Community News

Tegan and Loui

Guide Dog in Residence

Next year St Norbert College will officially become the first school in Western Australia to have a guide dog in residence.

 

While Black Labrador Loui has been a regular on campus all year, navigating his way around the College with his “mum’’, Year 11 student Tegan Reder, Guide Dogs WA recently confirmed that Tegan and Loui were a perfect match, meaning their union becomes permanent. 

 

Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Katie Crawford said Loui has adapted well to College life – even sitting perfectly for his school photograph as official member of M1! 

 

St Norbert News caught up with Loui for a Q&A ahead of the Christmas break . .

 

Good morning Loui. What do you like most about going to school?

I enjoy coming to College every day because I love working in my harness around the campus and then having a snooze in the classrooms when my mum is studying hard. Everyone is very good here and they don’t distract me whilst I am working.

 

How did you learn to find your way around the College?

I first learnt my way around the school with my trainer, Katie, and then Tegan and I learnt to walk the campus routes together with Katie teaching us. 

Trainer Katie with Tegan and Loui
Tegan and Loui in the Year 12 Quad
Loui's school photo
Tegan and Loui in class
Trainer Katie with Tegan and Loui
Tegan and Loui in the Year 12 Quad
Loui's school photo
Tegan and Loui in class

What is the most important thing you would like students to know about you?

I would like to thank all the students for ignoring me. It is very hard to concentrate on guiding my mum safely when people try to talk to me, I love saying hi to people but I am not meant to when I am working around the College.

 

What is the most challenging part of your day?

I sometimes find it tricky to guide my mum around lots of students when it is busy.

 

What is your favourite subject to attend?

I like Food Prep because it always smells so good when they are cooking.

 

What is your favourite part of the day?

Any time during class time because I can have a nap whilst mum is studying.

 

Do you and Tegan do any hobbies together?

Mum is a very good swimmer - it’s my job to take her safely to the pool, and sometimes I wish I could jump in with her!

 

What will you be doing over the school holidays?

I will be guiding my mum to places she likes to go to, such as the shops and places out to eat. We will also schedule in lots of play time for me in the garden and time for splashing in the paddling pool.

 

(Special thanks to trainer Katie for interpreting!)


World Disability Day

THOMAS Rogers and Tegan Reder proudly represented St Norbert College and all para-athletes when they visited Catholic schools on the International Day of People with Disability to talk to students about their sporting journeys.

Thomas speaks to John XXIII staff and students
In action in shotput
Tegan and Thoman with fellow para-athletes
Thomas speaks to John XXIII staff and students
In action in shotput
Tegan and Thoman with fellow para-athletes

Thomas, who is in Year 9 and has represented Australia overseas in para-fencing (wheelchair fencing), and Tegan, a Year 11 student on the path to compete in the next Paralympics in 50m and 100m breaststroke, attracted the attention of local media as they joined two fellow para-athletes to heighten awareness about para-sports in the event, organised by the Associated & Catholic Colleges of WA.

 

“All of my hard work so far has taught me that no matter how uncoordinated you are, no matter how athletic, confident or socially accepted you are, you don’t need to change yourself  to make a difference,'' Tegan told students at Corpus Christi College. “You just need to be you and believe in yourself because at the end of the day it’s hard for others to believe in you if you do not believe in yourself.” 

 

You can read more about their roles as ambassadors in this week’s Canning Examiner and Canning Gazette sports pages and on our website: https://www.norbert.wa.edu.au/world-disability-day-our-ambassadors-for-change/

 

Mrs L Quartermain

Community Relations and Marketing Officer