Year 9 Breakthrough

All Year 9 students recently embarked on Breakthrough experiences, comprising five days of immersive learning.

The options offered included three Victorian On Country Immersions to Yorta Country, Gunditjmara Country and Boon wurrung Country and environmental and sustainability trips that developed knowledge of and saw the boys contributed to grassroots projects.

There was also the opportunity to learn about social issues around Melbourne and work with charities such as St Kilda Mums, Carenet, The Good Box and Impact House. The boys also used innovation and creativity to design new solutions and create a collaborative mural with the clients from Bayley House.

 

 While there is great diversity in programs, they all shared a common objective: to foster awareness of other people’s lived experiences and perspectives and cultivate a deeper understanding of issues that impact our broader community.

Many of our Year 9 students have come away with a deep connection to the area they focused on for the week. Even if they don’t realise it yet, the experience they shared last week and the new understanding they have developed is now a part of the who they are.

But with new knowledge, comes new responsibility and once you know you can’t un-know. It is what we do with our knowledge that is important.

In Term 3 the boys will have a chance to share their experiences with their parents and the Year 8s through the Breakthrough Expo. Then the Breakthrough chapter will complete as the Capstone journey moves on towards the Great South West.  

James Hilditch
Cultural Development Coordinator

Some feedback from the boys:

Artist in Residence – Bayley House
We learned that even though some people have quite debilitating intellectual or physical disabilities, their disability does not define who they are.

Sustainability Group
I never realised the effect that littering, and pollution has on our environment. and now not only has my perspective changed but moving forward I’m going to try implement some sustainable solutions into my everyday life.

 Human Melbourne
I am now more aware of the struggles people face and how much of it goes unnoticed or unrecognised. I now understand how lucky I am to have basic needs like shelter, water and food.

On Country
It changed my perspective of the things that First Nations people had to go through. I will call out when I hear someone say something that is wrong.