Co-curricular Updates

Alice Waite, Year 12, Ridgeway Campus

During the holidays, four Ivanhoe students took part in the UN Youth Crisis Point Conference held in the city. It was a highly rewarding experience, where we got to navigate a volatile political climate through hypothetical scenarios, strengthening our teamwork and communication skills. My team, the ‘Republicans’, advocated for Australia to leave the monarchy and become a republic, employing a range of tactics to accumulate political support. The day was structured in three sessions: creating the referendum (Should Australia continue to be a part of Britain’s monarchy?), 6 months from the referendum, and 2 weeks from the referendum. We worked in teams of 10 to 12 as ‘republicans’, ‘monarchists’ or the ‘government’ to develop a strong foundation for our campaigns. The day included meeting with other representatives from different groups, holding press conference and releasing media stunts. It was an enriching experience where we responded to real-time developments and think critically under time pressure. I would encourage anyone interested to pursue these Ivanhoe Extend opportunities, because they give us an opportunity to grow outside of the classroom and develop as young people. I loved it!

Xenia Theofilakos, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus

The Melbourne Interschool Mooting Masterclass Day, which was held at La Trobe University in Macleod, was a great way for students scheduled to participate in the Melbourne Interschool Moot later this year to grasp an understanding of how a moot works, what it encompasses and how to conduct yourself during a moot. We were given very helpful advice from top mooters from Deakin University who had mooted competitively internationally several times and are placed in the top percentile. This included things such as explaining court formalities and the three essential pillars of mooting which are Advocacy, Legal accuracy and Court formalities. This Masterclass Day was a fantastic idea for students with minimal a concept of mooting as it really begins and explains the basics. I would highly recommend it.  

Steph Berryman, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus

The Model UN was an amazing and interactive experience in which teams of students from across the Senior school participated. The event took place at Plenty Campus Founders' Centre, where we were joined by students from a range of schools across Melbourne. Our team consisted of four people, and we represented Australia. Taking on the role of Australia allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the country we live in. It was also incredibly interesting to learn about the positions and values of other countries and to develop a broader understanding of global perspectives and political viewpoints. 

The experience taught us about world politics and how a United Nations meeting operates, including its rules, procedures, and formal structure. Overall, the day was an incredibly rewarding experience that taught us a great deal while also being fun.