Year 9 Program: Making Connections
The program aims to enlarge students’ perception of their world and of themselves and the possibilities and resources available to them. It supplements classroom learning by allowing students to engage in interesting, authentic and inspirational learning both inside and outside the school environment. The program has a different focus and different curriculum goals each term and the term’s activities are linked to, and are supported by relevant subject areas.
TERM 1: Exploring St. Kilda
The term’s focus is on the area of St Kilda, with students exploring the various attractions this community has to offer, its historical past and diverse present. Students conduct research in St Kilda during Term One and complete three tasks: an oral presentaiton on an aspect of homelessness, a tourist brochure and historical PowerPoint.
TERM 2: Careers
The term’s focus is to encourage students to begin considering possible career opportunities in their future. It helps to prepare them for part time work by producing a coverletter, resume and ultimately participating in a formal mock interview. It helps prepare them for their Year 10 work experience.
TERM 3: Cityscape Melbourne
Cityscape is an innovative education program that uses the city to inspire learning. Over the term, student teams carry out an active research project throughout the city and engage in workshops with Cityscape’s diverse organisational partners.
Cityscape involves:
* an action research project – where small teams of students explored a topic of interest by interacting with the community in the CBD
* hands-on workshops with various Cityscape partner organisations exploring key issues such as homelessness, fitness and youth media
TERM 4: A Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
The term’s focus is on the development of a healthy body and mind. As part of this unit, students experienced a number of alternative learning activities:
* Spinning / Boxing classes
* Bowling
* Yoga
* Meditation
* Preparation and eating of a healthy lunch
* A variety of guest speakers
* Visit to the IMAX theatre and Melbourne Museum
