YEAR 9 CUE PROGRAM
Introducing the CUE Learning Program
Year 9 students are involved in an experiential learning program that involves a series of on and off-campus activities.
Students progress through the three domains of the program – Community Service, Urban Exploration, and Environmental Sustainability.
They have a ‘CUE Excursion’ on average once a fortnight over a period of approximately eight weeks.
In addition, each student has a CUE period timetabled fortnightly which allows for follow-up, field work, inquiry, and/or reflection.
CUE Learning Rotations 2025
Click HERE for the 2025 CUE Calendar
Aims and Learning Outcomes:
Through an experiential learning emphasis, the program seeks to promote inquiry into the concepts of community service, urban living, economics, trade, multi-culturalism, social welfare, public transport, and living in an environmentally sustainable way. CUE aims to achieve the following outcomes for each student.
- To engage students in positive risk-taking and experience beyond the classroom that is built on the concepts of connections.
- To provoke inquiry into real-world themes/issues and how individuals, local communities, and the global community are impacted upon.
- To encourage behaviour change – towards more sustainable decision makers and therefore people of action.
- To instill in each student, a principled sense of self, community service, and their world.
- To give students greater independence and develop life skills and qualities considered important in independent learners and workers.
These attributes are indicated by students showing that they:
- act responsibly in a variety of settings;
- communicate with others;
- be independent
- show initiative and are self-managing in new situations;
- negotiate with others for successful outcomes;
- plan and organise time and activities and get work done;
- adapt to changing circumstances or situations;
- evaluate their own performance and reflect on change and personal growth;
- effectively make decisions in a variety of situations;
- think creatively and become problem solvers;
- move out of their comfort zone;
- reflect, justify, and apply knowledge gained
- work effectively with others and/or in a team setting; and
- effectively use appropriate technology, including information and communications technology.
Assessment and Reporting
Assessment within the CUE program reflects the concept-based philosophy as well as having an academic aspect. This means much of the assessment will be formative in nature. The level of student engagement, participation, personal CUE reflections, and discussions between teachers will form the basis of student reporting.
CUE Reflections
Students will undertake a number of learning tasks prior to and after CUE days outs. These tasks are chosen by domain leaders however, in some domains students will have the opportunity to design their own areas of focus. These form the basis for the CUE follow-up sessions and extended academic assessment.
CUE Domains
Community Service
The Community Service Domain aims to develop a principled sense of service to others and the concept of contributing as a volunteer. It puts each student in a community placement with an organisation that serves the local area or beyond. This may include working in a primary school, a childcare centre, a nursing home, or an organisation for those with disabilities. Students are placed in an organisation in groups of two or more.
Further information regarding the Community Domain can be found HERE.
Urban
The Urban Exploration Domain requires students to reflect upon and investigate influences on the evolution of a city, considering how it looks, how it develops, and how our different cultures interact. Students negotiate transport; look into our multi-cultural nature as a city and study economic drivers to focus on the urban development of the city of Melbourne and its suburbs. Urban CUE Days out include Melbourne Museum and the CBD, exploring the history of Melbourne’s arts precinct, Melbourne Markets (QV/South Melbourne), Melbourne City Mission (Frontyard Youth Services), and finally the Melbourne Ultimate Challenge.
Further information regarding the Urban Domain can be found HERE.
Environment
The Environmental Domain uses the belief of ‘think globally, act locally’. Throughout the year we will focus on the themes of Protection and Conservation, Consumption and Management, Human Impact, and Action. The issues covered include waste and water management, the impact of tourism, protecting biodiversity, and coast care action. Environment CUE experiences include:
Half Moon Bay Walking Tour
On this walking tour students learn more about how the Boon Wurrung people lived in the Half Moon Bay area and its value as a gathering place. The tour explores the history, geography and indigenous landscapes of the Black Rock foreshore from its geology and foreshore fauna and flora to Aboriginal occupation to early settlers to contemporary society.
Mordialloc
Students will be kayaking down the creek and into Port Phillip Bay – (weather permitting) whilst investigating the effect of urban build and human impact on water quality along the creek.
Western Treatment Plant
Students will visit the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, a world leader in environmentally friendly sewage treatment. Roughly the size of Phillip Island, the plant is a vital part of the circular economy, turning waste into valuable resources that can be reused. Students will see how the plant treats sewage, producing 40 billion litres of recycled water each year.
Waste Management
This will involve discussions on waste management and recycling, focusing on the use of natural resources and human consumption that impact a sustainable future. As a class, they are responsible for helping to maintain the school recycling program.
Further information to the Environment domain can be found HERE.
Contacts
If you have any questions regarding the CUE Program please contact either:
Benjamin Woolhouse ~ Head of Outdoor and Experiential Education Benjamin.Woolhouse@stleonards.vic.edu.au or 9909 9487