Year 9 Outdoor Education: City Experience
Dear Parents / Guardians,
As part of the Year 9 Outdoor Education programme students are required to spend a day in the Melbourne CBD exploring a variety of interesting places. The focus of the day is for students to practise independent decision making while exploring the city environment in teams of four to six. We hope the students learn the values of teamwork and co-operation as they work together to navigate their way around the city to complete assigned tasks at the various destinations.
Organisation / Outline of the day:
Ryan & Foynes – Friday 18th August
JamesLombard- Friday 25thAugust
SimondsMannix - Friday 1stSeptember
CoghlanGavin- Friday 8thSeptember
Cagney + (a few from each
of the other classes- Friday 15th September
Each class will be divided into teams of 4 to 6. Each of these teams will need to have at least two mobile phoneswith the capability of taking photographs. Each team will receive a map with all the destinations clearly marked and a booklet with all the activities relating to each destination. Staff will have copies of the students’ phone numbers and will call during the day to check on their progress and safety.
The students will meet at Flinders Street Station by 8.45 amsharpand then move to Federation Square where they will have a finalbriefing. Their goal will be to complete two booklets containing tasks over the course of the day.
Part of their challenge will be to work out the best way to navigate the CBD so they can complete all the tasks and visit as many places as possible during the day.
Each group will be required to submit an electronic diary of their day. (Failure to submit the diary will result in the entire group attending a session to complete the task. This session will be outside of school hours.)
Four members of staff will accompany the students each day. They will be moving around the city and will be able to be contacted by mobile phone at all times
The programme for the day is set out below:
8.45am: Students to meet staff at Flinders Street Station (at the top of the escalators – near the tables & chairs) before moving, as a group, to their briefing in Federation Square.
9:45am – 12.15pmapprox: exploring the city using booklets
12.50pm SHARP: Meet staff at St. Francis church in Elizabeth St. Students will attend Mass at 1.05pm)
1.40pmapprox. – 3.30pmapprox.: exploring the city using booklets
3.30pm SHARP: Meet staff at Federation Square (near Information booth) for dismissal at 3:45pm
Clothing & Equipment:
- Mazenod College tracksuit with runnersto be worn (make sure it is clean and the pants must be the correct LENGTH) Pants should be the correct College black with no logos. Students who do not own a correct sports uniform must wear full school winter uniform. [No ‘hoodies’ are to be worn.]
- If a cap is worn, it must be a College cap
- Waterproof jacket - College only. (Any other waterproof jackets should be carried in a backpack.)
- Good quality backpack (only 1 or 2 required per group)
- Clipboard, Pens, pencil etc
- Water bottle
- Mobile phone (At least 3 per group)
- Digital camera or similar (1 per group)
All extra clothing, food and equipment must be carried in a bag, which can be worn on the student’s back. This is because they will need their hands free to record information and participate in activities. NB – at some venues students will be asked to store bags in a cloakroom or locker. This may cost $2.
Arrival & Departure Times:
Students to meet staff at Flinders Street Stationby 8.45am. They will be dismissed by staff from Federation Square at approximately 3.45 pm.Should any family wish their son to remain in the city or in any way deviate from the schedule outlined, a note to the co-ordinator is required priorto the day. Staff will not respond to student requests for an unexpected change to the program. (Phone contact is unacceptable)
Transport:
Students are required to make their own way into the city. They MUST have a valid Myki cardenabling them to travel around the city by public transport.
Food & Drink:
All food and drink for the day is to be provided by the student. Students should try to bring healthy items that will help keep up their energy levels throughout a busy day.
Students may bring a MAXIMUM of $20, but they are NOT PERMITTED to enter any fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Hungry Jacks, KFC etc.
Independence / Responsibility
This activity gives the students a large amount of independence, which in turn requires an even greater amount of responsibility on their behalf. All rules that apply at Mazenod also apply for the City Experience. Particular attention will be paid to the areas of courtesy, safety and the following of instructions. In the event of misbehaviour, in particular, the breaking of one of the three basic safety rules (see next page), students will be sent back to Mazenod at their parent’s expense.
Weather
In an extreme weather situation the staff may decide to cut the day short. Should this rare occurrence take place, the students will be gathered at an agreed place and directed tothe trains to return home. Students will be asked to contact their parents to advise them of the early finish.
THREE BASIC SAFETY RULES
These rules will be strictly enforced and are there to ensure the safety of all participants.
1) Matches, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and weapons are not permitted.
2) No student, by their actions, is to place any student or group of students in a dangerous situation.
3) No student is to leave their group or the activity site without a leader’s permission.
If broken, the student involved will be removed from the activity at the earliest possible time that safety permits.
PLEASE NOTE:
All students will be expected to remain with their team at ALL times. They are not permitted to travel around the city with any other teams.
Under no circumstances are they to arrange to meet up with other friends whilst in the city. This would be viewed as a most serious infringement of the rules pertaining to this day.
Students must ensure that they are at the Meeting Points at the prescribed times. This day is not a ‘holiday’. Any student, or group of students who deviate from the tasks, or who leave the designated area will face seriousdisciplinary action from the College.
Phones are not to be used as music players as students must be available for contact by staff. Phones used as music players are also a distraction and therefore a safety issue.
Absence:
If a student is unable to attend on their day, parents must contact the front office (9560 0911) before 8.30am. The staff involved in the city will contact the school to confirm / record any absentees.
Questions:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this activity please contact either Mrs Dee McDonald (8561-1110), MrMichael Pearson(85600911) or Ms Skourides (8561 1139) during normal school hours.
Please sign and return the attached permission slip and also check your son’s medical information on the Parent Portal and update if necessary.
Kind Regards,
Mrs Dee McDonald Mr Michael Pearson
Outdoor Education Coordinators