Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)

‘The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.’ 

- Melody Beattie

                                                                                            A new year means new beginnings and fresh starts. It has been gratifying to see the Intermediate and Senior VCAL students commence the school year with positive energy and enthusiasm. The students have embraced the various challenges of commencing TAFE courses, managing school studies and coping with the demands of the workplace. 

Good interpersonal skills are required to work well with others. They enable people to negotiate, make decisions, solve problems, build rapport and empathise. Throughout the year, the students will have many and varied opportunities to develop and consolidate their skills. 

We look forward to watching each and every student write their own story as their VCAL journey unfolds.

Yarrabah Partnership

On 15 December 15, 2021, staff, students and parents from Kilbreda College and Yarrabah School gathered for the official unveiling of the mosaic art pieces. Throughout this community partnership, the students from both schools collaborated enthusiastically and appreciatively, to create an aesthetically welcoming and inviting entrance courtyard and servery at Yarrabah school. 

It was a wonderful celebration and the mosaic creations looked stunning. Congratulations to everyone involved. In this instance, it was certainly a case of teamwork making the dream work.

Jenny Gamble

VCAL Leader 

Enrichment Days 

Every fortnight we run an Enrichment Day for our VCAL students to undertake. The theme for 2022 is 'Challenge'. Each fortnight, our students undertake either an excursion, incursion, short course or workshop. These activities rotate over a two-year period. For most experiences, the students complete a short task which is linked to a wide range of outcomes across the VCAL curriculum. 

This year, each experience is linked to 'Challenge'  through the following qualities:

• Challenge your Organisation 
• Challenge your Communication Skills
• Challenge your Compassion
• Challenge your Sense of Adventure 
• Challenge your Sense of Place 
• Challenge your Imagination

The year has started at a terrific pace, and already, the students have had an incredible time challenging their sense of adventure at the Melbourne Cable Park. The day enabled them to climb a high ropes course, cool off on the amazing inflatable adventure park and chat to each other informally, thus strengthening their friendships. 

We look forward to undertaking our year of Enrichment Days and we know that our students will rise to each challenge. 

Project Tote

It is wonderful to announce that our VCAL program has created a partnership with the Brigidine Asylum Seekers' Project (BASP). The partnership is called 'Project Tote' and involves students collaborating with Ms Clark, Ms Limogiannis and me. They will create tote bags that will be gifted to the BASP group. These bags will be filled with items from a recipe that connects to the giver in a particular and significant way. 

Added to the sewing project, led by Ms Clark and her sewing group and the design and construction process, led by Ms Limogiannis, the project focuses on conversations with each other and with asylum seekers from BASP. 

Conversations will centre around the following notions:

• Shared Meals
• Food and Meal Rituals
• Family and Food
• Community and Food
•  Heritage and Food 

It is our hope that we can work together to nourish communities and strengthen our human connections. This can only mean developing a fuller and more meaningful understanding of compassion, our College theme for this year. 

'Compass'

In only our second week back, we heard the very exciting news that the ABC program, 'Compass' had contacted BASP. They invited Sister Brigid Arthur to participate in the production of an episode about Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. When Sr Brigid mentioned the development of a community project with Kilbreda VCAL students, the producers were very keen to meet with us!

On Monday 14 February, the crew from 'Compass' filmed Sr Brigid and our students discussing the community partnership. The following VCAL students kindly gave their time to become television stars, Kaitlyn Bailey, Charlotte Marchese, Alisha King, Ali Strom, Charlotte Cleary, Jade Kinghorn, Ruby Beaufort, Chloe Cronin. We also want to thank the three fantastic Student Leaders who assisted on the day, Alice Merchant, Mietta Pooley  and Ella Bater.

We expect the episode will air on Easter Sunday.

Ruth Myers 

VCAL Leader: 

Community partnerships