Year 9

FOCUS WEEK CONTINUED…

Article by Ryan Noye, Deputy Head of Year 9

The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" has never been more fitting than when looking through this gallery of photos from Focus Week One. We hope you enjoy the story they tell.

Focus Weeks provide a valuable opportunity to pause the regular school routine and immerse students in alternative, meaningful learning experiences with different staff and peers. With outdoor education camps scheduled for our fourth Focus Week of the year, students engaged in five enriching programs: Writer’s Workshop, Future Earth, Mitchell River Camp, Grand Designs, and Faith in Action.

Future Earth

Our newest Focus Week program, Future Earth, explores the critical issue of climate change. Students examine the role of carbon in sustaining life, including the carbon cycle and greenhouse effect, before delving into the impact of human activity on our planet. The Year 9 Science team has worked tirelessly to create a dynamic and engaging program, incorporating hands-on experiments, a visit to the planetarium, insights from Sir David Attenborough, and an exciting Minecraft project where students design a greener world powered by renewable energy.

Writer’s Workshop

A long-time favourite, Writer’s Workshop is a heartwarming program that pairs Year 9 students with Junior School buddies last week, with Preps. The Year 9s craft personalized storybooks based on their buddy’s interests, culminating in a magical moment when they share their finished stories. The joy on the Preps’ faces is matched only by the pride of the Year 9s, who experience firsthand the impact of their creativity and kindness.

Grand Designs

In Grand Designs, students take on the role of architects, tackling a design challenge such as creating a home for a sports-loving family of four. They brainstorm, sketch blueprints, calculate dimensions, and construct 3D models, bringing their visions to life. A guest judge from the architecture/design industry evaluates their work, and the experience serves as an introduction to Year 10 subjects like Industrial Design, Visual Communication, Architecture, and Furniture Construction. Students take immense pride in their projects, especially when their efforts receive special recognition.

Faith in Action

A deeply rewarding experience, Faith in Action focuses on the complexities of homelessness. Students volunteer at St Mark’s Homeless Shelter, engage with The Big Issue, and participate in a city search challenge designed to foster empathy and awareness. At the end of the week, they present their findings and propose solutions to address homelessness, gaining a deeper understanding of the issue and its real-world implications.

For all these reasons, Focus Weeks are an invaluable part of the Year 9 experience, one that past students reflect on with great fondness. Stay tuned for more photos from future Focus Weeks. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Each fortnight, the College Careers Team publishes a newsletter providing students and parents with the most up-to-date career information, events and opportunities.  

Please access via the following link.