HUMANITIES

HUMANITIES UPDATE - TERM 1

Humanities is all about studying the human impact on our world. Our amazing teachers are always finding new ways to engage and educate our students about the interactions, relationships, enterprises, populations, stories and systems that are part of the human experience.

One of the highlights of studying humanities is the opportunity for real-world learning through excursions and incursions. Our dedicated teachers are always organising incredible experiences for our students. As you’ll read in this section, our Legal students have recently been to court (just visiting!). Over the next month we have Year 11 Business heading to the Queen Vic markets, Year 10 History visiting the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and our Year 9 Hands of History students exploring the local monuments and memorials in our local community.

Our staff, in their different faculty teams, have also been working hard to develop their teaching of specific skills and capabilities through our Professional Learning Communities program. Each stream has a particular focus this year and are undergoing collaborative professional development with the goal of these skills being taught with the highest degree of expertise and best practices.

Here are our faculty foci:

History (7-12)

Analysing primary and secondary sources to build understanding;

Geography (7-12)

Using geo-spatial technologies to present and analyse data;
Improving data collection practices and integration of task words;

Commerce/Politics (10-12)

Writing within the VCE curriculum;

Economics (10-12)

Integrating contemporary case studies and data into.

We look forward to implementing our learnings into the classroom and to help our students better understand and navigate the social, geographic, economic, political and historical complexities of the human condition.

Josh Cukierman

Head of Humanities

UNIT 3 LEGAL STUDIES EXCURSION - MELBOURNE MAGISTRATES AND SUPREME COURTS

On Wednesday 28 February, the Unit 3 Legal studies class attended an excursion to visit both the Magistrates and the Supreme court. We began the day by meeting Magistrates Vincenzo Caltabiano and Jarrod Williams who explained to us the proceedings of trials and answered any questions we had. After this, we had the opportunity to visit any of the criminal cases that were being heard, which put an entirely new perspective on how our legal system worked when compared to simply learning about it in class.

Whilst many of the cases were tricky to follow because of the incredibly fast-paced and complex jargon, it was an incredible opportunity to be able to just sit and watch.

After a lunch break, we were able to attend the Supreme court which was an experience from the minute we stepped in. Unlike both the County and Magistrates court, the Supreme court building was still in its original form from the late 1800’s. We entered a criminal division court room where we met with Justice Jim Delany, a commercial law judge. He explained to us the strenuous process of how he got to where he is today and the types of cases he often hears, some lasting days, some up to a few months.

At the end of our excursion, we were lucky enough to watch part of a criminal Murder trial which allowed us to see what he had been studying into real life scenarios. Overall, the opportunity was second to none, and taught us so much that we would not have learned without actually experiencing it first-hand.

Amelie Hicks 11G

As a Year 11 student, I recently had the exciting opportunity to visit the Supreme Court as part of a school excursion. It was an eye-opening experience to witness the legal proceedings firsthand. One intriguing detail I learned was that in the Magistrates Court, there's an actual jail cell within the court. However, what struck me the most was the environment of the Supreme Criminal Court, where the thought of innocence until proven guilty was evident. Offenders were not in handcuffs, which emphasized this principle. The entire visit sparked my interest in law and the judicial system. I thoroughly enjoyed the excursion and would highly recommend it to anyone considering a future in law. It provided valuable insights into the legal process.

Amit Steinberg 11Q

My experience going to the Melbourne Supreme and Magistrates Courts, was eye-opening and interesting, with it being an amazing chance to learn about the legal system of our courts. During this excursion, I not only saw those courts, but the working of the courts, and also being given the opportunity to view cases. This really taught me how cases are decided and the processes that lawyers, judges, magistrates, and etc. do.

We were also lucky enough to be given the chance to meet with two magistrates, who answered all of our legal questions. An aspect of this excursion that surprised me, was the intensity, quietness, and time duration of being in a courtroom. With the Magistrates completing cases in two minutes, and the Supreme Court cases taking as long as two weeks! This is a legal studies excursion that I would definitely recommend to all legal studies students, looking to learn a little more, and get the absolute most out of the subject!

Ava Wilson 11R

Yesterday's visit to the Magistrates and Supreme Courts was truly enlightening. Meeting with Magistrates Vincenzo Caltabiano and Jarrod Williams offered a unique insight into the daily operations of the justice system at a grassroots level, emphasising the importance of fairness and impartiality in adjudicating legal matters. Additionally, engaging with Commercial Court Judge Justice Jim Delany provided a glimpse into the complexities of commercial law and the challenges involved in resolving high-stakes disputes.

Witnessing legal proceedings firsthand underscored the gravity of judicial decision-making and its profound impact on individuals and businesses alike. I was particularly struck by the meticulous attention to detail and the strict adherence to procedural rules evident in the courtroom.

Upon reflection, I find myself contemplating the intricacies of justice and the multifaceted role of law in society. I am left with lingering questions regarding legal proceedings and the delicate balance judges must maintain in navigating competing interests.

Overall, this excursion was invaluable, offering practical insights that complemented our theoretical legal studies. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fellow students as an enriching opportunity to deepen their understanding of the law and its application in society.

Scarlett Maxwell 11L & Maxwell Stekelenburg 11Q

When arriving at Flagstaff, we were met with what I like to call, "Justice Square", where you could see the Magistrates Court of Victoria (MCV), Victorian County Court, and the Victorian Supreme Courts. Being able to go inside and witness live criminal proceedings, especially in both courts on the same day was an experience.

We started off in the Magistrates Court, being able to talk to two magistrates, the Hon. Vincenzo Caltabiano and the Hon. Jarrod Williams, both hearing hundreds of matters per day. It was an honour to be able to have discussions with two Magistrates, being able to ask them questions, talk about their personal experiences, as well as learn about the courts to be able to apply it to 3/4 Legal Studies. Shortly after our Q & A / Information session, we were able to go into cases relating to bail, committal hearings, and many more.

In the afternoon, we went to the Supreme Court, having discussions with the Hon. Justice Jim Delany, a commercial court judge. Being able to talk to him and his associates provided both myself and my classmates about law pathways, including various universities, experiences, roles, etc. It gave me the opportunity to also learn more about what a Judge's associate, and Court Clark is, and what their role in the court can include, which is quite extensive and difficult. After the Q & A with Justice Delany, we were able to witness a live Supreme Court case, involving murder & arson charges on an individual, which was insightful into learning about the operations of the Supreme Court.

Overall, the excursion was a once in a lifetime opportunity for students of 3/4 Legal Studies, and I strongly recommend undertaking Legal Studies, as you learn quite a few skills which can be applied into real life, as well as get to participate in opportunities such as this.

Shauri Pedavalli 11N