young people come to know and love the person of Jesus Christ.

Students in Years 9-12 are invited into a deeper and more intimate relationship with God through their exploration of the Scriptures, their participation in personal and communal prayer and their living out of Catholic social and moral teaching.

The secondary RE curriculum provides opportunities for young people to ‘see, judge and act’ in response to Jesus’ great commandment to love God and love others and thus, ‘live life to the full’.

The study of English in Years 9–10 aims to develop students’ knowledge, understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the English language and to develop their skills as effective communicators.

Students develop their control of language by reading and viewing a range of texts and by writing imaginative, interpretive and critical texts with clarity and accuracy for a range of purposes and audiences. Students engage with and explore literature of past and contemporary societies, as well as a range of spoken, visual, media and multimedia texts.

The Sydney Catholic Schools Statement on Literacy provides further elaboration on the principles of literacy and various roles within and across our schools.

The Mathematics syllabus provides students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in mathematics and working mathematically. Students have the opportunity to develop increasingly sophisticated and refined mathematical understanding, fluency, communication, reasoning, analytical thought and problem-solving skills. These capabilities enable students to respond to familiar and unfamiliar situations by employing strategies to make informed decisions and solve problems relevant to their present and future needs.

Through the study of Science students learn about our biological, chemical, geological, physical and technological world. They actively develop skills in planning and conducting investigations, recording and analysing data and problem solving. Students explore real world phenomena and develop solutions to authentic problems.

Human Society and its Environment is the study of how humans interact with the world, how society operates and how it is changing. Through the study of HSIE, students develop the skills to prepare them to actively and responsibly participate as informed citizens in the contemporary world.

Through the study of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education courses, students develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes needed to take action to protect and enhance their own and others’ health, safety and wellbeing in varied and changing contexts. Physical education is fundamental to the acquisition of movement skills and concepts to enable students to participate in a range of physical activities – confidently, competently and creatively.

Through the study of technology courses, students engage in a diverse range of practical experiences and develop knowledge and understanding of contemporary and advancing technologies. They develop solutions to identify problems and situations, and explore the impact of technologies on the individual, society and the environment.