austraLasia #1287
Melbourne Salesian College develops and opens
'Mannix' Year 9 Campus
MELBOURNE: 14th October 2005 -- A Salesian secondary
college in Melbourne, Australia, in existence now for nearly 50 years,
formally had a separate Middle School (Year 9) campus blessed and
opened yesterday evening by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dennis Hart,
and in the presence of the Australian Provincial, Fr Ian Murdoch.
Mannix campus, as the new unit is known, is
named after Melbourne's famous Archbishop Daniel Mannix, who lived to a
100 years of age and was instrumental in suggesting to the Moroney
family that they give their property to the Salesians, the property on
which the campus is built. The property comprises two hills
separated by a freeway these days. Mannix is now on the 'other
hill' as locals have called it for years, but cleverly linked by
architectural suggestion to the main college campus.
Over the years a significant amount of educational
research and anecdotal school-based observation in Australia has noted
that, in the middle years of secondary schooling, students struggle
with issues of identity, purpose and meaning. Social conventions are
often tested, sometimes leading to anti-social or destructive
behaviours, and possibly, alienation from learning as a valuable
endeavour. Salesian College Chadstone, through the establishment of
this new and independent Year 9 Campus, has created a stimulating
environment that will help foster a sense of identity in their boys. It
allows exploration of a multitude of leadership opportunities, engaging
students through a Curriculum focused on interaction with the broader
community and a set of projects that cross all learning areas.
The flexible learning environment of this Campus
provides an innovative model of school community. Here students are
involved in the leadership of campus life, participating in setting
goals for each unit of study and becoming active community
builders. Students learn to value the rights and contributions of
others, working along side teachers to achieve project goals, accepting
responsibility for outcomes, all leading to improved student
performance.
Amongst the innovative approaches of the campus are
Bosco Units. These are project-based learning experiences drawn
primarily, but not exclusively, from the Science, Studies of Society
and Environment and Religious Education Key Learning Areas. Being
generally thematic in nature, these units allow students to develop
greater awareness of themselves as responsible and informed members of
their communities.
Salesian College Chadstone and St Joseph's College
Ferntree Gully, a few kilometres down the road, have become veritable
beacons in boys' education in the State of Victoria. Both now
have a separate Middle School campus and are innovatively applying
tried and proven Salesian education to new demands.
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