Out and About 

Order in the Court for Year 8s

It is one of the most highly anticipated events on the Year 8 calendar every year, and this term’s annual Civics excursion certainly did not disappoint. Run by the Law Society of Western Australia, our students traded their regular school uniforms for legal robes as they stepped out of the classroom and directly into the heart of the WA justice system.

The highlight for many was visiting the historic Old Court House Museum, the oldest public building in Perth. Here, the students took total control of the courtroom, running a scripted mock trial based on the real-life historical case of John Galvin, which was actually heard in that very building. From assuming the roles of stern judges and passionate defence lawyers to prosecuting counsel and the jury, our students got a tangible, hands-on taste of how justice is administered. Seeing them dress up in authentic legal robes and debate the fate of the accused was fantastic.

Beyond the history lessons, students were given a fascinating look at the modern legal system by visiting the public galleries of the Magistrates, District Courts to witness real live legal proceedings. These courtroom visits offered a powerful insight into the consequences of breaking the law and the reality of the justice system. In the District Court, one group witnessed a sentencing hearing involving serious drug offenses and the possession of illegally obtained money. Meanwhile, another class heard a matter in the Magistrates Court, where an accused pleaded not guilty to charges related to breaking a restraining order via a video-link from Mandurah. This excursion always succeeds in bridging the gap between classroom civics and real-world application. A huge thank you to the Law Society of Western Australia and the teachers who accompanied the students on this memorable day!

Mr Ken Maddess

HOLA Humanities

Novels and ice cream with a twist

Our Year 7s were rewarded for a term of dedicated Wider Reading, joining a long history of students who have participated in “Novels and Ice Cream’’ excursions. I believe a lifelong love of reading is a little easier to foster if it is somehow linked to something equally sweet. On arrival, we discovered that while Planet Books was open for browsing, their neighbouring ice cream vendor was not.

We were not easily deterred. Demonstrating an impressive flair for improvisation, we adapted our excursion to novels and juice. A lot of juices were bought and an equally impressive number of novels were purchased. Perhaps, we will come back, reading permitted, when Chicho Gelato is open and truly live out the spirit of the event.

Mr Damien Kerrigan

HOLA English and Languages