Scopus students learn city life lessons
The City Cite week was packed full of activities for the Scopus students designed to teach them important lessons, or to foster discussion about society, culture and even art.
YEAR 9 students from Mount Scopus Memorial College explored the City of Melbourne recently as part of their week on the City Cite program.
Through a collaborative inquiry project and various workshops and outings, City Cite allows students to take advantage of the rich diversity of city experiences, and facilitates investigation of the connections between different groups in the city.
Students looked into issues of inclusion, culture, disadvantage and liveability, and heard from diverse groups and organisations who live and work in our city, including a former gambler, in order to gain an understanding of the impact of addiction.
Students also met with a member of the Muslim community who spoke about breaking down preconceived ideas that some people have about their community.
They also had the opportunity to visit the Big Issue Headquarters where they discussed homelessness.
Year 9 student Ava Klass reflected on her City Cite Week and visit to the Big Issue HQ.
“I feel eternally grateful for what I have. As well as feeling a great amount of empathy for the homeless, we learnt in the ‘Big Issue’ program that homelessness can happen to anyone at any point in their life, meaning there is a possibility that it could happen to any one of us,” she said.
Classmate Amelie Cordiner echoed this sentiment, noting “the most important thing I have learnt is to be empathetic to everyone. I have learnt not to judge”.
The City Cite week was packed full of activities for the Scopus students designed to teach them important lessons, or to foster discussion about society, culture and even art.
Among the activities included in the program were walking tours, a simulated court trial at the Old Melbourne Gaol to help students understand the judicial system and a street art tour around the city and its laneways.
City Cite promotes experiential learning to help prepare students for their exciting and challenging future, while developing awareness, resilience and empathy so that they are motivated to make a difference.
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