Year 9 Challenges commence

Unique to the Year 9 curriculum at Shelford are the Year 9 Challenge Weeks. These weeks provide our students with unique learning opportunities that exist outside the classroom. 

On the last week of Term 1, the Year 9s commenced the first of their Challenge Weeks – City Challenge, spending the week in the city. Girls were split up into groups, with each focusing on a research question to base their inquiry on, examining the effectiveness of the Melbourne City Council. Inquiry-based learning emphasises the student’s role in the learning process and asks our Year 9s to engage with an idea or topic in an active way, rather than by sitting and listening to a teacher.

The girls commenced the week by being introduced to the City of Melbourne through competing in the Amazing Race which was facilitated by Urban Quest. As a year level, they visited various significant locations such as the Shrine of Remembrance, the Immigration Museum and IMAX. In the coming weeks the cohort will present their outcomes in short films, which will be showcased to the school community.  

A huge thank you must be given to Ms Una Alagic, the Head of Humanities (currently on maternity leave), for her organisation of the City Challenge. It was a huge undertaking to organise this week, and in a COVID climate, and our girls are very lucky to have been afforded with such an opportunity to bond, research and learn in such a vibrant setting. 

On a personal note, I am delighted to be working with the Year 9 cohort and their families to support their time at Shelford in whatever way I can. Stay tuned for our next challenge week – Law Challenge – happening the week commencing Monday 18 May.

Monique McCorry

Year 9 Coordinator

Student reflection

During our week in the city we studied growth, connection and many other aspects of the city through exploring and visiting many interesting places. We not only grew our knowledge and understanding, but also used independence to find our way through the city and make decisions. We were put in small groups and we went around the city to learn more about it and investigated different aspects of the City of Melbourne that were part of the council plans from 2017–2021.

Some of the aspects we investigated more about were a city that cares for its environment, a city for people, a creative city, a prosperous city, a knowledgeable city and a connected city. One of the best parts of the City Challenge Week was getting to know other people in our year level and also connecting with the public. Overall, we learnt many new things about our city and gained more independence.

Palace B

Year 9