Applied Learning News
Race around the City 2018
Applied Learning (VCAL) prepares the students for employability, independence and responsibility. On Monday, September 10, students from Year 11 and 12 VCAL classes have participated in a “Race around the City 2018”. The students had to provide a journey planner to make sure that they know how to make their way to Flinders Street station. There, they formed groups ready to take on the challenge. Each group received a booklet and a map. The booklet had a number of locations around the CBD with different challenges to complete. At each location, the students were to send a photo of members of their group as a “check in”. This way we knew that the students were on task and more importantly safe. The students seemed to enjoy the experience and this echoed in their reflections. Congratulations to Darrian, Spencer, Brodie and Andre for winning this year’s Race around the City.
Mrs Barbara Murphy
VCAL Teacher
Student experiences:
My experience in the “Race around the City” was a very new experience with the amount of independence and trust given to us to complete the booklets and the expectation of being at the meeting places at certain times. I believe this was a good experience allowing us to have a feel of city life and keeping us to use our own knowledge and skills to navigate around the city. This” Race around the City” also helped us to visit some sites we have never seen before. -Michael Skey
The time at the city on Monday was a very new experience compared to “City Experience”. This experience should be done within a whole school. It was very adventurous; you didn’t have anyone to help but you, map or your phone. After yesterday, I think I know how to get to destinations within 10 minutes. The city excursion should go over 2 or 3 days, I enjoyed it so much. It taught me to surround myself with people with the same goals as each other! I especially loved the independence I have gained throughout the trip! -Isabella Muleta
On the 10th of September, VCAL classes and I all travelled to the city via public transport early in the morning; as part of our VCAL course we must have travelled to the city without our parents drive us there. The “Race around the City” was the task we were given. We were to go around the city of Melbourne and search for specific landmarks and locations, mark them down on our booklet and answer the required questions.
We had to arrive at Flinders Street station at 10 am or earlier, I took the city loop and after 30 minutes arrived at Flinders Street station where I was met with my supervisor; I sent her my phone number and waited for the rest of my team. Once my team arrived, we were off. By the end of the day, we finished all the questions beside the last page.
In conclusion, I enjoyed the race around the city. My favourite part of the experience was exploring the city with my friends. I would have liked to stay a little longer and start the race a little bit earlier than 10 am. -Darrian Nguyen
On Monday 10th of September, the Year 11’s and 12’s completed a “Race around the City” as we used our knowledge to get around with public transport and to work together as a team to complete the booklet. We went to places such as Fitzroy Gardens, MCG, Cooks Cottage, Federation Square, and the NGV with the water wall. It was great fun to explore the city. -Hannah Thomson
On Monday the 10th the VCAL students did a “Race around the City” where we had to solve questions while finding the answers which were scattered around Melbourne. We had to arrive at Flinders Street station by 10 am and formed groups of four to go out and complete the booklet as a team. In our team, there was Darrian, Brodie, Andre and I. During our travels around the city, we saw street performances, beautiful gardens, amazing street art, spectacular buildings, and a fast food place around every corner. As the day progresses so did the answer on the sheet but our time was running out as we had to be back by 2:30 pm to hand our sheet in and luckily we got back just in time. As the day came to end, we got witness an amazing sunset at Dandenong station. -Spencer Wieclaw
SCOPE’s Southern Balloon Football League - Grand Final Preparations
The past two weeks, Years 11 & 12 VCAL have been preoccupied with our Footy Finals. Week 1 saw the Saints eliminated by the Eagles. Last year’s Premiers (and 2018 Minor Premiers) the Bulldogs, easily defeated their rivals the Redback Bombers. That win gave the Bulldogs direct entry into the Grand Final and a week’s rest, to watch their potential opposition on the sideline. Week 2 saw the second chance Redbacks take on the Eagles. Although a great display of skill, the Eagles easily dominated with their tall players Ben and Dhaval controlling much of the ball in the centre and forward line, with Jaeben a powerful force at half back. Thursday’s Grand Final therefore sees the Bulldogs play the Rookies, the Eagles!
Team Managers, Serena and Matt (Bulldogs) and Bianca, Angelina and Jayden (Eagles) have constructed huge banners for their teams to burst through at the start of the day’s proceedings. Nick, Darrian and Spencer provided much back up support with the banners creating lettering and logos. Students have incorporated motivational slogans onto their banners to help inspire their players to win! The game will involve strategy and game plans, requiring problem solving and decision making as players try to out match one another.
As Nazareth VCAL students contribute to a shared lunch after the Grand Final, caramel slice, jelly cups and mousse have been prepared in advance by the Year 11s. Our Year 10 LEAP students, Sebastian, Ryan and Nathan also baked a variety of cupcakes for the post Grand Final celebrations.
We are hoping that a large crowd enjoy the competition, with displays of sportsmanship, agility and strength from our players. May the best team on the day win!
Recycling Program
Thank you to the students who are making the effort to help VCAL students to change the way we think about and dispose of waste. The new Glass, Plastics and Cans Bins are located in the Northern Gardens, the Art/Oval Area and at the Auditorium. Please observe the signage on these bins and avoid placing paper, food scraps or plastic bags in these bins.
Next term VCAL will roll out the next stage of our War on Waste, with bright green waste bins for food scraps. This useful waste will be transferred to our composting program, providing vital nutrients to the College gardens.
Ben Thompson thanks the Nazareth Community
It was lovely to have Ben Thompson return to the College last week for our Nazareth Day School Assembly. Twelve months ago, VCAL students introduced Ben to the school community, with a request that we assist him to raise $40,000 to purchase a state of the art wheelchair, that would allow him to stand whenever he wanted. Ben was a victim of a one-punch hit, which caused a catastrophic brain injury, changing his life forever. Having a will to live and the determination to undergo a decade of occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy, Ben’s next stage in his recovery was to become more mobile and to stand upright, giving him greater independence, improved self esteem and taking pressure off his lungs and organs, which had been cooped up for so long. Our Nazareth Community banded together to fundraise and donate money to Ben’s cause and proudly in December last year, we presented Ben with a cheque for over $6,100. Trident Neptune IT Services had generously contributed $1000 of this, but upon hearing that Ben was approximately $5000 short of his target, Ms Kate Bentley blew us away with an offer to make up this difference. In January, Ben excitedly placed an order to America for a
Last week, Ben thanked all member of the Nazareth College community who helped him reach his dream of walking again. You could hear a pin drop as Ben pushed some buttons that allowed him to rise from his seat and then walk over to the centre of stage! Ben’s 6 foot plus frame certainly towered over one Applied Learning Coordinator! His Poster of Thanks to Nazareth shows how this new wheelchair has changed his life, with Ben able to stand tall and look others in the eye for conversations. He can now use ATM machines and place orders or pay at shop counters. The smile on Ben’s face at the Nazareth Day Assembly reaffirmed for all that little deeds go a long way in changing the lives of others.
