Excursions
We spent July lining up real, face-to-face opportunities and getting students ready to make the most of them. Community partners stepped up: YassCare (Ahmed Ismail) offering a wellbeing-through-sport golf experience, and Foundation House (Sucha Chakravarthy) strengthening our trauma-informed support.
Boating Industry Immersion — Tuesday 26 August (Campbellfield/Somerton)
Ten students spent a full day across marine workplaces, including Honda at Somerton and Whittley Boating Centre. They watched hulls being laid up, upholstery finished to spec and engines tested on the bench. Students asked practical questions about safety, pace and teamwork. The big takeaway was that “trade” isn’t one job but many pathways — fit-out, trimming, spray painting, engine tech, logistics and customer service.
Melbourne Zoo — Thursday 11 September (Maps, Movement and Noticing)
A mixed Year 11–12 group spent a day at Melbourne Zoo. Students took the lead on navigation with printed maps, planned routes, and timed walks between talks.
What clicked: reading signs and schedules to get somewhere on time
Whitten Oval (VU Community Sports Stadium) — Building Connections
Across August, short Thursday sessions at Whitten Oval mixed futsal, full court basketball and simple circuits. The focus was high involvement over high pressure. Students took turns, called the play and reset their energy without fuss — a good lift heading into the end of the week.
Impact: better Thursday attendance after sport, natural mentor-pairing, and first-time milestones — a first strike, a first warm-up lead, a first confident “sub-me-in.”
Soft skills: taking turns, calling the play, and resetting energy without drama.
Don Bosco Youth Centre — Thursday 18 September (Finishing strong, together)
We wrapped the term with a Don Bosco community day: table tennis, basketball and chill-out spaces with bunnies and birds. Staff ran stations; students rotated, coached each other and set their own goals (“two passes before any shot”).
What we noticed: new friendships across classes, zero incidents, and students who usually opt out staying in for one more game “because the team needs me.”
