25 students from the Year 10 elective ‘Crime and Politics’ will visit the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court and Maroondah Council to assist in their learning about the Victorian legal system and government. Students will observe court proceedings and hear from and speak with senior officials, the Mayor and/or Councillors from the City of Maroondah.
Students will meet teachers at Ringwood Train Station at 8:50am to catch the 9:09am train to Flagstaff Station and then walk 5 minutes to the Magistrates Court. Staff will assist students to pass through the court security (approx. 10am) and will then escort students into various courts (avoiding those dealing with family violence or sexual assault matters) to view proceedings in small groups for an hour. All staff and students will leave Melbourne Magistrates court at approximately 11:15am and walk back to Flagstaff Station to catch the 11:30am train to Ringwood station. Arriving at approximately 12:16pm staff will escort students across Maroondah Highway to Ringwood Town Square. Students will have a lunch break at Eastland, from 12:15-1:15pm (students will be provided with a school mobile phone number to contact teachers if required). Students will meet teachers back at Realm in Ringwood Town Square to hear from Maroondah City Council representatives and have a tour of Council offices and services. Students will be dismissed from Realm at 3:00pm.
Please note: one of our goals for this subject is from the School Wide Positive Behaviour matrix: “Abiding by community rules and expectations”. Therefore we will be explicitly learning about the following expectations in our classroom before the excursion.
Public transport behaviour expectations:
- Wait calmly for instructions from staff
- Move around mindfully of other patrons
- Travel with a valid Myki
- Wait until people disembarking have exited before entering
- Travel together
- Give up your seat to any other passenger who might need it
- Behave respectfully whilst on transport and moving to and from the venues
Please note the required behaviour:
- Visitors are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly and respectful manner at all times (no talking during court proceedings)
- Observing students should leave adequate seating for parties to the proceedings adn for other members of the public
- Court staff have the right to ask anyone to elave the premises if they are not following expected behaviours
- When entering and exiting a courtroom, it is customary to pause briefly at the door and bow your head towards the Coat of Arms located behind the magistrate
The following are not permitted in either venue:
- smoking, vaping, eating and chewing gum
- video or other cameras, tape recorders or two-way radios
- the use of mobile devices including phones unless directed to by staff for learning tasks
