Year 8

The Man Cave

Over the Middle School years, students have the opportunity to work with The Man Cave, an energetic and thought-provoking team that empowers students to become great men. Year 8 students spent a day workshopping the topic building ‘positive relationships’. Carrying on from last year, they discussed how to deal with problems that they face day-to-day, touching on areas such as trust, fun, respect, support, courage, building positive relationships with your peers, and ‘checking in’ to see if all is well.

Between discussions, students were involved in team bonding games inside and outside the classroom. The warm, friendly, and humorous approach from The Man Cave team, really engaged the students and helped them to consolidate their ideas about building positive relationships in the future.

Mr Shaun Burke

Head of Middle School Operations

Courage to Care

In Term 1, our Year 8 cohort had the opportunity to hear firsthand experiences from those who escaped the atrocities of the Holocaust and World War 2, and the stories of the men and women who had the courage to help save them.

Through this Courage to Care program, students explore themes of racism, prejudice, stereotyping, and bullying and are encouraged to become Upstanders and not Bystanders. This program plays an integral part in the Middle School enrichment program, helping students to become caring and compassionate men of the future.

At the end of May, Ashton Semczyszyn, supported by Noah Smith, attended the ‘Courage to Care’ Education Breakfast Panel at the Ark Centre in Hawthorn East. A range of experts and academics talked about the importance of ‘Talking Upstander Action’. Holocaust Survivor Speaker Dr George Deutsch spoke, and Upstander Program graduate Ashton was interviewed, sharing his views on the importance of students learning about historical events, where upstander behaviour prevailed. Both students enjoyed talking with guests and were excellent ambassadors for the School.

Mr Shaun Burke

Head of Middle School Operations

Indigenous Studies Week

In June, Year 8 students undertook a week of Indigenous studies. This program of on and offsite experiences immersed students in Indigenous culture through Art, Music, History, the natural world, and guest speakers. The week aimed to extend students’ appreciation of what it means to be Australian while fostering a deeper understanding of and respect for Australia’s Indigenous people and culture.

Many of the activities focused on ensuring that students acquired knowledge of Australia’s history, the injustices that many Indigenous people faced, and their resilience and strength in confronting and overcoming these challenges. They also learnt about the strength and vibrancy of Indigenous culture today, with the opportunity to hear from a range of Indigenous Australians who generously shared their knowledge, their stories, and their perspectives.

Throughout, a strong emphasis was placed on reconciliation and strengthening the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples for the benefit of all Australians.

Mr Shaun Burke

Head of Middle School Operations

The Opportunity Challenge

The Opportunity Challenge, previously known as Projec10, has been a successful Year 8 initiative for almost ten years. There are many factors that make it successful – collaborating with girl schools, project-based learning, and entrepreneurial exploration are all contributors. However, the piece at the heart of the project is the philanthropic base on which it stands: assisting Opportunity International Australia, a global microfinance organisation working with developing countries.

In Term 3, over 350 Year 8 students from Canterbury Girls Secondary College, Fintona, and Camberwell Grammar joined forces to form small groups to plan and implement their entrepreneurial ideas; mimicking the microfinance model. Through their development of small businesses, they will contribute toward Opportunity International Australia’s efforts of removing 6.8 million families from poverty. Each student started the project with a seed fund of $10 each and, through initial meetings and planning sessions, worked in small groups to develop their business plan, forecast and manage budgets, and execute their business plan. At the end of the program, the students pay back the original seed fund and their profits are donated via The Opportunity Challenge. In total, the project raised over $3,500 as well as a multitude of new friendship bonds.