VCAL
Year 12 Electives
Excursion to Asylum Seekers Refugee Centre Food Bank.
On 21 May, the culmination of fourteen weeks work came to its fruition for the first group of Year 12 VCAL students involved in the Semester One Gardening Elective. Chris Saray from the Food Security Network again mentored our students to prepare the beds, plant, cultivate, water, fertilise and finally produce a bountiful harvest and selection of vegetables and herbs, then travel to the Asylum Seekers Refugee Centre Food Bank [ASRC] in Footscray.
The ASRC Food Bank posted on their Facebook page the following glowing endorsement:
“The Today we had a visit from some Year 12 students from St Bede's College, who have been growing food for us under the Food Security Network's program. They brought in two carloads of green - beautiful silverbeet, coriander, parsley and beetroot less than two hours after it was harvested.
Much of the fresh produce we distribute through our Foodbank comes from Melbourne’s food rescue network, so to receive such a freshly-harvested bounty is something really special. Thank you for all your hard work, St Bede's College and Chris at the Food Security Network. We can't do what we do without you.”
A job well done lads!
Damon Jacobs: VCAL Gardening Elective Teacher
Hospitality Night
It was with real enthusiasm that a number of teachers from St Bede's, arrived at Cilantro, the training restaurant at Holmesglen TAFE on a cool Tuesday night in May.
The fifteen teachers, some with their partners, were there to support two of our Year 12 Hospitality students, Joey Soulsby and Kishan Ramesh.
Both Joey and Kish are completing their second year of VCAL, as part of their course, they are doing their Certificate II in Hospitality. Both boys are learning invaluable skills, preparing themselves for job opportunities and life after they leave school.
These young men have grown in confidence and skill as the year has progressed, from nervously balancing dishes, to moving around the restaurant with ease. Kish's quiet competency and bright smile is matched by Joey's confidence and story telling ability, which had us all in stitches on the night. The boys have shown throughout the year, amongst other things, initiative, humour, kindness and an ability to work under pressure (as well as being able to brew up an array of delicious beverages!)
It was a wonderful night of food and laughter, with everyone coming away with a better understanding of what the boys are achieving. At the end of the night, the teachers were left in no doubt as to Joey and Kishan's ability, both in the restaurant and in representing their school and themselves exceptionally.
Lisa Coate
VCAL & Beacon Assistant
The combined Senior and Intermediate VCAL
Literacy class have been completing a unit of work on Court, Crime, Police and Parliament. Students visited the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to see how court operates and participated in an incursion run by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) where they participated in a mock election.
Below are two student reflections.
- Year 11/12 VCAL class attended the Magistrates Court on Monday May 27. We saw four court cases including drug related incidences, burglary and family violence. The excursion was very informative and at times a little intimidating because it was ‘in your face’ and not just being read in a newspaper or viewed on the news. It was interesting and we were pleased to go and see how a court was organised and run.
- On Monday June 3, we learnt how to vote so when we come of age and we get the right to vote we will know what to do. We also learnt when women around the world were allowed to vote and also when Aboriginals were allowed to vote around Australia. I learnt that we individually have to number and rank all candidates for both houses of parliament according to our own preferences in a secret ballot.
Laura Matthews and Olivia Guglielmino
VCAL Teachers
- Aedan Downall, Year 11
- Joey Soulsby, Year 12