Teaching & Learning
Student Consultation with our local council
Lynda Bruce from the Shepparton City Council visited students in the L.E.A.D and AVID classes to involve them in future planning for the City of Greater Shepparton. Lynda lead them through a discussion about the importance of hearing the voice of our young people and students projected their ideas to 2040. They also heard about all the work experience opportunities that can be found at the Council. All students will have an opportunity at the Year 9 campus to provide their thoughts during Learning Mentor time next week.
Lifelong learning in Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education runs as a Semester Elective in Year 9 at the Mooroopna Campus and a year long VCE subject at our other campuses. Currently, Year 9 students are heading to Anglesea for 3 days to explore the coastal environment, learn how surfing and other recreational activities have impacted the urbanisation of the Surf Coast and ultimately, to experience the thrill of riding waves. The skills taught and the responsibilities assumed by students in the Year 9 elective pave the way for them to fast-track Outdoor Education in their senior years, which avoids students missing Unit 3&4 classes in Year 12 when they are away on camps.
Many students had never surfed or swam in the ocean prior to this camp, and Outdoor Education provides many opportunities and experiences that teenagers emerging adults in the previous generation may have taken for granted in the pre Snap-Chat days such as communal-living, planning and preparing all aspects of an overnight or multi-day trip and assuming a greater degree of self-responsibility for their learning and well-being (woe betide any student who forgets to bring their wet -suit to the Southern Ocean!)
Outdoor Education camps are ideal for introducing students to Indigenous culture and their interactions with the environment. There is a focus on minimal impact living and travelling, promoting sustainable, respectful and responsible citizenship.
Camps provides students with the opportunity to put theory into practice, from administering First Aid to identifying and avoiding environmental hazards in the surf zone to leading a hike group using map, compass and the natural features in the landscape around you (no Google Maps here).
As students’ progress along this pathway, the challenges and experiences faced increase in terms of risk, consequence and reward, with a continual focus on working in a small-team environment.
VCE Senior students are preparing for an overnight hike in the Alpine National Park which will take them over Mt Feathertop and along the Razorback toward Mt Hotham, which is no mean feat and rewards those who invest and commit themselves wholeheartedly to the endeavour.
The life-skills students take away from an outdoor educational experience are myriad, varied and wide-ranging, and easily transferable to their daily life.
Cultural Understanding & Safety Training (CUST)
CUST is an important way for school staff to gather and engage in an authentic opportunity to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, histories, culture and experience. The training provides staff with an opportunity to collectively review our existing whole-school approaches to Koorie cultural inclusion and to reflect upon how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are embedded within curriculum content.
This training was developed as part of our Education State plan that sets Education State Targets of:
- Learning for Life
- Happy, healthy and resilient kids
- Breaking the link
- Pride and confidence in our schools
As part of the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan the inclusion of this staff training and the incorporation of the Kaiela Dhungala First People’s Curriculum will ensure ‘Every Koorie person achieves their potential, success in life, and feels strong in their cultural identity’. Yesterday all staff participated in the second session of a series of modules.
Whilst discussing the training with one of our Year 9 students, he was able to explain that the Yorta Yorta word ‘wala’ means water. He has also heard an Arabic version of this word, ‘wallah’, which means ‘I swear to God’. We both found it interesting that these words sounded the same and reflected on their individual yet similar meanings.
Student Spotlight
Our very own Charleigh Hack has been invited to join the GV Orchestra, playing viola, and has been recommended to join the ‘John Noble String Quartet’. John Noble has created an exciting, innovative and inspiring String Chamber Music Program for students of regional and rural Victoria. This platform allows for students to receive monthly mentoring session with John Noble and other professional musicians via online platforms. We wish Charleigh the very best and look forward to seeing some of her upcoming performances. It is great to hear about our student interest and success in the wider community.
Diversity Groups
Each fortnight our LGBTIQ+ community are supported by Uniting Care. Georgie visits interested people who are part of the community. This meeting provides a safe and inclusive environment where students have the opportunity to talk freely and learn more about the community.
We are delighted that Nori Waser (they/them) is sharing their knowledge with our staff community. This week they are preparing some professional learning for staff around appropriate pronoun use.
Stacie Lundberg
Assistant Principal Mooroopna Campus