VCAL VIBES

Julie Elkin

VCAL Teacher

INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL REALITY

Students in Ms Scorringe’s VCAL and Ms Elkin’s Community Engagement classes visited Geelong Tech School to learn how to produce a 360° film. They were shown an example, planned their own story and then took to Johnstone Park to film. Due to some technical difficulties (there’s always technical difficulties), filming had to be transferred back to the Tech School. After lunch it was time to upload the footage, place the clips in order and add the hotspots which provide the ‘choose your own adventure’ aspect to the 360° videos. 

Students were then able to enjoy the 3D/360° experience for themselves by donning the viewing goggles. It’s funny to see people looking all around when there is nothing actually in front of them (except in the goggles). 

Both classes will be utilising these new skills in the coming term.

Blaze Aid

A couple of weeks ago 12 students travelled to Bunyip to assist the Blaze Aid organisation in the rebuilding of fences burnt in the fires at the start of the year. They set up ‘camp’ in the local Scout hall and enjoyed the delicious meals prepared by other community volunteers. After a hearty breakfast and morning muster, the students set out to join the teams at local properties. They rolled up burnt wire, removed posts that were not quite in line, drilled new holes for posts, tamped new posts in, strung wires and stapled them all onto their posts. The team leaders were impressed with the students’ willingness to take on the tasks, learn how to use equipment in a safe and efficient manner and their excellent teamwork and communication skills. The Blaze Aid Coordinator was extremely grateful for our input. The students really enjoyed giving back to a community that was so devastated by bush fires.

Steve Quinn

Junior Sub-School Manager

Bike Education Challenge

On Monday, 17 June, North Geelong Secondary College had around 60 Primary School visitors from Herne Hill Primary, Bell Park North Primary and Holy Family Primary Schools to take part in the Bike Education Challenge. This challenge was prepared for and facilitated by a group of our very own VCAL students and was a huge success.

 

Eleven stations were set up where riders needed to display specific skills such as executing a right hand turn at lights or a roundabout, performing tight turns and riding a slalom course while being scored. Overall Bell Park North Primary School came out victorious as the best performing school with individual team results as follows:

 

1st – Team 'Victorious' from Bell Park North 

2nd – Team 1 from Herne Hill

3rd – Team 'Clashes' from Bell Park North

 

The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all involved and was a great opportunity to develop and strengthen relationships with other schools within our community and allow our VCAL students to develop their interpersonal skills and further progress towards the successful completion of their studies.