Year 5s taught a lesson in aspiration

By Taylah Baker

Dec 12, 2022

**Weld done:** Murchison Primary School Year 5 student Sadie Harrap tries simulating welding. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Greater Shepparton Secondary College hosted nearly 600 Year 5 students from 20 primary schools across Greater Shepparton for the first ‘Aspirations Day’ on Tuesday, December 6.

The initiative, run by the Shepparton Education Plan, was implemented to encourage Year 5 students to start thinking about what careers they might want to pursue and in turn what subjects they would like to study in secondary school.

Shepparton Education Plan project manager Jenni Gibson said Aspirations Day was part of a long-term plan to lift student outcomes and opportunities, and help re-engage students going into their final year of primary school.

“(Year 5s) are at that age where they’re starting to think about secondary school, and it can be a good time to start thinking about specialising their education and finding courses and pathways to get there,” Ms Gibson said.

“High schools are becoming more innovative and offering more diverse pathways from traditional education ... We want the kids to know that they can do whatever they want to.”

As a community-driven school initiative, local industries and businesses supported Aspirations Day, including SPC, Furphy Engineering, Foott Waste Solutions and Greater Shepparton City Council’s RiverConnect.

The day was also supported by GMLLEN, La Trobe University, GOTAFE and Melbourne University.

In groups of 25, the students rotated through a series of fun, hands-on presentations in food technology, science, music, art, film making and more.

**Science works:** Bourchier St Primary School Year 5 students Alanna Jordan and Reece Borlase use a ‘blubber glove’ for insulation experiment. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The sessions had quite an impact on the Year 5 students.

Orrvale Primary School’s Mia Barca and Corey Clarke said the day was a real eye-opener to what life in a few years may look like for them.

“Knowing it’s our last years of primary school, today we’ve been challenged to think about our future,” Corey said.

“Now I feel like I know a bit more on how it’s going to be in high school ... My favourite part of today was cooking where we designed cupcakes; I can’t wait to take that class in high school.”

Mia agreed that the sessions greatly influenced the Year 5 students.

“Primary school is so different to high school; it’s more free and you’re more independent in your learning … I think it really inspired us kids to want to go to high school,” she said.

Following the success of its first year, Aspirations Day is set to become an annual event for primary schools across Greater Shepparton.