Journey to Melbourne

By Bridget Cook
YEAR 9 was a journey for students at Cranbourne Secondary College and this month they reached their destination.
The students took part in the school’s Year 9 Journey Program throughout the year, which saw them head into Melbourne CBD during third term.
The third term curriculum was based on the ‘City Journey’, which culminated in students enjoying a week in Melbourne to complete a research project.
Students spent a week in the city, undertaking self-directed group research, workshops and individual writing, navigational and experiential learning tasks.
During the week, students participated in workshops including an Urban Seed workshop, a Fitness First Gym session, research and reflection activities, as well as sessions at Parliament House, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and Melbourne City Council.
They were expected to conduct interviews, meet with businesspeople, develop surveys and collect information that was relevant to their research topic.
Based on their work from term’s one, two and three, students then delivered a presentation based on their proposal from their City Journey program, where they would communicate a vision of a particular way they could make their local community a better place. Each class held a presentation evening this month where students presented their research to their parents, while they enjoyed supper.
Teachers selected the best presentations to go into the Destination Day competition, with the winnersannounced on Tuesday 8 November. The winners were the group named Goldstein, with students Caitlyn Sims, Helene Lay, Alana Monohan-Vandermay and Brittany Dale, for their presentation ‘Is Melbourne Too Grey?’
Cranbourne Secondary College community liaison officer Karen Davis said the program was beneficial for the students for a number of reasons. “City Journey helps students develop a sense of independence and understanding of the wider world,” she said.
“It brings their focus to the wider community of Melbourne and an awareness of their collective and individual responsibilities to the world around them.”
“The City Journey program challenges Year 9 students to accept responsibility, work in teams and reflect maturely on a whole range of issues.”