Senior School
VCE Legal Studies
The Year 12 Legal Studies students recently travelled to Melbourne for an engaging and highly valuable court excursion that brought their studies of Criminal Law to life.
The day began at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, where students were hosted by the Court Education Service. During our visit, students participated in a discussion with two Registrars and two Magistrates, gaining a deeper understanding of the important role the Magistrates’ Court plays in Victoria’s justice system. The session also provided insight into the wide range of career pathways within the legal profession.
Following the discussion, students had the opportunity to observe several court proceedings. These included matters being heard in the Drug Court and the Family Violence Court. Students also listened to a case involving multiple theft charges, including the theft of knives. Observing these matters firsthand helped students appreciate the complexity of cases that come before the court and the careful judgement required of Magistrates when dealing with such issues.
After lunch, the group visited the County Court of Victoria where students observed a criminal trial being heard before a judge and jury. During a break in proceedings, the Court Clerk kindly spoke with the students, explaining aspects of the case and helping them understand how the trial process operates in practice.
Before returning home, students visited the Supreme Court of Victoria Law Library in the Supreme Court precinct. This provided a glimpse into the extensive legal resources available to judges, barristers and legal professionals.
Overall, the excursion was an excellent learning experience that directly connected with the students’ current studies in Criminal Law. Seeing the justice system in action gave students a valuable perspective on how the law operates in real life and deepened their understanding of the legal processes they are studying in class.
Allister Rouse
VCE Legal Studies Teacher
VCE Outdoor Education
Students in VCE Outdoor Education were able to participate in a tour of Tower Hill and Moyjil, led by Worn Gunditj and Uncle Brett. Brett taught us about the origins of Tower Hill, according to the Indigenous people of Warrnambool and some of the tools he has built to display Indigenous ways of living in the past.
Greg Bond
Senior School Teacher
VCE Unit 3 English
We are never too old to play! At least that is what our Year 12 English class are being reminded of as we began our new unit this week. This unit provides students with an opportunity to create their own texts, for various purposes, audiences and contexts, all around the Framework of Ideas about ‘PLAY’. To inspire them, and get students thinking about the concept, we spent a double period returning to childhood activities including games with lego, toy soldiers, barbies and group games such as musical chairs.
Throughout the unit, students will explore concepts that expand on their definition of and understanding about play. In shaping their thinking and, in turn, their writing, students will discuss their responses to various stimulus material, including quotes such as this one by Geroge Bernard Shaw “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”.
Kath Haworth
Senior School Teacher
Year 9
City Experience
Students in Year 9 recently had the opportunity to go on a camp in Melbourne. Along with discovering Melbourne street art, they experienced tours with the Salvation Army and the Big Issue. Students learned about homelessness in the city and what these organisations do for those most in need. Students also had to sleep on the floor, attempting to simulate what it might be like to be homeless.
Greg Bond
Senior School Teacher
French
Last week in French, we made the most of the beautiful Autumn weather and took our learning outside. Students enjoyed reading the story La Petite Sirène (The Little Mermaid) in French together before heading out around the school grounds.
While exploring, students challenged themselves to name different things they could see in French. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they realised just how many words they already knew. The activity was a fun way to build vocabulary, practice speaking, and enjoy learning in the fresh air.
Ally Robinson
Senior School Teacher
Year 8 Food Tech
Last week, the Year 8 boys learnt how to make their own Pizza dough. They did a fantastic job measuring, mixing and kneading the ingredients before carefully shaping their dough, showing great patience and teamwork in the kitchen. It was great to see their confidence grow as they developed their practical cooking skills, and of course they enjoyed seeing their hard work turn into delicious Pizzas.
The Year 8 classes also joined together while some students were away participating in sport. During the lesson, students made chocolate mud cakes. It was great to see them working together and supporting one another, and the cakes tasted delicious.
Ally Robinson
Senior School Teacher