University Campus  Updates 

Poppy Bishop, Year 9, University Campus 

This year marks a fresh start for the class of 2029 Year 9 cohort, as we begin to settle into the University Campus. It’s an exciting step for us all, as we start to explore what it’s like having more independence and freedom. We are now beginning to embrace the numerous opportunities that will await us as the year progresses. I’m sure everyone came into this new experience with a variety of different emotions, such as excitement, anxiety, or something in between, but it’s becoming clear that University Campus is going to be a place where we can learn, grow and challenge ourselves.  

When we were first getting settled in, there were some big changes compared to when we were in Year 8. For starters, classes start later, which certainly made it much easier to take different means of public transport without having to worry about being late to school.

 Another big change is that we alternate between University Campus and La Trobe University facilities depending on the day, which was confusing at first, but fun once it became routine.  

As we continue to adjust to this new environment, we’re all starting to find our rhythm. The routines that felt strange in the first month are slowly becoming second nature, and the campus that once seemed huge already feels more familiar. We’re learning how to manage our time, move between spaces, and take responsibility for our own learning in a new way. There is still a lot to get used to, but each day feels a little easier as we settle in, support each other, and make the most of the opportunities University Campus has to offer. 

Isaac Nui and Keiran Turner, Year 9, University Campus  

In November, the new cohort of Year 9s started at University Campus. This was a thrilling, new experience for us all but as we progressed through Early Commencement Program (ECP), we learnt how life at the campus worked. In this article, we will delve into some of the highlights of ECP and some challenges we had to face. We will also delve into some key tips for Year 9s and recall a major highlight of ECP: the Immersion/Challenge Day tasters.  

Starting a new year is like opening a new notebook- full of blank pages and opportunities. Stepping in a new class is like a performance- emotions of both nerves and exhilaration. The University Campus is a brand-new place and brand-new year. One of the biggest changes in Year 9 is the new students and teachers. In Year 9, both the Ridgeway and Plenty students come together, bringing many chances to meet new people. It is one of the best chances to meet new people and forge friendships you will always remember. 

Coming to the University Campus, a mix of challenges, choices and chances arise. Challenges often appear first- adjusting to new ways, navigating a new place and meeting people who differ from you. Yet these difficulties are also the key to fresh chances. University Campus is the perfect place to discover strengths we didn’t know we had before, find new interests and improve certain skills. A new place can bring challenges. Though alongside these challenges, new chances to learn and grow excel. 

This year some major changes have been made to enhance the experience. As of ECP, University Campus students will now spend two days a week at Glenn College, further immersing us in the university experience. It is a great opportunity to learn inside La Trobe University and lunch at the Agora food court is always a highlight. 

Another highlight of ECP was the Challenge and Immersion Day tasters which took place on 20th and 25th of November. For Challenge Day, we drove over to the Melbourne Cable Park and were given free rein on a mammoth, inflatable aqua obstacle course. We all struggled to stay standing and many of us were pushed in or fell in. It was great fun and everyone enjoyed it. The other half of these tasters was Immersion Day where we spent the day doing activities at La Trobe University. These activities included: going for a walk in the thirty-hectare wildlife sanctuary while learning about the wild ecosystem simulated inside, using the high-quality university science labs for a flame test experiment and listening to a university style lecture in La Trobe’s top end lecture theatres. To end the year, we finished with a wellbeing fun-day at Funfields theme park. It was a day of fun, laughs and splashes. These three days helped us to understand how Challenge and Immersion week will work in 2026 and were one of the many highlights of ECP.   

Starting a new year can be hard, so having a few tips behind you can set a strong start. Firstly, be open to change. Opportunities can come anytime, try to embrace all of them. Then make sure to balance your academic with your co-curricular activities and leisure time. In Year 9, academic life can be stressful with five exams each semester. Rest is as important as studying. Be organised, don’t give yourself too much stress and enjoy your pre-senior learning! 

ECP was a blast and the whole cohort seemed to integrate enthusiastically. We all seemed to navigate the changes and we are all ready to step into a Year 9 with laughs and cheers. 

Kieran Turner, Year 9, University Campus 

During ECP, the Year 9 Cohort took part in two tasters for the Challenge and Immersion program. They were great fun and everyone really enjoyed both experiences.  

Challenge day was wet and cold and very fun. The cohort was bussed over to Livewire Adventure Park for a day on their inflatable, aqua obstacle course. Many people were pushed off and many people fell in but we were all laughing the entire time. My favourite memory was being the first up the inflatable slide (and also the first down too). On the whole, it was a really enjoyable experience.  

Immersion day was full of learning and growth in a university environment. The cohort took part in three different programs designed to introduce us to what life at La Trobe University looks like. Firstly, we had a tour of the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary, in the heart of La Trobe University. We all kept our eyes peeling for animals and some of us were lucky to see an emu or kangaroo. Secondly, we took part in a flame colour practical in the university lab. This helped us learn which different metal ion compounds in a flame made what colour. Finally, it was enjoyable to listen to (after lunch in the Agora food court) a university lecture on the different educational paths we could take after graduating from Ivanhoe Grammar School. It was enlightening to learn all these different things and the year level really enjoyed the day.  

These tasters for the Challenge and Immersion program at University Campus were all great fun. We all look forward to the other programs in the coming year.