Humanities News
End of Term 1:
Humanities News
2026 Unit 1 VCE Legal Studies – Edrolo HQ, Old Magistrates’ Court Courtroom Drama & Supreme Court Excursion
On Friday 6 March 2026, Unit 1 VCE Legal Studies students had a full day in the Melbourne CBD, bringing their legal knowledge to life! First, we attended at Edrolo HQ, to talk about building study habits and achieving our best success in VCE. Some students were chosen to test out some new Edrolo features and functions, and give their feedback. Our very own Aryan Bhasin was awarded with a $100 gift card and award for being a top Edrolo user across the State! We finished off with the opportunity to sit in the booth where the Edrolo videos are filmed, and pretend to be Edrolo presenters ourselves.
Next, we headed down to the Old Magistrates’ Court on Russell Street to perform a mock Courtroom Drama of a sentencing hearing in a culpable driving case. This is one of the criminal offences we are focusing on for our Unit 1 Area of Study 2 assessment. There were many brilliant performances, and an insightful question time following the mock hearing. The benches we sat on were the same ones that people sat on when Ned Kelly was on trial in that very court!
Finally, we headed to the Supreme Court of Victoria, and were welcomed by Justice Tinney to observe part of a real murder trial! We watched as a witness was examined and cross-examined via an interpreter, a perfect demonstration of the wheels of justice turning slowly and methodically – as opposed to what we see in the media and on the screen. This also set us on the right track for our upcoming study of the criminal offence of murder.
VCE Legal Studies
Monash Law School & Law Clinics Excursion
On Monday 20 March 2026, the Year 12 VCE Legal Studies students visited the Monash Law School and Law Clinics. First, we were greeted by the Steven Vaughan in the Moot Court, to hear about his journey, from humble beginnings to Dean of Law - inspired by a visit by a law professor to his own school.
He hoped that his welcome had similarly inspired our Legal Eagles! We then heard from Collette, a final year law student, who has taken every opportunity the law school has offered, from arranging social events with the Law Students Society, to studying overseas. The Dean then treated us to a feast of pizza and protein bars, to fuel us for our adventures in the Campus Centre.
After our break, we were given a tour of the Monash Law Library, including inspecting some law reports from 1853, and the Chesterfield chairs. The lower level of the library was a hubbub of students collaborating in their study groups, and the higher levels were reserved for quiet individual study. We were impressed with the high levels of engagement and dedication that the law students had towards their studies.
We then strolled across campus to the Monash Law Clinics, a ‘law firm’ operated by lawyers and law students working side by side, providing free legal information, assistance and advice to those who need it most in the local community. Senior Administration Officer Kay Jamieson gave us a tour, including client interview rooms, a mediation room and the facilities where law students do their research and paper work during their placements at the community legal centre (CLC). Having only recently learnt about CLCs in the classroom, this brought the curriculum to life for the students, and gave us an insight into how a CLC operates.
Monash Law School being a certain teacher’s alma mater, our visit was also a pleasant a trip down memory lane; as was state-of-the-art Teaching and Learning Building, where she completed her MTeach not so long ago. A very enjoyable and educational day for everyone involved, and a well-deserved reward for a term of hard work!
Jacinta Marlborough
Legal Studies Teacher
Victorian High Ability Program
This term, Raphi Bebeklis, Nubaid Ekram, Lily Fletcher, Charlie Gardner, Sophia Jawadi, Rory McRae, Kent Morgan, Anastasia Panayiotou, Aarohi Sadadekar, Maxiangru Shi, Saanvi Singhal, Sanvi Thumbre and Enzo Toniolo were selected to participate in the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP) in either Mathematics or English. This Department of Education initiative provides enrichment opportunities for high-achieving students, allowing them to explore advanced content beyond the standard classroom curriculum.
In Mathematics, students explored a range of engaging and challenging topics, including paradoxes, the Fibonacci Sequence, and strategies for solving problems using the "Three Es": Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Elegance. The program encouraged students to think critically, identify patterns, and approach mathematics with creativity and logic.
In English, students engaged in high-level discussions about texts, explored authorial intent, and refined both their analytical and creative writing. The program focused on expanding students’ thinking, encouraging deeper interpretations and sophisticated responses to literature.
Our students shared a reflection on the mathematics program, saying:
The VHAP program ran for nine weeks and was delivered online by specialist educators. Our students embraced the experience with curiosity and confidence, demonstrating excellent commitment to their learning.
We congratulate all participants on their achievements and look forward to seeing how they continue to extend their learning in the future.
Amanda Tate
Humanities
Year 9 Humanities: Democracy in Action
Our Year 9 Humanities students recently took part in a mock election as part of their Civics and Citizenship unit.
Students explored what influences voter behaviour, including the media, key issues, and campaign strategies. In groups, they formed political parties, created policy ideas, and designed campaign materials such as posters and social media posts.
The classroom became a campaign space, with students delivering short speeches and encouraging their peers to vote. Using Australia’s preferential voting system, students cast ballots and took part in the full election process. Congratulations to the “Even Island” party on their narrow victory.
Adam Plantenkamp
Teaching and Learning Leader - Humanities/Arts