Year 9 CLC Program

Year 9 CLC - Weeks 9 and 10

Week 9 – Parkour & Golf Club Driving Range

Our lucky Year 9 CLC cohort got to experience two new excursions in Week 9, aimed at pushing themselves out of their comfort zone. 

First up was a 3-hour adventure at the Apex Park Parkour Park, with expert instruction courtesy of Jorge & John from Risky Kids Albury, who specialise in building resilience and mental health through movement. The instructors did a stellar job of keeping the 40 kids engaged, going through activities such as tag games and teaching Parkour moves such as the Precision Jump, Lazy Vault, Underbar etc. which appeared to be new skills for most. 

Usual athletic standout Callem Box-Corsini took to it quickly and confidently, graduating across the high Stepping Stones with ease and bravery, and then being the first to climb the 3m high steel pillar. Callem, Lachie Pensak, Luke Macklan, Alec Armstrong & Gus Jayet were the first to scale the 3m Vertical Wall, on which many fell short. 

Levi Smith who stood back initially, decided to enter the fray and promptly blasted everyone away, scaling the Vertical Wall like cat, being the first to nail a Precision Jump onto the concrete barrier, (both he & Dylan Hooper admirably tried it so many times that they had grazed palms from the concrete), then shocked the crowd by jumping from one 3m pillar across the 2m gap to the highest Concrete Cylinder, the only one to manage the feat. Levi has been a standout on CLC excursions, with his mix of athleticism, persistence and courage enabling him to master most skills put in front of him.

The attitude of our kids was a highlight of the morning. There were moments we saw 30 CLC kids running through the complex playing tag and “Snake” smiling and giggling with no less enthusiasm than what you would see in a Kindergarten playground, such was the vibe. Many scenarios had the kids challenging themselves and breaking through barriers of a fear of heights, as they attempted the various components of the park at their own pace.

Calls of encouragement their peers rang around the complex, with Khara Reeve a standout in that regard. She at one point held the hand of her mate Lia McKeown as Lia attempted to scale the formidable Stepping Stones. Khara later encouraged Maddy Drage and Zierra Melbourne, trying to teach them how to get to the highest Concrete Cylinder. Taylah Newton also was spotted helping Lia on a challenge. It was great stuff.

The weekly tradition of the CLC Family Lunch was served by staff this time at the park, with Salad Wraps going down a treat, and Muesli Bars for dessert. After it was over, many kids exhausted, it was to the River Walk, as we snaked along the Ovens on the beautiful 25-minute walk back to school.

A visit to the Waldara Golf Club’s Driving Range topped off the day. Former Wangaratta Superdeckers Basketball coach Trevor Trimble volunteered his time to show the kids the technique of hitting a golf ball, something quite a few had never done before. Then in groups, the kids spent an hour hitting as many balls down the fairway as they could. 

The kids had a ball, but it was a classic “Harder Than It Looks” realisation for most, as not many were able to master the skill, one of the hardest in Sport. The best was Gus Jayet, who had easily the best natural and full golf swing, and was able to cream the ball crisply. To nail the longest drives The other natural talent was Ryley “Luna” Yorke, who surprised even himself with his ability to cleanly strike his first few iron shots perfectly. 

The Kindness Box closed the day, with Jackson Bell and Jorja Vanbree both winning prizes for being generous with their friends. Gus Jayet was noted for opening gates for the group, and Hamish Tanner & Alec Armstrong both were highlighted for offering food to staff. The Kindness box has been a massive and effective hit, as we’ve seen a significant rise in good manners across the term.

Week 10 - Volunteering Preparations & Frisbee Golf

The final morning of the CLC Term had the kids work in their Volunteer Group preparing for the Volunteering in Term 4. Working through a Checklist, they wrote Proposal Letters to their organisations, prepared Name Tags, planned walking routes via Google Maps, set goals, took Team Photos and much more. In Term 4 they will spend each Wednesday out in the community helping orgs such as the Night Shelter, the Make A Wish Foundation, the Care Van, Iloura Aged Care, Wangaratta West Primary School, and the Wangaratta & District Specialist School.

CLC Family Lunch comprised again of Chicken, Ham & Salad Wraps served by staff over the CLC Kitchen Bench, with a box of Fruit provided as usual by our great Wellbeing team.

After lunch it was on foot to the beautiful leafy surrounds of the HP Barr Reserve Disc Golf course. Tasked with completing the 9-hole course in their Volunteer Groups as a training exercise in Team Work and Trust, they spent the next 90 minutes hurling frisbees around the course having so much fun that some started their 2nd round before time ran out. The top 2 on the Leaderboard happened to be the 2 boys recently selected in the Under 15 V-Line Cup North-East-Border Football squad, Kade Hadley (38) and Gus Jayet (42). They were followed by others to come under 50 - Noah Simmons (43), Xavi Bennett (44), Dylan Hooper (45), Callem Box-Corsini (47), Levi Smith & Billy Hiskins (both on 48) and Brando Moore (49).

The day & term ended withs something really special. The kids spent time preparing three gift packages containing a Thank You card and two chocolate bars, tied up with ribbon. Then, in a Random Act Of Kindness, they were tasked with setting off across campus delivering their 3 packages to staff members of their choice. It was fitting seeing how much the kids took to the task. Some were adamant about who they were going to deliver to, with their two Year Level Coordinators Lee Unwin and Elly Gales (as well as Subschool Leader Jack Nolan) often mentioned without hesitation, with kids describing how much those to have helped them this year. The kids were so eager that some couldn’t wait for others, dashing across to other buildings wanting to get to their people first. Others had the forethought to spread to other buildings, with Alec Armstrong notable for mentioning he was going to buildings others hadn’t thought of, to “share it around”. Markus Mibini even took a bag-full to the Admin & Principal offices, as someone mentioned they may have missed out.

Great stuff, and CLC staff crossed their arms & nodded with satisfaction, proud that the term’s work on all of the CLC values we try hard to instil in the group  -- Kindness, Empathy, Connection, Community, Gratitude, Respect – appears to have rubbed off.

Thank you to all of the great Year 9s for their efforts in CLC this term. You have been a great cohort, and we wish you well with your Volunteering in Term 4.

• Jud Mullins