Parents and Friends Association Report
Christmas Hamper Food Drive
Following all your generous donations, today we assembled and delivered 50 Christmas hampers and 15 toiletry packs to Echuca Anglicare, as part of their Christmas Hamper Drive.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated items - your generosity has helped illuminate the true meaning of Christmas and together, we've made a lasting impact on those in need. Wishing you all a happy and safe Christmas holidays!
Year 10 Program Smarts Program
I am writing on behalf of all the parents who attended the Road Smarts sessions this week with their children, and I feel the need to express our gratitude to the school for the inclusion of this program in our children's year 10 education. The timing is particularly significant, as most are at an age where learning to drive is a new and crucial milestone. The school's initiative to bring professional trainers from Austdrive to Moama for a two-day program has proven to be incredibly valuable in enhancing our children's driver education.
Witnessing the newfound confidence among the participants at the end of each day was truly remarkable. The discussions about driving up to 65km/h on a gravel road, applying full brake pressure, and understanding and demonstrating they can still maintaining control of the vehicle underscored the success of the program. Furthermore, the opportunity for the students to sit in a truck driver's seat and gain insights into their perspective was an eye-opening experience for many.
The practical workshops conducted by Nathan and Brad, where students learned to change a tyre, tie down a load using ropes, and practice knot tying, imparted valuable skills that will undoubtedly prove beneficial in the future. We extend our gratitude to the emergency services for their participation in demonstrating a mock accident, emphasising the time it takes to rescue someone trapped in a vehicle. The visit to the police station served as a sobering reminder for the students about the consequences of irresponsible behaviour on the road. Living close to the river, the educational session by NSW Maritime on river safety and flare usage was particularly important and intriguing. Also, thanks to the two local guest speakers who gave the students a raw and emotional recount of their involvement in a vehicle accident.
Special thanks are due to Amy Lane for her vision in bringing together the Road Smarts week. We also appreciate the commitment of all local emergency service personnel, as well as Alina Hawkins from the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria, and Nathan and Brad from NCC Mechanical for dedicating their time to run informative workshops. Thanks to the Parents and friends, staff and students for assisting with catering for the event.
While the students had not yet completed their first aid certification at the time of writing, the addition of this component to the program is an extra bonus that will undoubtedly provide valuable life lessons in the years to come. Additionally, we are grateful to Elders Rural Services for understanding the importance of the Road Smarts week and contributing to the sponsorship that brought Austdrive to Moama Anglican Grammar.
Acknowledging that attending the Austdrive session required a full-day commitment from parents, I believe that the experience was worth every minute.
Michelle Jettner
Year 10 Parent