Inside the Gates: Heathmont College
Across the next few editions of the Gazette, we’re going to be unpacking and celebrating some of the awesome things happening here at the College, with the help of the staff who are heavily involved.
In this edition of Inside the Gates, the Gazette team sat down with Joanne Gannis to explore her work in the area of Extra curricular and extension activities at Heathmont College.
Jo, thanks for sitting down with us. There's been a lot happening in the extension space this term- What sort of programs have students been involved with this term?
It’s been a really busy term in the enrichment space, with students involved in a range of opportunities both within and beyond the College.
One of the highlights was the Young Change Agents – Impact Boss program, where students worked in teams to identify issues that mattered to them and develop social enterprise ideas in response. They worked through the design thinking process, developed solutions and then pitched their ideas. Two of our teams were selected to represent Heathmont College at the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series Virtual State Showcase, which was a fantastic achievement.
We’ve also had students involved in the Global Design Challenge - Forensic Investigation, where they were able to apply their science and problem-solving skills in collaboration with students from Thailand.
Closer to home, we’ve introduced programs such as Project Barista, which gives students the opportunity to develop practical hospitality and employability skills through hands-on learning. We also launched our Bush Tucker Garden, where a small group of students have been involved in establishing and developing the garden. It’s another opportunity for students to learn outside the traditional classroom while developing practical skills, teamwork and a sense of ownership over something within their school community.
What I’ve really been trying to do this year is broaden what we think of as “enrichment”. It isn’t just about academic extension or programs for our highest-achieving students. Enrichment can be STEM, entrepreneurship, leadership, creativity, community involvement, practical and vocational skills, or simply giving students the opportunity to experience something they might not normally encounter in the classroom.
Why are these programs so important?
For me, one of the biggest reasons is opportunity.
Not every student discovers what they are good at through a traditional classroom or assessment. Sometimes it takes a different environment, a practical challenge, working with an external organisation or being given the opportunity to solve a real problem for a student to realise, “Actually, I’m pretty good at this.”
These programs also give students a chance to connect their learning with the world beyond school. They can see that the skills they are developing have a purpose and can lead somewhere.
A big focus of our enrichment work has also been equity of access. We don’t want enrichment to always involve the same small group of students who are confident enough to put their hands up. Part of the work is actively identifying students who have potential, curiosity or an interest in an area and encouraging them to have a go.
Ultimately, I want enrichment to become a normal part of the learning culture at Heathmont, something students across Years 7–12 can see themselves participating in.
What sort of skills do the students build by taking part in these sorts of activities?
There are obviously specific skills associated with each program, but some of the most valuable learning is often in the broader skills students develop along the way.
Students are learning how to work collaboratively, communicate their ideas, solve problems, think creatively, make decisions and respond when something doesn’t work the first time.
There is also a lot of confidence-building. Asking students to work with people they don’t normally work with, present an idea, attend a university or external organisation, or try something completely new can push them outside their comfort zone.
One of the things I particularly value is seeing students discover strengths that we may not always see in the classroom. A student who might be relatively quiet in class can suddenly become the person driving a team’s idea or confidently pitching in front of an audience. Those moments are really important.
Anything fun coming up in term 4? How could students get involved?
Definitely! There are already some great opportunities planned for Term 4.
Following the success and popularity of Project Barista, we’re running the program again in Term 4, this time opening it up to Year 9 students.
Our Forensic Investigation students will get the opportunity to visit KIOSC at Swinburne University, where they’ll spend the day taking part in hands-on science experiments and activities. It’s a great opportunity for them to take the learning they’ve been doing at school into a university and specialist STEM environment.
We also have the Leadership Camp, which will allow students to challenge themselves through outdoor and adventure-based activities.
And we can’t forget the amazing work happening within our faculties. Across the College, staff are continually looking for ways to enrich students’ learning through experiences that take learning beyond the classroom. These opportunities are a really important part of enrichment at Heathmont and allow students to see their classroom learning in different, practical and real-world contexts.
Term 4 is also about connection and celebration. We have some important events coming up, including the Year 11 Formal, as well as our Year 12 Valedictory. While these might look different from some of our other enrichment programs, they are equally important in building connection, celebrating achievement and giving students positive experiences and memories of their time at the College.
And there will always be more opportunities that pop up along the way!
The best advice for students is to keep an eye on Compass and have a go. You don’t need to be the student with the highest marks or already be an expert in something. If an opportunity interests you, put your hand up.
Ultimately, that’s what we’re trying to build. A College where enrichment isn’t seen as an “extra” or something just for a particular group of students. It’s about giving all students opportunities to explore their interests, challenge themselves, connect with others and discover what they’re capable of.
Thanks for your time, Jo- certainly sounds an exciting space at the moment. Wishing you all the best for the term to come.