Learning to a Higher Level - News from our Learning Area Leaders - Humanities

The Humanities learning area covers four strands:

• History

• Geography

• Business and Economics

• Civics and Citizenship

In Term One, our students have begun the year exploring all of these areas.

Year 7 students are exploring Civics and Citizenship, focusing on ideas of what it means to belong in Australia, for all Australians including migrants and First Nations People. In our efforts to explore First Nations culture and belonging, all Year 7 homerooms attended an excursion to the Melbourne Museum to view the Bunjilaka exhibit. Students spent time in the First Nations Gallery, Milarri Gardens and Forest Gallery.

In Year 8, students are focused on Geography, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of urbanisation, both in Australia and overseas, before they begin their study of mountain landscapes, including volcanoes and the impact these landforms have on the people who live in the surrounding areas.

Geography is also the focus at Year 9, with an exploration of the world’s biomes, including rainforests, grasslands, deserts and tundras, and the adaptations animals and plants use to live more effectively in these areas.

Year 9 and 10 students are also busy upskilling in the Business and Economics strand, through Money Talks (Year 9) and Business Management (Year 10). In Money Talks, students explore practical financial literacy including how compound interest and superannuation work, learning about business awards and enterprise agreement to gain a stronger understanding of pay rates and rights at work, as well as how to read a bank statement. In Business Management, Year 10 students are about to commence their $20 Boss program, in which each student is provided a $20 start up to open a small business, with the aim of providing a good or service to the College Community during a lunchtime in Term 2. It’s always exciting to see the variety of offerings presented on $20 Boss Day, with all profits donated to support a charitable organisation.

Year 10 History students have commenced their studies of World War II and are looking forward to travelling to Melbourne to visit the Holocaust Museum, which will complement their studies in this area. Year 9 and 12 students are excitedly looking forward to their trips to Sovereign Hill to explore the Gold Rush, including the significance of this event and the changes this brought to Australian society (along with lots and lots of raspberry drops).

We would like to congratulate Year 11 student Curtis McCoughtry, whose application to the National Schools Constitutional Convention was successful.

Curtis will fly to Canberra at the end of the month with other student delegates from all over the country to discuss the topic for 2023 - “Constitutional Reform” - students will examine Section 128 of the Constitution and discuss if the requirements for alteration are still appropriate.”

Congratulations Curtis! We know you will represent your school and your state with pride!