Alternate Programs

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout term 3. It has been a very busy term, but also a very productive term for our students. 

Over the past few weeks our junior groups have been making the most of the improved weather, arranging a number of outdoor activities. This has included tree planting for McKenzie Creek, a visit to the Halls Gap Zoo for Blue Group, and the McKenzie Creek students enjoying a barbecue for R U OK? Day. Blue group were also involved in R U OK? Day, cooking a platter of cupcakes, slices and other treats for each of our groups. A big thank you to them for the delicious celebration. 

Senior groups have been working hard at finishing off as many units as possible as we near the end of the year. All units need to be completed by 30th October to be uploaded to the state system, although students will continue working after this date to keep progressing towards their certificates for next year and after. 

As always, please look after yourselves over the holiday break. If you require any support whilst school is closed, please remember there are some wonderful organisations in town that can offer this support.

Seniors

On Tuesday 3rd September students from the Alternative Programs Senior VCE VM and VPC class volunteered to join Annie Hobby, Landcare Facilitator from Horsham Rural City Council at Green Lake to plant trees. The site was previously a rubbish dumpsite and this activity provided rejuvenation for it to become a beautiful bush setting for our native wildlife to live. Students were given specific instructions from Annie on how to plant the trees. The steps were

• Pour water into the premade holes
• Take the tree out of the plastic tube
• Place into the ground and pack with dirt so the potting soil cannot be seen
• Place straw around the tree
• Water
• Assemble the tree guard using a premade and perforated container and bamboo sticks
• Place the tree guard over the tree

Students were joined by students from the McKenzie Creek Campus and together the group planted over 50 trees. Students were tired after the activity but felt a sense of achievement. This project will be used to fulfill some of the outcomes for the Personal Development Skills units.

McKenzie Creek

And just like that we have reached the end to another excellent term at McKenzie Creek. This term we have welcomed three new students to the Creek which is great for camaraderie and promoting collaborative learning between the students. 

R U OK? Day - Thursday 12th September

Last Thursday, the college celebrated National ‘R U OK?’ While the significance of the day is to check-in with your friends and family of how they are travelling, it’s also very important to recognise that we need to be checking in and supporting each other everyday! 

The Creekers had embraced the day by working together to create yellow biscuits that they could share with others (or simply scoff them down themselves - Ben definitely didn’t do any sharing!) followed by a BBQ lunch at Weir Park. 

Happy Birthday Gavin

We had a double celebration between ‘R U OK?’ Day and our Year 7 classmate Gavin who turned 13 last Thursday. Thanks Gav for always providing us with your sense of humour and care for your peers.

Footy Tipping Champions 

A big thank you to the Creek students and staff for embracing Ben’s annual footy tipping competition, even when they weren’t overly enthused about AFL throughout the season. Whilst the staff division was won by yours truly (Ben, sorry Ronnie!) the student division saw Gavin crowned champion on 110 tips followed by Liam on 109 and Shakira on 108. 

Spring Holidays 

As we reach the end of the week, we remind families that students will be dismissed at 2:30pm on Friday. The college will also be doing a footy colours dress-up day whereby students are encouraged (not required) to wear their football team’s colours for the day. 

This isn’t a regular out-of-uniform day. 

The Crazy Bus Driver 

The McKenzie Creek students had a new bus driver the other day sporting a very orange hairdo! Harry Murphy was able to say hello to the Creekers last Monday afternoon and they were all very thoughtful and kind towards Ben’s oldest son. Too cute not to share!

Key Dates

• Friday 20 September - Last Day of Term (early finish 2:30pm)
• Friday 20 September - Footy Colours Day 
• Monday 7 October - First day of Term 4
• Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 October - Camp to Port Fairy*

*more information to follow early term 4 regarding the McKenzie Creek camp.