Year 9 Camp
Year 9 Camp (12-14th June)
The journey into the CBD of Melbourne allowed students to explore, navigate and develop an understanding of our beautiful city as well as form relationships with students and staff. Students travelled into the city via train and after dropping their bags off at CYC headed to the Fitzroy Gardens. Here students had the opportunity to be a part of a Welcome to Country, think about their Catholic Heritage and who they are as Marian Learners and write cards of friendship to each other. After lunch a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground was in order. Students then returned to CYC to settle into their camp rooms in preparation for a tense round of Trivia which concluded the first night.
Day 2 allowed students to experience Melbourne from above with a trip to the top of the Eureka Tower. Here students plotted their tactics for the Marian Amazing Race. Whilst travelling around the city centre, the groups answered a range of questions and visited major landmarks such as the State Library, the NGV and the Victoria market before returning to Federation Square by the cut off time. The evening was spent watching the newly released Inside Out 2 which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The addition of popcorn and a choc top seemed to hit the spot after a lovely dinner at CYC.
Our last day was a busy one with visits to the NGV Ian Potter Centre and ACMI. Students were given the opportunity to view a range of art forms, especially digital art and technology. ACMI’s BEINGS exhibition allowed students to interact with digital media “Made of digital fur, lava, bubbles, vapour and more, these wiggly, jiggly beings are powered by game engines, VFX software and ever-evolving algorithms.”
After collecting their bags at CYC, some students stayed in the city to further explore whilst the remainder of the cohort returned to Sunshine Station via train. A wonderful experience was had by not only the students but the staff which accompanied this group of Year 9 students.
Donna Gaudiano
Year 9 Community Leader
Student Reflections:
Our names are Shalom and Semhar, we’re from group 10 which is the Double Stuffed Oreo. During our three days of camp we thoroughly enjoyed everything but one activity that specifically stood out to us was the Amazing Race. During the Amazing Race we had the opportunity to explore the city with our groups as we were given booklets to fill out during the duration of the activity. It had checkpoints to check in with teachers such as the State Library, Victoria Market, Bourke St Mall, National Gallery and Southgate. We also had questions to fill out as we made our way in the city from checkpoint to checkpoint. We also were able to stop and grab something to eat, as we also interacted with other schools. We also enjoyed the Eureka tower because we were able to face our fears of heights, this was the activity before the Amazing Race. Overall, this camp was an opportunity to strengthen our bonds within our groups, friends and also hopefully install trust in our teachers and fellow peers in us.
The Year 9 City camp was a great opportunity, where students gained experience travelling around Melbourne’s CBD. Upon arrival in the city, we were escorted to the Royal Botanic Gardens, where a smoking ceremony was held, following Indigenous traditions. A tour of the MCG was also provided, where considerable knowledge and insight around Australian sport was granted. The second day allowed for students to explore the city in individual groups, each in search of various landmarks. The individual experience provided knowledge of tram systems and navigation of the city. On our last day, we visited the NGV and ACMI, where activities ranged from viewing exhibitions to appreciating famous art in the gallery. Overall, the camp experience was insightful and beneficial, providing us with key skills when navigating ourselves around the Melbourne CBD.
Mia Preddy
On Year 9 camp we participated in various different activities such as going to the NGV. We were asked to choose a painting that has particularly caught our eye. During the process of looking at the images and artworks, an interesting image caught our eyes, a painting called “The Lesson” by E. Phillip fox. I have chosen this painting because the image displays motherhood and childhood. This painting represents a bond between a mother and her child. A mother’s bond with her child is priceless, as the bond remains inseparable no matter the status, wealth or problems. The name “The Lesson” gives us the idea that Mothers may inspire their children, teach them lessons and generally support their children's growth, whether that be by inspiration or in the bonding moments found particularly in this Artwork.
Cheska Hernandez
During our 2024 Year 9 camp, we visited art exhibitions and museums. On our third day, we went to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) to finalise our experience. The collections that we saw that day were the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection, Yayoi Kusama, NGV Italia and Resonance. A sculpture that stuck out to me was ‘Iris’ by Harold Parker that was sculpted in 1913. This was a sculpture executed in England. This stuck out to me because of its amazing detail and precision in the engraved text. The artist of this piece had won a study scholarship for sculpture before settling in Brisbane permanently.
Thy Phan
Donna Gaudiano
Year 9 Community Leader