VCAL News

VCAL 2020

For a reflection on 2020, we asked the students to contribute short pieces about events or projects that they enjoyed taking part in. Here is a selection of their highlights.

A highlight that happened this year was that I got back in contact with a friend that I haven’t seen in 6 years. Another highlight is my best friend joined VCAL and got to be in my class. This year I achieved to love myself a little bit which is pretty nice actually. I also have grown throw this year quiet a lot.

This year has been a pretty bad year for all of us we’ve had a lot ups and downs this year. Not being able to see our mates and loved ones has taken a toll on our mental health. There has also been some good moments in all this chaos like coming back to school after over 5 months in lockdown and being able to see your mates and actually interact with them not through a screen.

While being in lockdown we all had to work on ourselves, whether that be physically with weights or mentally by staring at our ceilings for hours on end before we go to bed. Now there has been some positives this year from corona. Being able to appreciate the moments we do have and not focus on what we wish we had. Another positive thing was coming out of lockdown and seeing our loved ones and friends that we haven’t seen in months and being able to reunite with them.

Coming back to school and seeing friends, after the lockdown.

Doing the online learning got repetitive quickly, and staying indoors most of the time felt unhealthy. During 2020 we attended online classes for the first time, which was interesting. Getting through the quarantine was a good achievement all things considered.

Adapting to new and strange situations

July the 8th of 2020 was when the whole Victoria was told we had to be in lockdown, the worst time of my life not being able to go out to see friends and family. We were averaging 100-200 cases a day and were told restrictions that weren’t very good and would keep us away doing the things we wanted to do.

Going intoonline schooling was hard at the stat then I had to just get used to it and started to get easier, the positives out of lockdown was we could sleep in, spend more time playing games, eat whenever and not wear a mask. The 12th of October is when Victorian people got their lives back!

This year was a different year then I have experienced before. Some highlights of the year was being able to eat and drink whatever I wanted and pretty much do whatever I wanted. I enjoyed staying up late and then sleeping in. I got to improve my gaming on 2k20, call of duty and more. My mom liked me at home because I would help at home. The bad thing about this year was I wasn’t allowed outside.

2020 was a very interesting year for all, as all schools shutdown and online learning began. There were some positives with online learning such as sleeping in and being able to do your work in your bed. Some negatives were not being able to physically get teachers help. Lowlights of the year were not being able to go out and see friends but some highlights are spending more time with your family and schooling online was easier. Something we did for the first time was remote learning and discovering how to complete set work using all different resources. Next year we are looking forward to starting a new and fresh pathway to success!!

We’re sure that everyone is proud of themselves achieving and finishing lockdown. Once again we were out of lockdown and it was 10x better seeing your mates faces in person instead of viewing them on a screen for 16 weeks.

I discovered what colour blind was and what colours I “can’t see”

I finally grew 6 inches in height after being 4,7 for 4 years.

So far 2020 was a roller coaster of events. First of all, I turned 18 years old and now I feel old like the teachers. I really struggled with remote learning since my laptop wasn’t working for the first few months and I refused to participate class because of my mental health. But around the end of remote learning, I started really coming to class and doing my work. My teachers were proud.

At the start of 2020 I started my year 11 and 12 senior years in VCAL. I also competed hospitality course in tafe in year 11. This year I completed my senior project of getting a hair washing basin for the new VCAL salon. Getting involved with the projects this year was great and it was good being active.

During the year of 2020 I was in year 11 and I worked consistently with the senior VCALyear 12’s. We held 2 car washes over 2020. One to raise money for the CFA towards bushfire relief and another for MND (motor neurone disease), they were both extremely successful. Working with the year 12’s was difficult, especially trying to link up my classes so I wasn't missing out and falling behind on my own work. Although I had to manage silly year 12 boys it was so much fun.

VCAL 2021

2021 has already kicked off in fine style and VCAL is operating at near full capacity across its three year levels. We have one of the largest VCAL programs in the State with an enthusiastic team of staff with a wealth of experience.

The Year Level Co-ordinators for 2021 are:

VCAL Year 12: Brendan Hackett

VCAL Year 11: Kate Collins & Rowly Richardson

VCAL Year 10: Dylan Johnson-Turner

I will remain the VCAL Sub-School Leader and am happy to do so because of the fantastic young people we encounter each day. From all of us in VCAL, have a restful break and stay safe.

Love and Learning,

Dave L’Huillier and the VCAL team