Alternate Programs

Tonight we are capping off a fantastic year with our awards evening. Congratulations to those who have won awards, we are looking forward to celebrating with you and your families. We would also like to acknowledge our senior students who completed certificates this year. Congratulations to:

• Tabitha Clee (Victorian Pathways Certificate)

• Maddy Hooper (VCE - Vocational Major)

The resilience and determination of the students who won awards or completed certificates is a credit to them, and we couldn’t be prouder of your accomplishments. 

To our Alternate Programs staff, thank you for your tireless dedication tin supporting our students and their families. I want to extend a special thank you to the experienced team members who welcomed the new staff members this year. Your guidance and insights have been invaluable as others have settled into their roles.

We also want to acknowledge the incredible support we receive from our community partners throughout 2025. While there are too many to name, we would especially like to thank the Wimmera and Southern Mallee LLEN, the Horsham Chaplaincy Committee and the Horsham Rural City Council, for sponsoring our awards tonight. Beyond this sponsorship, these organizations continue to provide invaluable support to our students, and we are deeply grateful.

Planning for 2026 is already in full swing, and we are excited to continue building on the successes of this year. We are still reaching out this week and next to organise some check-in meetings before the holidays and then will be in touch later in January to organise induction meetings to start the 2026 school year.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Senior Class – Victorian Certificate of Education Vocational Major (VCE VM) & Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC)

Students in the Senior 2 VCE VM & VPC class have been participating in a variety of excursions this term. On November 18th they visited Axis Employment. Workers from this agency conducted a tour and explained to the students employment options, programs offered and benefits of enrolling in their programs. Later in the same week students attended a tour of Headspace and were introduced to the layout of the building, different counselling spaces and an overview of the inclusive services available. Students were also enlightened about the need for good sleeping routines and finished the tour by providing feedback to the workers about the ambience of the working spaces. We thank the workers and agencies for their time and support.

The year was completed and celebrated with a BBQ at the river front water park. While the weather was cool, it didn’t deter the students from enjoying delicious food prepared by Rowan as part of his Personal Development Skills project and finishing the day with fishing. No fish were caught however, one student did catch a tree instead while casting.

McKenzie Creek

As we reach the end of another busy and rewarding year, it’s a great time to reflect on the year that was at McKenzie Creek. This year has been filled with opportunities for students to challenge themselves, build positive relationships, and take steps big and small towards their goals. Throughout the year, students engaged in hands on learning, collaborative tasks, and daily routines designed to build their confidence, self-esteem, and independence. 

A major focus this year was supporting students to develop their social and emotional skills. From developing new friendships, showing care to classmates, or taking responsibility for their actions, students showed stronger growth in how they interacted with each other. We also celebrated lots of individual achievements. From academic progress to personal milestones, each student brought something unique to our classroom. It was fantastic to see two of our Year 8 students, Julian Schultz and Chris Oakley, transition back to the main campus this term. Both students have handled the change smoothly and have settled in well. 

A huge thank you to families and carers for your ongoing support. Your communication, encouragement, and trust in our program have made a big difference to each student’s success this year.

This week, we were excited to welcome our incoming Year 7 students to their Transition Day. The day gave students a chance to get comfortable with the space, meet staff, and connect with their new classmates in a calm and supportive setting. It was great to see their confidence grow throughout the day, and we look forward to supporting them as they begin their journey with us in 2026.

As we look ahead to next year, we are excited to continue building on the foundations created in 2025. We are proud of every student’s progress and grateful for the positive moments, challenges overcome, and memories made.

Finally, a Happy Christmas and New Year to you all. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to spend time with people close to you and have a very relaxing break!

McKenzie Creek – End of Year Review 

End of Year Celebration BBQ at Sawyer Park 

To cap off an outstanding year at McKenzie Creek a celebration BBQ was held to acknowledge the efforts this year from students, families & staff members. 

Special presentations were made to recognise students who have been able to go above and beyond with displaying excellent attendance and growth in their academic skills. 

The following students had received an award for gaining an attendance greater than 80% for the school year. Well done Chris Okely, Lukus Gooch, Julian Schultz, Sky Smart and Scarlett Nicholson. 

Students who had received significant growth for the past 12 months in their Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT) results were recognised with a certificate. It’s important to acknowledge that several students were able to achieve the relevant growth in their results by attending school regularly. Congratulations to the students below for an excellent year and well done to the staff for supporting our students. 

Final sign-off from Ben 

This is the final newsletter write-up for McKenzie Creek for myself as next year I will be taking on the role of VCE-VM on the Dimboola Road Campus. I would like to thank the staff who have been able to support me during my time at the Creek in the past two years including Ronnie Couch, Pascall Patterson, Darcy Taberner, Ebony Tate and Phil Creek. I am looking forward to working closely with the team of educators at the Alternate Programs Campus in a more official capacity. 

I am delighted to announce that Ebony Tate will be the new Leading Teacher of McKenzie Creek for the 2026 school year and am excited to see the impact she will have on the program throughout the next 12 months. The program is in exceptional hands! 

Lastly, thank you to both Dan Garner & Suz McKenry for your ongoing leadership and expertise. It’s an absolute pleasure working with both of you.