Announcement |

We warmly invite you to our 2023 Open Evening / Option Evening! Tuesday 2nd August, 4pm – 7.30pm. Click here for more information.

Social Sciences’

Welcome to year 9 & 10 Social Sciences’

Social Sciences’ incorporates the compulsory year 9 & 10 Social Studies and two electives: History and NEXT Business Academy.

Social Sciences’ includes the subjects of Social Studies, History, Geography, Economics and Enterprise Studies. All students take Social Sciences’ from Years 7 to 10, with more specialised subjects being offered in addition to Social Studies as options at Year 9 and 10.

There are a wealth of opportunities for students including:

  • Field trips – both day long optional overnight trips
  • Banqer – an online financial literacy program using gamification as a teacher
  • Competitions – e.g. Ethics Olympiad, Sorted in Schools Money Jam
  • Market Day – to build up and operate your own business, earning your own money
  • Future Problem Solving, Debating, sustainability, gory history and business hub Friday electives
  • Business Hub Friday afternoon elective
  • A regular stream of guest speakers on a range of Social Science and Business subjects

As our students take part in a rapidly changing world they will require more and more the transferable skills that Social Sciences’ subjects offer them. Students learn a range of skills across our subjects including:

  • Formal writing including essays
  • Use of IT and computer software to layout posters, create mind maps, format formal writing, use templates and sophisticated use of word processing applications, use calendar apps, email and more
  • Work cooperatively with friends and with new students
  • Time Management and study skills
  • Literacy and Numeracy skills such as graphing, analysis and reading for understanding

Social Studies (compulsory)

Our Social Studies program is inquiry based meaning that every unit of study begins with a question, e.g. “By insisting on my human rights might I deny others their human rights?” or “Is democracy the only legitimate form of government in today’s world?” or “What can one person do to make our planet environmentally sustainable?” or “What impacts does cultural interaction have on a country’s culture and identity.”

Social Studies is the study of human interaction with each other and the world around us, both past, present and future.  We delve into topics such as globalisation and sustainability, history and culture, human rights, forms of governments, consumer law, and geography.

Each year students embark on a project based learning assessment where they get to select a way they want to make a positive difference in our world in a practical and meaningful way. Students follow an inquiry model to design and carry out their project in consultation with their teacher.

Trips and guest speakers are a popular feature of Social Studies and teachers spend considerable time finding the very best EOTC opportunities for our akonga.

We incorporate universal design for learning principles so that students have choice in the mode of their assessment (for example, written report, podcast, video, speech etc) and provide scaffolded learning opportunities for our ESOL and learner support students.

Students are invited to participate in a number of local, national and international competitions including:

  • Auckland National ASSA Quiz
  • Future Problem Solving
  • Ethics Olympiad
  • Minecraft Sustainability Challenge

History

Those who don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it! Knowing our world’s history develops a broad general knowledge, critical thinking, research and debating skills and a curious mind.

In year 9 students can elect to take a one semester history course that delves into a war, technology and inventions and a self selected topic.

In year 10 students take a year long history course that looks at a war, the Roman Empire including a look at Pompei and Mt Vesuvius, a self selected topic and a modern topic.

NEXT Business Academy

The AJHS ‘NEXT Business Academy’ has been developed to provide students with an authentic business environment in which to develop their entrepreneurial skills. The programme will develop  students’ skills and provide experiences which will lay the foundations for further learning in the world of business.

The AJHS Business Academy wants to create the NEXT generation of entrepreneurs:

Networked – within the local Albany  community,

Equipped – with a wealth of entrepreneurial skills and knowledge

Xperienced – via a range of authentic business ventures

Transformed – into young adults who are confident, connected and actively involved lifelong learners.

THE TWO YEAR PROGRAMME INCLUDES:

  • Business Planning and carry out
  • Business Set-up, structure and operation
  • Business Objectives and Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Marketing and consumer law
  • Human Resource Management
  • Financial Literacy including Tax knowledge, government assistance, research and development
  • Investing – shares, property, managed funds
  • Event Management
  • Public Speaking
  • Accounting
  • Importing / Exporting
  • International Business Opportunities

The knowledge and skills gained in the ‘Business Academy’  and exposure to enterprise culture, can help shape “creative, energetic, and enterprising” young people who will contribute to NZ’s economic future. This course aims to develop in students a “can do attitude” and the ability to “make things happen.” This course is about student ownership and teacher facilitation.  There will be a number of school trips, guest speakers from industry and opportunities for students to sell goods and services for profit.

Students may take elect Business Academy and combine it with the Friday afternoon Business Hub where an even greater exposure to the practical outworkings of business can take place. Students will be supported to begin their own business venture.

Students typically select Business Academy over two years, but it is also possible to pick it up in year 10.