THE Year 9 program at Belgrave Heights Christian School has its own slogan for this year – ‘Don’t hold back, join the pack!’
Year 9 is traditionally a year where students feel most disengaged, unmotivated and can present a behavioural challenge for teachers.
Most schools now offer an alternative program for Year 9 students, and the Belgrave Heights Christian School model is now in its fifth year.
This year presents an opportunity for fresh, vibrant experiences alongside their vigorous academic workload.
The aim of the program is for the students to develop strong, healthy relationships with their peers, gain greater independence and knowledge of who they are, to face multiple challenges and learn to overcome them while fostering pride in their accomplishments and growing life skills.
The school believes this stands them in good stead to face the challenge of VCE with resilience and good friendships.
Some of the exciting things these students will do this year include sailing, stand up paddle boarding, the ‘monster’ course and swimming with sharks and rays.
These activities will help students to build relationships, face their fears and have fun together.
Throughout the year, students complete a unit on community service, personal development and undertake the ‘city experience’, where they visit many Melbourne landmarks over a whole term, navigate public transport and participate in programs engaging with the homeless.They also go on two action-packed camps, a marine camp and a city camp.
It really is a lot of fun.
Mr Rowan Jeffery, program co-ordinator, is excited about this year.
“I am particularly looking forward to seeing this group of students challenge themselves, grow and develop,” he said.
“I love working with the staff team in the Year 9 program, they are all so passionate about engaging with the students outside the traditional classroom, and this is what helps ensure the program runs so well.”
