IDEALS Week

IDEALS Week 2024 Documentary, Ivy Voice Team

AFL Umpiring Stream, Ruby Callahan Year 9, Ridgeway Campus

For the IDEALS program this year, I decided to participate in the AFL umpiring stream. The stream presents a great opportunity for many students interested in AFL. It consisted of many weeks of umpiring sessions run by professional umpires. In these sessions I learnt how to be a goal umpire, a field umpire, and a boundary umpire. We were taught many new skills and rules of AFL. For instance, I learnt how to blow a whistle properly and loudly as well as all the signals for every rule, alongside where to run and position myself on the ground. This wonderful experience taught me to show more respect to the umpires and listen to their decisions. This stream also led me to get a paid job as an umpire, which is why it is such a fantastic opportunity!  

While doing this course some of us were lucky enough to get selected to umpire at half time at Marvel Stadium. We umpired the Auskick kids, which was such an enjoyable experience and a great chance to showcase our skills in front of a crowd. Overall, I really enjoyed this AFL umpiring course would recommend to anyone with similar interests.  

Birthing Kits, Lachie Warrick, Ridgeway Campus  

As part of IDEALS Week, along with 20 other students, I helped prepare much needed health-kits purposed for assisting births in Uganda. Having been given instructions as to how to pack the kits, we packed a latex sheet, gloves, gauze, soap and a scalpel in a kit, aimed to make childbirth delivery as safe as possible. We made over 180 bags, and these will now be flown to areas which lack safe and sanitary equipment, essential to support mothers giving birth. It was rewarding knowing that we were able to make a difference, however small, for people in need. 

Easter Biscuits, Millie Chester and Molly Noonan, Ridgeway Campus

STEM and other activities, Sara Wang, Ridgeway Campus

At the end of Term 1, I participated in IDEALS week that featured multiple activities, which opened opportunities for students regarding the social and service aspects of their IDEALS stream. On day one, the highlight was the story of Courtney Ugle, who spoke about her and her family’s eye-opening, yet tragic experiences with racism in Australia as well as her growth and resilience as she built herself back up. 

On the second day, we took a course to receive our RSA (Responsible Serving of Alcohol). The second activity was putting together birthing kits for women in Africa that do not have access to decent medical facilities. We became starkly aware of the privilege that we have as students of Ivanhoe Grammar School, as people who have easy access to basic needs and healthcare. These experiences have humbled us and allowed us to aid those who are less fortunate.  

The third day was definitely the highlight of the week! STEM along with another stream, went up to Melbourne University to participate in the Not So Natural excursion that presented the jarring contrasts between artificial and organic concepts and ideas. The exhibit featured multiple creations of technology, art, and sciences that incorporated organic elements with man-made ones. We learned about what could be in store for us in the coming years and what ethical controversies may be raised as a result in the future.  

Though I am only part of the STEM stream, I was able to experience all different aspects of IDEALS and I learnt so much from these activities. The takeaway from this week was incredible as everyone was able to learn something new and expand their knowledge in a variety of different areas! 

Met Art World

Lee Miller Exhibition, Ellie Adams, Ridgeway Campus

During IDEALS week last term, the Creativity Group took a trip to Heide Museum to see the exhibition of Lee Miller, a famous American photographer and surrealist model. The exhibition consisted of various photos Miller had taken over the course of her life. They were thematically and chronologically divided into the periods of her life, in which she had taken them. 

Lee Miller lived in many different countries across her career as a photojournalist, ranging from Paris to Egypt. The students were able to observe the changing themes and styles of photography from one period of her life to the next. We were also able to watch a foreign film in which Miller starred in, however, for me and many others our favourite part of the exhibition was looking at the photos Miller took in Germany, as part of her role as a war photographer during World War II. There was a separate room, which depicted that stage of her life, and we were warned that there would be sensitive material in the photographs in there, which illustrated the horrors of the holocaust and Nazi Germany. Alongside some other students, I found one of the photos in the room, titled In Hitler’s bathtub, extremely striking and thought-provoking. The image depicted Miller taking a bath in Hitler’s very own bathtub, leaving her dirty boots on his clean towels. 

Overall, I can say that the exhibition of Lee Miller left everyone reflecting on the poignant symbolisms and themes beautifully highlighted by Miller in her skillful photography. The exhibition offered an alluring outlook into the life of the amazing photographer, Lee Miller, which has become a name our Creativity Group will not forget. 

Flying Fox, Oliver Read, Ridgeway Campus 

The Flying Fox program has been quite an eye-opening and transformative experience for me. We got to dive into all sorts of important topics related to disability and accessibility.  

It was so interesting to gain a better understanding of the unique challenges that disabled individuals face on a daily basis. We learned about the physical and social barriers that can make it so much harder for people with disabilities to participate and be included in our community fully. The program also focused a lot on communication and sensory needs - it was enlightening to explore the different assistive technologies and methods that can empower people with disabilities to express themselves. 

I think the most impactful part for me was learning about how society itself is often the main obstacle holding back  people with a disability. We talked a lot about challenging people's misconceptions and assumptions, and how important it is to empower those with disabilities to have equal opportunities. 

Overall, this whole experience has been really informative and meaningful for me. I'm so glad I got to be part of this small but growing group, and I'm excited to see how the Flying Fox program continues to make a positive difference in our community going forward.